Thumb area prep sports suffers a tough loss

Chris Ogryski When I heard the news that Chris Ogryski had passed away, I was simply stunned. Just too good of guy, too good of a husband and father for this to happen.

Still, I did not know Chris so much as a close friend, but as a working associate, working for a newspaper in same group owned by the same company. Chris was a sports reporter, then Sports Editor, and then, also the News Editor at the Huron County Press in Bad Axe.

We shared some photos, maybe a few thoughts on some high school games. But mostly, I knew him from our meetings in the Thumb Sportswriters Association. The TSA, started just about three years ago on an idea from Dave Bossick, Sports Editor at the Tuscola County Advertiser. He wanted the are sports writers to come up with All-Thumb Teams in football, volleyball, and boys and girls basketball, simply to honor the Thumb’s best high school athletes, coaches and teams. Paul Adams from the Huron Daily Tribune, Chris at the Huron County Press, Dave Fredrick, and myself were asked to join in. Shortly after the origin of TSA, Bossick took a job in Wisconsin and Paul and Chris, who were best friends, took charge. There are several others now involved.

It was in our association in the TSA that I understood Chris’s full commitment and passion to high school athletics in the Thumb, especially in Huron County. And, that is something that is gong to be missed greatly.

Dave Bossick, who never lost touch with the Thumb area after leaving to Wisconsin, wrote a piece in dedication to Chris for the thumbsports.blogspot.com.

You can go online and read the entire article, and others’ comments, but here’s a few of Dave’s words on Chris.

“He had passion, no doubt about it........

“If anything sticks out about Chris Ogryski, who died Thursday leaving behind a loving family in Ubly and around the area and state, that’s the one characteristic that sticks out the most.......

“From the start, Chris strived to become better and better in his writing, his images and his overall coverage of the Thumb student-athletes. He knew that having a true passion about the kids, the coaches, the families, the schools and the towns of the Thumb was key. But it was beyond just “knowing.” Chris had that “it” factor where he jumped in with both feet to do a good job day in and day out. That’s why he could make the move to editor. He knew what it took to do the right thing in covering the Thumb, and specifically Huron County.

“All of us in the Thumb sports media lost a dear friend on Thursday. The Thumb sports fan lost someone with a true love for everyone and everything that was going on in the region.......

“You’re greatly missed, Chris, and forever will be.”