Girls high school basketball starts this month with a limited schedule late in the month. (The West Michigan Lutheran girls basketball team is shown here from last season). (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sports@wktv.org
November will not only bring the Thanksgiving holiday, but also a closeout of the high school sports fall seasons.
The boys and girls cross country finals will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Girls volleyball is working their way through Regionals and are heading to the state semi-finals and finals at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 18, for all four classes. Boys soccer state finals are also on the fourth at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek for divisions 1 and 3 and divisions 2 and 4 will be at Comstock Park. Girls swimming and diving will also conclude with state finals on Nov. 17–18 at Oakland University, Holland Aquatic Center, and Eastern Michigan University. The last championships will be handed out on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving with football finals being played at Ford Field in Detroit.
The winter seasons also start up this month with boys hockey dropping the puck for the first time mid-month and WKTV will be there as East Kentwood entertains East Grand Rapids on Nov. 17. Girls basketball tips off their season the last week of the month.
The 12th Annual Stubby Overmire Card Show and Auction will once again be at the Wyoming Lee High School Gymnasium on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18-19. As always, the highlight guest will be baseball’s last 30 game winner Denny McLain who compiled a 31-6 record as he was part of the 1968 World Championship Detroit Tigers team. He will be joined by two other members of that world championship team as Mickey Stanley will once again appear along with first timer Tom Mathchick.
WKTV will again be bringing boys and girls basketball along with boys hockey to the viewers once again so be sure to check the weekly schedule for broadcast dates and times.
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Wyoming Public Schools, shown here in a photo supplied by the district, saw its number of students drop in the recent “Count Day” state survey of students. (Supplied)
Some local school leaders were braced for bad news, some confident of good news, as Wyoming and Kentwood area school districts held their public school “Count Day” early this month — a day when the number of students attending their schools directly relates to how much funding they will receive from the state.
The fall count, held Oct. 4, is worth 90 percent of the state per-pupil funding. The spring semester count, from the previous school year, is 10 percent of funding. This school year’s spring count date is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2018.
“We are still in the period where we identify the final number, but that is the formula that is used,” Wyoming’s Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston said to WKTV journal. The “count impacts this years funding. We do not receive state aid in September, and begin receiving it in October after fall count. (So) this impacts our current budget.”
The local public school districts, as well as charters, are to receive $7,631 per-pupil for the 2017-18 school year. Godwin Heights Public Schools receives slightly more per student due to a historic loss of a substantial commercial tax base.
Godfrey-Lee counted 1,878 students for the fall count day, 72 below projections and down 84 students for the 2016-17 school year. So, if preliminary numbers hold, Godfrey-Lee would receive less state funding this year than last. But Polston says the district is prepared.
“This is the reason why it is important to have fund balances that can account for shortfalls like this,” said Polston, who is in his first year as superintendent. “We will maintain all current positions and programs, but immediately take a close look at all areas of the budget for both short and long term savings. We are fortunate to have a fund balance that can absorb a shortfall for this year.
“Our Board of Education has a policy of maintaining at least a 10 percent fund balance for times like this. We will need to backfill this deficit with next year’s budget. I’m confident in our team’s ability to strategically prioritize spending with a constant focus on keeping dollars in the classroom.”
His district will also look at the reasons why enrollment dropped.
“We have had a strong growth trend over the past few years, but that didn’t hold this year,” he said. “We are analyzing the areas where we fell short to identify contributing factors. We believe our best solution is to promote our district to our current residents to retain as many as we can in our strong, local, neighborhood schools.”
According to an analysis published on MLive, Michigan has more than 1.6 million kindergarten through 12th grade students in the 2016-17 school year, with about 1 million attending their local public schools. The other half million, or so, attended private or charter schools, or crossed home district lines to enroll in other public school districts.
Kentwood Public Schools is one of the districts gaining students, some from out of the district boundaries.
“We are up 136 — 9,121 total non-audited — students from last Fall count day,” Kentwood Public Schools Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff told WKTV. “The last three years we have seen an upward trend of our enrollment count. We are excited to see that Kentwood Public Schools continues to be a destination district for many families because of the great opportunities provided.”
Godwin Heights Public Schools, according to Superintendent William Fetterhoff, counted 2,166 students after budgeting for 2,145, so 21 over projection and 39 below last year. Fetterhoff told WKTV the trend is not unusual for his district, or across the nation for that matter, and he pointed to a decline in kindergarten through 3rd grade students as one reason.
Wyoming Public Schools, according to the district, counted 4,250, down 70 from last year.
Wyoming Public Schools students. (Supplied)
“4,250 is an appropriate estimate for our fall count … We anticipated a decrease this year,” Matt Lewis, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Administrative Services for Wyoming Public Schools said to WKTV. “We budgeted to be down 75, and we’re on track to be down between 75 and 80.
“We’re approximately 70 down from last year which is right on projection. … I can’t give you a final number because there are 30 days from the count day during which students can still be counted if they were absent.”
The decline in enrollment is also not surprising to Lewis.
“Wyoming has averaged a loss of 108 students per year since the fall of 2004,” he said. “We’ve done many, many things to address the decline, cutting millions from our operating budget. We’ve become extremely efficient from an administrative perspective, closed buildings when necessary, including the consolidation of our high schools for 2012/13, and made countless adjustments to our contractual obligations and benefit costs. Our employees have (also) taken on a substantial portion of their healthcare costs over this period of enrollment decline.”
In other initial, unaudited numbers from local public districts, detailed in published reports, Kelloggsville Public Schools counted 2,327 students, 102 above projections and 79 more than last year.
East Kentwood High School will host its annual marching band competition this weekend. (Photo by Jim Swoboda)
By Kelly Arganbright
Kentwood Band and Orchestra Boosters
The competition will be intense down on the football field, with a stadium full of cheering fans, at East Kentwood High School Saturday, Oct. 21. Uniformed players will be suited up in their school colors, every movement planned, with the sole focus of trying for the best performance of the season. It’ll be a lot like the games you see in every stadium across America, except for one thing, there will be no football.
In fact, this is no game at all. This event is the East Kentwood High School Falcon Marching Band Invitational, a marching band competition, and it’s happening from 2:30-10 p.m.
It is a musical extravaganza and one of the biggest marching band shows in West Michigan, with 20 high school bands from around West Michigan slated to compete for top honors.
People who have never been to a marching band competition, can liken the experience to watching twenty, football game, halftime shows. Bands are classified according to school size and compete in their respective classes. Each band’s performance has its own chosen theme with related music that they perform with synchronized, choreographed movements. This is no small task, when you consider some of these bands are in excess of 200 members. That’s a lot of moving parts and instruments! The result is a performance that is impressive to hear and watch.
And, the view should be spectacular. East Kentwood boasts the highest vantage point of any high school stadium in West Michigan. A very important detail, considering when it comes to marching bands, the higher a person is in the stadium, the better the view of the performance they will have.
People should plan to come out and spend the day. There will be a plenty of food and drinks available at the concession stand, so spectators will not have to miss a single performance.
Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors and age 5 and under are free. All proceeds benefit the EKHS instrumental music programs.
Here is the performance line up:
Class D
2:30 PM Brandywine High School
2:45 PM Bridgman High School
3:00 PM Pewamo-Westphalia High School
3:15 PM Gobles High School
3:30 PM Break
Class C
3:45 PM Freemont High School
4:00 PM Oakridge High School
4:15 PM Parchment High School
4:30 PM Whitehall High School
4:45 PM Dowagiac High School
5:00 PM Lakewood High School
5:15 PM Break
Class B
5:45 PM Kenowa Hills High School
6:00 PM Ionia High School
6:15 PM Charlotte High School
6:30 PM Vicksburg High School
6:45 PM Spring Lake High School
7:00 PM Break
Class A
7:30 PM Wyoming High School
7:45 PM Kalamazoo Central High School
8:00 PM Olivet High School A
8:15 PM Portage Central High School
Exhibition
8:30 PM East Kentwood High School
9:00 PM Awards Ceremony
(Photos attached to file. Photo credit to Jim Swoboda.)
The high school football season has gone past way too quickly, and we are already to the final week of the regular season week, but once again WKTV’s featured coverage will have a great matchup as South Christian travels to East Grand Rapids.
South Christian and Grand Rapids Christian each are just a game behind EGR, which is trying to complete a perfect season. With a win though South will get a share of what could be “tri-champions in the OK Gold.”
Elsewhere in the area, Kelloggsville, with their big win over Belding last week, assured themselves of at least a share of the OK Silver championship. The team can clinch the sole championship with a final week victory against Hopkins, which will come into the game with a 4-4 overall record.
With the Godwin Heights victory last week over NorthPointe Christian, the team guaranteed themselves of being a part of the MHSAA playoffs by getting to the 6-win mark.
East Kentwood needs to get a final week victory at home against Caledonia to make it into the playoffs after their defeat last week at Rockford. The Falcons record is 5-3 but they have yet to defeat a team with a winning record so they might not make it as an “at-large” team with only the five wins.
The playoff matchups for all eight divisions will be announced Sunday evening, after the final Friday of games.
Planned WKTV featured coverage this month includes:
Friday, Oct. 20, football — South Christian at East Grand Rapids
Friday, Oct. 27, football – Playoffs TBD (after games of Oct. 20)
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Oct. 16
Boys/girls Cross Country
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids
Boys Soccer
Everett @ Wyoming – MHSAA Districts
Wyoming Lee vs TBD – MHSAA Districts
Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
TBD @ East Kentwood – MHSAA Districts
Tuesday, Oct. 17
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids
Wayland @ Wyoming – Dig Pink
Wellsprings Prep @ Zion Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Holland Calvary @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Godwin @ Calvin Christian
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
Boys Soccer
Zion Christian @ Calvin Christian – MHSAA Districts
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Boys Soccer
Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
East Kentwood vs TBD @ FH Central – MHSAA Districts
Thursday, Oct. 19
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Wayland
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Girls Volleyball
Middleville T-K @ South Christian
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Union @ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Holland Black River @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys/girls Cross Country
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Friday, Oct. 20
Boys Football
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – WKTV Featured Game
Forest Hills Eastern @ Wyoming – Community Night
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Belding @ Potter’s House/Calvin Christian
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood vs TBD @ West Ottawa – MHSAA Districts
Saturday, Oct. 21
Boys/girls Cross Country
South Christian @ Kalamazoo Christian
Kelloggsville @ Gobles
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming @ Hesperia
Wyoming Lee @ Belding
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Kelloggsville @ Belding
Zion Christian – Alliance League Tournament @ Davenport
Tri-Unity Christian – Alliance League Tournament @ Davenport
Boys Soccer
Godwin vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
East Kentwood vs TBD @ FH Central – MHSAA Districts
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood vs TBD @ West Ottawa – MHSAA Districts
WKTV will continue its featured high school sports coverage this month as fall sports wrap up and winter sports are on the horizon. The WKTV crew will be bringing the viewers not only the featured football game of the week, but once again will showcase other sports including girls swimming along with boys water polo during October. Planned coverage this month includes:
Friday, Oct. 13, football — Belding at Kelloggsville
Saturday, Oct. 14, boys water polo — at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 20, football — South Christian at East Grand Rapids
Friday, Oct. 27, football – Playoffs TBD (after games of Oct. 20
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Oct. 9
Girls Golf
South Christian – Ernie Popiel Invite @ Egypt Valley
East Kentwood – Ernie Popiel Invite @ Egypt Valley
Boys Soccer
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Boys Water Polo
Zeeland East @ East Kentwood
Tuesday, Oct. 10
Girls Golf
Hudsonville @ South Christian
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ Wayland
East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming
Zion Christian @ Potter’s House
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Soccer
Covenant Christian @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
Zion Christian @ Potter’s House
Grand River Prep @ Kalamazoo Heritage
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian – Senior Night
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming @ Saranac
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Girls Golf
South Christian – MHSAA Regionals @ Quail Ridge
Boys/girls Cross Country
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Boys Soccer
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Thursday, Oct. 12
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ West Ottawa
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Boys Soccer
FH Eastern @ South Christian
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian
Grand River Prep @ Wellsprings
Algoma Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ GR Christian
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary
Boys Tennis
East Kentwood @ Holland – MHSAA Regionals
Friday, Oct. 13
Boys Football
Middleville T-K vs South Christian @ Grandville
Greenville @ Wyoming – Homecoming
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights
Belding @ Kelloggsville – WKTV Featured Game
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Leroy Pine River @ Potter’s House/Calvin Christian
Boys Soccer
West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee
Saturday, Oct. 14
Boys Football
Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand Traverse Academy
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ Troy
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – Pink Out
@ East Kentwood – EK Invitational
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee, Kelloggsville, East Kentwood and Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian – Kent-Ottawa Invite
Girls Swimming
East Kentwood – MISCA Meet
Boys Water Polo
@ East Kentwood – EK – Mini Tournament – WKTV Featured Event
Monday, Oct. 16
Boys/girls Cross Country
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids
Boys Soccer
Everett @ Wyoming – MHSAA Districts
Wyoming Lee vs TBD – MHSAA Districts
Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
How well students achieve in school is often connected to the income levels of their families. This set of stories explores some of this data and how schools with lower income families are working to remove barriers to student learning
At Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, the Kent County district with the lowest family income, the correlation between M-STEP scores and poverty is stark. More than 90 percent of students qualify for free or reduced priced lunch in the one-square mile district and 27 percent of third-graders are proficient in English language arts. The statewide average is 44.1 percent.
Poverty is a major factor considered in instruction practices, wrap-around services and ongoing education reform efforts. Superintendent Kevin Polston pointed out where Godfrey-Lee third graders fall on a graph (see above) that illustrates the link between poverty and third-grade reading proficiency. “It shows the impact that poverty has on achievement.”
“Ideally, we want to be one of these outliers,” he said, referring to schools on the graph that are high achievers despite high poverty rates. Those, sadly, are few and far between.
There has to be a big-picture approach when dealing with poverty in schools in order to disrupt the impact on student achievement, he said.
Godfrey-Lee is focused on first meeting basic needs, food, water, warmth and rest, so learning can take place. “The basics of life for some kids are not basic,” said Assistant Superintendent Carol Lautenbach.
To meet those needs – so students are in the classrooms ready to learn – the district has in place Kent School Services Network, which provides dental, health and vision services; Kids Food Basket, which provides sack suppers for children to bring home after school, and universal free breakfast and lunch programs.
Those type of things help build foundations for student learning, Lautenbach said, “Those are really tangible ways we are trying to bridge the gap for kids,” she said.
Recognizing Their Strengths
But there’s another piece in educating students in poverty that often gets overlooked: the strengths they already have. “I don’t like the term disadvantaged,” Polston said.
“Any of our folks intimately involved with this are very good at looking at the hidden strengths that we sometimes ask people to check at the door,” Lautenbach added.
Many people who live in poverty, such as immigrant and refugee students are risk-takers because they have to be. Those experiences can be part of creating the foundation for success that goes way beyond knowing content.
The district is using a strength-based Learner Profile based on the6Cs, skills considered vital for success in future careers. They are collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence along with content-knowledge. It’s a strength-based system, Lautenbach explained.
But despite their strengths, children who live in poverty often have limited experiences compared to more affluent families. Seeing Lake Michigan, for example, is different than looking at a picture of it. The district works to provide opportunities for students to experience and explore.
“Their worlds are very small and focused on family, or survival or a small geographic area. (We ask) ‘How can we create more experiences for them so they have more to draw on?’ Lautenbach said. Barriers to reaching reading proficiency can include minimal exposure to academic vocabulary, a lack of books in the home or access to preschool programs.
Kelloggsville Staff Focusing on Poverty & Learning
Kelloggsville Public Schools, where 79 percent of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, is also digging deep into meeting the learning needs of students by assisting with basic needs and building relationships. Staff members are continuing a district-wide book study on “Teaching with Poverty in Mind,” by Erik Jensen, a former reading teacher who synthesizes brain research and develops practical applications for educators.
Assistant Superintendent Tammy Savage said students raised in poverty often live day-to-day and aren’t empowered with information about what they can become in the future. She’s not disparaging their parents, she explained, as many are working so hard to make ends meet, they can’t easily focus beyond the present.
“Parents in poverty are in survival mode rather than in the mode of teaching their children what they can be. It’s a cycle and it’s hard to break,” Savage said.
Still, Kelloggsville is making strides, she said, that are reflected in data. On M-STEP, 31.9 percent of third graders were proficient in ELA, but that’s just one piece. “We can pull out data from the classroom that shows huge gains from the beginning to end of the school year.”
Statewide Reading Scores Tend to Follow Poverty or Wealth
This chart provides a visual depiction –statewide — of the impact of poverty combined with test scores in M-STEP 3rd grade reading. Each dot represents a school building. On the left is the percent of students who scored “proficient,” with zero at the bottom and 100 percent at the top. The data below is the percent of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, a common poverty indicator, with zero per cent of students at the left and 100 percent of students on the right.
Although many high-poverty schools, according to this chart, struggle with reading proficiency, there are also many scoring quite high. These schools, despite issues of poverty, are finding ways to help students read well. Figuring out how they are accomplishing this and duplicating their success is the mission of Reading Now Network. All 20 of the districts within Kent ISD are participants in this network of hundreds of schools.
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Whether you say “football” or “fútbol”, WKTV’s broadcast crew’s coverage has you covered as our high school sports crew will make two stops at East Kentwood High School over the next week, first with a Friday, Sept. 22 football game between Grandville and East Kentwood, then a Monday, Sept. 25, boys soccer game between South Christian and East Kentwood.
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Tuesday Sept. 19
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
West Michigan Aviation @ Holland Calvary
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Boys Soccer
NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
South Christian @ FH Eastern
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Holland Black River @ Tri-Unity Christian
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Girls Volleyball
Godwin Heights @ West Michigan Aviation
Tri-Unity Christian @ Zion Christian
Grand Rapids Christian @ South Christian
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
West Michigan Lutheran @ Rivertown Christian
Girls Golf
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Boys Tennis
Wyoming @ Zeeland West
Wednesday, Sept. 20
Boys Tennis
Catholic Central @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
Easy Kentwood @ Caledonia
Girls Golf
Middleville T-K @ South Christian
Wyoming @ South Christian
Boys/girls Cross Country
South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Boys Water Polo
Grandville @ East Kentwood
Thursday, Sept. 21
Boys Soccer
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Holland Black River @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Wellsprings Prep
Wyoming @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
Holland Black River @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Wellsprings Prep
EGR @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Wayland
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Algoma Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Calvin Christian
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Girls Golf
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Friday, Sept. 22
Boys Football
Belding @ Wyoming Lee – Homecoming
Cadillac @ Godwin Heights
Calvin Christian/Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Wayland
Grandville @ East Kentwood (WKTV’s game of the Week)
Wyoming @ EGR
Girls Golf
Kenowa Hills @ Wyoming
Saturday, Sept. 23
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Cedar Springs – Cedar Springs Invitational
Godwin Heights @ Lowell
Grand River Prep @ Lowell
Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs
South Christian @ Catholic Central
East Kentwood @ Jackson
Girls Volleyball
Hastings @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ Zeeland East
Boys/girls Equestrian
South Christian – Barry County Fairgrounds
Boys Football
Central Lake @ Tri-Unity Christian – 8 Man
Monday, Sept. 25
Boys Tennis
Coopersville @ Kelloggsville
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
Grand Rapids Christian @ Wyoming
Boys Soccer
Coopersville@ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ East Kentwood (Special WKTV broadcast)
Girls Golf
South Christian @ FH Northern – Ernie Popiel Invite
WKTV’s football coverage crew was at Wyoming Godwin Heights last week as the Wolverines went 3-0 with a big win over Calvin Christian. (WKTV)
By Rob Gee
WKTV sports volunteer/news@wktv.org
What a start for Wyoming-Kentwood area high school football as four teams start the season 3-0 and two others start 2-1.
Lots of winning going on in the area right now and when was the last time East Kentwood, Kelloggsville, Godwin and South Christian all started the season 3-0? How about never.
One would need to go all the way back to 1960 when East Kentwood, Godwin and Kelloggsville all started 3-0 to find the last time three of these teams did it, but that would be five years before South Christian would begin fielding a team.
And WKTV’s high school football broadcast coverage crew will be at East Kentwood for the next two Fridays, first for a home game for South Christian and then for a home game for East Kentwood.
East Kentwood, who has started the season 3-0 for the fifteenth time, narrowly defeated Hudsonville, in Week 3. Defense in the first two weeks of the season only allowed 6 points but Hudsonville was able to almost triple that in their scoring 17 points. MLive had East Kentwood at No. 10 in the state prior to the game but after this last weeks performance, East Kentwood dropped to No. 13. East Kentwood is the only area team in MLive top 50.
South Christian did not have an easy time with Benton Harbor in Week 2 Forest Hills Eastern in the first half but the Sailors widened the gap in the second half to cruise to a 36-20 win and open the season 3-0 for the 15th time in school history. That is equal to the number of times East Kentwood has started the season 3-0, despite South Christian starting its football program five years after East Kentwood.
Kelloggsville looks to repeat as OK Conference Silver champs as they start the season 3-0. The Rockets were averaging 41 points a game in their first two games and only increased that average by scoring 51 at home against Buchanan. The Rockets defense was averaging 22 points a game given up and dropped that average to 17 points given up per game by holding Buchanan to just 8 points. Weeks 2 and 3 have seen Kelloggsville outscore their opponents 107-29. This is the eighth season in school history that the Rockets have started 3-0. This is the twelfth season Kelloggsville has started undefeated as they have had three seasons start at 2-0-1 and another season start 1-0-2.
Godwin Heights are no strangers to starting 3-0 as this is the third in the last five years that the Wolverines have begun 3-0 and the 11th overall. Last Friday’s game was a huge win for Godwin and Coach Carlton Brewster as they defeated Calvinm Christian by 49 points. Godwin had been 2-12 against Calvin Christian in their last 14 meetings. When Godwin has beaten the Squires, its not been by a whopping total. You would have to go all the way back to 1996 to find a similar result, Godwin won 53-13 that year. There is reason for pause in getting too excited to this 3-0 start as the opponents combined record is 0-9.
Tri-Unity Christian’s 8-man football tam started the season with an upset loss to Battle Creek St. Philips but have rebounded to win their last two. The Defenders seem to be only getting better as in Week 2 they beat Suttons Bay by 9 and Week 3 saw them easily defeat Atlanta by 26 points, 34-8.
Wyoming high head coach Irvin Sigler, at a preseason press conference. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Wyoming continues to struggle adjusting to Coach Irvin Sigler schemes as the Wolves start the season 0-3. Wyoming was outmatched by Grand Rapids Christian 65-8 in Week 3 and led to the worst loss in school history. Like Godwin’s record can’t be given too much credit however, Wyoming’s record can’t be criticized too much as their opponents combined record is 9-0. Make no mistake, when Coach Sigler’s philosophies are grasped by his players this trend will not only stop but reverse.
Lee High school started off red hot at 2-0 but ran into a buzz saw in Northpointe Christian and their workhorse Jalen Shaffer. Surprising most everyone in the universe, its seems, Lee moved to 2-0 in Week 2 defeating White Cloud 48-0 and we would need to go back to 2005 to find that level of domination by the Rebels. Week 3 would not be a good one for the young upstarts as Northpointe was the dominant force in a 42-0 game. Lee’s lifetime record against Northpointe is 0-8 with a combined score of 330-46 and marks the third time Coach Tim Swore’s team has held the Rebels scoreless.
Currently, WKTV’s football games will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
WKTV’s broadcast crew’s coverage of high school sports will continue this week with football taking center stage again with a game on Friday, Sept. 15, as we cover Grand Rapids Christian vs. South Christian at East Kentwood High School’s field.
But we will also be back at East Kentwood for the Falcon Water Polo Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Sept. 11
Boys/girls Cross Country
Godwin Heights @ Middleville T-K
Grand River Prep @ Middleville T-K
West Michigan Aviation @ Middleville T-K
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Boys Soccer
Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep
WMAES @ Zion Christian
East Kentwood @ Portage Central
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Boys Tennis
Wayland @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Wyoming @ EGR
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Portage Central
Girls Volleyball
West Michigan Lutheran @ Holland Calvary
Tuesday, Sept. 12
Boys Soccer
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep
Wellsprings Prep @ Zion Christian
Kelloggsville @ Belding
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Holland Calvary @ Tri-Unity Christian
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming Lee @ WMAES
Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Wyoming
West Michigan Lutheran @ Zion Christian
Girls Golf
East Kentwood – The Meadows – Mid Season Tournament
Girls Swimming
East Kentwood @ Holland
Wednesday, Sept. 13
Boys Tennis
Kelloggsville @ Sparta
South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian
East Kentwood @ Rockford
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Wayland
Wyoming @ Wayland
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Thursday, Sept. 14
Boys Soccer
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Potter’s House @ Fruitport Calvary
Zion Christian @ Holland Calvary
West Michigan Aviation @ Heritage Christian
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Algoma Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Grand Rapids Christian @ Wyoming
Girls Volleyball
Belding @ Wyoming Lee
Zion Christian @ Holland Calvary
West Michigan Aviation @ Heritage Christian
Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville
Wayland @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Algoma Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Wyoming @ EGR
Boys/girls Cross Country
Kelloggsville @ Delton-Kellogg
Wyoming @ Delton-Kellogg
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Union
FH Northern @ East Kentwood
Girls Golf
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Boys Tennis
East Kentwood @ Wayland
Union @ Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 15
Boys Football
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
NorthPointe Christian @ Calvin Christian / Potter’s House
Grand Rapids Christian vs South Christian @ East Kentwood
East Kentwood @ FH Northern
Tri-Unity Christian @ Onekama – 8 Man
Wayland @ Wyoming – Community Night
Boys Soccer
Wayland @ Potter’s House
Girls Golf
East Kentwood @ Kenowa Hills
Boys/girls Cross Country
East Kentwood – Spartan Invitational
Saturday, Sept. 16
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Sparta – Sparta Invitational
Godwin Heights @ Sparta – Sparta Invitational
Grand River Prep @ Sparta – Sparta Invitational
West Michigan Aviation @ Sparta – Sparta Invitational
Kelloggsville @ Sparta – Sparta Invitational
South Christian @ Sparta – Sparta Invitational
Wyoming @ Sparta – Sparta Invitational
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming Lee @ Big Rapids Crossroads – CCA Invitational
Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Oakridge
West Michigan Aviation @ Holland Black River
Kelloggsville @ Ottawa Hills
East Kentwood @ Caledonia – Caledonia Elite Classic
WKTV will not only continue featuring a football Game of the Week, but this month will be branching out to some new high school athletic venues as well. Starting with the Saturday, Sept. 9, youth equestrian meet at the Barry County Fairgrounds and followed the next week by the boys water polo tournament at East Kentwood, then a Friesian horse show as well as a boys soccer game.
The full month schedule of broadcasts is tentatively set as the following:
Friday, Sept. 8, football – Calvin Christian at Godwin Heights
Saturday, Sept. 9, youth equestrian at Barry County Fairgrounds
Friday, Sept. 15, football – Grand Rapids Christian vs South Christian at East Kentwood
Saturday, Sept. 16, boys water polo – East Kentwood Falcon Tourney
Friday, Sept. 22, football – Grandville at East Kentwood
Saturday, Sept. 23, Friesian Horse Show
Monday, Sept. 25, boys soccer – South Christian at East Kentwood
Friday, Sept. 29, football – Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week (through the holiday weekend break) are as follows:
Tuesday, Sept. 5
Boys Soccer
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian
Grand Rapids Christian @ South Christian
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
Girls Volleyball
Wellsprings Prep @ Godwin Heights – Quad
Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian
Muskegon Catholic Central @ Tri-Unity Christian
Wyoming @ Allegan
West Michigan Aviation @ West Michigan Lutheran
Boys Tennis
Union @ Kelloggsville
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Calvin Christian
Wyoming @ Zeeland West
Wednesday, Sept. 6
Girls Volleyball
Fennville @ Wyoming Lee
South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Boys Tennis
Comstock Park @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Wyoming
Girls Golf
South Christian @ FH Eastern
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Boys Soccer
East Kentwood @ Catholic Central
Thursday, Sept. 7
Boys Soccer
Wyoming Lee @ Tri-County
Belding @ Godwin Heights
Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
EGR @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Wayland
Girls Volleyball
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Ottawa Hills
Northview @ East Kentwood
Boys Tennis
Lowell @ Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 8
Football
Wyoming Lee vs NorthPointe Christian @ EGR
Calvin Christian/Potter’s House @ Godwin Heights
Buchanan @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ FH Eastern
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Wyoming @ Grand Rapids Christian
Girls Swimming
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Boys Soccer
Tri-Unity Christian @ Hope Academy of West Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 9
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Fremont – Hill & Bale Invitational
Godwin Heights @ Fremont – Hill & Bale Invitational
Kelloggsville @ Fennville – Fennville Invite
Grand Rapids Christian @ South Christian – Christian School Invite
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – Bredeweg Invite
Wyoming @ West Ottawa – Bredeweg Invite
Girls Volleyball
Godwin Heights @ Zion Christian
Kelloggsville @ Zion Christian
FH Central @ East Kentwood – EK Classic
Boys Soccer
Comstock Park @ Godwin Heights
Grand River Prep @ Portland
West Michigan Aviation @ South Haven – Shoreline Tournament
Wyoming high and Holland high were featured on WKTV’s first televised game of the fall season. (WKTV)
By Rob Gee
WKTV sports volunteer/news@wktv.org
The year was 2008.
President George W. Bush was finishing his second term in office, Barack Obama was running for a first term. The war in Afghanistan was only six years old, OJ Simpson was convicted of a crime that would send him to prison and Lehman Brothers was still in business.
2008 was the last time that Wyoming Lee High School football would start the season with a win. After eight consecutive years of opening the season with a loss, Lee started its 2017 football campaign with a win by defeating New Buffalo, 26-8, on Thursday, Aug. 24.
As part of WKTV’s 2017-18 high school sports game coverage schedule, the video crew will be at Lee this Thursday, Aug. 31, for a 7 p.m. game. For a complete list of local high school sports scheduled visit here.
To find an opening day with Lee winning by more than 18 points, one must go all the way back to 1998, when Lee opened the season with a 64-0 win over Bloomingdale.
By no means does this set Lee up for a winning season but sure does set a tone for a different season than what Lee students have become accustom to having been 1-32 in their last 33 games.
A big catch and touchdown by speedster Thomas Robinson, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. and a defensive touchdown by JJ Williams, secured the win for the Rebels.
In other Wyoming-Kentwood area opening-night action:
Wyoming Kelloggsville was a winner in their game against White Hall by a score of 26-23, as ultra-Back Thomas Griggs scored once on the ground and once as a receiver to lead his team to the win as the Rockets try to repeat as OK Silver conference champs.
Godwin Heights defeat Hamilton, 45-35, as Susu Davenport started right where he left off last season in being an exciting playmaker.
South Christian defeated Holland Christian, 40-12, as quarterback Andrew Haan threw for a couple touchdowns and their dynamic cornerback/wide receiver Jared Gordon intercepted a pass and then scored on a reception in the next series for South Christian. Gordon went on to have a second interception later in the game.
East Kentwood got in on the winning night for area teams by crushing Macomb L’anse Creuse North, 45-6.
Wyoming High School lost its opener to Holland, 28-6, in a game that was close right up until the fourth quarter.
Tri-Unity also lost its opener to St. Philip Catholic Central (Battle Creek) by a score of 14-8.
Interested in being a WKTV sports volunteer, working game production or writing for WKTV Journal? Visit here for a story.
WKTV will not only cover new Wyoming High School football coach Irvin Sigler first game, we will offer an exclusive interview with him. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
You want local high school sports in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas? Community television WKTV, and its high school sports crew and volunteers, have you covered this fall season and throughout the year.
Starting this week — Thursday, Aug. 24, when the Holland “Dutch” visit Wyoming High School for a football open season clash with the Wolves — WKTV will travel around the area for football and other fall sports coverage — including soccer, swimming, water polo and even youth equestrian.
“High school sports, youth sports, are a big part of our community,” said Tom Norton, general manager of WKTV community television. “And we not only get viewership for our sports programing, we also get many volunteers to help us provide this programming.”
Football game coverage will include WKTV volunteers Mark Bergsma on play-by-play and Ron Schultz on color commentary. (By the way, it is easy to volunteer for sports and other programs at WKTV. See related story here.)
The first part of WKTV’s fall football schedule, after this week, includes White Cloud at Wyoming Lee on Aug. 31, Calvin Christian at Godwin Heights on Sept. 8, Grand Rapids Christian at South Christian (at E. Kentwood) on Sept. 15, Grandville at East Kentwood on Sept. 22, and Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights on Sept. 29. Coverage games throughout October and into the state playoffs will be determined later so we can cover the most important games to the local area.
Football games will be cable rebroadcast the night of the game at 10:30 p.m. on WKTV LiveWire 24 (GRTV, Grand Rapids; BCTV, Byron Center; WCET, Jenison, Hudsonville and Grandville; and RCTV, Rockford). They will also be rebroadcast on WKTV Channel 25 on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Above and beyond our coverage of football games, WKTV also has two special shows available on YouTube: an interview with new Wyoming head football coach Irvin Sigler is available at the end of this story, and an extensive OK Silver football conference preview co-produced and hosted by volunteer Rob Gee will be presented next week prior to coverage of the Wyoming Lee game.
In addition to football coverage, WKTV’s sports crews are tentatively scheduled cover youth equestrian on Sept. 9 at the Barry County Expo Center in Hastings; girls swimming on Oct. 5 at East Kentwood; boys water polo on Sept. 16 at the Falcon Tourney at East Kentwood, and on Oct. 14 at East Kentwood; and boys soccer on Sept. 25 when local rivals South Christian and East Kentwood take the field at East Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of local high school sports action each week, WKTV volunteer sports director Mike Moll writes a weekly listing, usually posted on WKTVjournal.org/sports each Monday. See the latest one here.
WKTV’s broadcast crew’s coverage of high school sports will begin this week with the Holland at Wyoming football game on Thursday, but local high school teams are in action for all fall sports.
(Football fans: WKTV’s August schedule includes the Thursday, Aug. 31, game with White Cloud at Wyoming Lee.
WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week (through next Monday) are as follows:
Monday, Aug. 21
Boys tennis
East Kentwood @ FH Central – Elliott Pearce Invite
@ Wyoming – David Bentley Tournament
Western Michigan Christian @ Kelloggsville
Boys/girls cross country
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Orchard View
Boys soccer
Wyoming @ West Michigan Heat / Homeschool
Holland Christian @ South Christian
Tuesday, Aug. 22
Girls volleyball
East Kentwood @ FH Northern
Rivertown Christian @ Wyoming Lee (Scrimmage)
Grand River Prep @ NorthPointe Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ WMAES
Boys tennis
@ East Kentwood – Quad
Wyoming @ Union
Boys/girls cross country
Godwin Heights @ Kent City
South Christian @ St. Joseph
Boys soccer
Union @ Godwin Heights
Wyoming Lee @ Otsego
Kenowa Hills @ Potter’s House
Ottawa Hills@ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ Kalamazoo Christian
Wednesday, Aug. 23
Girls golf
East Kentwood @ South Christian
Boys soccer
Portage Northern @ East Kentwood
Wyoming@ Zeeland West
South Christian @ Calvin Christian
Boys/girls cross country
Wyoming @ Hesperia – Baker Woods Invitational
Girls volleyball
Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee
Boys tennis
Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs
Unity Christian @ South Christian
Thursday, Aug. 24
Girls golf
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Girls volleyball
@ East Kentwood – Lady Falcon Invite
Tri-Unity Christian @ Lansing Christian
Boys soccer
Holland @ East Kentwood
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming
Potter’s House @ Northview
Zion Christian @ Kelloggsville
WMAES @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys football
Godwin Heights @ Hamilton
Holland @ Wyoming- WKTV Game of The Week
St. Philip Catholic Central @ Tri-Unity Christian – 8 man
Boys tennis
Wyoming @ Hamilton
Boys/girls cross country
Grand River Prep @ Kelloggsville
Friday, Aug. 25
Boys water polo
East Kentwood @ Jenison
Boys tennis
East Kentwood @ Jenison
Boys soccer
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming
Grand River Prep @West Michigan Aviation
Boys football
Wyoming Lee @ New Buffalo
Kelloggsville @ Whitehall
Holland Christian @ South Christian
Saturday, Aug. 26
Boys water polo
East Kentwood @ Jenison
Girls volleyball
East Kentwood @ Rockford
South Christian – WMVOA Scholarship Invite
Boys tennis
East Kentwood @ Holland
Kalamazoo Christian @ South Christian
Boys football
East Kentwood vs Macomb L’Anse Creuse North @ GVSU
WKTV’s broadcast crew’s coverage of high school sports will begin in a couple weeks, but local high school sports has already begun.
WKTV will once again be bringing a game of the week to the viewers starting with two weeks of Thursday night games before Labor Day weekend, after which the Friday night games will return.
The August schedule is Thursday, Aug. 24, with Holland at Wyoming; and Thursday, Aug. 31, with White Cloud at Wyoming Lee.
WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week (through next Monday) are as follows:
Wednesday, Aug. 16
Boys Tennis
East Kentwood @ FH Northern
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming – Quad
Calvin Christian @ South Christian
Girls Golf
East Kentwood @ Kent County Classic
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming
South Christian @ Lansing Central
Thursday, Aug. 17
Girls Golf
East Kentwood @ Portland
Wyoming @ Sparta
South Christian @Lansing Central
Boys Football
@ East Kentwood (Scrimmage)
Wyoming @ Plainwell (Scrimmage)
Union @ Wyoming Lee (Scrimmage)
Kelloggsville @ Schoolcraft (Scrimmage)
Tri-unity Christian @ Camden Fortier
Boys Tennis
NorthPointe Christian @ South Christian
Friday, Aug. 18
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer
Girls Golf
East Kentwood vs Jenison @ The Meadows GVSU
Boys Tennis
East Kentwood @ Ludington
Western Michigan Christian @ Wyoming
Boys Soccer
FH Central @ East Kentwood
West Michigan Aviation @ Union
Girls Volleyball
@ Wyoming – WMVOA Meet
Boys/ Girls Cross Country
Wyoming @ Wayland
Kelloggsville @ Wayland
Tri-unity Christian @ Unity Christian
Saturday, Aug. 19
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer
Boys Tennis
South Christian @ East Kentwood – Tennis Invite
Girls Volleyball
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Lakeshore Classic
Wyoming Lee @ Grand River Prep – WMVOA Tournament
Kelloggsville @ Grand RiverPrep – WMVOA Tournament
Zion Christian @ Grand River Prep – WMVOA Tournament
Tri-unity Christian @ Grand River Prep – WMVOA Tournament
West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep – WMVOA Tournament
South Christian @ Grand Haven – Lakeshore Classic
Boys Soccer
Godwin Heights@ Grand River Prep
Tri-unity Christian @ Wyoming Lee – Copa Rebelde
Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Hackett
Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Oakridge
West Michigan Aviation @ Muskegon Oakridge
Catholic Central @ South Christian -Mark Hasper Invite
Monday, Aug. 21
Boys Tennis
East Kentwood @ FH Central – Elliott Pearce Invite
Several local girls high school soccer teams will be in action this week.
By Mike Moll
WKTV Sports
The month of June may not have many scheduled events but each of them will be very important as they are all part of their respective MHSAA State tournament leading to the crowning of both individual state championships along with team state championships. The final school sports seasons draw to a close the weekend of June 16-17 when the girls soccer, boys baseball, and girls softball have the final competitions.
All the best to the student-athletes that have graduated and we look forward to seeing the underclassmen returning starting in August as the new year starts up and the fall sports seasons start it all over again.
While July will be an “empty” month as far as the high school sports schedule is concerned, the WKTV truck and crews will be covering various events over the course of the summer, so keep checking the broadcast schedule for more sporting events coming to you.
WKTV sports events will be broadcast on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeated later in the week on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, and any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, see now.wktv.org/sports/
The complete list of local high school sports events this week is as follows:
Thursday, June 1
Girls soccer
East Kentwood @ FH Central – MHSAA Div. 1 State Districts
West Michigan Aviation vs West Catholic @ Catholic Central – MHSAA Div. 3 State Districts
Godwin Heights @ Catholic Central – MHSAA Div. 3 State Districts
Covenant Christian vs Potter’s House @ NorthPointe Christian – MHSAA Div.4 State Regionals
Calvin Christian vs Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian – MHSAA Div. 4 State Regionals
Softball is just one of several high school sports nearing the end of their season. Catch a game today!
By Mike Moll
WKTV Sports
There are plenty of local high school sports events to check out this week — including the beginnings of state playoffs for tennis and track — but the WKTV truck and crews will not be back covering games until next week.
The final spring game coverage will be:
Wednesday, May 24 – Boys Baseball, Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
Each game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat later in the week — Wednesday games will be rebroadcast Saturdays at 11 a.m. — on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week in April, and any changes to the WKTV feature game schedule, see now.wktv.org/sports/
The complete list of local high school sports events this week due to spring break is as follows:
Monday, May 15
Boys baseball
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Kelloggsville @ Belding
South Christian @ Covenant Christian – DH
Tri-Unity Christian @ Potter’sHouse – DH
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Girls softball
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Cristian – DH
Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH
South Christian @ Covenant Christian – DH
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee – DH
Girls soccer
Godwin Heights @ Covenant Christian
Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary
South Christian @ Christian
Belding @ Wyoming Lee
Boys golf
Comstock Park @ Wyoming
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Girls tennis
South Christian @ Zeeland East
Tuesday, May 16
Girls Tennis
Western Michigan Christian @ Kelloggsville
North Muskegon @ South Christian
Boys baseball
Wyoming @ Kenowa Hills
Middleville T-K @ South Christian – DH
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – DH
Girls softball
Wyoming @ Kenowa Hills – DH
Middleville T-K @ South Christian – DH
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – DH
Girls soccer
Hudsonville Hornets @ West Michigan Aviation
Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Calvary
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Boys golf
Caledonia @ East Kentwood – OK Red Jamboree @ Stone Water
Wednesday, May 17
Girls soccer
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
Wyoming @ Wayland
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Boys golf
Kelloggsville – OK Silver Conference Tournament at The Meadows
Wyoming @ FH Eastern – OK Gold Jamboree @ Egypt Valley
South Christian @ FH Eastern – OK Gold Jamboree @ Egypt Valley
Boys baseball
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
Tri-Unity Christian vs Holland Black River @ Fifth Third Ballpark – DH
Belding @ Wyoming Lee
Girls softball
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
Belding @ Wyoming Lee
Thursday, May 18
Boys baseball
Tri-Unity Christian @ Godwin Heights
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Boys lacrosse
Catholic Central @ South Christian
Girls soccer
East Grand Rapids @ South Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Girls tennis
East Kentwood vs TBD @ Holland – MHSAA State Regionals
Girls softball
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Friday, May 19
Boys and girls track
Division 1 MHSAA State Regionals @ Kalamazoo-Loy Norrix
Division 2 MHSAA State Regionals @ Houseman Field
Division 3 MHSAA State regionals @ Saugatuck
Division 4 MHSAA State Regionals @ Holton
Girls softball
Godwin Heights @ Comstock Park
Ottawa Hills @ Kelloggsville – DH
Wyoming @ West Ottawa – DH
South Christian @ Zeeland East – DH
Girls soccer
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
South Christian @ Holland Christian
Boys baseball
Godwin Heights @ Union
West Michigan Aviation @ Kelloggsville – DH
Wyoming @ West Ottawa – DH
Girls tennis
Godwin Heights @ Comstock Park
Kelloggsville @ Christian – MHSAA State Regionals
Girls water polo
@ TBA – MHSAA State Regionals
Saturday, May 20
Boys baseball
West Michigan Aviation @ Bloomingdale – DH
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian @ Potter’s House – DH
East Kentwood @ Lakeview – DH
Zion Christian @ Mason County Eastern
Zion Christian @ Western Michigan Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Saranac
Girls soccer
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Boys and girls track
Division 1 MHSAA State Regionals @ Kalamazoo-Loy Norrix
Division 2 MHSAA State Regionals @ Houseman Field
Division 4 MHSAA State Regionals @ Holton
Girls water polo
@ TBA – MHSAA State Regionals
Girls softball
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer @ East Kentwood – DH
Wyoming Lee @ Saranac
Boys golf
East Kentwood vs TBA @ The Mines
Monday, May 22
Boys baseball
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
South Christian @ Unity Christian
Kenowa Hills @ East Kentwood
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee – DH
Girls softball
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights – DH
FH Central @ South Christian – DH
East Kentwood @ Kenowa Hills
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee – DH
Girls soccer
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights
Belding @ Kelloggsville
West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
Boys golf
Wyoming @ Christian – OK Gold Conference Meet @ Thornapple Pointe
South Christian @ Christian – OK Gold Conference Meet @ Thornapple Pointe
High school baseball and softball seasons are in full swing. Check out a ball game. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
WKTV Sports
There are plenty of local high school sports events to check out this week, and the weather is supposed to take a turn for the better.
The WKTV truck and crews continue this week its May schedule of high school sporting event coverage, with the rest of the tentative schedule being:
Monday, May 8 – Boys Baseball, Belding @ Kelloggsville
Tuesday May 9 – Boys Baseball, Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, May 24 – Boys Baseball, Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
Each game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on later in the week — the Tuesday games will be rebroadcast Wednesdays at 5 p.m., and the Wednesday and Thursday games will be rebroadcast Saturdays at 11 a.m. — on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week in April, and any changes to the WKTV feature game schedule, see now.wktv.org/sports/
The complete list of local high school sports events this week due to spring break is as follows:
Monday, May 8
Boys Baseball
Belding @ Godwin Heights
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Girls softball
Belding @ Godwin Heights – DH
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
Girls soccer
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
Byron Center @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Wyoming
West Michigan Aviation @ Algoma Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ Hudsonville Hornets
FH Central @ East Kentwood
Ravenna @ Zion Christian
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Boys golf
Kelloggsville @ Belding
Girls tennis
Kelloggsville @ Catholic Central
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Boys Lacrosse
South Christian @ Jenison
Boys/girls track
@ Wyoming Lee – Cornerstone University Showcase
Tuesday, May 9
Boys baseball
Wayland @ Wyoming – DH
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – DH
GR Crusaders @ Tri-Unity Christian
Caledonia @ East Kentwood – DH
Holland Calvary @ Zion Christian – DH
Girls Softball
Wayland @ Wyoming – DH
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – DH
Caledonia @ East Kentwood – DH
Girls soccer
Grand River Prep @ Calvary Christian
Potter’s House @ Algoma Christian
Hope Academy @ Tri-Unity Christian
Holland Calvary @ Zion Christian
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Boys golf
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville – OK Red Jamboree
Girls water polo
East Kentwood @ Grand Ledge
Wednesday, May 10
Boys baseball
Calvin Christian@ Godwin Heights
Rockford @ South Christian – DH
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Girls softball
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
Rockford @ South Christian – DH
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Girls soccer
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids
Wayland @ South Christian
Girls tennis
Kelloggsville @ Coopersville
NorthPointe Christian @ South Christian
Boys golf
Wyoming @ South Christian – OK Gold Jamboree @ Railside
Boys/girls track
Wyoming @ Wayland
South Christian @ Wayland
Thursday, May 11
Girls softball
Godwin Heights @ Plainwell – DH
Tri-County @ Kelloggsville
Hamilton @ Wyoming
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Boys baseball
Tri-County @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ Wayland
Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House
East Grand Rapids @ South Christian
Kalamazoo Cougars @ Tri-Unity Christian
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Boys golf
Hamilton @ Wyoming
Boys/girls track
West Michigan Aviation @ Ravenna
Girls soccer
West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Girls tennis
Wayland @ East Kentwood
Friday, May 12
Boys/girls track
Godwin Heights @ Belding – OK Silver Conference Tournament
Kelloggsville @ Belding – O Silver Conference Tournament
Wyoming Lee @ Belding – OK Silver Conference Tournament
East Kentwood @ Rockford – OK Red Conference Tournament
Boys baseball
Godwin Heights @ Comstock Park
West Michigan Aviation @ Kalamazoo Cougars – DH
Girls soccer
Zion Christian @ Godwin Heights
Wyoming @ Hudsonville Hornets
South Christian @ Zeeland East
Potter’s House @ Fruitport Calvary Christian
Algoma Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys golf
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian – OK Silver Jamboree @ The Pines
Northview @ Wyoming
Boys lacrosse
South Christian @ Kenowa Hills
Girls water polo
East Kentwood @ TBA – Districts
Saturday, May 13
Boys golf
Kelloggsville @ Hamilton
East Kentwood @ East Lansing
Girls tennis
Kelloggsville @ Spring Lake – OK Silver Conference Tournament
Wyoming @ FH Eastern – OK Gold Conference Meet
South Christian @ FH Eastern – OK Gold Conference Meet
East Kentwood @ Rockford – OK Red Conference Meet
Boys baseball
West Michigan Aviation @ Kelloggsville – Liz Jensen Memorial Tournament
South Christian @ Zeeland East
Tri-Unity Christian @ Zion Christian – DH
East Kentwood @ Jenison – DH
Girls softball
Hastings @ Kelloggsville – Liz Jensen Memorial Tournament
Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville – Liz Jensen Memorial Tournament
South Christian @ Hudsonville
Boys/girls track
Wyoming @ Houseman Field – OK Gold Conference Meet
South Christian @ Houseman Field – OK Gold Conference Meet
Baseball will be featured as WKTV’s high school sports coverage enters the final month of the 2016-17 school year.
By Mike Moll
WKTV Sports
Just as the academic school year is quickly coming to an end, especially for seniors with many graduations taking place this month, the spring schedules are following suit as MHSAA tournaments begin near the end of the month — so be sure to get out and watch one of the high school contests while you still can this month and support your local teams.
Likewise, the WKTV truck and crews covering games are winding down as May will bring viewers the last scheduled high school sporting event coverage until the fall when football kicks off again. May’s tentative schedule is:
Tuesday, May 2 – Girls Water Polo, EGR @ East Kentwood
Thursday, May 4 – Girls Softball, East Kentwood @ Grandville
Monday, May 8 – Boys Baseball, Belding @ Kelloggsville
Tuesday May 9 – Boys Baseball, Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, May 24 – Boys Baseball, Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
Each game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on later in the week — the Tuesday games will be rebroadcast Wednesdays at 5 p.m., and the Wednesday and Thursday games will be rebroadcast Saturdays at 11 a.m. — on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week in April, and any changes to the WKTV feature game schedule, see now.wktv.org/sports/
The complete list of local high school sports events this week due to spring break is as follows:
Monday, April 24
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Middleville T-K – OK Gold Jamboree @ Yankee Springs
Girls water polo is on tap for WKTV featured coverage this week.
By Mike Moll
WKTV Sports
The WKTV truck and the crews will continue to bring various events to the airwaves this spring and this week we will be at East Kentwood covering girls water polo — twice!
The tentative April schedule for WKTV coverage concludes with:
Tuesday, April 25 Water polo, Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Thursday, April 27 Water Polo West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Each game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on later in the week — the Tuesday games will be rebroadcast Wednesdays at 5 p.m., and the Wednesday and Thursday games will be rebroadcast Saturdays at 11 a.m. — on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week in April, and any changes to the WKTV feature game schedule, see now.wktv.org/sports/
The complete list of local high school sports events this week due to spring break is as follows:
Monday, April 24
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Middleville T-K – OK Gold Jamboree @ Yankee Springs
The high school baseball and softball seasons are starting up on Wyoming and Kentwood area. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
WKTV Sports
The WKTV truck and the crews will continue to bring various events to the airwaves this spring and this week we will be at South Christian for a baseball game and at Godwin Heights for a softball — and check out next week’s schedule of water polo coverage!
The tentative April schedule for WKTV coverage is:
Tuesday, April 18 Baseball, Wyoming @ South Christian
Thursday, April 20 Softball Union @ Godwin Heights
Tuesday, April 25 Water polo, Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Thursday, April 27 Water Polo West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Each game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on later in the week — the Tuesday games will be rebroadcast Wednesdays at 5 p.m., and the Wednesday and Thursday games will be rebroadcast Saturdays at 11 a.m. — on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week in April, and any changes to the WKTV feature game schedule, see now.wktv.org/sports/
The complete list of local high school sports events this week due to spring break is as follows:
Monday, April 17
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Forest Hills Invite – Egypt Valley
East Kentwood @ Forest Hills Invite – Egypt Valley
Girls Tennis
Wyoming @ South Christian
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
East Kentwood @ Byron Center
Boys Lacrosse
Comstock Park @ South Christian
Girls Soccer
South Christian @ Wayland
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming
Boys Baseball
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian – DH
Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville – DH
NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Girls Softball
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee – DH
Tuesday April 18
Boys Baseball
Wyoming @ South Christian – DH
Holland Black River @ Potter’s House – DH
Zion Christian @ Saranac – DH
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH
West Michigan Lutheran @ Three Oaks River Valley
Girls Softball
Wyoming @ South Christian – DH
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH
Girls Soccer
Godwin Heights @ Potter’s House
Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian
Union @ West Michigan Aviation
Zion Christian @ Calvary Christian
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Boys Golf
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – OK Red Jamboree
Boys/Girls Track
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Wyoming Lee @ Belding
Girls Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Wednesday April 19
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Christian – OK Gold Jamboree @ Quail Ridge
Wyoming @ Christian – OK Gold Jamboree @ Quail Ridge
High school baseball and softball seasons are in full swing. Check out a ball game. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sports@wktv.org
Spring weather, and spring high school, sports are now in full swing — “Play Ball! So, if you are looking for a Wyoming and Kentwood area high school varsity sports event to get out to, here is your weekly list.
Monday, April 10
Boys baseball
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
Girls softball
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville – DH
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – DH
Tuesday, April 11
Girls Tennis
Cookie Invite @ South Christian
Jenison @ Wyoming
Boys Baseball
South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH
Tri-Unity Christian @ Potter’s House – DH
West Michigan Aviation @ Bloomingdale – DH
Grand River Prep @ Zion Christian
Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH
Girls Softball
South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH
Coopersville @ Godwin Heights
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH
Girls Soccer
South Christian @ FH Eastern
Kelloggsville @ Tri-Unity Christian
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Hope Academy @ West Michigan Aviation
Potter’s House @ Zion Christian
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Boys Golf
Kelloggsville @ Hastings – Scrimmage
Boys/Girls Track
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee
Girls Water Polo
Portage Central @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, April 12
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Calvin Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville – OK Red Jamboree
Girls Tennis
South Christian @ FH Eastern
Union @ Kelloggsville
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Boys/Girls Track
South Christian @ Christian
Boys Lacrosse
South Christian @ Zeeland
Boys Baseball
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
Godwin Heights @ Belding
FH Central @ Wyoming
Girls Softball
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
Godwin Heights @ Belding
FH Central @ Wyoming – DH
Girls Soccer
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Girls Water Polo
Grandville @ East Kentwood
Thursday, April 13
Boys Golf
South Christian – Kent County Classic @ Thornapple Pointe
East Kentwood – Kent County Classic @ Thornapple Pointe
Boys Baseball
FH Eastern @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Covenant Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Grand Rapids Crusaders @ Zion Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Holland Calvary @ Wyoming Lee – DH
Girls Softball
Caledonia @ South Christian – DH
Wyoming @ Grandville
Unity Christian @ East Kentwood
Boys Lacrosse
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer @ South Christian
Girls Soccer
Wyoming @ South Christian
Kelloggsville @ Union
Potter’s House @ Tri-Unity Christian
Grand River Prep @ Zion Christian
Boys/Girls Track
Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville
Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Girls Tennis
@ East Kentwood – EK Quad
Friday, April 14
Boys Golf
Wyoming @ Kelloggsville
Girls Softball
Western Michigan Christian @ Kelloggsville
Girls Soccer
West Ottawa @ Wyoming
West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee
Northview @ East Kentwood
Girls Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Jenison
Saturday, April 15
Boys/Girls Track
South Christian @ Unity Christian
Kelloggsville @ Coopersville – Bronco Classic
Wyoming @ Comstock Park
West Michigan Aviation @ Lakewood – Lakewood Invitational
East Kentwood @ Mansfield/Mehock Relays
Boys Baseball
South Christian @ East Kentwood – EK Invite
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming – Wyoming Tournament
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming – Wyoming Tournament-
Wyoming Lee @ Union – DH
Girls Softball
South Christian @ East Kentwood – EK Invite
Girls Tennis
South Christian @ East Kentwood
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming – Wyoming Invitational
Girls Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Jenison
Sunday, April 16
EASTER SUNDAY
Monday, April 17
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Forest Hills Invite – Egypt Valley
East Kentwood @ Forest Hills Invite – Egypt Valley
High School girls water polo is on the schedule for WKTV coverage this spring.
By Mike Moll
WKTV Sports
The winter schedules wrapped up in March with a couple of our local teams showing very well in the state tournament. In the boys Class D tournament, Tri-Unity Christian made it to the state quarterfinals before falling to eventual state runner-up Buckley by 11 points. The girls side had the East Kentwood Lady Falcons getting into the championship game in Class A before losing for just the second time all season, to Flushing, also by 11.
The WKTV truck and the crews will continue to bring various events to the airwaves this spring and including, for the first time, in addition to baseball and softball, we will be covering girls water polo.
The tentative April schedule for WKTV coverage is:
Tuesday, April 11: Baseball, Grandville @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, April 12: Water polo, Grandville @ East Kentwood
Tuesday, April 18: Baseball, Wyoming @ South Christian
Thursday, April 20: Softball Union @ Godwin Heights
Tuesday, April 25: Water polo, Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Thursday, April 27: Water Polo West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Each game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on later in the week — the Tuesday games will be rebroadcast Wednesdays at 5 p.m., and the Wednesday and Thursday games will be rebroadcast Saturdays at 11 a.m. — on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
Local high school sports events are limited this week due to spring break. They are as follows:
Saturday, April 8
Girls softball
Godwin Heights @ Comstock Park
Monday, April 10
Boys baseball
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
Girls softball
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville – DH
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – DH
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week in April, and any changes to the WKTV feature game schedule, see now.wktv.org/sports/
Architectural drawings for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s new Covenant Learning Center, which will be topped by the new Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.
The multi-phased building expansion plans of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announced last week will include an expansion the institution’s learning center, already a favorite of several Wyoming and Kentwood community organizations including Kentwood Public Schools A.R.C.H. after school program.
The expansion plans include a new 60,000 square foot welcome center, a new transportation center, expansion and upgrades to the concert amphitheater, a new sculpture garden entry plaza and a “reimagined” scenic indoor corridor, and expanded parking and urban garden areas. Overall, project construction is scheduled to begin this fall and continue for approximately four years.
After the new welcome center, however, and most important expansion may be the 20,000 square foot Covenant Learning Center, which will be topped by the new Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.
Architectural drawings for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s new Covenant Learning Center, which will be topped by the new Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.
“Today we have two approximately 1,100 square foot classrooms devoted to education,” Meijer Gardens President and CEO David Hooker said when asked by WKTV about the Covenant Learning Center. “Since 1999, our educational programming has grown 305 percent. While our education programming has grown … our space dedicated to education has remained the same. The new Covenant Learning Center will have four approximately 1,200 square foot classrooms, two 1,600 square foot classrooms and one 2,200 square foot Interactive Education Area. The opportunity for additional educational programming is nearly unlimited.”
Wyoming and Kentwood programs at the gardens
Kentwood’s A.R.C.H. after school program is just one of the many programs currently using the Garden’s educational programing.
“The after-school programs from both Kentwood (A.R.C.H.) and Wyoming (T.E.A.M. 21), in particular, have made frequent visits to Meijer Gardens in the past,” said Jessica Hart, Meijer Gardens indoor education manager. “We’re delighted that these groups have been able to enjoy our seasonal exhibitions, Sculpture Park, and Children’s Garden. I expect that the new Covenant Learning Center will allow us additional opportunities to offer educational programs school groups and after-school groups alike in the future.”
A.R.C.H. is a collaboration between Kentwood Public Schools and the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. Program activities focus on academics, health, wellness, and recreation/leisure education. These activities will be offered to children, family, and community members throughout the year.
But the Kentwood program is just one of many groups availing themselves of local cultural educational opportunities. And that is just the way Meijer Garden’s wants it.
Following recent educational additions to other Grand Rapids area institutions, including The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Meijer Garden’s Covenant Learning Center “will engage learners in new ways and reinforce our commitment as the go-to place for cultural education,” according to supplied information.
Part of Meijer Garden’s mission
“Since our beginning, education has been a hallmark of the Meijer Gardens mission — reaching more than 89,000 guests last year alone. In fact, the action word in our mission statement is ‘promote.’ Education is the primary method by which we put life into the word ‘promote.’ The dramatic growth of participation in our educational programming not only underscores the quality and diversity of our classes, camps and events, but also demonstrates a need for more classroom space.”
A key aspect of the new classrooms will be that they will provide outdoor learning areas, with five of the six having direct access from within the classroom. The outdoor learning area will be located east of the building and will include seating areas for students, teaching areas for instructors, and partial shade/cover from the elements.
The expansion plans are the result of a nearly complete $115 million capital campaign titled “Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love”. The campaign currently has raised about $102 million of its goal, according to supplied information.
“If we are successful in our ‘Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love’ fundraising efforts, we will begin construction in September of this year,” Hooker said. “We do not have a precise date at this time for the completion of the Covenant Learning Center or the Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.”
The New York firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects Partners has been chosen “to re-envision and expand” the Meijer Gardens facilities, according to supplied information. The firm is known for their design of the iconic Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and, most recently, chosen to design the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
For more information about Meijer Gardens visit meijergardens.org. For more information about the “Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love” fundraising efforts visit meijergardens.org/legacyoflove .
The boys and girls basketball state playoffs kick off this week. And WKTV will be following local teams. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sportswktv@gmail.com
The remaining winter high school seasons conclude in March and the spring seasons get started the last ten days of the month. But starting this week and weekend, the sports schedule is busy with state championships all over the state.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association version of March Madness will continue the first week with girl’s districts wrapping up and eventually making their way to The Breslin Center on the MSU campus for state finals on the March 18, whereas the boys will begin district play the first full week of the month which will also lead to MSU to crown four state champions on March 25.
The wrestling state finals are March 2-4 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. That same weekend, on Friday and Saturday, will be the boys and girls bowling championships at various locations based on division. The busy championship weekend will also include the girls cheer on March 3-4 at The Delta Plex in Grand Rapids. Boys hockey drops the puck on pre-regionals this weekend of the month and will conclude their season the next weekend at Plymouth with semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday. Girls gymnastics and boys swimming will close out seasons with state championships the second weekend as well.
WKTV’s schedule will be determined by which teams remain in the tournaments between girls and boys basketball. The tentative early games currently are:
Friday, March 3
District Girls Basketball @ Grand Rapids Christian
or District Girls Basketball @ South Christian
Monday, March 6
District Boys Basketball Grand River Prep vs Kelloggsville and District Boys Basketball West Michigan Aviation vs Godwin Heights (both games being played at Godwin Heights)
Friday, March 10
District Boys Basketball @ Godwin Heights
The complete list of local high school athletic events this week include:
Wednesday, March 1
Girls Basketball
MHSAA State Districts @ South Christian – TBD vs Grand River Prep
MHSAA State Districts @ South Christian – West Michigan Aviation @vs South Christian
MHSAA State Districts @ Zion Christian – West Michigan Lutheran vs TBD
MHSAA State Districts @ Zion Christian – Potter’s House vs Holland Calvary
MHSAA State Districts @ Christian – East Kentwood @ Christian
Boys Swimming
@ East Kentwood – Second Shave Meet
Boys Hockey
MHSAA State Pre-Regionals @ Wing Stadium – East Kentwood vs TBD
Thursday, March 2
Boys Wrestling
MHSAA State Finals – @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Boys Basketball
Kelloggsville @ Hamilton
Wyoming @ Benton Harbor
Grand River Prep @ Fruitport Calvary
South Christian @ Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Friday, March 3
Boys/Girls Bowling
MHSAA State Finals – Division 1 @ Sterling Heights
MHSAA State Finals – Division 2 @ Canton
MHSAA State Finals – Division 3 @ Battle Creek
MHSAA State Finals – Division 4 @ Lansing
Girls Cheer
MHSAA State Finals – Division 1 @ The Delta Plex – Grand Rapids
Boys Wrestling
MHSAA State Finals – @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Girls Basketball
MHSAA State Districts @ South Christian – TBD
MHSAA State Districts @ Zion Christian – TBD
MHSAA State Districts @ Christian – TBD
Saturday, March 4
Girls Cheer
MHSAA State Finals – Division 2, 3, 4 @ The Delta Plex @ Grand Rapids
Girls Gymnastics
MHSAA State Regionals – @ Kenowa Hills
MHSAA State Regionals – @ Grand Ledge
MHSAA State Regionals – @ Plymouth-Canton
MHSAA State Regional – @ Walled Lake Central
Boys Wrestling
MHSAA State Finals – @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Boys/Girls Bowling
MHSAA State Finals – Division 1 @ Sterling Heights
MHSAA State Finals – Division 2 @ Canton
MHSAA State Finals – Division 3 @ Battle Creek
MHSAA State Finals – Division 4 @ Lansing
Boys Hockey
MHSAA State Regionals @ East Kentwood – TBD
Monday, March 6
Boys Basketball
MHSAA State Districts @ Godwin Heights – Grand River Prep vs Kelloggsville
MHSAA State Districts @ Godwin Heights – Godwin Heights vs South Christian
MHSAA State Districts @ Zeeland East – Wyoming @ Zeeland East
Hockey at East Kentwood High School is on tap for Saturday coverage by the WKTV crew.
WKTV Staff
This week in WKTV’s featured high school sport games, the coverage crew will be at East Kentwood for girls basketball game against Hudsonville on Tuesday, Feb. 21, and then at East Kentwood for a hockey game against Forest Hills Central on Saturday, Feb. 25.
WKTV videos and broadcasts several games each week during high school sports season.
Each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood. Every Friday game will be aired that night on Live Wire 24 at 10:30 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV 25 and AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action in January, see now.wktv.org/sports/
DVDs and Blue-Rays of each game are also available for purchase at $20 including shipping. For more information, visit WKTV.org
This week’s WKTV featured sports coverage includes basketball.
WKTV Staff
This week in WKTV’s featured high school sport games, the coverage crew will be at Wyoming Lee for boys basketball game against Kelloggsville on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and then at East Kentwood for a hockey game against Grandville on Friday, Feb. 17.
WKTV videos and broadcasts several games each week during high school sports season.
Each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood. Every Friday game will be aired that night on Live Wire 24 at 10:30 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV 25 and AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action in January, see now.wktv.org/sports/
DVDs and Blue-Rays of each game are also available for purchase at $20 including shipping. For more information, visit WKTV.org
The annual Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition, a program managed by the Grand Rapids Public Library, is now accepting original and unpublished poetry submissions from residents of Kent County and college students attending classes in Kent County.
The competition is free to enter, but only one poem per person is accepted. Submissions begin Feb. 1 and close March 1 at midnight.
The Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition was started in 1968 by poet James Allen at the urging of John Hunting, the founder of the Dyer-Ives Foundation, to “encourage excellence in writing and to provide recognition for local work of high quality,” according to supplied information.
The annual contest is open to poets ages 5 through adult, separated into three categories. Winners selected in three age categories have their poems published in Voices, receive a cash award, and participate in a reading during the Festival of the Arts in June, held at the Grand Rapids Public Library main library.
The judge for this year’s competition is Oliver de la Paz, author of three collections of poetry, Names Above Houses, Furious Lullaby, and Requiem for the Orchard; winner of the Akron Prize for poetry chosen by Martìn Espada. He co-chairs the advisory board of Kundiman, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Asian American poetry, and teaches at Western Washington University.
Divisions are K-8th grade, high school through undergraduate college, and post-graduate students and adults.
For more information, including the various ways and library locations to submit poems, visit grpl.org/dyer-ives .
Following the U.S. Senate confirmation of West Michigan’s Betsy DeVos as President Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of Education, local U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) had very different responses.
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI)
Rep. Huizenga, in a Wednesday, Feb. 8, post on his Facebook account, said: “Congratulations to West Michigan’s own Betsy DeVos on being confirmed by the Senate as the next Secretary of Education. Betsy will work tirelessly and fight to ensure that every child in America, no matter their zip code, has access to a quality education.”
Sen. Stabenow was not quite so congratulatory.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
In a Feb. 8 supplied statement, Sen. Stabenow said: “I am deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans confirmed Betsy DeVos to lead the Department of Education. I’ve heard from an overwhelming number of Michigan families who have shared their strong concerns about her long record of pushing policies that have seriously undermined public education in Michigan and failed our children. That is why I joined with half of my Senate colleagues, including two Republicans, to oppose her nomination.”
Sen. Peters comments on President’s nomination for Supreme Court
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D -MI), on Feb. 1, issued the following statement on President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch, who currently serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States:
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)
“Just as President Obama did, President Trump has a constitutional responsibility to nominate Justices to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Senate has a constitutional responsibility to consider those nominees. For 293 days, Senate Republicans failed to fulfill that duty by denying President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, the same thorough and public consideration process that they are now urging for President Trump’s nominee.
“I take very seriously the Senate’s responsibility to advise and consent on all nominees, and every individual who could be serving on our nation’s highest court deserves to be fully vetted. As President Trump’s nominee moves through the judicial hearing process, I will be carefully reviewing his qualifications to serve on the Supreme Court, which is a pillar of American democracy.”
Sen. Peters introduces Legislation Helps Protect Domestic Violence Victims and Their Pets
U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), along with Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), on Feb. 8, reintroduced the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, legislation to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by violence against their pets.
Multiple studies have shown that domestic abusers often seek to manipulate or intimidate their victims by threatening or harming their pets, but according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), only three percent of domestic violence shelters across the country accept pets. Similar legislation is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Abusers often exploit the emotional attachment victims have with their pets, leaving victims of domestic violence stuck choosing between their own safety or leaving a beloved pet in harm’s way,” Sen. Peters said in supplied material. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation that will help empower victims to leave abusive situations, get a fresh start and keep their pets who are treasured members of their families.”
Ice hockey is on WKTV’s coverage schedule this week.
WKTV Staff
This week in WKTV’s featured high school sport games, the coverage crew will be at East Kentwood for a hockey game against Reeths-Puffer on Wednesday, Feb. 8, and again on Friday, Feb. 10, for another hockey game against Mona Shores.
Reeths-Puffer enters the contest with a 9-9 record according to MHSAA latest records, after defeating Rockford with a 10-7 win last week. East Kentwood enters the week with a 6-12-1 record, after falling to Saline last week in a 3-5 loss. Both teams are looking to improve their records in their OK Conference standings.
In the Friday’s game, Mona Shores enters the week with a 6-12-2 record after losing to Salem. East Kentwood is seeking revenge on Mona Shores after losing to them earlier this season in a 4-2 game.
WKTV videos and broadcasts several games each week during high school sports season.
Each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood. Every Friday game will be aired that night on Live Wire 24 at 10:30 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV 25 and AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action in January, see now.wktv.org/sports/
DVDs and Blue-Rays of each game are also available for purchase at $20 including shipping. For more information, visit WKTV.org
The East Kentwood High School’s boys basketball team will be one of the featured team in WKTV’s February coverage plans. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
WKTV Sports
Some of the regular seasons of the winter schedules conclude in February leading to their respective championships late in the month as well as into March.
Girls Basketball tips off their District play Feb. 27 and into the first several days of March leading to the State Championships at The Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State on Saturday, March 18.
Boys and Girls bowling are rolling into their Regionals Feb. 24-25, with State Championships March 3-4 at various sites. Girls cheer has Districts Feb. 17-18 followed by Regionals the following weekend, on Feb. 25, and then the championships March 3-4 at The DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids.
Boys ice hockey drops the puck on Regional play between Feb. 27 and March 4. Wrestling will hold both individual and team Districts Feb. 8-11, Regionals on the Feb. 15 and 18, with team finals on Feb. 24 and 25 at Central Michigan University and individual finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills March 2-4.
WKTV will continue to bring two nights of area games each week, with the following schedule, as well as bringing March Madness basketball matchups as games are announced and teams remain in the tournament.
Wednesday, Feb. 8 —Hockey, Reeths-Puffer @ East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 10 — Hockey, Mona Shores @ East Kentwood
Tuesday, Feb. 14 — Boys basketball, Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Friday, Feb. 17 — Hockey, Grandville @ East Kentwood
Tuesday, Feb. 21 — Girls basketball, Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Saturday, Feb. 25 — Hockey, FH Central @ East Kentwood
Tuesday, Feb. 28 — Boys basketball, Grand Rapids Christian @ Godwin Heights
Each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on Live Wire Comcast Channel 24 at 10:30 p.m. throughout the Grand Rapids Metro Area and repeat on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood. Every Friday game will be aired that night on Live Wire 24 at 10:30 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV 25 and AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action in February, see now.wktv.org/sports/
