Check out the exciting clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
Hudsonville Unity Christian beat South Christian 50-21 Friday to remain atop the OK Gold at 4-0, 7-0 overall. The Sailors fell to 1-3 in the Gold, 4-3 overall.
South Christian hosts Zeeland West next Friday at Hudsonville High School.
Check out the exciting clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
Check out the exciting clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Friday, Oct. 4: Zeeland East vs. South Christian (at Byron Center)
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
Check out the exciting clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Friday, Sept. 27: Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 4: Zeeland East vs. South Christian (at Byron Center)
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
Led by a big effort from its defense, the East Kentwood football team defeated host West Ottawa to remain undefeated in the OK Red and set up a showdown with Hudsonville Friday at Falcon Stadium.
With the defense coming up with several big stops and the offense stepping up with big plays when needed, the Falcons came away with a 21-7 win at West Ottawa. The win improved East Kentwood’s record to 3-1 overall, 2-0 in the OK Red. The win also sets up a showdown with Hudsonville, also 2-0 in the conference, this Friday at 7 p.m. at Falcon Stadium.
“This was already going to be a big game for us,” said East Kentwood Coach Tyrone Spencer. “We already had it circled on the schedule. Now it is even a bigger game for the fact that they beat Rockford.”
Sets up showdown of OK Red unbeatens Friday
Hudsonville remained unbeaten in the conference last Friday when they handed previously undefeated Rockford a 28-21 defeat at Hudsonville setting up the showdown between the conference unbeatens this week.
East Kentwood kept its conference record perfect with a strong all-around effort at West Ottawa.
“It was a really great team win for us,” Spencer said. “Our defense made the stops when we needed them too. We had a lot of big fourth-down stops when we had to make them. For us, the way we play, we do not want to give up the big play on defense. We will let a team dink and dunk, but we do not want to give up the big play.”
East Kentwood took the initial lead in the game in the first quarter. The Falcons struck through the air for their first score when quarterback Kayd Coffman connected with Ahman Edmunds on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Jayden Garcia kicked the first of three extra points during the game giving the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
East Kentwood doubled the lead in the second quarter. The Falcons again struck through the air for their score, with the second touchdown coming on a 35-yard passing play from Coffman to Caiden Holt. Garcia tacked on the extra point putting the Falcons up 14-0.
East Kentwood wide receiver Caiden Holt caught a pair of passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
West Ottawa scored its lone touchdown of the game later in the second quarter on a three-yard pass play cutting the Falcon lead to 14-7.
East Kentwood scored the final points of the game during the third quarter. The Falcons final touchdown came on a one-yard touchdown run by Jesse Phillips.
From there, the Falcons turned the game over to the defense.
“Our defense made some big plays down the stretch,” Spencer said. “The defense made a big stop on a fourth and goal that if they (West Ottawa) made it would’ve made it a one-score game. Donavan Jones also had a big interception and we had some more fourth-down stops.”
Terrence Kabanda and Donavan Jones 7 tackles apiece
The Falcon defense was led by Terrence Kabanda who totaled seven tackles and a tackle for loss. Along with his interception, Jones also racked up seven tackles and two assisted tackles. Silas Mitchell added five tackles and an assist, followed by Tyler Meeuwsen, five tackles and one for a loss, Major Barnes, four tackles and two assists, and James Jones had a pair of tackles for loss.
On offense, the Falcons received a big game from Coffman who completed 10-of-16 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Caiden Holt caught a pair of passes for 65 yards and a touchdown while Ahman Edmonds caught two passes for 58 yards and a score and Chris Ware hauled in six passes for 64 yards. Elijah Jones led the Falcons in rushing with 99 yards on 11 carries.
Elijah Jones led the Falcons with 99 yards rushing on 11 carries. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
“We had a balanced effort on offense,” Spencer said. “Kayd threw two touchdowns and Elijah Jones ran for 99 yards so we were able to have a good, balanced attack.”
The Falcons will count on another balanced effort in Friday’s contest with Hudsonville.
“We know they are well coached and play smash-mouth football,” Spencer said. “We have to be really locked in and be prepared to do a great job. We had a great effort against West Ottawa and got the win but we have to keep building.”
Check out the exciting clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like during basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Friday, Sept. 20: Wyoming vs. South Christian (at East Kentwood)
Friday, Sept. 27: Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 4: Zeeland East vs. South Christian (at Byron Center)
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
Along with teaching the X’s and O’s of football, new East Kentwood football coach Tyrone Spencer is also teaching the mental part of the game to his squad. The Falcons took another step in that mental course last Friday when defeating Caledonia 41-35 in the OK Red season opener.
The visiting Falcons stormed out of the gate fast and then had to fend off a furious Caledonia rally to come away with the win and improve to 2-1 for the season.
The fast start for the Falcons was a reversal of the Week 2 game against Byron Center where Kentwood fell behind by a large margin in the first half.
“I thought the guys played well,” Spencer said. “I think a real big thing was that the guys fought through adversity. We jumped out to a 34-0 lead and then Caledonia scored on a pick six. They came back and cut it to 34-28, but then our guys ended up making the plays at the end of the game that they needed to make.”
East Kentwood made plenty of plays in the opening half as it raced out to a 34-0 lead. Falcon running back Elijah Jones started the scoring as he reeled off a 60-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The lead grew to 13-0 when Falcon quarterback Drew Burton connected with Caiden Holt on a 21-yard touchdown pass with Jayden Garcia tacking on the extra point kick. The lead expanded to 20-0 later in the first quarter when Kayd Coffman, who shares the quarterback duties with Burton, scored on a one-yard touchdown run with Garcia converting the extra point.
East Kentwood’s Elijah Jones led the way with 201 yards rushing on 22 carries and three touchdowns against Caledonia. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
“We use both Drew and Kayd,” Spencer said. “They have both been great leaders for us. Kayd did some really nice things out there and Drew also did a nice job and threw a touchdown pass.”
The Falcons added two more touchdowns in the second quarter to grow the lead to 34-0. Coffman tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Holt, while Jones scored his second touchdown of the game on a three-yard run. Garcia added both extra points.
Caledonia’s comeback
Caledonia began to mount a comeback late in the second quarter when Leighton Fink intercepted a Falcon pass and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown.
The Fighting Scots continued the comeback in the second half with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. Caledonia quarterback Brody Betser connected with Parker Little on a 29-yard scoring strike to make the score 34-14 after the extra point by Brody Siler. Betser then connected with Reed Vogeler on a touchdown pass cutting the Kentwood lead to 34-21.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Fighting Scots trimmed the deficit to six points as Betser ran for a touchdown from six-yards out and Siler tacked on the point after.
Kentwood, however, stemmed the tide later in the quarter when Jones ran in for his third touchdown of the game from a yard out. Garcia tacked on the point after putting the Falcons up 41-28.
Caledonia added one final touchdown on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Betser to Lincoln Senti with Siler tacking on the point after making the final score 41-35.
East Kentwood quarterback Kayd Coffman completed 8-of-13 passes for 142 yards with one TD pass and one rushing. Andrew Burton threw one TD with 21 yards passing. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
“I thought this game was a great lesson for the guys,” Spencer said. “They have to learn how to win and this was a great lesson. I also talked to them about how important it is to get an early lead. To have early success and build on that momentum and we were able to do that with Elijah’s early 60-yard touchdown run. I also thought our coaches did a great job with the game plan.”
The Falcons showed good balance on offense for the game. Coffman completed 8-of-13 passes for 142 yards, while Burton added 21 yards passing. Jones led the way in the ground game with 22 carries for 201 yards with three touchdowns.
Holt led the way in the receiving department with six catches for 143 yards.
East Kentwood receiver Caiden Holt. (Courtesy, Falcon News Network)
Kabanda led EK with seven tackles
Terrence Kabanda led the Falcons with seven tackles, while Tyler Meeuwsen added five tackles and one tackle for loss. Steph Jones had an interception for EK.
“This was a huge game for us,” Spencer said. “Caledonia is a good team; it was our first conference and it was a road game. It felt really good to get this win. We have West Ottawa and Hudsonville coming up and we want to keep improving and getting more confidence.”
The Falcons travel to West Ottawa this Friday and then return home on Sept. 27 to host Hudsonville.
Check out the exciting clips above from our latest Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like during basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
As a bonus, we’ll occasionally have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and have them join us in studio for a live interview.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Friday, Sept. 20: Wyoming vs. South Christian (at East Kentwood)
Friday, Sept. 27: Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 4: Zeeland East vs. South Christian (at Byron Center)
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
Last year’s Godwin Heights Wolverines began the season with several players sidelined due to off-field issues, resulting in an 0-5 start to the season.
Coach Brandon Kimble has brought a sense of stability to the head coaching position that he hopes will lead to on-field success. Kimble was the coach from 2018-2020 before taking over as the school’s athletic director, and again as head coach, one week before the 2022 season.
Godwin Heights Football. (Courtesy, WKTV)
“Last year left a sour taste in our mouths,” Kimble said. “Nobody was comfortable or happy with what took place last year on and off the field. I feel like this group has really bought in.”
The Wolverines lost a handful of senior leaders, including last year’s All-Conference running back Jeff Zelaya.
“We will miss the leadership of Miguel Ocampo, Jeff Zelaya, and Tellios Moore,” Kimble said.
However, the Wolverines also boast a roster full of young talent that logged crucial snaps last season.
Godwin will reload across the offense. Senior middle linebacker Patrick Knight also will play tight end on the offensive side of the ball, along with his brother junior Taisjon Allen. Juniors Kares Harris and Mikyius Witherspoon will rotate at the running back position.
Wyoming transfer junior quarterback Antwan Brown Jr. will lead the Wolverines’ offense.
“He’s fit in well,” Kimble said. “With the schools being so close, a lot of the players know each other and grow up with each other. There are players in our team he already knew and was comfortable with, so it has been an easy transition.”
It’s about more than just winning
Although winning on the field is always the goal, the top priority for Coach Kimble and his staff is to build outstanding men who can make a positive impact on their community.
Godwin Heights Football (Courtesy, WKTV)
“I have tried to put together a staff of good men who are doing the right things in their family lives and careers,” Kimble said.
“I want to win for sure, win a conference, eventually a state title, but I wouldn’t want to do that and sacrifice who they are going to become, and what they will become, in the community. It’s more important about who you are. You can win in football, but if you are losing in life, what success are you really having?”
Season opener delivers close score
Godwin Heights Football. (Courtesy, WKTV)
The Wolverines were stuffed on a 4th down conversion in the red zone during the game’s closing moments, suffering a 16-14 loss to Mason County Central in the Aug. 29 season opener.
“We are still excited despite the loss,” Kimble said. “When I took over, there were some discipline issues, so several players had to sit out. We wanted to clean that up and set that groundwork.
“I believe that has set us up to be successful this season and that we will have a different look and get back to the level of making the playoffs regularly as the program has in years past. We’ve had a great summer and off season to put us on a trajectory to accomplish those things.”
Looking ahead
Godwin (0-1) travels to former OK-Silver rival Kent City (0-1) on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.
Check out the exciting clips above from our first Friday Night Highlights show of the season featuring many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.
Just like during basketball season, every week we’ll bring you most of the local high school football home stadium action from the Wyoming and Kentwood varsity teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute Friday Night Highlights show.
As a bonus, we’ll occasionally have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and have them join us in studio for a live interview.
Look for our fast-paced local highlights show every Tuesday! Thanks for tuning in.
WKTV Game of the Week
Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Truck Game of the Week covers one matchup per week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, an occasional field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.
You can count on our very experienced, exciting game announcers for both football and basketball to guide you through your local team’s games. If you are interested in volunteering at WKTV Sports for our Truck or Studio productions, please email me at greer@wktv.org
Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. You also can watch these games on our WKTV YouTube Channel.
WKTV Truck Game of the Week Sked
Thursday, Sept. 5: Northview at Wyoming
Friday, Sept. 13: Belding at Kelloggsville
Friday, Sept. 20: Wyoming vs. South Christian (at East Kentwood)
Friday, Sept. 27: Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 4: Zeeland East vs. South Christian (at Byron Center)
Friday, Oct. 11: Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Friday, Oct. 18: Jenison at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct 25: Catholic Central vs. South Christian (at East Grand Rapids)
Improvement is the name of the game for the Kelloggsville football team this season and after the first game the Rockets are poised to blast off into the winning column.
The Rockets, who return an experienced core of players from last year’s squad, opened the season dropping a 38-22 decision at Grant. Kelloggsville looks to break into the win column this Friday when it hosts Battle Creek Pennfield.
The Rockets fell behind early in the opener at Grant, but came on strong during the second half.
“We fumbled the opening kickoff and at the half we were down 24-0,” Kelloggsville Coach Brandon Branch said. “We rallied back from there and tried to make a game out of it. The kids kept fighting and they made a game out of it in the second half.”
Kelloggsville scored three touchdowns in the second half as it cut into the Grant lead. Cameron Dunbar scored a pair of touchdowns for the Rockets on runs of three and four yards and Danyel White added a nine-yard touchdown run.
“We started out the game like a team that didn’t have a good week of practice,” Branch said. “We had an interesting week of practice with the heat and I think that set us back in the first half. We were stagnant in the first half. I was not pleased with the first half, but then we played a lot better in the second half. We definitely battled them and didn’t give up.”
Kelloggsville was led on offense by Dunbar who is the Rocket quarterback. Dunbar completed 11-of-17 passes for 186 yards with no interceptions and a long pass of 48 yards. Dunbar also rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.
White finished with 13 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Paul Shannon led the Rockets in receiving with four receptions for 84 yards, while Jaylen Phillips hauled in two passes for 57 yards.
On defense, the Rockets were led by linebackers Terrell Jones and Isaak Kowel and the defensive line rotation of Myrece Moore, Prince Baraka, Joaquin Hill, Elijah McKinney, Zane Hendricks, Alberto Estrada, Andrew Bacon and Gliore Bahome.
The Kelloggsville defensive line prepares to fire off the ball during the season opener at Grant. (Courtesy, chavezphotography, Alex Chavez)
“Our defensive line played pretty physical across the front,” Branch said. “Our linebackers Terrell and Isaak also had pretty good games.”
The Rockets are looking for the strong effort in the second half against Grant to carry over into this week’s game against Pennfield. The game is a rematch of last year’s game in week eight that saw Pennfield win.
“We played them last year and it was tied at the half,” Branch said. “They (Pennfield) pulled away in the second half. They had some big kids last year and a pretty good running back. We expect a tough game, but we are going to line up and play football and be physical.”
Kelloggsville entered the new season with a more experienced roster.
“We have a pretty even split between seniors and juniors,” Branch said. “We have a fairly experienced team and that is nice to have. We have five or six guys who have three years of varsity experience. We also have two or three juniors who have two years of varsity experience.”
Along with experience, this year’s team is more physical on both sides of the football.
“We are a more physical team than in the past,” Branch said. “I want us to be the more physical team when we play on Friday. Our depth is also going to help us out. We have 20 guys who are going to play a lot. I like our depth and physicality and we are also pretty fast across the board. We have above average team speed.”
Offensively, the Rockets look to have a balanced attack with Dunbar at quarterback and a strong group of running backs.
The Kelloggsville offensive line prepares to snap the ball during the opener with Grant. (Courtesy, chavezphotography. Alex Chavez)
“Cameron is an athletic quarterback,” Branch said. “He can pass when he sees the opportunity and he also does a good job of making his reads and finding the open guy.”
On defense, the Rockets are led by their linebackers.
“Terrell is a tough linebacker in the middle that likes to hit and get after it,” Branch said. “Isaak does a good job of setting the edge and likes to get physical.”
Overall, Branch likes the direction the team is headed in.
“We definitely had a much better offseason,” Branch said. “We have a lot of guys who played key roles for us back this year. I like the progress we are making.”
Lee Legends’ 2024 football season got off to a rough start Thursday, Aug. 29. They lost their quarterback, Anthony Blok, to injury and suffered a 41-18 defeat to Sacred Heart in WKTV’s Game of the Week.
Blok left the game after a hard hit on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Lee QB Anthony Blok suffered an injury in the third quarter of Aug. 29 opening game. (Courtesy, WKTV)
“Anthony is doing much better,” said third-year coach Lamar Marshall. “Resting, [but] most likely won’t have him next week for Homecoming.”
Lee defeated Sacred Heart 42-30 during the 2023 season, with Blok throwing for 253 yards and four touchdown passes.
Starting strong, losing momentum
Legends’ senior quarterback Blok threw touchdown passes of 46 and 51 yards to Jaden Potts and Aidan Merriweather, respectively, in the first quarter.
“We started off well, then lost momentum and missed a ton of tackles,” Marshall said.
Will Hyland, sophomore quarterback for Sacred Heart, was a one-man wrecking crew in the team’s first-ever varsity football victory. He scored all 41 points, including five rushing touchdowns, an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and five PATs.
Sacred Heart QB Will Hyland (#5) scores final touchdown of the first half. (Courtesy, WKTV)
Hyland finished the first drive of the season with an 18-yard touchdown run to open up the scoring in what would be a high-scoring first quarter.
Sacred Heart had a 20-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Both teams scored an additional touchdown, and Lee senior defensive back Jayden Pena intercepted a pass in the end zone. Sacred Heart led 27-18 at the end of the second quarter.
(Courtesy, WKTV)
Finding their rhythm
Sophomore Jaden Sanchez replaced Blok after the third-quarter injury, but was unable to get the Legends’ offense in rhythm. Coach Marshall is confident they have found a strategy that will best fit Sanchez.
“I believe we’ve found a formula that will work, running the ball and getting it out quickly,” Marshall said of his squad. “Our game plan going forward is fundamentals; we have to preach doing the fundamentals correctly.
“We missed a few opportunities such as not capitalizing after half, leaving yards and touchdowns on the field.”
Lee (0-1) will look for their first win Homecoming night, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m., against Calvin Christian (1-0).
The slate is wiped clean, and optimism fills the air as a new season begins at Wyoming High School.
The Wolves, who went 1-6 in conference play, exited the OK-Green and formed the new OK-Gold with Forest Hills Central (D-3 state champion last year), Unity Christian and perennial state title contender South Christian, along with Zeeland East and West.
Wyoming finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 1-8 under fourth-year Coach Carlton Brewster. The Ferris State University product will look to get his squad on track for the 2024 campaign.
“It will be a very competitive league with Forest Hills Central and South Christian,” Brewster said. “We have our hands full, but we are looking forward to getting better daily.”
The Wolves return quarterback Jay Johnson and bruising running back Jack Terveen to an offense that averaged 12.4 points per game.
Terveen averaged 6.5 yards per carry and looks to build off of his junior season which was marred by an early injury.
Terveen will be led by his offensive line anchored by senior duo CJ Anderson and Jackson Lamrouex.
Johnson only attempted 17 passes last season as he split time with Antwan Brown Jr., but also will use his legs in the run-first Wolves offense.
“These seniors are the heart of this team,” Brewster explained. “We also have others that are looking to step up.”
Junior Moses Brown looks to form a one-two punch with Terveen in the Wolves backfield. Senior receiver Julian Toscano also will be a key to the offense.
“Our goal is to focus on the everyday grind to get better each day,” Brewster said. “We need to focus on the small things. We’ve been getting better daily.”
Wyoming travels to Sparta for its season opener Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.
There is plenty of excitement around the East Kentwood football team as fall practice gets underway as a new chapter begins for the Falcon program.
East Kentwood has a new coach this season with the arrival of Tyrone Spencer, who coached at perennial state powerhouse Detroit Martin Luther King High School the past eight years. During that time, the Crusaders were a staple of the high school playoffs including winning back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022.
Spencer and his coaches and players are busy preparing for the upcoming season that begins Aug. 30 when the Falcons host Hartland.
So far, Spencer likes what he sees in this Falcon team that returns several key players.
“I’m excited about the work the guys put in,” Spencer said. “I’m excited about getting back to work and getting after it this year playing in the OK Red. I think it’s going to be fun.”
East Kentwood graduated several key players from last year’s squad that turned in a 3-6 overall record, but a number of talented veterans are back.
Running back Elijah Jones is one of the Falcons the team is happy to have returning. Jones is a 5-foot-11, 193-pound senior who rushed for 1,000 yards last season. A team leader as well as a productive running back, Jones likes the effort he is seeing from his teammates at practice and sees effort as being a strong point of this year’s team.
East Kentwood running back Elijah Jones, 2024. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
“Effort, especially. 100 percent every play,” Jones said. “Making sure we get hard work. Everybody to the ball on defense and offense executing the plays. Just hard work and effort.”
At quarterback, the Falcons have a pair of talented passers in the mix. Senior Drew Burton (6-2, 200) is back after being injured last season, while junior Kayd Coffman (6-2, 180) is a talented transfer from South Christian.
“Quarterback is looking really good,” Spencer said. “We got two really good guys. We got Drew Burton back from injury. He was going to be the starter last year before he got hurt. We also have Kayd Coffman who transferred from South Christian. Both of those guys have been outstanding, really great leaders. We plan on playing both of them and whoever has the hot hand will keep going, but we plan on playing both of those guys.”
Senior Caiden Holt and junior Ahman Edmonds are a pair of players that will log major minutes on both sides of the line at receiver on offense and in the secondary on defense. Holt and Edmonds are veteran receivers that will be a big part of Kentwood’s passing game.
A senior slotback, Holt likes the look of this year’s team.
East Kentwood senior slotback Caiden Holt, 2024. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
“We are definitely looking better than last year,” Holt said. “I feel like especially early, summer season, we’re way more going after it. Trying harder in practice. New offenses, we’re learning them, we’re going quick. We’re getting the defenses down and we are ready for this year.”
Edmonds also is a slotback on offense and lines up at cornerback on defense. Edmonds likes the attitude of the team and how that meshes with their new coach.
“I feel like we are hungry,” Edmonds said. “We got a lot of young dogs coming to work. We have a great coach coming in and helping us all be great.”
East Kentwood slotback/cornerback Ahman Edmonds, 2024. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
One of the strong points of this year’s team looks to be the offensive line where four big, strong and experienced starters return. Junior center Charlie Nichols (5-9, 265) returns to the middle of the line. Senior Nouha Diaite (6-2, 260) is stationed at a tackle, while seniors Andrew Durr (6-2, 300) and Matthias Granderson (6-2, 305) will line up at either tackle or guard.
Several of the Falcons who start on offense will also log major minutes on defense. The Falcon defense also is counting on linebacker Terrence Kabanda, outside linebacker Silas Mitchell (6-2, 195) and sophomore safety Donovon Jones (5-8, 185) to be among the leaders. Kabanda is one of the few returning starters on defense. Mitchell is a talented young player who also is coming back from injury, while Jones is a young player who the Falcons considered moving up to the varsity last season as a freshman.
While the Falcons are young on defense, they have plenty of talented players who are hungry to win.
East Kentwood outside linebacker Silas Mitchell, 2024. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
“The defense is coming around,” Mitchell said. “We’re young, but we have a bunch of studs that are coming up. We’re ready to compete. We’re very hungry. We want to make up for last year.”
Like the offense, the defensive line is shaping up as a strong point for the Falcons. Along with Diaite, Granderson and Durr, the defensive front will be led by senior Syncere Hobson-Washington (6-2, 285), a transfer from Grand Rapids Union who adds more size and strength to the defensive front.
The enthusiasm surrounding the program is evident by the turnout of players for the beginning of practice. The Falcons look to have around 60 players on the varsity team along with 30 on the JV and 45 on the freshman squad.
“We have a strong, cohesive group,” Spencer said. “These guys have been playing together since the seventh grade so I just think them being able to be unified, be together is going to be our strong suit.
The Falcons open the new season on Friday, Aug. 29 when they host Hartland at 7 p.m. Kentwood travels to Byron Center on Sept. 6 and then opens OK Red play on Sept. 13 at Caledonia.
WKTV Contributor Ty Marzean visited the Lee football field during opening week of practice to talk with players and Coach Marshall about the upcoming season. (WKTV, Ty Marzean)
By Ty Marzean
WKTV Contributor
greer@wktv.org
When Lamar Marshall came on as coach of the Lee football team, he had a goal to bring the Legends back to playing 11-Player football by his fourth season. Now in his third year at the helm, Marshall will accomplish just that as the Legends return to the traditional game in 2025.
“Our ultimate goal by year four for me was to get back to 11-man, and we have a great opportunity to do so,” Marshall said.
Lee football will be returning to the 11-Player game in 2025. (Courtesy, Ty Marzean)
A return to the traditional
Marshall has been working his team in 11-on-11 camps since last year in preparation for the return of the 11-man game.
“This summer has been strictly 11-man reps,” Marshall said. “We have actually been repping 11-man since last year to get ready.”
The varsity team will have close to 30 players this season, with a middle school team adding to the program numbers.
“We are starting to integrate the middle school guys on varsity football and how we do things around here.”
2024 will be the Legends’ fourth and final year playing 8-Player football.
Building from the ground up
(Image Courtesy, Wyoming Lee)
The Lee football program has been undergoing reconstruction since Marshall arrived before the 2022 season. In the first year, the Legends went winless with an 0-9 record. However, the tough lessons learned and game experience propelled Lee to their first winning record since 2006 with a 5-4 record in 2023.
This summer, Coach Marshall has emphasized the importance of building on the team’s improvements from a year ago.
“It’s like building a house,” Marshall said. “What are we going to add to the foundation we’ve built over the past two years? We have the cement foundation and exterior up, so what will we build now?”
Due to exceeding the enrollment limit, the Legends will again be ineligible for entry into the 8-Player tournament. The team’s goal for the season is to win the Southwest Michigan 8-Player Football League Blue Conference Championship.
“Our ultimate goal is a conference championship,” Marshall said.
Two Lee legends return to the field
Lee Senior QB Anthony Blok. (WKTV, Ty Marzean)
Two huge building blocks from the 2023 Legends will return to the field.
Senior quarterback Anthony Blok is set to build on last season, where he broke a school record with 29 touchdown passes while adding 2,500 yards passing.
“He’s been dedicated since the final game last year,” Marshall said of his senior signal caller. “He’s put on a lot of muscle this year with his work in the weight room.”
Junior wide receiver Aidan Merriweather led the Legends with 48 catches, over 900 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“Anthony and Aidan have a great relationship on and off the field,” Marshall said. “They are always on one another about practicing and getting better every day. They are two glue guys we will be counting on this year.”
The Legends: A force to be reckoned with
Blok and Merriweather will be joined on offense by a trio of juniors. Emmanuel Ramos and Jaden Potts will play wide receiver, and Issac Kibbe will slot in at tight end.
“Emmanuel was one of the most improved players this summer,” Marshall said. “He has soft hands and runs very crisp routes. He’s been a pleasant surprise.”
WKTV Contributor Ty Marzean visited the Lee football field during opening week of practice to talk with players and Coach Marshall about the upcoming season. (WKTV, Ty Marzean)
Potts will now play both ways after being a strong force playing the “Rebbie” position in defense last season.
Kibbe, a 4.2 GPA student, stands out at six feet playing tight end for the Legends.
Marshall also will have the opportunity to coach his son, freshman wide receiver Joseph Marshall.
Sophomore Jayden Sanchez will replace the departing Clarence Lewis as running back. Senior cornerback Jayden Pena will join Potts on the Lee defense, significantly reducing points allowed from 2022.
“Jayden was invited to Bowling Green’s prospect camp, so he’s out there making a name for himself,” Marshall said.
Legends featured in WKTV’s Game of the Week
The Legends will host Grand Rapids Sacred Heart in the first WKTV Game of the Week of the 2024 season at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29.
The South Christian football team has been busy the past two Thanksgiving weekends. Two years ago, the Sailors traveled to Ford Field and won the Division 4 state championship and last season they returned to the state finals, but fell just short of the end zone on the final play of the game.
The Sailors and their fans would like nothing less than spending Thanksgiving weekend in Detroit once again. To return to the finals, however, will require a host of young players to step up as the Sailors were hit hard by graduation. A host of seniors are gone from last year’s team that averaged 35.9 points per game and fashioned a 10-4 overall record. Developing new starters is job one for the Sailors as they opened fall camp last week.
While a large group of veterans have moved on, the Sailors do return a pair of key returnees who provide the team with a solid nucleus to build around.
Senior Carson Vis returns as quarterback
One of those returning players happens to be at the all-important quarterback position. Senior Carson Vis (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) is back after a glittering season last fall as a first-year starting quarterback. Vis finished the season passing for 2,972 yards and 34 touchdown passes along with 939 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on his way to earning all-state honors. Vis saved his best for last as he completed 30-of-44 passes for 441 yards and two touchdown passes in the state championship game while adding 72 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown.
South Christian QB Carson Vis. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
With a year of starting experience at quarterback under his belt and some promising young receivers stepping in, Vis is optimistic about how the offense is looking heading into the new season.
“I feel pretty good,” said Vis, who has committed to Western Michigan University in basketball. “Our offensive line is looking good. We’re strong up front and our receivers are catching the ball. I have a lot of trust in them and they make me look good a lot. We have some junior receivers who had big seasons on the JV and came up in the playoffs, so they kind of know what that playoff run is like so they should be ready. We’ve been practicing in the offseason throwing routes so we should be pretty good.”
Senior Tyler Brinks also is returning for the Sailors. Brinks is a 6-foot-6, 215-pound senior who has committed to Grand Valley State University to continue his career. Brinks will line up at tight end on offense and is a returning outside linebacker on defense.
The Sailors graduated four starters from the offensive line. South will count on senior Camryn Veltman (6-3, 210) to anchor the offensive line as he returns to the center position.
New offensive line, receivers and running backs
Along with finding new starters along the offensive line, the Sailors have to develop a new cast of receivers and running backs. Plenty of candidates are vying for playing time at those positions.
“Nobody that we have at running back got any reps last year,” South Christian coach Danny Brown said. “We have one guy, a senior, who had a few reps in games where he was able to get it. It’s a young group, there’s about three or four of them, and we’re still trying to figure out what’s that right mix. It’s so early to tell where it’s at, we kind of have a plan in place, but we’re going to need somebody to grab it.”
South Christian Football Coach Danny Brown. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
Among the players looking to contribute at running back are juniors Kasjen VanSolkema (5-11, 175), Brady VanNoord (5-11, 160) and Isaac Osterhaven (6-0, 185).
Wide receiver also is a work in progress with senior Bryce Kenyon (6-0, 160) and junior Owen Burgess (6-1, 180) among the receivers to watch for.
Receiver Jake Vermaas will be missed
“It’s going to be different,” Brown said. “Last year we had Vermaas (Jake) who had 98 receptions and he was the guy. This year we are going to spread it out more. We might not have as much experience as years past, but we’ve got some guys who can do some work.”
The Sailor defense also is restocking the starting positions. The secondary will have a new cast of starters as will the defensive line. The Sailors do have some experience to lean on at the linebacking positions.
Along with Brinks, who returns at outside linebacker, the Sailors bring back sophomore Greyson Hunderman (5-11, 185) who started at inside linebacker as a freshman last season. Senior linebacker Rowan DeKam (6-0, 180) also is back at an outside linebacker position.
“Fortunately, we have three of our four backers that we play will return having played meaningful snaps for us,” Brown said. “They are going to have to be good for us. A lot of the stuff that we do requires them to be good so I think we’re hopefully sitting pretty good there.
“Up front, it’s similar to our offensive line. We don’t know who is going to play. We’re shifting guys around and trying to figure that out and hopefully by game one we have a good rotation and we’re ready to rock.”
A tough new league
Not only will returning to Ford Field be a tall task for the young Sailors this season, but getting back to the playoffs will be a challenge in itself as South Christian has a rugged schedule. Making the schedule even more difficult is the fact that they are playing in a new conference this season after the OK Conference realigned at the end of the past school year. South Christian is now playing in the new-look OK Gold Conference that includes defending Division 3 state champion Forest Hills Central, Zeeland West, which reached the Division 3 state semifinals last season and Zeeland East, which went 6-4 last year.
The Sailors also face a rugged non-league slate with games against East Grand Rapids, who went 7-3 last year, West Catholic, 11-1 and reached the regional final last year, and Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 13-1 and won the Division 5 state title last fall.
“It’s a tough league,” Brown said. “That’s not one thing we can control, so whoever they say we have to play in league that’s who we get stuck with. The biggest thing for us is we’re excited about the competition of the teams that we are going to play and I think the other thing that is pretty cool is we are excited about the communities we get to play against.
“I think we are going to have a lot of fans at our games that are passionate, whether it’s South Christian football or whoever our opponent is, and I think that creates a good experience for the high school athlete.”
Nearly 100,000 Michigan high school student-athletes are anticipated to begin Fall 2024 practices on Monday, Aug. 12, across nine sports for which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors postseason tournaments.
The fall season includes the most played sports for both boys and girls; 35,174 football players and 19,119 girls volleyball players competed during the Fall 2023 season. Teams in those sports will be joined by competitors in girls and boys cross country, Lower Peninsula girls golf, boys soccer, Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving, Upper Peninsula girls tennis and Lower Peninsula boys tennis in beginning practice next week.
Competition begins Aug. 16 for cross country, golf, soccer and tennis, Aug. 21 for swimming & diving and volleyball, and Aug. 29 for varsity football. Football teams at all levels must have 12 days of preseason practice – over a period of 16 calendar days – before their first game.
In girls volleyball this season, for the first time, the top two teams in each District bracket will be seeded based on Michigan Power Ratings (MPR) that take into account a team’s regular-season success and strength of schedule. Those two seeded teams will be determined the Sunday prior to the final week of the regular season and placed on opposite sides of their District brackets.
Boys soccer also will see a slight change to its seeding this fall, as the entire bracket will be seeded based on MPR, not just the top two teams as in previous seasons.
The 11-Player Football Finals schedule at Ford Field also will have a slightly different lineup and earlier start times. On both Friday, Nov. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 30, the first games of the day will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the final games of both days slated to start at 7 p.m. On Nov. 29, Division 8 at 9:30 a.m. will be followed by Division 4 at 12:30 p.m., Division 6 at 4 p.m. and Division 2 at 7 p.m. to conclude the day. On Nov. 30, Division 7 kicks off at 9:30 a.m., followed by Division 3 at 12:30 p.m., Division 5 at 4 p.m. and Division 1 at 7 p.m. to finish the weekend.
A few more game-action rule changes will be quickly noticeable to participants and spectators.
In football, uniforms now must have clear contrast between the colors of the jersey body and numbers; for example, white numbers with blue outline on a white jersey are no longer allowed. The visiting teams must wear white uniforms, and home teams must wear dark jerseys that clearly contrast with white.
In soccer, the eight-goal differential rule remains but with the addition of a running clock during the first half if the differential reaches eight.
In volleyball, line judges beginning this fall will switch sides of the court between sets.
The 2024 Fall campaign culminates with postseason tournaments beginning with the Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals during the week of Sept. 30 and wrapping up with the 11-Player Football Finals on Nov. 29 and 30.
Participation in Michigan High School Athletic Association-sponsored sports rose for the third-straight school year in 2023-24 – this time by nearly one percent – and continued to do so despite another 2-percent decrease in school enrollment among the MHSAA’s 754 member high schools.
A total of 270,664 participants were counted across the 28 sports for which the MHSAA sponsors postseason tournaments – a 0.97-percent increase from 2022-23, despite a 1.8-percent decrease in MHSAA member school enrollment. Boys participation rose 1.1 percent to 158,260, despite a 1.8 percent decrease in boys enrollment. Girls participation rose 0.7 percent to 112,377, while girls enrollment dipped 1.9 percent from the previous school year.
Boys total highest since 2018-19 school year at 158,260 participants
MHSAA participation totals count students once for each sport in which they participate, meaning students who are multiple-sport athletes are counted more than once. The boys participation total for 2023-24 was its highest since 2018-19, predating the sharp decrease brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-21 school year.
Girls golf and lacrosse growing
Only 11 sports saw increases in participation during 2023-24 – compared to 18 sports that reported increases between 2021-22 and 2022-23. However, two sports set participation records this past school year. Girls golf reported 3,936 athletes, an increase of 6.2 percent from the previous year and that sport’s most since 2002-03. Girls lacrosse broke its record set in 2019-20 with 3,245 athletes, up nine-tenths of a percent from the previous year.
Large wrestling increase attributable to another jump in girls participation (39 percent)
Wrestling reported the largest increase in participation for the second-straight school year, this time by 12.8 percent with 11,814 athletes – and the rise again mostly attributable to the rapid growth in girls participation in the sport, which jumped another 39 percent with 1,216 wrestlers this past season. Girls tennis enjoyed the next largest participation jump, increasing 9.1 percent with 8,911 athletes, that sport’s most since 2018-19.
Both girls and boys track & field increased for the third-straight year, girls by 5.2 percent to 17,325 competitors and boys 2.9 percent to 23,888. Boys lacrosse (up 3.9 percent to 5,236 athletes) and boys golf (up 3.3 percent to 7,222) also joined their girls counterparts in those sports in trending upward.
Football remains most-played sport statewide at 35,174 participants
Boys soccer (up 5.1 percent to 13,953 athletes), girls competitive cheer (3.9 percent to 6,172) and football (11 and 8-player combined – 0.5 percent to 35,174) also showed increases. Football remains the most-played sport statewide with more than 11,000 more athletes than the next highest, boys track & field, and the 2023-24 football participation total was that sport’s highest since 2018-19. Boys basketball (20,199 participants), girls volleyball (19,119) and girls track & field ranked third through fifth, respectively, among the state’s most-played sports this past school year.
Although 17 sports saw lower participation in 2023-24 than the previous year, five experienced decreases smaller than the overall 1.8-percent loss in enrollment at member schools – boys ice hockey (-0.03 percent with just one fewer participant than in 2022-23), girls soccer (-0.3 percent), girls volleyball (-0.8 percent), boys tennis (-1.2 percent), boys cross country (-1.3 percent) and girls softball (-1.5 percent). Girls cross country just missed that line with only a 1.9-percent decrease from the previous year.
The participation figures are gathered annually from MHSAA member schools to submit to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for compiling of its national participation survey. Results of Michigan surveys from the 2000-01 school year to present may be viewed on the MHSAA Website – www.mhsaa.com – by clicking on Schools > Administrators > Sports Participation Listing.
Alexa Boersma led the Sailors with 25 goals and 10 assists this season. (Photo Courtesy, South Christian High School)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
greer@wktv.org
The South Christian girls soccer team finished the season as one of the top eight teams in the state in Division 3, but a case can easily be made that the Sailors were actually one of the top two teams.
South Christian’s season came to an end when it dropped a 1-0 match to eventual state champion and long-time rival Unity Cristian in the regional title game at South. The one-goal decision was by far Unity’s closest match in the state tournament as the Crusaders won all of their other state tournament matches by at least a three-goal margin, including the Division 3 state title match where the Crusaders defeated Grosse Ile 3-0 to clinch their second straight state title.
“The regional final game was one of those moments that come about in high school sports,” said South Christian Coach Joel VandeKopple. “Two really good teams competing at the highest level in front of a great crowd. I look back on it and think it was a `coin flip’ type of game, with both teams getting chances and giving everything they had. It is obviously disappointing that we came out on the losing end, but we gave everything we had.”
South Christian reached the regional title match by defeating Three Rivers 5-0 in the regional semifinals. Alexa Boersma led the offense in the semifinals with a pair of goals while Hayden Donker, Katelyn VanderArk and Meredith Helmus added one goal apiece.
Katelyn VanderArk had 20 goals and 11 assists this season. (Photo Courtesy, South Christian High School)
The Sailors advanced to the regional after winning the district title where they claimed an 8-0 win against Delton-Kellogg and a 3-0 win against Allegan.
“I was incredibly proud of our girls for winning the district title,” VandeKopple said. “It is always one of the main outcome goals for us, and to do it against a couple of tough opponents meant a lot to us.”
OK Gold and Division 3 District Titles
The Sailors, who finished the season with an 18-3-2 overall record, turned in an outstanding regular season as well that included winning the OK Gold championship for a third consecutive season.
“Winning the conference is another outcome goal for us,” VandeKopple said. “We went through a week in the middle of the year where we dropped some points in the league, which would have made it very easy for our girls to lose sight of the goal. Instead, they kept focusing on the process and ended up winning the conference outright.”
South also posted some noteworthy efforts in non-league games including a 4-3 win against eventual Division 2 state champion Spring Lake in the regular-season finale.
Many highlights this season
“There were many highlights this season,” VandeKopple said. “Among the highlights were winning the OK Gold championship, winning districts, beating a couple of final four teams including a state champion (Spring Lake) in Division 2 and great games with Division 1 schools Rockford and Hudsonville.”
A big part of South Christian’s success this season was their ability to play outstanding team defense while having a potent offense capable of putting up multiple goals in each match. South Christian’s defense posted 15 shutouts this season. Offensively, the Sailors were led by Alexa Boersma who scored 25 goals and added 10 assists. Katelyn VanderArk added 20 goals and 11 assists, while Meredith Helmus totaled 17 goals and seven assists.
Strong senior class
South Christian also received strong contributions from its four-player senior class.
“We only had four seniors this year but they were integral to the team’s success,” VandeKopple said. “Katelyn VanderArk, Maci Burgess, Gabi Burgess and Emerald Hoekwater were our four seniors. They came to practice every day ready to work hard and set the tone for the rest of the girls. They also made sure everyone was on the same page and working in the same direction.”
That direction resulted in the Sailors becoming one of the premier Division 3 teams in the state under VandeKopple who was in his first year as head coach of South Christian.
“We had an unbelievable season this year,” VandeKopple said. “It’s always different when a new coach comes in and having a really young team, but the girls bought into everything the coaches asked of them and we ended up having a fantastic season.”
With a small senior class, the Sailors will have a large group of players returning next season and the outlook for the soccer program is promising.
“We had a fairly young team, so the majority of our players will be returning,” VandeKopple said. “Alexa Boersma and Meredith Helmus will be two returning players up front, while our entire starting backline will return and looking to build on a great defensive season. Olivia Int’hout is one of the best goalies that I’ve seen this year and she returns for her senior season next year.”
The Michigan High School Athletic Association is accepting registrations online or by mail for game officials for the 2024-25 school year.
The MHSAA registered approximately 8,700 officials for the 2023-24 school year, an increase of nearly five percent over 2022-23 as the ranks continue to build back toward pre-COVID totals.
All officials who register may sign up for up to two sports as part of their registration. Officials also will receive membership in the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), which comes with a variety of educational and training resources and the NASO’s Shield liability insurance that will provide $6 million in coverage for officials while they are working both MHSAA and non-MHSAA events.
For new and returning officials, a $70 fee covers registration for up to two sports. Officials may register for additional sports at $16 per sport.
To avoid a $30 late fee, all fall sport registration applications must be received by Aug. 19, 2024. Winter sports registrations must be received by Nov. 18 to avoid the late fee, and spring sports registrations must be received by March 24, 2025.
Online registration can be accessed by clicking “Officials” on the home page of the MHSAA Website at https://www.mhsaa.com. More information about officials registration may be obtained by contacting the MHSAA by phone at 517-332-5046 or by e-mail at register@mhsaa.com
There is an officials’ registration test for first-time officials and officials who were not registered during the past school year, derived from the MHSAA Officials Guidebook. New officials and those who didn’t officiate during 2023-24 also must complete the online MHSAA Principles of Officiating course. Additional exams must be taken by those registering for football or basketball for the first time or those who were not registered for those sports during the previous school year. Links to the Officials Guidebook, Principles of Officiating presentation and the football and basketball mechanics manuals can be found by following the “New Officials” link on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website.
Officiating opportunities for students
There also are opportunities to officiate for students at least 14 years old and in grades 9-12 through the MHSAA Legacy Program. Juniors and seniors may officiate subvarsity contests, while freshmen and sophomores may officiate contests at the middle school/junior high levels. Mentor officials will work events with Legacy participants to provide guidance and support. Find information on the Legacy Program by clicking “Officials Registration” on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website and following the “Legacy Program” link.
One of the highlights of the season for the Pinery Park Little League is the annual celebration day and this year’s event was as “wonderful” as any.
This year’s parade of players and celebration event took place Saturday, June 8, at the Pinery Park diamonds. Along with the annual parade of all the baseball and softball players from T-ball to juniors, all were introduced to family and friends who were on hand for the event with television coverage provided by WKTV. The players also were treated to free hot dogs, chips and a drink following the ceremony prior to games taking place at Pinery Park.
“It’s a wonderful event,” said Pinery Park Little League president Kevin Franke. “It’s a way to reach out to the community and reward the kids for a wonderful season and their families, and of course the weather cooperated with us as well.”
Prior to the annual parade of players, Franke spoke to them, their coaches, parents and families about the season and also thanked the many sponsors and volunteers who make Pinery Park Little League and the baseball/softball facilities at Pinery Park among the finest in the area.
“The season has gone really well,” Franke said. “We had a lot of involvement with parents and we appreciate that as we are a volunteer-run organization. And we had very little rain problems this year. Our participation numbers were above normal this year and we really appreciate that. We have seen a big increase in parent involvement within the teams, helping out those coaches, and we’re really impressed by that.”
Little league players line up in a colorful display of the teams in the Pinery Park Little League annual celebration. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Pinery Park Vice President Mandy Peterson is one of those parents that helps out. Peterson has two children participating in the league and also is on the league board. Peterson has a daughter that plays in the coach-pitch league and a son who plays in the majors baseball.
“The season has been really great,” Peterson said. “Lots of involvement from the families and the community. All of our sponsors throughout the league, it’s been great.”
While the celebration was part of putting the finishing touches on a great regular season of little league play, tournament play is about to begin for the players and teams. A team tournament is set to begin at Pinery Park and after that the annual all-star games take place later this summer with District 9 Little League players beginning their pursuit of a national title in their respective divisions.
50-year Little League volunteer Doug Hansen; 35 years with WKTV
One of the volunteers of the Pinery Park Little League is Doug Hansen. He began helping with the Southwest Little League program some 50 years ago before coming to the Pinery Park Little League over 35 years ago. Hansen has worn many hats during his little league career including umpire and board member. As an umpire, Hansen spent years working balls and strikes and became one of the top little league umpires in the nation, working at three national tournaments.
Doug Hansen is at home on the fields of the Pinery Park Little League or behind a camera at a high school sporting event for WKTV. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)
Hansen got his start in umpiring at the Southwest Little League by chance.
“A friend of mine was coaching a team and he asked me to come watch the team,” Hansen said. “That day they didn’t have an umpire show up so he asked if I’d mind stepping in. I knew how to call balls and strikes, and out calls, so I stepped in. That’s how I started out in little league.”
From there Hansen’s umpiring career took off and eventually he worked events like a big league boys world series in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, a senior boys national final in Kissimmee, Florida, and the Taylor, Mich., junior boys world series where he still goes down and helps out each year.
These days you can find Hansen at the fields almost daily during the season making sure the diamonds are in near pristine shape, chalking the lines and helping make the seven diamonds at Pinery Park look like the classic little league fields of yesteryear.
Another thing that Hansen notices hasn’t changed is the love of the game by the players and coaches throughout the years.
“We have some pretty good kids,” Hansen said. “The kids have been pretty much the same throughout the years. They love to play and have fun. The coaches are also great. They do a great job with the kids.”
Doug Hansen running camera for WKTV. (WKTV)
35 years volunteering with WKTV
Along with volunteering for the Little League, Hansen has been a volunteer for 35 years with WKTV and its coverage of high school and amateur sports in the Kentwood and Wyoming area.
“I have done a little bit of about everything at the TV station,” Hansen said. “I’ve worked in the production truck, the cameras, just about anything you can think of. It’s pretty much all been with sports. Sports is what I’ve always enjoyed.”
Lee baseball Coach Ty Emelander (left) with Detroit Tigers legend Denny McLain during the annual “Stubby Overmire” Sports Card Show and Silent Auction. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
Lee baseball coach Ty Emelander has been roaming the dugout at Stubby Overmire Field for the last 20 seasons.
The 2024 season marked his final year leading the baseball program at his alma mater.
Emelander took on the head coaching role in the winter of 2004, becoming the third coach in three years.
“It was my dream job,” Emelander said. “I applied at Rogers, and the Lee coach applied as well. So when they gave him the job, I was happy about it. My first call was to Denny Groendyke, the school board president. I was excited I had a chance to go back to my old school, where I wanted to be anyway.”
Lee Coach Ty Emelander (left) and GR Christian Coach Steve Westdorp from the 2024 District tournament. (Courtesy, Ty Emelander)
The Lee baseball program quickly changed under his leadership, as the former Rebels participated in their first spring trip down south to Georgetown, Kentucky, in his first season.
“The first trip down south was Denny Groendyke and John TerBeek wanting to jump-start the baseball program. We raised some funds, but the school board was very supportive and helped us with that first trip.”
A district title in his first season
Emelander’s first season ended with a district title, thanks to a promising young core and only two departing seniors.
“The first day we worked out in the gym, I knew we had some talent. I was told that might not be the case, but we did.”
The 2024 Legends finished the season with a 5-17 record, during which Emelander achieved his 300th career win as a head baseball coach.
“We were about there sometimes, but we just couldn’t get over the hump. I really enjoyed this team.”
Former player Harrison Yang became a standout pitcher under Emelander from 2010 to 2013.
Coach Ty Emelander and Harrison Yang, 2013. (Courtesy, Ty Emelander)
“Coach Ty was/is the most important male role model I had growing up,” Yang explained. “It was God’s grace that he was placed in my life, and it was God’s grace that I had such an incredible man to look up to, whom I saw as another father figure. Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give to Coach Ty is the simple promise that the future generations of my family has been undoubtedly changed thanks to him and his wonderful obedience to the Lord. I owe much of who I am today to that man, and now my children will also reap the great lessons I’ve learned from Coach Ty as a result.”
Emelander said that’s kind of him because he has a great father.
“Harrison is a great kid,” Emelander said. “Harrison is the perfect example of a Lee kid that I watched grow up. I loved coaching him. He was the type of kid who would say, ‘Yes, coach,’ and try as hard as he could.”
From 2008 to 2015, Lee consistently achieved a top-10 state ranking each season and placed second in the OK Silver multiple times.
“In 2008, we had a great team; we went to the regional finals and took second in the conference, but Allendale was state runner-up that year,” Emelander said. “We could just never capitalize; the conference was always strong.”
Decades before taking control of the Lee baseball program, Emelander was a catcher on the 1978-1980 teams. The Rebels picked up a district title his senior year.
“We went 16-5 my senior year, but we lost the regional finals on a walk-off home run against Lansing Catholic Central,” he explained.
All in the family
The Godfrey-Lee community runs deep in the Emelanders’ blood. Cyrus and Amanda, both of Emelander’s children, played at Lee.
“I never coached Cyrus until high school, and I always let others coach him,” Emelander said. “It wasn’t hard for me to coach him, but it was probably harder for him, not wanting to think he was being favored because he was the coach’s son.”
Daughter Amanda in the softball record books
Emelander’s daughter, Amanda, holds the top spot in Michigan with home runs in five consecutive at-bats and is second in the nation.
“She’s all over the state record books,” Emelander said. “They won three consecutive conference titles. Amanda is arguably the best softball player in school history.
“My kids had to share their dad with a lot of other kids growing up. I know they enjoyed it, though, and we don’t have any regrets.”
Also a Lee football coach for a time
Emelander became the head coach of the Lee varsity football team in 2012 after the program had hired head coaches in each of the previous three seasons. During that time, the Lee football program also started a youth league, with as many as 50 elementary players participating in the program.
Emelander has raised over $200,000 in 18 years
Emelander’s impact on the Lee community is far-reaching as he’s raised over $200,000 in 18 years for the baseball program through the “Stubby Overmire” Sports Card Show and Silent Auction.
While coming up through the Detroit Tigers farm system, two-time Cy Young winner and 1968 World Series pitcher Denny McLain was coached by former Lee High School graduate Frank “Stubby” Overmire.
Emelander started the annual fundraiser with a couple calls to former players of Overmire and then came The Call.
“Denny McLain called me up and wanted to come and I didn’t even know it was him,” Emelander said. “I thought it was one of my friends just joking around with me on the phone. Denny was a huge part of getting this event going and keeping it rolling. One day alone in the past he signed over 400 autographs, and has often signed over 200 at our events. And he does it all for free.”
For the entire Stubby Overmire fundraising story, click here.
A photo of Tigers pitcher Denny McLain for sale at the Lee baseball fundraiser. (WKTV/Ty Marzean)
Emelander finishes his time at Lee with 227 wins over 18 varsity seasons, losing one season to COVID-19 and one in which Lee only fielded a JV team. Before coming to Lee, Emelander collected 74 wins in five seasons as head coach at Creston High School.
“So many people have helped me along the way; it’s such a long list; if I start naming them, I know I’d forget a few,” Emelander said. “I had a great time at Lee and will always pull for the Legends.
“I was a player, coach, a parent, and now I’ll be a fan.”
The action shifts into overdrive at Berlin Raceway as the track hosts three nights of racing over an eight-day span highlighted by the “Money in the Bank” feature, one of the premier races of the summer at Berlin.
The run of racing begins this Saturday at Berlin Raceway with a full lineup of action. Headlining is the non-wing sprint cars that will be racing in the Auto Value Part Store 40, part of the sprint car tour. Also on the lineup card is a Limited Late Model race, a 4-cylinder race and a Midget car race.
Dorr’s Matt Postma a Limited Late Model driver
Matt Postma, of Dorr, is one of the drivers looking to take the checkered flag in the Limited Late Model race. An up-and-coming driver, Postma is currently in sixth place in the division, but hopes to move up the standings in a division dominated by some talented veterans.
Matt Postma (Car #6 of Dorr, Michigan) is a young and upcoming driver in the Limited Late Model division who is looking to move up the standings as he competes this Saturday and Saturday, June 15 at Berlin. (Courtesy, Berlin Raceway)
“I’ve had some up and down weeks for sure this season,” Postma said. “We’re definitely making progress this year. In this division it’s all about seat time. You have to get that experience. This division has some great drivers like Tim DeVos, Denny Anderson, Josh Frye and Billy Eppink, who have years of experience on me. I have to get that seat time and experience and try to catch up.”
Postma is in his fifth year of racing and second year competing in the Limited Late Model division. He has been making steady progress and this year with three top-five finishes to his credit in the division that is led by Frye.
Like many of the drivers at Berlin, Postma grew up going to the races as a youth and caught the racing bug at an early age.
“I grew up going to Berlin with my dad and grandpa,” Postma said. “My grandpa was a huge fan. Every Saturday we would head out to Berlin and watch the Late Models and Outlaws.”
Hudsonville’s Nate Walton in action
While the Limited Late Models are in action this Saturday and next, they will be off next Wednesday, June 12, when the Money in the Bank feature takes center stage at Berlin. Postma will still be in action at Berlin for the Money in the Bank feature as he will be helping out Hudsonville’s Nate Walton, one of the drivers going after the $15,000 first prize in one of the two biggest races of the summer at Berlin.
“Nate has helped me out a lot and any chance I get I try to help him out,” Postma said.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones, seen celebrating last year, is back to defend his title at the Money in the Bank race on Wednesday, June 12 at Berlin Raceway. (Courtesy, Berlin Raceway)
Big-name drivers Erik Jones, Carson Hocevar and Bubba Pollard
Walton is one of several local drivers in the Super Late Model division taking on several high-profile drivers who will descend on Berlin looking to take home a big payday and the checkered flag. Among the big-name drivers competing at Berlin in the Money in the Bank race are NASCAR Cup Series drivers Erik Jones and Carson Hocevar along with Bubba Pollard.
“The Money in the Bank race is a big draw,” said Andrew Postma, Operations Manager at Berlin Raceway. “It’s a chance for the local guys to race against some of the guys on the NASCAR Cup Series. It’s also a chance for our fans to see a guy like Carson who just raced at St. Louis to practice and race at Berlin.”
FREE admission to June 11 practice
Berlin race fans also have the opportunity to watch practice for free on Tuesday, June 11. Practice is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is free general admission for spectators.
Berlin caps the busy week of racing with a full slate of action on Saturday, June 15. The Ohio Wheelman Super Stocks headline the card along with the Wheelman Modifieds, NA-Compacts, Vintage Racing Organization of America (VROA) and the Scrappers. The VROA is a club dedicated to preserving a form of circle track racing that was prevalent during the 1940’s to 1960’s. The June 15 card is on Father’s Day weekend and plenty of giveaways are planned for dads including a beer special.
Tickets for all three nights of racing are available online. Fans also can save some money on their tickets by getting them ahead of race day on line at the Berlin Raceway website.
With three school records already as a sophomore at Wyoming Lee High School, Autumn Johnson just might one day reach her Team USA idol’s status down the road.
Johnson currently holds the school record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 8.08 seconds, 100-meter dash at 12.80 and the 200-meter, 26.52.
“Watching Autumn train and compete has been an inspiration to all of us,” said Lee Girls Track and Field Coach Sekayi Bracey, “Her dedication, hard work and passion for the sport are evident in every practice and race. Autumn embodies the spirit of perseverance and excellence that we strive to instill in all our athletes.”
Understandably, her idol is Team USA track star Sha’Carri Richardson.
“Despite facing setbacks in her career, she never stopped fighting, even when people doubted her,” said Johnson of Richardson. “She made a strong comeback, better than ever, and I feel a connection to her story. At the beginning of this season, I came in injured and had to work my way back up.”
As a freshman at Louisiana State University, Richardson broke the 100-meter collegiate record at the NCAA Division 1 Championships. She has won two gold medals and one bronze in the World Championships for Team USA.
Johnson wins 400-meter dash at regionals
At the Division 2 regional qualifier on May 18 in Sparta, Johnson won the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.51, giving her the second fastest time in Lee history. She also took third place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.80, breaking her previous school record.
Those performances led Johnson to be the only Legends qualifier at the state finals last weekend in Hamilton, where she finished 10th in the 400-meter dash.
“These victories are not just mine, the accomplishments are a reflection of the encouragement and support that I receive from my coaches, teammates, family and the Godfrey-Lee community,” said Johnson, who also has played varsity basketball as a freshman and sophomore. “I am grateful for everyone who has been a part of this journey and I am looking forward to achieving even more.
“One of my goals is to attend Michigan State University to continue my track career. Throughout high school, my aims are to make it into the top five in the state of Michigan and to place first in states within the next year or two. I also hope to attract attention from Division 1 colleges to further my track career at the collegiate level.”
Excels in the classroom as well
Lee Athletic Director Andre’ Sargent said beyond the track, Autumn excels in the classroom (3.9 GPA), in community service and is a role model for peers.
“Autumn’s achievements academically, socially and athletically are commendable, and we are proud to have her as part of our community and athletic program,” Sargent continued. “As she continues to excel, we are excited to support her in future endeavors, on and off the track. Her success is a source of pride for the entire Godfrey-Lee community and a powerful reminder of what it takes to truly ‘Be Legendary.’ That is commitment and hard work.”
Former Indy car driver and The Bachelor contestant Arie Luyendyk Jr. will be competing in the MSR series winged sprint car event at Berlin Raceway this Saturday. (Photo Courtesy, Berlin Raceway/Arie Luyendyk Jr.)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
It’s one of the staples of summer in West Michigan and with the weather heating up the action at Berlin Raceway in Marne also is shifting into high gear.
This summer WKTV Journal will be keeping an eye on the happenings at Berlin Raceway. Berlin has a full slate of racing action over the next few months with drivers from all over West Michigan competing including several drivers from Wyoming.
This weekend Berlin Raceway promises plenty of fun for the whole family not only on the race track, but in the stands as well. This Saturday is 80’s retro night at the track and the folks at Berlin are asking everyone to join in on the fun and wear their retro 80’s outfits, tie dye and neon.
On the track, one of the highlights of the evening is the season-opening race in the Must See Racing (MSR) Sprint Series presented by Perfect Parts.
The season opener was originally set for Sandusky Speedway, but was twice cancelled due to rain.
Blonde, Hamilton and McCune featured Saturday
The lineup of drivers entered for the race is an impressive one including defending MSR series champion Jason Blonde and multi-time MSR 2024 feature winners Davey Hamilton Jr. and Jimmy McCune.
The winner of the 30-lap feature will take home $4,000 and the race has attracted drivers from several states. Former Little 500 winners Jeff Bloom and Bobby Santos III are among the drivers entered.
Arie Luyendyk Jr. races Saturday in the Winged Pavement Sprint Car events
Another big name also is slated to compete in the race. Arie Luyendyk Jr. plans to compete in a handful of Winged Pavement Sprint Car events on the MSR series beginning with the season opener this Saturday at Berlin Raceway.
Former Indy car driver and The Bachelor contestant Arie Luyendyk Jr. will race his winged sprint car, sponsored by Jiffy Lube, Saturday at Berlin Raceway. (Courtesy, Berlin Raceway/Arie Luyendyk Jr.)
Luyendyk Jr. announced that he has obtained a partial season sponsorship with Jiffy Lube, His familiar red #25 will now carry Jiffy Lube proudly on the side of the car as well as the top wing.
The second-generation driver is the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk Sr. Arie Luyendyk Jr. has had a versatile career and has driven several different cars in his career including events in the Indy Car Series, Stadium Super Trucks, IMSA and Indy Lights cars. Luyendyk Jr. also qualified for the 2006 Indianapolis 500.
Luyendyk Jr. gained additional fame by starring in the ABC television show ‘The Bachelor’ in 2018. He has a huge social media following thanks in part to his appearance on ‘The Bachelor.’
(Courtesy, Berlin Raceway)
Plenty of West Michigan drivers, including Wyoming
While Luyendyk Jr. brings a national name to Berlin Raceway this weekend, plenty of West Michigan drivers and Wyoming drivers have been making news since the racing season kicked off at the end of April. In the Sportsman Division, Ryan Holtzlander of Muskegon is at the top of the standings. Josh Frye of Coopersville is just 20 points behind in second place. Allen Davis of Wyoming is in 11th place in the Sportsman Division and has three top-10 finishes to his credit.
In the 4 Cylinder Division, David Simpson of Hopkins is in first place with two wins to his credit so far while Nathan McNabb of Coopersville is in second place. Richard Succaw of Wyoming is in 17th place.
In the Super Late Model Division, Evan Szotko of Coopersville is in first place followed by Joe Bush of Hastings in second place. Brian Campbell of Wyoming has a top-10 finish in three races this season in the Super Late Model Division and is in ninth place overall in the standings.
In the Limited Late Model Division Tim Greene of Grand Rapids is in first place, followed by Josh Frye of Coopersville, second. Allen Davis of Wyoming is in 14th place and has one top-10 finish in two races.
(Courtesy, Berlin Raceway)
Limited Late Model, Dwarf Cars and Mini Wedge races
Along with the MSR winged sprint cars, this Saturday’s action includes a Limited Late Model race, Dwarf Cars and Mini Wedge race.
The Saturday, May 25 lineup for the Memorial Day Weekend features another packed slate of races including races in the Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Sportsman, 4 Cylinder and Scrappers Division.
Racing action will continue every week during June, July and August and then on two weekends in September, including September 7 which is Chet Championship Night, and September 21; Monster Truck Throwdown. Among the highlights during the summer are the Money in the Bank feature on June 12, the Ohio Wheelman Superstocks and Ohio Wheelman Modifieds on June 15, an ARCA race June 29, Supermodifieds on July 12 and July 13, and the Tekton 250 Battle of Berlin on August 7.
Gates open for this Saturday’s racing action at 2 p.m. with racing starting at 4 p.m. For more information and all the summer lineups, log on to Berlin Raceway.
South Christian junior Davis Kemper fired a no-hitter against Cedar Springs. (Courtesy, Travis Kuhfeldt)
By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
The South Christian baseball team may not have a roster full of players who are committed to playing baseball in college, but that’s not stopping the Sailors from challenging for the title in one of the most competitive baseball conferences in West Michigan.
As the baseball season heads for the home stretch, the South Christian baseball team finds itself in first place in the rugged OK Gold Conference that includes a Forest Hills Eastern team that is ranked third in the state in Division 2. Heading into the second week of May, the Sailors have a 13-6 overall record under first-year Coach Harris Fondren.
“The season is going really well,” Fondren said. “We have some good pitching and our offense is looking good. We don’t have a lot of kids committed to playing Division 1 baseball like a lot of other teams do, but we do have a lot of kids who play together as a team and are a lot of fun to be around. They love the process and make sure the job gets done.”
The Sailors have racked up some impressive wins in the conference highlighted by a 1-0 no-hitter victory against Cedar Springs.
The South Christian baseball team is off to a 13-6 record this season and is in first place in the OK Gold. (Courtesy, Travis Kuhfeldt)
South Christian junior pitcher Davis Kemper tossed the no-hitter with plenty of help from his defense. Kemper threw a total of 87 pitches during the no hitter with 59 of the pitches being strikes. Kemper allowed just two walks while allowing no hits.
“Davis controlled the strike zone really well,” Fondren said. “Our defense also did a great job of getting outs. Our middle infielders, Ethan Vostad and Jamin VanGrouw, played out of their minds. They made sure no balls got out of the infield. It was a real team no-hitter.”
Kemper, who has a fastball clocked in the low 80s, is also starting to get looks from college baseball teams.
“The thing is Davis didn’t even have his best stuff in the no-hitter,” Fondren said. “His fastball was around 78, but he was hitting his spots and kept getting outs. He is just a great young man who is coming into his own.”
So far this season Kemper has two wins and a save. In 20 2/3 innings pitched he has allowed just five hits and six walks with one earned run and 31 strikeouts. Kemper also has a 0.34 earned run average.
The Sailors also are getting solid pitching from Logan Henry. In 18 innings of work Henry has a 1.55 earned run average with 13 strikeouts. Henry also has a pair of wins including a complete game shutout of Cedar Springs where he threw 82 pitches.
“Logan has been awesome for us,” Fondren said. “He has four different pitches in his arsenal and he has great control.”
(Courtesy, Travis Kuhfeldt)
The Sailors also have been getting the job done at the plate. Kemper has been among the batting leaders this season with a .421 batting average and a .493 on-base percentage. Noah Funk is hitting .383 with a .567 on-base percentage while VanGrouw is hitting .342 with a .527 on-base percentage.
“Noah Funk is a Calvin College football commit and he has helped us immensely,” Fondren said. “He is our No. 2-hole hitter and he has been bringing it all season. He has scored 20 runs this season and has been doing a really good job.”
Wyatt Vliestra is another hitter who has been igniting the offense this season.
“Wyatt also has a crazy on-base percentage,” Fondren said. “In the big moments Wyatt always seems to be on base. He always seems to find a way to get on base.”
The Sailors also are getting big contributions from leadoff hitter Charlie Schruer.
“Charlie is a great leadoff hitter,” Fondren said. “The way he can work pitchers and get the pitch count up has been big for us. He just eats up opposing pitchers with the way he can get the pitch count up. He is also hitting close to .300 with an on-base percentage over .350. He is also on pace to break the school record for stolen bases in a season. He has 26 so far this year and the record is 28. He has only been caught stealing once.”
South also is getting outstanding play from Caleb Herder at the catcher position.
“Caleb has just absolutely been killing it at catcher,” Fondren said. “He has a great leadership style and he comes to play every day.”
Fondren also is quick to credit his coaching staff for the success of the team this season.
“I think we have the best coaching staff in the state,” Fondren said. “Steve Ritsema, Jake Ritsema and Ted Titus have been so good for our team. They are a big part of the whole culture we are building with the team, not just as baseball players but as young men.”
Overall, Fondren is happy with how the team is performing this season and how the team and program is growing both on and off the field.
“What a great group of men of God we have,” Fondren said. “I have been so pleased with this team and the culture that we have. Some of our best players are part of the ministry groups that our school sends out on weekends. We have some great young men who play together and love being together. They are just so great to be around.”
