Welcome to Central Lake Public Schools

Both districts are proud to announce the launch of an expanded cooperative athletic program and a new shared identity: the Central Lake-Ellsworth Knights, competing in Honolulu Blue and Silver.

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, the Knights will add JV and Varsity Girls Basketball to an already strong foundation that includes Football, Track & Field, Cross Country, and Golf. Additional programs are in discussion for future years.

This builds on something special. Central Lake and Ellsworth have run a cooperative football program together since 1991 -- the longest continuously operating MHSAA cooperative agreement in the state of Michigan. This is the next chapter.

The CL-E Knights are not Central Lake's team. They are not Ellsworth's team. They are ours.

Go Knights.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — April 18, 2026 — Students from East Jordan High School, part of the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District's Career and Technical Education (CTE) automotive program, made a strong showing at the first annual Serra Automotive Skills Challenge, held at Serra of Traverse City and organized by North Ed Career Technical Center. The multi-school competition brought together automotive students from across the region for a day of hands-on skill demonstration, professional development, and healthy competition.

The event featured five timed and scored challenges designed to test real-world automotive competency: Precision Measurement (using Starrett micrometers, dial calipers, and feeler gauges), Tire Specs and Rotation, New Car Prep, Parts and Tool Identification, and a 40-question ASE Auto Maintenance and Light Repair (MLR) written exam. With $3,500 in Tekton tools awarded as prizes to top finishers in each category, along with a cumulative overall award, the stakes were high, and the competition was fierce.

East Jordan automotive students, led by East Jordan CTE Automotive instructor Matt Wilson, rose to the occasion, claiming first-place finishes in three of the five events:

• Tire Specs and Rotation — Erica Wyglendowski (Charlevoix High School), 1st place
• Parts and Tool Identification — Landon Miller (Central Lake High School), 1st place; Levi Bunker (East Jordan High School), 4th place
• Written Exam — Gabe Bouton (Boyne Falls High School), 1st place; Erica Wyglendowski, 2nd place
• Precision Measurement — Landon Miller (Central Lake High School), 2nd place
• Cumulative Overall — Garrison Henry (East Jordan), 2nd place overall

The results reflect the quality of instruction and the emphasis on hands-on, real-world learning that defines the East Jordan CTE automotive program. Instructor Matt Wilson has consistently prioritized practical skill-building in his classroom, and Saturday's competition demonstrated the direct impact of that approach.

Special recognition is also due to instructor Kevin Kimble of North Ed Career Tech, the driving force behind organizing the inaugural Serra Automotive Challenge. Kimble's vision brought together schools, industry partners, and families for an event that exemplifies what career readiness education can look like.

Students, staff, and attending families filled the day with focus, skill, and professionalism. Events like the Serra Automotive Skills Challenge offer CTE students a rare opportunity to benchmark their abilities against peers, gain exposure to industry-standard tools and procedures, and experience the kind of competitive, real-world environment they will encounter in their careers.

"This is what hands-on career readiness looks like," said one program supporter in attendance.

Students in grades 9–12 learned about safe driving today with guest speaker Ginny Montgomery. They participated in hands-on stations with the Antrim County Sheriff’s Department, including texting-and-driving simulations, sobriety tests, and basic vehicle safety checks.

A big thank you to all who helped make this valuable learning experience possible, including the Central Lake Volunteer Fire Department for their extrication demonstration!