The West Michigan Aviation Academy boys basketball team avenged an early-season loss on Tuesday, Feb. 13, by edging out Alliance League rival Grand River Prep by a score of 69-61.
The Aviators continue their conference slate on Friday night at Zion Christian in Byron Center.
(And WKTV’s featured game coverage crew will be there covering it for cable and on-demand replay. For complete list of upcoming local sports and WKTV featured games see our weekly sports schedule.
The Aviators (6-2 in league; 9-5 overall) fell to the Titans, 55-41, early on in the season in a non-conference spat. But, with league implications on the line Tuesday night on the road, Micah Broersma and Sam Ver Steeg dialed up brilliant games from long range to power WMAA to a victory.
Broersma finished with a game-high 26 points. He was 8-for-14 from behind the 3-point line while Ver Steeg added 14 points, which included a 4-for-8 performance from deep. The Aviators finished 13-for-26 (50 percent) from long range and 26-for-50 from the field as a whole.
Darnell Frye added 10 points for West Michigan Aviation Academy, followed by eight points from Bakar Dadiri and seven points from Ryan Robertson. Dadiri also added eight assists while Robertson paced the rebounding effort for WMAA with 10 boards.
Both teams went into the locker room at half time gridlocked in a 29-all tie, but it was the Aviators that stormed out in the second half to take control of the game. WMAA outscored the Titans 21-10 in the third frame and held on the rest of the way.
WKTV Note: Are you a student, parent, fan or coach of local high school sports interested in submitting stories to WKTV Journal for run on our website? Contact Ken at ken@wktv.org .
The WKTV sports truck will be busy as usual as it heads out twice this week for featured game coverage, first with a boy’s basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Wyoming High School as the OK Gold Conference leading Wolves (8-1 in conference; 12-4 overall as of Feb. 9.) hosts Wayland (2-5; 6-9 as of Feb. 9).
Then on Friday, Feb. 16, we will be covering both boys and girls games at Zion Christian as they host West Michigan Aviation Academy.
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com .
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
The remainder of the tentative February broadcast schedule includes:
Saturday, Feb. 17 – Boys Hockey – South Christian/BC at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Feb. 20 – Boys Basketball – Muskegon Oakridge at Tri-Unity Christian
Friday, Feb. 23 – Girls and Boys Basketball – East Grand Rapids at Wyoming
Saturday, Feb. 24 – Boys Hockey – FH Central at East Kentwood
Monday, Feb. 12
Boys/Girls Bowling
Unity Christian @ South Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
West Catholic @ Potter’s House
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Zeeland East @ Wyoming
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
Girls Cheer
Wyoming Lee @ FH Northern – NorthStar Invitational
Wyoming @ FH Northern – NorthStar Invitational
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Girls Basketball
East Grand Rapids @ South Christian
Godwin Heights @ Belding
West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep
Wellsprings Prep @ Zion Christian
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Wayland @ Wyoming
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ Algoma Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fennville
Boys Basketball
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids
Belding @ Godwin Heights
Heritage Christian @ Potter’s House
West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep
Wellsprings Prep @ Zion Christian
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Wayland @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Event
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fennville
Wednesday, Feb. 14
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Boys Wrestling
State Team Regionals @ TBA
Girls Cheer
Wyoming @ Comstock Park
Thursday, Feb. 15
Girls Basketball
Potter’s House @ Wellsprings Prep
Boys Basketball
Potter’s House @ Wellsprings Prep
Boys/Girls Bowling
Potter’s House @ Tri-Unity Christian
Friday, Feb. 16
Girls Basketball
South Christian vs Covenant Christian @ Calvin College
West Michigan Aviation @ Zion Christian – WKTV Featured Event
Grand River Prep @ Fruitport Calvary Christian
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Christian @ Wyoming – Hall of Fame Night
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River
Boys Basketball
South Christian vs Covenant Christian @ Calvin College
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
West Michigan Aviation @ Zion Christian – WKTV Featured Event
The City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department is taking registrations for its spring softball leagues. (WKTV)
Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department is offering multiple softball leagues, including coed and men’s, for community members to participate in this spring.
The department is looking for community members who are interested in joining their adult softball leagues. Registration for adult slow-pitch softball is currently open for the spring season.
“We work to provide quality programming to Wyoming citizens of all ages,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, Director of Community Services. “Our adult softball leagues are a great way for individuals to stay active, work as a team and have fun.”
A 10-game season for the coed league is offered Monday-Friday and Wednesday-Thursday for men’s leagues. The fee is $475 per team. Additional men’s league, offered Mondays and Tuesdays, will be a 12-game league and with a $530 cost per team. All leagues include a single-elimination tournament at the end of regular season.
The registration deadline for adult softball is Monday, March 19. For more information, or to register your team, please contact Recreation Programmer Kenny Westrate at 616-530-3164 or westratek@wyomingmi.gov.
About Wyoming Parks and Recreation
The City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department is committed to creating community through people, parks and programs by providing services, facilities and activities for the citizens of Wyoming and the greater metropolitan area. For more information about other Parks and Recreation special events or programs, please contact the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164 or parks_info@wyomingmi.gov or visit our web site at: www.wyomingmi.gov.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of Wyoming and Kentwood sports events as well as government meetings, including the monthly Government Matters meeting. (WKTV)
As basketball playoffs loom, the WKTV sports truck will be out twice this week for featured game coverage, and both games will have conference title implications.
First, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, we will be at East Kentwood High School for a girls basketball game as the Falcons place their undefeated record (7-0 in OK Red Conference; 15-0 overall) on the line when they host Caledonia (4-3, 11-3).
Then, on Friday, Feb. 9, we will be at Kelloggsville for a boys basketball game when the Rockets (4-2 OK Silver, 10-2 overall) will host Wyoming Lee (1-5, 4-9).
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com .
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
The rest of WKTV’s February featured game broadcast schedule includes:
Tuesday, Feb. 13 — Boys basketball, Wayland at Wyoming
Friday, Feb. 16 — Girls and boys basketball, West Michigan Aviation at Zion Christian
Saturday, Feb. 17 — Boys hockey, South Christian/BC at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Feb. 20 — Boys basketball, Muskegon Oakridge at Tri-unity Christian
Friday, Feb. 23 — Girls and boys basketball, East Grand Rapids at Wyoming
Saturday, Feb. 24 — Boys Hockey, FH Central at East Kentwood
The complete schedule for local sports events includes:
Monday, Feb. 5
Boys/Girls Bowling
Wyoming @ South Christian
Belding @ Godwin Heights
FH Northern @ Potter’s House
Wyoming Lee @ Tri-unity Christian
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
Girls Basketball
Potter’s House @ NorthPointe Christian
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Girls Basketball
South Christian @ Christian
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
Holland Calvary @ Potter’s House
West Michigan Lutheran @ West Michigan Aviation
Muskegon Catholic Central @ Zion Christian
Caledonia @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
Boys Basketball
Christian @ South Christian
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Holland Calvary @ Potter’s House
Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ Grand River Prep
Zion Christian @ Maple Valley
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Muskegon Orchard View @ Tri-unity Christian
Boys Swimming
South Christian @ Christian – Quad Meet
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Boys/Girls Bowling
Zeeland @ South Christian
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
Wyoming @ Unity Christian
Kelloggsville @ Belding
Girls Cheer
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Wyoming Lee @ Belding
Kelloggsville @ Belding
Wyoming @ Zeeland West
Boys Wrestling
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights – Team Districts
Wyoming Lee @ West Catholic – Team Districts
Wyoming @ East Kentwood – Team Districts
Thursday, Feb. 8
Boys Bowling
Grandville @ East Kentwood
Boys Swimming
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Girls Basketball
Tri-unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary Christian
Boys Basketball
Tri-unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary Christian
Friday, Feb. 9
Girls Basketball
Wyoming @ South Christian
Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
Potter’s House @ Covenant Christian
Algoma Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran
Boys Basketball
Wyoming @ South Christian
Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
Potter’s House @ Covenant Christian
Algoma Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep
Heritage Christian @ Zion Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville – WKTV Featured Event
Boys Hockey
South Christian @ Christian
East Kentwood @ Chelsea
Girls Cheer
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Kelloggsville @ Caledonia
Saturday, Feb. 10
Boys Hockey
Christian @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ Chelsea
Boys Wrestling
Individual Districts @ Byron Center
Individual Districts @ Grand Haven
Individual Districts @ Belding
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Wyoming @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Girls Dance
East Kentwood @ Davenport University – Davenport Invite
Girls Cheer
Wyoming Lee @ Lakewood – Valentine Cheerfest
Wyoming @ Delta Plex
Boys Basketball
Tri-Unity Christian @ Lansing Christian
Girls Basketball
Tri-unity Christian @ Lansing Christian
Monday, Feb. 12
Boys/Girls Bowling
Unity Christian @ South Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
West Catholic @ Potter’s House
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Zeeland East @ Wyoming
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
Girls Cheer
Wyoming Lee @ FH Northern – NorthStar Invitational
The winter seasons are not just in full swing but are quickly heading toward their respective tournament portions.
Boys wrestling begins the process with team Districts at various sites on Feb. 7-8, followed by individual Districts on Feb. 10, team Regionals on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, individual Regionals on Feb. 17, team Finals on Feb. 23-24 at The Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, and completely close out the season with individual Finals on March 3-4 at Ford Field in Detroit.
Girls cheerleading also starts their tournament run with Districts Feb. 16-17, state Regionals on Feb. 24 and state Finals also March 3-4 at The DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids.
Both boys and girls bowling will hold their Regional tournaments on Feb. 23-24 and a quad of state champions will be crowned the first weekend in March, at various sites depending on the division.
Ice hockey will start tournament play late in the month with Regionals between Feb. 26 and March 3.
Lastly, girls basketball tournament will tip off what is commonly called March Madness but a week early during the last week of February this year. WKTV will be there to bring some of the action to the viewers, so be sure to check the weekly schedule.
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com .
The busy tentative February WKTV feature broadcast schedule includes:
Thursday, Feb. 1 — Boys swimming, Grand Haven at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 2 — Boys basketball, Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday, Feb. 6 — Girls basketball, Caledonia at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 9 — Boys basketball, Wyoming Lee at Kelloggsville
Tuesday, Feb. 13 — Boys basketball, Wayland at Wyoming
Friday, Feb. 16 — Girls and boys basketball, West Michigan Aviation at Zion Christian
Saturday, Feb. 17 — Boys hockey, South Christian/BC at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Feb. 20 — Boys basketball, Muskegon Oakridge at Tri-Unity Christian
Friday, Feb. 23 — Girls and boys basketball, East Grand Rapids at Wyoming
Saturday, Feb. 24 — Boys hockey, FH Central at East Kentwood
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Following is the end of this week’s schedule:
Thursday, Feb. 1
Boys Swimming
South Christian @ Hastings
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event
Boys Basketball
West Michigan Lutheran @ Holt Martin Luther
Girls Basketball
Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian
Friday, Feb. 2
Girls Basketball
South Christian @ FH Eastern
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House
Holland Black River @ West Michigan Aviation
West Michigan Lutheran @ Zion Christian
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Boys Basketball
South Christian @ FH Eastern
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House
Holland Black River @ West Michigan Aviation
WMAES @ Zion Christian
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Covenant Christian @ Kelloggsville
Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian – WKTV Featured Event
Boys Hockey
South Christian @ Portage Central
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Boys Wrestling
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – O-K Red Conference Meet
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools inducted four into its Hall of Fame earlier this month, two individuals who made an impact in the classroom, one on the basketball court and in the community, and a series of cross country teams worthy of the name “Team of the Decade”.
The induction ceremony took place prior to a varsity boys basketball game on Jan. 12 at Lee High School, but as is the custom at the district, the inductees were not only athletes and athletic teams.
The team honored with entry to the Hall of Fame honor was actually not a single team, but a series of cross county teams — The Team of the Decade of the 1970s, as it is often called.
Art Kraai, himself a member of the Hall of Fame, accepted the award for his teams. (WKTV)
While the teams and team members were honored, it was their coach, Art Kraai, himself a member of the Hall of Fame, who accepted the award. Coach Kraai read off a long list of accomplishments for the Long Blue Line in dominate cross county seasons from 1971 to 1982, including the boys winning four state titles and the girls winning one — noting that it wasn’t until late in the run that girls even had state competitions.
One thing that unified all the teams, was the coach’s rallying cry, which he repeated as he closed his remarks: “Back in my day, we would say, ‘Coach, coach, open the door and let those Rebels on the floor’.”
Douglas Greenwold was a star Rebel in the class room and on the basketball team. (WKTV)
First up of the individuals on the honor roll was Douglas Greenwold, who was a star Rebel in the class room and on the basketball team — being named valedictorian leading the Rebels to the 1960 state finals — and then went on to play on University of Michigan’s first Final Four team in 1964. He earned his bachelors and two masters degrees at U-M, and went on to a long career in business and a continuing career in religious studies, including as an author and a teacher.
James D. Skidmore brought a passion for teaching and head for accounting to Lee high school. (WKTV)
The next honoree was James D. Skidmore, who brought a passion for teaching and head for accounting to Lee high school. Skidmore earned a bachelors degree from Ferris Institute and a masters from Michigan State University before joining the Lee staff in 1958. As a Rebel, he not only taught bookkeeping and accounting but also was faculty advisor for the Echo yearbook, Arial student newspaper and the National Honor Society. His late wife, Sally, was also a teacher at Lee. Skidmore went on to a long and distinguished teaching career at Grand Rapids Community College before retiring in 1999. But you know that they say: once a Rebel, always a Rebel.
Since the early 1960s, Patricia Camp Bartlett has been involved with the high school and the school district in literally all levels. (WKTV)
The final individual honored was Patricia Camp Bartlett. Since the early 1960s, she has been involved with the high school and the school district in literally all levels. She attended Lee, graduating in 1965, with four years in the band and four years in the Future Teachers of American group — a harbinger of a career to come. After getting her bachelors degree from Michigan State, she returned to Lee as a teacher in 1969, later earned a masters degree, and went ton to spend 37 years in district classrooms. In 1990, she was a state finalist for Michigan Teacher of the Year. After retiring in 2005, she remains active in the school district including as part of the Feeding America food distribution program at Lee high and currently serving on the Godfrey-Lee Education Foundation Board of Directors.
After a popular 2017 race that sold out in five days and raised thousands for charity, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is once again hosting a Runway 5K on airport grounds.
The Runway 5K is slated for the morning of Saturday, Oct. 6. The race will begin near the cargo facilities, under a runway tunnel, loop around by the airport fire station, and wrap around on Runway 8L/26R – GFIA’s general aviation runway. The Airport’s two other commercial aviation runways will still be operational.
“We are excited to bring back the Runway 5K after such a successful 2017 event. We had such great feedback from the community and sponsors that had a chance to participate in an event normally being used for aircraft, that we had to bring it back,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “We are giving West Michigan a chance to experience our facility like never before. This event will not only encourage family time, but it is promoting a healthy lifestyle and aviation as well as benefitting a wonderful local charity.”
GFIA is hosting the event for a small registration fee, but the Airport has selected Make-A-Wish Michigan as its charity of choice to donate the proceeds for the second straight year. 2017’s event raised $10,000 for Make-A-Wish Michigan.
“We’re delighted that the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is hosting this event once again to benefit Make-A-Wish Michigan,” said Karen Davis, president & CEO of Make-A-Wish Michigan. “It’s through the generous support of our Michigan community, like our friends at GFIA, that we are able to grant life-changing wishes to Michigan children and bring hope, strength and joy at a time when they need it most.”
“Make-A-Wish Michigan does tremendous work in our community, and we are thrilled to be able to donate proceeds from our Runway 5K to this organization,” said Gill. “We see Make-A-Wish kids in our airport on a regular basis, and although we wish that was less frequent; we are happy to help grant more wishes in West Michigan through this donation.”
Participants are encouraged to sign up early as registration prices vary. Registration for the race starts at $32/person, but goes up as capacity fills. Registration includes a t-shirt, post-race snacks/beverages, awards for top finishers, and other giveaways. For those wanting to participate in a one-mile fun run/walk, the fee starts at $18/person and goes up as capacity fills. For those wanting to participate in a one-mile fun run/walk, the fee starts at $18/person and goes up as capacity fills. Participants can register at: http://triviumracing.com/event/runway5k2018
WKTV’s sports crew will be on the road early this week with an Tuesday, Jan. 23, OK Silver conference boys basketball showdown as Northpointe Christian (3-1 conference; 7-3 overall) visits conference-leading Godwin Heights (5-0; 9-1). Then later in the week, on Thursday, Jan. 25, the crew will be taking to the pool as Grandville will visit East Kentwood’s swim center for a meet.
And, just in, WKTV has added to its January schedule with a Tuesday, Jan. 30, basketball game at Wyoming Potter’s House.
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com .
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Jan. 22
Boys/Girls Bowling
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
Kelloggsville @ Wellsprings Prep
Wyoming @ Wayland
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Kelloggsville @ Belding
Hudsonville @ Wyoming
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Holland Black River @ Potter’s House
Algoma Christian @ Grand River Prep
Zion Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Hudsonville Home Schoolers @ West Michigan Lutheran
Middleville T-K @ South Christian
Boys Basketball
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Game
Belding @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ Hudsonville
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Holland Black River @ Potter’s House
Algoma Christian @ Grand River Prep
Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Zion Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
Boys Swimming
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Boys/Girls Bowling
Hopkins @ Godwin Heights
Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Boys Wrestling
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
Kelloggsville @ Sparta
Zeeland East @ Wyoming
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Girls Cheer
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ Hamilton
Thursday, Jan. 25
Boys Swimming
Grandville @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Game
South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Boys/Girls Bowling
Tri-Unity Christian @ Potter’s House
Friday, Jan. 26
Boys Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Zeeland East
Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids
Belding @ Wyoming Lee
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Tri-Unity Christian @ Potter’s House
West Michigan Aviation @ Calvary Christian
Zion Christian @ Algoma Christian
Creative Technologies @ West Michigan Lutheran
Wayland @ South Christian
Girls Basketball
Covenant Christian @ Godwin Heights
Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Tri-Unity Christian @ Potter’s House
Zion Christian @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Calvary Christian
Creative Technologies @ West Michigan Lutheran
Wayland @ South Christian
Boys Hockey
Kalamazoo United @ East Kentwood
Parma Padua Franciscan (OH) @ South Christian/BC/Wayland – Catholic Showcase
Saturday, Jan. 27
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Rockford
Wyoming @ Rockford
Boys Wrestling
Godwin Heights @ Northview
Wyoming @ Montague
Wyoming Lee @ Reed City
East Kentwood @ Lakewood
Girls Cheer
Kelloggsville @ Caledonia
Wyoming @ Caledonia
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Girls Dance
East Kentwood @ St. John
Boys Hockey
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Parma Heights Holy Name (OH) @ South Christian/BC/Wayland – Catholic Showcase
WKTV’s sports crew will be on the road early this week with an OK Red conference boys basketball showdown as West Ottawa visits East Kentwood on Tuesday, Jan. 16. West Ottawa will enter with a conference-leading 3-0 record (6-1 overall) while East Kentwood enters 1-1 (3-6 overall).
The remainder of the tentative January Featured Game broadcast schedule is:
Tuesday, Jan. 23 — Boys Basketball: NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Thursday, Jan. 25 — Boys Swimming: Grandville at East Kentwood
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktv.viebit.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Key conference games, as well as Wyoming Lee’s annual Hall of Fame games, are on the schedule this week as WKTV’s sports crew will be on the road Jan. 12 with a doubleheader of boys and girls basketball at Wyoming High School when the South Christian Sailors challenge the Wolves in a pair of key early year OK Conference Gold games.
On the girls side, Wyoming enters with an 0-1 conference record, 4-3 overall, after opening up OK Gold play with a tough 49-46 road loss at Thornapple Kellogg Friday, Jan. 5, and before another road game Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Forest Hills Eastern. South Christian will enter 1-0 in conference after a 59-29 home win over Forest Hills Eastern Friday, 5-2 overall, before hosting Grand Rapids Christian Tuesday.
On the boys side, Wyoming enters with an 1-0 conference record, 4-2 overall, after opening up OK Gold play with a 67-37 win at Thornapple Kellogg and before a home game Tuesday, Jan. 9, against Forest Hills Eastern. South Christian will enter 1-0 in conference, 4-1 overall, after a 56-50 win Forest Hills Eastern Friday and before a road game at Christian Tuesday.
Wyoming Lee will host Kelloggsville on Friday in the school’s annual Hall of Fame game.
The remainder of the tentative January Featured Game broadcast schedule is:
Tuesday. Jan. 16 — Boys Basketball: West Ottawa at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Jan. 23 — Boys Basketball: NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Thursday, Jan. 25 — Boys Swimming: Grandville at East Kentwood
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktv.viebit.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Jan. 8
Boys/Girls Bowling
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
Unity Christian @ Wyoming
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Catholic Central @ Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday Jan. 9
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Caledonia @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Game
Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Martin
Zion Christian @ Holland Calvary
West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Hopkins @ Tri-Unity Christian
Christian @ South Christian
Boys Basketball
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Covenant Christian @ Potter’s House
Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep
West Michigan Aviation @ Martin
West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Hopkins @ Tri-Unity Christian
South Christian @ Christian
Girls Cheer
@ East Kentwood – Falcon Invite
Wednesday, Jan. 10
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
Wyoming @ Zeeland East
Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee
Boys Wrestling
Godwin Heights @ Coopersville
NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
TBA @ Wyoming Lee
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Girls Cheer
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Boys Hockey
Catholic Central @ East Kentwood
Thursday, Jan. 11
Boys/Girls Bowling
Wyoming Lee @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Swimming
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Friday, Jan. 12
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
South Christian @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Game
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ Creative Technologies
Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian
Boys Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
South Christian @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Game
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee – Hall of Fame Game
West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Holland Calvary @ Grand River Prep
Calvary Christian @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ Creative Technologies Academy
It is common practice to honor the flag prior to the a high school basketball game, to stand for the playing of the national anthem. But South Christian High School pushed honoring America, and American service members and veterans, to an whole other level at a game last month when it hosted a special veterans recognition ceremony.
At the Sailors’ Dec. 15 game when it hosted Caledonia, a special ceremony between the girls and boys games honored U.S. Navy SEAL David Warsen, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2012, and well as other servicemen and women that have sacrificed their lives. It was also a benefit for the David Warsen Foundation and Warriors Set Free, a Grand Rapids based organization for veterans run by veterans to help deal with PTSD, suicide, anxiety, depression, and other life issues.
The event was the creation of two South Christian students, seniors Andrew Haan and Will Warsen.
David Warsen “was a cousin of my friend Will, my partner in organizing the event,” Haan said to WKTV. “I know Dean VanderMey who is on the board at Set Free Ministries, I told him about this project and he referred me to Steve Prince, the main person at Warriors Set Free, which is an offshoot of Set Free Ministries.”
For Prince, it was not his first time working with the David Warsen Foundation and it all fit perfectly with his ministry’s mission.
“I was invited to the South Christian event by Andrew Haan, his brother is connected to Set Free Ministries,” Prince said to WKTV. “I have also attended several events with the David Warsen Foundation. A large part of my ministry is spreading the word about what we are doing, so being at that event helped to inform more people about our mission. I also spent some time (at the game) talking with people who are already connected to Set Free Ministries and military vets.”
Warriors Set Free — “Where the hurting and the Healer connect”, according to its website — “is a (Christian-based) ministry run by Veterans for Veterans. Typically a Veteran will only be comfortable talking to another Veteran about the experiences they have had in a war or military service. Trying to explain your military experience to a civilian has its challenges. We remove that problem by training Vets to help Vets. Our director, founder and volunteers are all Veterans.”
The New Year has started and with it most local high school basketball teams began the conference portion of their schedules. WKTV will continue to be there bringing its viewers at least one Featured Game matchup each week, so, as always, if you can support your local school and its student-athletes in person do so, but then join in on the broadcasts.
WKTV’s sports crew will be on the road Jan. 5 with a doubleheader of boys and girls basketball, with Grand River Preparatory High School at Wyoming Potter’s House on the girls side, and Kelloggsville High School at The Potter’s House High School on the boys side. Then on Jan. 6, the crew will be at South Christian High School for a boys hockey game against Catholic Central High School.
The remainder of the tentative January Featured Game broadcast schedule is:
Friday, Jan. 12 — Girls and Boys Basketball: South Christian at Wyoming
Tuesday. Jan. 16 — Boys Basketball: West Ottawa at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Jan. 23 — Boys Basketball: NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Thursday, Jan. 25 — Boys Swimming: Grandville at East Kentwood
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Tuesday, Jan. 2
Boys Basketball
Grandville @ Wyoming
Wednesday, Jan. 3
Boys Wrestling
Godwin Heights @ Spring Lake
Kelloggsville @ Spring Lake
Wyoming @ Hamilton
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Girls Cheer
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Girls Basketball
Benton Harbor @ Godwin Heights
Boys/Girls Bowling
Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ South Christian
Belding @ Wyoming Lee
Thursday, Jan. 4
Boys Wrestling
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Boys Swimming
@ East Kentwood
Boys Basketball
TBA vs Grand River Prep – GR Drive Winter Classic @ The DeltaPlex
Girls Basketball
WMAES @ West Michigan Lutheran
Friday, Jan. 5
Girls Basketball
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
Holland Black River @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian
TBA vs West Michigan Lutheran — GR Drive Winter Classic @ The DeltaPlex
FH Eastern @ South Christian
Boys Basketball
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
Kelloggsville @ Potter’s House — WKTV Featured Game
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
TBA vs Grand River Prep — GR Drive Winter Classic @ The DeltaPlex
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian
Zion Christian @ Holland Calvary
FH Eastern @ South Christian
Girls Cheer
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Boys Hockey
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores — Stan Konrad Tournament
South Christian/BC/Wayland @ Lansing Catholic
Saturday, Jan. 6
Boys Wrestling
Godwin Heights @ Allendale
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming
Girls Cheer
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Fruitport
Kelloggsville @ Fruitport
Wyoming Lee @ Jenison
Boys Swimming
East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids
Boys Hockey
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores — Stan Konrad Tournament
Catholic Central @ South Christian/BC/Wayland — WKTV Featured Game
West Michigan Lutheran and West Michigan Aviation Academy, shown in a WKTV featured game from last year, are among the small high school teams featured in the Drive Winter Classic. (WKTV)
The WKTV sports broadcast team is in the midst of taking a holiday break, returning with basketball Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, and hockey the next day. But there is some local high school action this week and next including several local basketball tournaments highlighted by a special small-high-school basketball tournament at a big-time venue — The Drive Winter Classic at The Deltaplex Arena in Grand Rapids.
“The tournament was put together to feature the talent in small school basketball,” Eric Frohriep, President of the All-Star Officials Association, said to WKTV. “The Grand Rapids Drive have been working with me to put this on. … The officials are donating their game fees to raise travel expenses to work the National Dwarf Games in Orlando, Fl., this summer.”
The bracket for the tournament will begin at The Deltaplex on Thursday, Jan. 4 at noon with a boys game between Grand River Preparatory High School and Calhoun Christian High School. That game will be followed, at 4 and 6 p.m., by another boys game featuring West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science (WMAES) and Holt’s Martin Luther High School, and then by a girls game between WMAES and West Michigan Lutheran High School. (The Calhoun Christian girls team has a bye and will automatically advance to the tournament finals.)
The tournament will conclude Friday, Jan. 5, at The Deltaplex with the boys championship at 1:30 p.m. and the girls championship at 3:30 p.m.
All games are $5 to attend. and following the girls title game, fans can also Fans buy tickets for the Wisconsin Herd vs. Grand Rapids Drive game at 7 p.m.
The consolation game of the boys bracket will be played at West Michigan Lutheran, with the boys game at 6 p.m.
The girls team of Cedar Spring’s Creative Technologies Academy is also participating, but is not a MHSAA school so are not in the tournament portion of the Classic, Frohriep said. They are playing the Calhoun Christian girls at 2 p.m. at The Deltaplex on Jan. 4, and playing the loser of the girls opening round game at West Michigan Lutheran, also on Jan. 5.
For more information visit about The Deltaplex Arena visit deltaplex.com. For more information on the All-Star Officials Association visit their Facebook page.
Small high schools will also be the focus of the return of WKTV’s high school sports coverage in the new year.
WKTV’s sports crew will be on the road Jan. 5 with a doubleheader of boys and girls basketball, with Grand River Preparatory High School at Wyoming Potter’s House on the girls side, and Kelloggsville High School at The Potter’s House High School on the boys side. Then on Jan. 6, the crew will be at South Christian High School for a boys hockey game against Catholic Central High School.
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Catholic Central – Baker Tourney
Wyoming @ Catholic Central – Baker Tourney
Kelloggsville @ Catholic Central – Baker Tourney
East Kentwood @ Catholic Central – Baker Tourney
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Kelloggsville Holiday Tourney
Boys Basketball
TBD @ Wyoming Lee – Rebel Basketball Tourney
Thursday, Dec. 28
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Kelloggsville Holiday Tourney
Boys Basketball
TBD @ Wyoming Lee – Rebel Basketball Tourney
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Friday, Dec. 29
Boys Basketball
Godwin Heights vs FH Central @ Cornerstone University
The WKTV sports broadcast schedule will give you three games over two nights as our coverage truck makes visits to East Kentwood and West Michigan Aviation this week.
Tuesday night the truck and crew will be heading to East Kentwood for a boys basketball game against East Grand Rapids. Game time is 7 p.m. Friday night, the crew will be at West Michigan Aviation, where both the girls and boys teams will be hosting Wyoming Lee. The crew will then take the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day off before returning in the new year.
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Dec. 18
Boys/Girls Bowling
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Christian @ Wyoming
Girls Cheer
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Tuesday, Dec. 19
Boys Bowling
Wellsprings Prep @ Godwin Heights
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Boys Basketball
Wyoming Lee @ Tri-Unity Christian
South Christian @ Calvin Christian
East Grand Rapids @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Game
West Michigan Lutheran @ Barry County Christian
Grand River Prep @ West Michigan Aviation
Girls Basketball
Calvin Christian @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids
Grace Christian @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Lutheran @ Barry County Christian
Manistee Catholic Central 2 tri-Unity Christian
Wednesday, Dec. 20
Girls Cheer
Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Wyoming @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Boys Basketball
Catholic Central @ Godwin Heights
Boys Wrestling
Wyoming Lee @ Comstock Park
Wyoming @ Holland
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Thursday, Dec. 21
Boys/Girls Bowling
Wyoming @ Allendale
Friday, Dec. 22
Boys Basketball
Wyoming Lee @ West Michigan Aviation – WKTV Featured Game
Wyoming @ Kenowa Hills
Cedar Springs @ Kelloggsville
Lansing Christian @ Potter’s House
Girls Basketball
Wyoming @ Kenowa Hills
Lansing Christian @ Potter’s House
Wyoming Lee @ West Michigan Aviation – WKTV Featured Game
Boys Hockey
East Kentwood @ Catholic Central
Saturday, Dec. 23
Boys Wrestling
Kelloggsville @ Martin
Monday, Dec. 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
Tuesday, Dec. 26
Boys Basketball
Godwin Heights vs Covenant Christian @ Cornerstone University
The winter portion of the WKTV sports broadcast schedule tips off this week with three basketball games on two nights.
Tuesday night the truck and crew will be heading to Kelloggsville where the Rockets will host the Potter’s House Pumas in girls’ basketball. Potter’s House had a 2-1 record heading into their Friday night game against Barry County Christian while Kelloggsville had a 1-1 record before their pair of games last week against Union and West Michigan Aviation. Game time is 7 p.m.
Friday night, the crew will be at South Christian where both the girls and boys Sailor teams will be hosting the Fighting Scots from Caledonia. There will be a special Wounded Warrior Project ceremony between the girls and boys game that will honor David Warsen who was killed in 2012, other servicemen and women that have sacrificed their lives, and an organization called Warriors Set Free, which is an organization for veterans that is run by veterans to help deal with PTSD, suicide, anxiety, depression, and other life issues. Game times are 6 p.m. for the girls with the boys scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.
Tuesday, Dec. 19 – Boys Basketball East Grand Rapids at East Kentwood
Friday, Dec. 22 – Girls and Boys Basketball Wyoming Lee at West Michigan Aviation
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Dec. 11
Boys/Girls Bowling
Ottawa Hills @ Godwin Heights
Wayland @ Wyoming
Girls Basketball
Holland Calvary @ West Michigan Lutheran
Tuesday, Dec. 12
Girls Basketball
Holland @ Godwin Heights
Northview @ Wyoming – Abbey Czarniecki Community Night
Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville – WKTV Featured Game
East Kentwood @ Byron Center
Martin @ Zion Christian
WMAES @ West Michigan Aviation
Western Michigan Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Basketball
Wyoming Lee @ Union
Northview @ Wyoming – Abbey Czarniecki Community Night
Byron Center @ East Kentwood
Zion Christian @ Martin
WMAES @ West Michigan Aviation
Western Michigan Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Swimming
@ East Kentwood
Wednesday, Dec. 13
Boys/Girls Bowling
Rockford @ Godwin Heights
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Boys Wrestling
Allendale @ Godwin Heights – Double Duel
Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville
Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming
East Kentwood @ Holland
Thursday, Dec. 14
Boys/Girls Bowling
Wyoming @ Hudsonville
Girls Basketball
Kelloggsville @ Zion Christian
Friday, Dec. 15
Boys Basketball
Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee
Wyoming @ East Kentwood
Caledonia @ South Christian – WKTV Featured Game
Hamilton @ Kelloggsville
Cedar Springs CTA @ West Michigan Aviation
Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep
NorthPointe Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Girls Basketball
Wyoming @ East Kentwood
Caledonia @ South Christian – WKTV Featured Game
Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee
West Michigan Lutheran @ Holland Black River
Cedar Springs CTA @ West Michigan Aviation
Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep
NorthPointe Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Hockey
Manistee @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ Alpena
Saturday, Dec. 16
Boys Wrestling
Godwin Heights @ South Haven
Wyoming Lee @ FH Central – Kent Count Championships
Wyoming @ FH Central – Kent County Championships
Kelloggsville @ FH Central – Kent County Championships
East Kentwood @ FH Central – Kent County Championships
Girls Basketball: Sailors fend off Maroons, 42-39, to move to 3-1
South Christian hosted rival Holland Christian on Friday, Dec. 8, night. It was a slow start by both clubs, as the scoring was sparse in the 1st quarter. South held a slight edge after one and would extend their lead over the Lady Maroons to go into halftime up by 6, 19-13. SC came out of the locker room with a solid 3rd quarter to go up by double digits going into the final 8 minutes of the contest.
Holland Christian would continue to work hard and closed to within a basket in the final seconds, but a corner three pointer would come up short and South Christian would hold on for the 42-39 victory. Gabby Timmer would again lead South in the scoring column and on the boards with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Mariel Bruxvoort dropped in 15 points to go along with her 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Sydney Cleary led SC in handouts with 5 assists on the night to go with her 5 points and 3 steals.
South is now 3-1 on the year and will host another local rival, Caledonia, on Friday, Dec. 16, night at South Christian High School.
By Ty Cleary
Boys Basketball: Sailors defeat HC thanks to the hot hand of Vis
The Boys Varsity Basketball Team welcomed long time rival Holland Christian Friday, Dec. 8. A back and forth first half ended with South leading 27-24 at the break. A big 3rd quarter saw the Sailors outscore the Maroons 24-16 with some hot shooting from junior Peyton Vis. South held the lead the rest of the way, the final score 69-53.
Vis led all scorers with 29 points on 6 made 3-pointers. Fellow junior Luke Schrotenboer had 10 while senior Trey Vredevoogd scored 9, including a thunderous dunk in the 3rd quarter, and grabbed 6 boards.
The 2-0 Sailors have Tuesday off and then welcome Caledonia Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 for the David Warsen Legacy Foundation game to honor Veterans and Servicemen.
The West Michigan Aviation Academy boys basketball team kicked off a highly anticipated season on Friday night, securing a 63-54 victory over non-conference opponent Crossroads Charter Academy of Big Rapids.
Quentin Thompson led the way for the Aviators, dialing in from long range to finish with 21 points, as reported by WMAA boys coach and athletic Tyler Whitcomb. Thompson was 6-of-12 from the field, including a 6-of-11 performance from behind the 3-point arc. Thompson was also a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe.
Micah Broersma also let it fly from deep in the win, finishing 4-for-10 from 3-point land for all 12 of his points. Ryan Robertson contributed 12 points for the Aviators, dropping in 10 of his 14 free throw attempts.
West Michigan Aviation Academy did not shy away from stiff competition in the season-opening contest. Combo guard Britton Angel returned to Crossroads this year as an All-State honoree last season.
Angel has already been on scoring tear this season, recording 36 points in the game 1 and 53 points in the game leading up to his visit to WMAA, but the Aviators were able to limit him to 22 points, which included a 9-for-14 performance from the field.
The Aviators slowly built their lead over the course of the game, gaining an 18-14 lead after the first stanza and holding on to a 26-23 lead at the break.
WMAA finished 17-for-43 from the field, 12-for-28 from 3-point land and 17-for-24 from the free-throw line. The Aviators grabbed a 27-24 advantage on the boards. Broersma and Robertson each hauled in five rebounds apiece to lead the team. Robertson added six assists, as well. WMAA is now 1-0 on the season.
Sam Ver Steeg chipped in with nine points for the Aviators, who also got points from Niklass Kurth (3 points), Bakar Dadiri (2), Zach Ellis (2) and Darnell Frye II (2).
West Michigan Aviation Academy continues its non-conference slate with Tuesday’s home match-up with West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science.
With Christmas and Christmas break this month, the December schedules are a bit thinner than a normal winter month, but boys basketball tips off the first week of the month and there are several holiday tournaments going on between Christmas and New Year’s, so get out to watch in person your local high school teams.
If you can’t make it in person, or even if you do, then join us on WKTV as we have an assortment of contests coming to the airwaves. The tentative December schedule is:
Tuesday, Dec. 12 – Girls Basketball Potter’s House at Kelloggsville
Friday, Dec. 15 – Girls and Boys Basketball Caledonia at South Christian
Tuesday, Dec. 19 – Boys Basketball East Grand Rapids at East Kentwood
Friday, Dec. 22 – Girls and Boys Basketball Wyoming Lee at West Michigan Aviation
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Dec. 4
Girls Basketball
Orchard View @ Godwin Heights
Boys/Girls Bowling
East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming
Tuesday, Dec. 5
Boys Basketball
West Ottawa @ Godwin Heights
Allendale @ South Christian
Kelloggsville @ Delton-Kellogg
East Kentwood @ FH Northern
Zion Christian @ Galesburg-Augusta
WMAES @ Grand River Prep
Girls Basketball
South Christian @ East Kentwood
Union @ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ Galesburg-Augusta
West Michigan Lutheran @ Potter’s House
Muskegon Catholic Central @ Grand River Prep
Montague @ Tri-Unity Christian
Wednesday, Dec. 6
Boys Wrestling
Godwin Heights @ Unity Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Unity Christian
Wyoming @ Unity Christian
Kelloggsville @ Holland
East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Boys/Girls Bowling
Wyoming @ Byron Center
Thursday, Dec. 7
Boys/Girls Bowling
Caledonia @ Godwin Heights
Boys Basketball
Wyoming Lee @ Zion Christian
Grand River Prep @ Saranac
Boys Swimming
FH Central @ East Kentwood
Girls Basketball
Wyoming Lee @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ West Michigan Lutheran
Friday, Dec. 8
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Union
Wyoming @ Jenison
Holland Christian @ South Christian
Kelloggsville @ West Michigan Aviation
East Kentwood @ FH Central
Barry County Christian @ Potter’s House
Boys Basketball
Hudsonville @ Godwin Heights
Jenison @ Wyoming
Holland Christian @ South Christian
Kelloggsville @ West Catholic
East Kentwood @ FH Central
Potter’s House @ Pewamo-Westphalia
Big Rapids Crossroads @ West Michigan Aviation
Algoma Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Hockey
South Christian @ Lowell
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer @ East Kentwood
Saturday, Dec. 9
Boys Wrestling
Godwin Heights @ Kent City
Wyoming Lee @ Greenville
Wyoming @ Calvin Christian
Buchanan @ Kelloggsville – Dave Flemming Tournament
WKTV’s coverage of girls’ high school basketball in mid-December, but you can catch live action this week. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sports@wktv.org
The girls’ basketball season has started but WKTV featured basketball coverage is a couple weeks off as the first featured contest on our crew’s schedule will be a Tuesday, Dec. 12, contest when the Kelloggsville High School girls host Wyoming’s The Potter’s House.
Currently, each Tuesday game will be broadcast that night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Each Friday game will be aired that night on WKTV 25 at 11 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week, through the end of the month, are as follows:
Tuesday, Nov. 28
Girls Basketball
Godwin Heights @ Tri-Unity Christian
Saranac @ Grand River Prep
Wellsprings Prep @ Kelloggsville
Grand Rapids Christian @ East Kentwood
South Christian @ Forest Hills Northern
Grand Rapids Union @ Wyoming
Thursday, Nov. 30
Girls Basketball
Grand River Prep @ West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science (WMAES)
Godwin Heights will be featured on two of the repays of high school football games covered by WKTV this season. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sports@wktv.org
The winter sports seasons have started, and WKTV was there last week as East Kentwood entertained East Grand Rapids in a televised hockey game. While there will be no new coverage this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there are some local sports on the schedule, and the finals of the fall football playoffs will be this weekend.
And, of course, WKTV will offer up a feast of fall football game rebroadcasts on Thanksgiving Thursday.
WKTV’s 17th Annual Turkey Bowl is a 15-hour special, starting at 9 a.m., with rebroadcasts of the high school football games from this past season, all on WKTV’s Comcast Cable channel 25.
Beginning with the Aug. 31 game of White Cloud at Wyoming Lee at 9 a.m., followed by the Sept. 8 game of Calvin Christian at Godwin Heights at 11 a.m., the Sept. 22 game of Grandville at East Kentwood at 1:40 p.m., the Oct. 6 game of South Christian at Wyoming at 4:20 p.m., and the Oct. 13 game of Belding at Kelloggsville at 6:20 p.m.
The final game of the night will be the the Oct. 27 playoff game of Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville at 8:30 p.m.
Currently, WKTV weekly sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Wednesday, Nov. 22
Boys Hockey
South Christian @ Kenowa Hills
Friday Nov. 24
Boys Basketball
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fennville – Scrimmage
Boys Hockey
@ East Kentwood – Falcon Thanksgiving Classic
Boys Football
Division 8 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 10 a.m.
Division 2 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 1 p.m.
Division 6 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 4:30 p.m.
Division 4 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25
Boys Hockey
@ East Kentwood – Falcon Thanksgiving Classic
Boys Football
Division 7 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 10 a.m.
Division 1 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 1 p.m.
Division 5 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 4:30 p.m.
Division 3 – MHSAA State Finals @ Ford Field 7:30 p.m.
Ice hockey is on WKTV’s coverage schedule this week. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sports@wktv.org
The winter seasons start up this week with boys hockey dropping the puck for the first time and WKTV will be there as East Kentwood entertains East Grand Rapids on Nov. 17.
Girls basketball tips off their season the last week of the month.
There is still three fall sports yet to crown champions: Girls volleyball state semi-finals and finals are at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 18, for all four classes. Girls swimming and diving will conclude with state finals on Nov. 17–18 at Oakland University, Holland Aquatic Center, and Eastern Michigan University. The last championships will be handed out on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24-25, with football finals being played at Ford Field in Detroit.
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Thursday, Nov. 16
Girls Volleyball
MHSAA Class A State Semi Finals @ Kellogg Arena
MHSAA Class B State Semi Finals @ Kellogg Arena
MHSAA Class C State Semi Finals @ Kellogg Arena
MHSAA Class D State Semi Finals @ Kellogg Arena
Friday, Nov. 17
Girls Swimming
Division 1 MHSAA State Finals @ Oakland University
Division 2 MHSAA State Finals @ Holland Aquatic Center
Division 3 MHSAA State Finals @ Eastern Michigan University
Boys Hockey
East Grand Rapids @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Game
South Christian @ Grand Haven
Saturday, Nov. 18
Stubby Overmire Card Show @ Wyoming Lee – Denny McLain, Mickey Stanley, Tom Matchick
Girl Volleyball
Class A MHSAA State Finals @ Kellogg Arena 2 PM
Class B MHSAA State Finals @ Kellogg Arena 4 PM
Class C MHSAA State Finals @ Kellogg Arena 12 PM
Class D MHSAA State Finals @ Kellogg Arena 10 AM
Boys Hockey
East Grand Rapids @ South Christian
Girls Swimming
Division 1 MHSAA State Finals @ Oakland University
Division 2 MHSAA State Finals @ Holland Aquatic Center
Division 3 MHSAA State Finals @ Eastern Michigan University
Sunday, Nov. 19
Stubby Overmire Card Show @ Wyoming Lee High School
Girls high school basketball starts this month with a limited schedule late in the month. (The West Michigan Lutheran girls basketball team is shown here from last season). (WKTV)
By Mike Moll
sports@wktv.org
November will not only bring the Thanksgiving holiday, but also a closeout of the high school sports fall seasons.
The boys and girls cross country finals will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Girls volleyball is working their way through Regionals and are heading to the state semi-finals and finals at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 18, for all four classes. Boys soccer state finals are also on the fourth at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek for divisions 1 and 3 and divisions 2 and 4 will be at Comstock Park. Girls swimming and diving will also conclude with state finals on Nov. 17–18 at Oakland University, Holland Aquatic Center, and Eastern Michigan University. The last championships will be handed out on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving with football finals being played at Ford Field in Detroit.
The winter seasons also start up this month with boys hockey dropping the puck for the first time mid-month and WKTV will be there as East Kentwood entertains East Grand Rapids on Nov. 17. Girls basketball tips off their season the last week of the month.
The 12th Annual Stubby Overmire Card Show and Auction will once again be at the Wyoming Lee High School Gymnasium on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18-19. As always, the highlight guest will be baseball’s last 30 game winner Denny McLain who compiled a 31-6 record as he was part of the 1968 World Championship Detroit Tigers team. He will be joined by two other members of that world championship team as Mickey Stanley will once again appear along with first timer Tom Mathchick.
WKTV will again be bringing boys and girls basketball along with boys hockey to the viewers once again so be sure to check the weekly schedule for broadcast dates and times.
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
It’s time to pair your running shoes with your favorite ugly sweater for Kentwood’s Ugly Sweater 5K Cross Country Run.
The race will begin at noon on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Stormy Creek Golf Course, 3460 36th St., Kentwood. The course will wind through the golf course, making for a fun and challenging run. The City, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017, is inviting runners and walkers to join this unique type of race.
“This is the first time the City has offered a cross country race. Participants will get to run on grass and gravel, cross bridges and even be challenged with a couple of hills,” said Laura Barbrick, marketing and events coordinator of Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Department. “The ugly sweater aspect adds a fun twist that the whole family can enjoy.”
Runners and spectators are encouraged to dress up for this fun 5k and show off their ugliest sweater. After the race, there will be an awards ceremony for both runners and the ugliest sweaters.
Registration is $35 and includes a knit beanie. For more registration information, visit www.kentwood50.com.
The Michigan State Spartans will bring their energy — and a No. 2 ranking — to Grand Rapids this weekend. Photo from a 2016-17 game. (Courtesy MSU Athletic Communications)
Update Oct. 26, 5 p.m. Update.
MSU basketball charity exhibition receives overwhelming response. No tickets currently available for Sunday’s contest against Georgia
Sunday’s men’s college basketball exhibition between Michigan State University and University of Georgia at the Van Andel Arena in support of disaster relief efforts has proven to be an extremely high demand event. Tickets went on sale Wednesday afternoon, and the response was immediately overwhelming. There are no tickets currently available for the game, but there will be a very limited number of holds released this week.
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
The preseason No. 2-ranked Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball team — including a freshman big man Xavier Tillman, who played high school ball on local courts — will be coming to Grand Rapids this Sunday to play the Georgia Bulldogs in a special disaster-relief fundraising exhibition contest.
The charity exhibition game will take place Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m., at the Van Andel Arena. Its goal is to help to raise awareness and financial support for hurricane relief efforts, specifically those in Georgia and in the Bahamas — the home of Spartans senior guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr.
Ticket sales, which begin today, Wednesday, Oct. 25, will benefit American Red Cross (International Services) and American Red Cross (Georgia Region).
To bring the game to town, the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority and SMG, which manages the Van Andel Arena and the DeVos Place and Performance Hall partnered with the Michigan State University Athletic Department and the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo. (Courtesy MSU Athletic Communications)
“This is a great opportunity for our programs to help make an impact with the relief and rebuilding efforts in areas that were affected by this summer’s hurricanes,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said in supplied material. “We look forward to playing back in Grand Rapids where we have a strong fan base.
“They’ll see us play a very good Georgia team that is very well coached and features a great player in Yante Maten, who’s returning to his home state. Combining a competitive basketball game with a worthy cause makes for an outstanding event.”
Georgia’s Maten was selected as the Southeastern Conference Co-Player of the Year last season. A native of Bloomfield, Mi., he averaged 18.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last year. The Bulldogs received votes in the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll after posting a 19-15 record last season and playing in the National Invitation Tournament.
“This is a unique opportunity allowed this year by the NCAA to help with disaster relief,” Georgia head coach Mark Fox said in supplied material. “Adding a road game in short notice seemed more difficult than needed. But this is an opportunity to help the people of the state of Georgia. Hurricane Irma had a significant impact on the DawgNation.”
While the contest will be an exhibition game, a non-counter for the team’s official record, both teams are preparing in earnest for the season to begin and should be a very competitive game. And not only will it match up to of the best players in the country in MSU’s Nairn Jr. and Georgia’s Maten, it will also mark the return home for Tillman.
Tillman, a 6-foot-8 and 260-pound forward, played high school ball at Grand Rapids Christian.
And while Tillman is expected to have an impact on the Spartan program as early as this year, he said he is still in the learning mode when it comes to the next level of basketball and Coach Izzo.
Xavier Tillman, a freshman Spartan who played high school ball in Grand Rapids last year. (Courtesy MSU Athletic Communications)
“It’s crazy … This intensity is different because it’s not like Grand Rapids Christian,” Tillman said in supplied information. “Coach Izzo is looking at me in my face like, ‘You gotta show up, you gotta play.’ So it’s more personal and I think that would be the biggest difference between how my high school used to be and now.”
Tillman was named to the 2017 Detroit News and Detroit Free Press Dream Team and the AP Class A All-State team after averaging 13.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.2 blocks as a senior, shooting 68 percent from the field. He led Grand Rapids Christian to a 27-1 record and an appearance in the Class A state title game.
Ticket prices start at $17.50 and are available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Prices are subject to change.
The high school football season has moved into playoff mode and so has WKTV’s featured football coverage — this week will be a rematch matchup as Wyoming Godwin Heights (7-2) again travels to Wyoming Kelloggsville (9-0) for an opening-round Division 4 game on Friday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m..
Other local teams in the football playoffs include Grand Rapids South Christian (7-2) hosting Plainwell (7-2), also Friday at 7 p.m., at Byron Center High School. And Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (6-3) will be traveling north to Suttons Bay (6-3) for an 8-Man Division 1 playoff game Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m.
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming @ Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Algoma Christian
Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Orchard View
Zion Christian @ Grand River Prep
TBD @ Tri-Unity Christian – Rivertown/Crossroads Tri
Boys Soccer
TBD – MHSAA Regionals
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Girls Volleyball
O-K Red Conference Meet @ East Kentwood
Thursday, Oct. 26
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ FH Eastern
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – Senior Night
WMAES @ Wyoming Lee – Senior Night
Boys Soccer
TBD – MHSAA Regionals
Friday, Oct, 27
Boys Water Polo
@ East Kentwood – MHSAA Regionals
Football
Wyoming Godwin Heights at Wyoming Kelloggsville (playoffs)
Plainwell at South Christian (at Byron Center High School) (playoffs)
Saturday, Oct. 28
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming @ Allendale – MHSAA Regionals
Wyoming Lee @ Allendale – MHSAA Regionals
Godwin Heights @ Allendale – MHSAA Regionals
Tri-Unity Christian @ Allendale – MHSAA Regionals
TBD – MHSAA Regionals
Boys Water Polo
@ East Kentwood – MHSAA Regionals
8-Man Football
Tri-unity Christian at Suttons Bay (playoff)
Monday, Oct. 30
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
Wyoming Lee vs TBD @ South Christian – MHSAA Districts
Godwin Heights vs Kelloggsville @ South Christian – MHSAA Districts
@ East Kentwood – MHSAA Districts
Tuesday, Oct. 31
Halloween
Girls Volleyball
Zion Christian vs Holland Calvary @ Tri-Unity Christian – MHSAA Districts
Long-time Wyoming area high school basketball coach Thom Vander Klay, shown coaching. (Supplied)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Long-time Wyoming are high school basketball coach Thom Vander Klay was recently recognized for 305 varsity victories at the Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Banquet in the Detroit.
A game televised by WKTV with East Kentwood High School’s boys basketball team at Wyoming. (WKTV)
While he was unable attend in person, Vander Klay was inducted into the 300+ Varsity Century Club at the BCAM Hall-of-Fame/Clinic week-end, held Oct. 14-15 at Oakland University in Auburn Hills.
“The award is mostly a longevity award,” Vander Klay said in an interview with WKTV Journal. “I love teaching and coaching and have done it a long time, so a few wins will happen along the way.”
Vander Klay been coaching prep basketball for more than 30 years, with his first 10 as Wyoming Park’s junior varsity coach and the next 21 as a its varsity head coach. He became Wyoming’s head coach after Park and Rogers high schools merged in 2012. he is a member of the Wyoming Public Schools Hall of Fame.
“I have had some Hall of Fame caliber mentors when I attended Wyoming Park and first began teaching, including Jack VerDuin, Rich Renzema, Frank Grimm, Dick Locke, Kelly McEwen and Ron Engels,” he said. “We have also had so many gifted players with great work ethic who were driven to compete and reach their potential. To name even a few of those kids would take a long time!”
Vander Klay is a 1982 Park High School graduate, and a 1986 Hope College graduate.
He has guided the Wyoming varsity basketball teams to nine Academic All-State teams, seven conference championships, four district championships, a regional championship, and a state Final Four. In all, 27 of 32 teams have been in the top three in the conference.
He has three times been named Regional Coach of the Year, The Detroit News state Coach of the Year in 2004, and the MLive Best Coach 2016, and West Michigan Officials Association Coach Of the Year 2017.
But he made clear his staff deserves as much credit as he for the 300-plus wins.
“Our basketball staff has been outstanding,” Vander Klay said. “Professional educators such as Jerry Haggerty, John Robinson, Craig VanVliet, Brett Dyke, Craig Neitzel, Kirk Kambestad, Jacob Underhill, Abbey Czarniecki, Bernard Varnesdeel and Chris Hose have worked tirelessly in years past to give our kids the leadership they need to become quality young men.
“Bernard is currently our program assistant coach, and Jacob and Chris are still coaching our younger teams. Volunteers such as Jason Bleyerveld and Scott DeYoung have given much of their time and energy to our program for many years.”
Ultimately, though, Vander Klay credits the “atmosphere” in Wyoming as being a big reason for the program’s success.
Thom Vander Klay, coaching. (Supplied)
“I am fortunate to be able to teach and coach in Wyoming where the parents, students, and school work together to make sure our kids have opportunities to be successful. Our parents not only allow the coaches to have high demands on their sons to be developed as young men. Tough love is the expectation from our parents which allows us to coach their sons hard and demand they compete.”
And, after all, Wyoming his coach’s home.
“My parents still live here, my siblings and I went to school here (Wyoming Park), I live here, my kids went to school here,” he said. “This is a great place to work, raise a family, and go to school. We have so great teachers and coaches who really care about the kids and work hard to make sure they have an opportunity to be successful.”
The high school football season has gone past way too quickly, and we are already to the final week of the regular season week, but once again WKTV’s featured coverage will have a great matchup as South Christian travels to East Grand Rapids.
South Christian and Grand Rapids Christian each are just a game behind EGR, which is trying to complete a perfect season. With a win though South will get a share of what could be “tri-champions in the OK Gold.”
Elsewhere in the area, Kelloggsville, with their big win over Belding last week, assured themselves of at least a share of the OK Silver championship. The team can clinch the sole championship with a final week victory against Hopkins, which will come into the game with a 4-4 overall record.
With the Godwin Heights victory last week over NorthPointe Christian, the team guaranteed themselves of being a part of the MHSAA playoffs by getting to the 6-win mark.
East Kentwood needs to get a final week victory at home against Caledonia to make it into the playoffs after their defeat last week at Rockford. The Falcons record is 5-3 but they have yet to defeat a team with a winning record so they might not make it as an “at-large” team with only the five wins.
The playoff matchups for all eight divisions will be announced Sunday evening, after the final Friday of games.
Planned WKTV featured coverage this month includes:
Friday, Oct. 20, football — South Christian at East Grand Rapids
Friday, Oct. 27, football – Playoffs TBD (after games of Oct. 20)
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Oct. 16
Boys/girls Cross Country
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids
Boys Soccer
Everett @ Wyoming – MHSAA Districts
Wyoming Lee vs TBD – MHSAA Districts
Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
TBD @ East Kentwood – MHSAA Districts
Tuesday, Oct. 17
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids
Wayland @ Wyoming – Dig Pink
Wellsprings Prep @ Zion Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Holland Calvary @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Godwin @ Calvin Christian
Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian
Boys Soccer
Zion Christian @ Calvin Christian – MHSAA Districts
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Boys Soccer
Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
East Kentwood vs TBD @ FH Central – MHSAA Districts
Thursday, Oct. 19
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Wayland
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Girls Volleyball
Middleville T-K @ South Christian
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Union @ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Holland Black River @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys/girls Cross Country
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Friday, Oct. 20
Boys Football
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – WKTV Featured Game
Forest Hills Eastern @ Wyoming – Community Night
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Belding @ Potter’s House/Calvin Christian
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood vs TBD @ West Ottawa – MHSAA Districts
Saturday, Oct. 21
Boys/girls Cross Country
South Christian @ Kalamazoo Christian
Kelloggsville @ Gobles
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming @ Hesperia
Wyoming Lee @ Belding
Godwin Heights @ Belding
Kelloggsville @ Belding
Zion Christian – Alliance League Tournament @ Davenport
Tri-Unity Christian – Alliance League Tournament @ Davenport
Boys Soccer
Godwin vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
East Kentwood vs TBD @ FH Central – MHSAA Districts
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood vs TBD @ West Ottawa – MHSAA Districts
WKTV will continue its featured high school sports coverage this month as fall sports wrap up and winter sports are on the horizon. The WKTV crew will be bringing the viewers not only the featured football game of the week, but once again will showcase other sports including girls swimming along with boys water polo during October. Planned coverage this month includes:
Friday, Oct. 13, football — Belding at Kelloggsville
Saturday, Oct. 14, boys water polo — at East Kentwood
Friday, Oct. 20, football — South Christian at East Grand Rapids
Friday, Oct. 27, football – Playoffs TBD (after games of Oct. 20
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Oct. 9
Girls Golf
South Christian – Ernie Popiel Invite @ Egypt Valley
East Kentwood – Ernie Popiel Invite @ Egypt Valley
Boys Soccer
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Boys Water Polo
Zeeland East @ East Kentwood
Tuesday, Oct. 10
Girls Golf
Hudsonville @ South Christian
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ Wayland
East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming
Zion Christian @ Potter’s House
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian
Boys Soccer
Covenant Christian @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Christian
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
Zion Christian @ Potter’s House
Grand River Prep @ Kalamazoo Heritage
West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian – Senior Night
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming @ Saranac
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Girls Golf
South Christian – MHSAA Regionals @ Quail Ridge
Boys/girls Cross Country
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Boys Soccer
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Thursday, Oct. 12
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ West Ottawa
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Boys Soccer
FH Eastern @ South Christian
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville
Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights
Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian
Grand River Prep @ Wellsprings
Algoma Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ GR Christian
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee
Hopkins @ Kelloggsville
Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary
Boys Tennis
East Kentwood @ Holland – MHSAA Regionals
Friday, Oct. 13
Boys Football
Middleville T-K vs South Christian @ Grandville
Greenville @ Wyoming – Homecoming
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights
Belding @ Kelloggsville – WKTV Featured Game
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Leroy Pine River @ Potter’s House/Calvin Christian
Boys Soccer
West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee
Saturday, Oct. 14
Boys Football
Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand Traverse Academy
Girls Volleyball
South Christian @ Troy
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – Pink Out
@ East Kentwood – EK Invitational
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee, Kelloggsville, East Kentwood and Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian – Kent-Ottawa Invite
Girls Swimming
East Kentwood – MISCA Meet
Boys Water Polo
@ East Kentwood – EK – Mini Tournament – WKTV Featured Event
Monday, Oct. 16
Boys/girls Cross Country
South Christian @ East Grand Rapids
Boys Soccer
Everett @ Wyoming – MHSAA Districts
Wyoming Lee vs TBD – MHSAA Districts
Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Christian – MHSAA Districts
The Wyoming High Wolves on the field, in the team’s opening-season game and a WKTV featured game. The team will again be featured with WKTV coverage this week. (WKTV)
Wyoming High School head football coach Irvin Sigler III would likely call it an “opportunity” not a “challenge”, but he had to know his team was going to have some growing pains this season after he took over the program midway though the summer.
With new coaches and a new system, the Wolves experienced some competitive, and not-so-competitive, games as it opened the season 0-5 including tough losses to OK Gold Conference powers Grand Rapids Christian and East Grand Rapids.
But with Sigler’s first win leading the Wolves last week, a 33-21 home win against conference foe Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, the coach thinks his team is close to flourishing in the new system.
Wyoming head coach Irvin Sigler (WKTV)
“There’s always that question in the back of your mind, and this game definitively answered it for us,” Sigler said, in an interview with WKTV. “We understand now what it takes to win a game and how to accomplish that. (It was a) major milestone as far as I am concerned. Something we really had to work at.
“The most important thing we did (against Middleville T-K) was battle through adversity. We had a lot of tough situations, some self-imposed with turnovers, and yet found a way to stay together and figure out how to win.”
Wyoming has experienced its share of “tough situations” so far this season.
After staying close until late in its season opening game, a 28-6 loss to Holland, and the Wolves (1-5, 1-3 in the OK Gold Conference) played three of their next four games on the road with a 20-16 home loss to Wayland being their most competitive contest.
After another road game this week, against another conference power — South Christian (5-1 2-1 in OK Gold) — Wyoming will close the season with two more home games, a non-conference tilt against Greenville (3-3, 1-3 in OK White) and a conference game against Forest Hills Eastern (3-3, 2-1).
And Sigler expects his team will continue to grow within the new system and strive to be competitive week-in and week-out, for several reasons.
The first reason is that his team is learning from their sometimes-hard lessons, both on and off the field.
“I tell our kids that a football game is a microcosm of life,” Sigler said. “There will be great things that happen and really tough things. We’ve got be resilient in the face of both. We’ve got to handle both situations with equal grace. Learn how to do that, and you learn how to navigate in life.”
Another reason for optimism is that he has players getting back from injury and players who have set an example for the rest of the team, win or lose.
He said that senior Donnie Buentello and junior J’Darious (JD) Jones, both running backs, have gotten healthy and “are starting to play really well. Donnie is a very quick and shifty runner, JD is a more of a one-cut and slash type player. The compliment each other very well.”
He also said the offensive line has solidified as senior Elijah Harden has moved into the right tackle position and “started playing really well”, as has senior tight end Grant Nabors.
On the defensive side, Sigler praised junior Rush Bash, the team’s leading tackler, as a “big hitter” who is getting comfortable in the new defensive scheme. He also pointed out senior defensive ends Sean Dewent and Travis Wright — “As these two go, our team goes, (and) both had great games against TK. Both … do a great job as leaders on our team.”
Sigler made special point of pointing out senior offensive and defensive lineman Jackson McClure: “Playing both ways on the offensive and defensive line, he’s had a great season and his strength and durability have allowed him to be a two-way player in the toughest of positions.”
The final reason Sigler sees optimism for his team to finish this season and in the future is the work being done at the junior varsity level.
“Our JV team has had a really difficult year,” Sigler said. “They’ve not had the numbers for a game every week — yet they have really toiled to get better and have given a great deal to our program. It’s hard to practice on weeks when you know that you won’t have a game. Yet these guys have really done special work and we feel they are going to have a great contribution to our future.”
That future starts with the teams remaining three games of this season.
The Wyoming against South Christian game, to be played at Byron Center Friday, Oct. 6, is the WKTV featured football game of the week and will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
The West Michigan Whitecaps released their 2018 season schedule today. The team will celebrate its 25th season beginning with the season-opener at home on Thursday, April 5 at 6:35 p.m. versus the South Bend Cubs.
Fireworks will once again light up the night sky over Fifth Third Ballpark with 21 Family Fare Fireworks Nights, including Opening Night, every summertime Wednesday and Saturday home game and selected additional nights, with a special Independence Day celebration on Tuesday, July 3.
The long-time Tiger Friday series will move to Wednesdays, with five Tiger Wednesday dates starting in June slated to include the popular former Tiger appearances and Tiger-related giveaway items for the first 1,000 fans. Fridays, starting in May, will be rebranded as family- and kid-focused theme nights, including Princess, Dinosaur, Pokemon and others, with entertainers and other special events on the concourse.
Weekly promotions:
Sunday (with a new start time of 2 p.m.): Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Family Days (first 1,000 kids eat free; autographs and play catch on the field pre-game; kids run the bases post-game)
Monday: JQ99 Bulletin Night (half off box or reserved seats with worship or community bulletin)
Tuesday: Select Tuesdays will be Dime Dog Nights presented by Manpower
Wednesday: Senior Night, Tiger Wednesdays and Family Fare Fireworks (beginning in June)
Thursday: Altogas Thrifty Thursdays ($2 hot dogs, Pepsi products and 20 oz. beers); show a college or military ID and get $5 reserved seats.
Friday: Kid-focused theme nights
Saturday: Family Fare Fireworks (beginning in May)
The three 11 a.m. school days, popular as school enrichment field trips, are returning once again, scheduled for Tuesday, May 22,Wednesday, May 23, and Tuesday, June 5. In addition, there are four special weekday 12 p.m. matinee games scheduled for Tuesday, April 10, Thursday, April 12, Wednesday, April 18 and Wednesday, May 9.
Some featured promotions include Armed Forces Night on Saturday, May 19; Star Wars Night, returning on Saturday, June 30 and MSU/U of M Rivalry Night on Thursday, August 16. Many more promotions will be added throughout the off-season and will be added to the Whitecaps website as they are booked.
Fans can purchase season tickets and mini plans beginning Wednesday, October 25, by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131. Tickets for groups of 20 or more, including private party areas, will go on sale November 17. Individual game tickets will go on sale in early 2018.
The full 2018 schedule is attached and is available on the Whitecaps website at whitecapsbaseball.com.
David Willer — who prefers to be called “Whitey” when he is behind the camera — is one of the newest WKTV sports coverage volunteers. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
By WKTV Staff
David Willer — who prefers to be called “Whitey” when he is behind the camera — is one of the newest WKTV sports coverage volunteers, occasionally working as part of the video crew for high school football games.
After his first night working with “the truck”, as WKTV’s mobile video unit is nicknamed, the Northeast Grand Rapids resident says his night as quite an adventure.
“I did not expect to do as much as I did (that first night), but it was a blast,” Willer said. “It was a great experience.”
Willer said he found out about sports volunteer opportunities on FaceBook. “I saw the station and responded and decided to do it. It is something I was always interested in, but never really pursued. But I thought ‘Why not now?’”
Part of the reason for Willer, an admitted sports fan, to become involved was his desire to get back into youth sports as well as to learn how to work cameras.
“I used to coach youth sports, back in Minnesota, where I grew up,” he said. “Came here and never had the chance. Fell into cooking, as a chef, and that is what I have been doing for the last 30 years. This (working with WKTV sports coverage) gets me back into sports. It has been a great experience.”
Persons interested in joining Willer and other community volunteers do not need any prior video camera or video production training. (But it helps!) For more information about volunteering at WKTV and becoming part of the stations sports coverage team, email Davin at davin@wktv.org or Bill at bill@wktv.org.
The unseasonable hot weather in Western Michigan has caused some problems for local high school team’s schedules — including postponing today’s (Monday, Sept. 25) boys soccer game between South Christian and East Kentwood which WKTV was going to send its broadcast crew’s coverage crew to. But we have not changed plans for this week’s football game of the week, Friday, Sept. 29, Kelloggsville at Wyoming Godwin Heights — both 5-0 and leading the OK Silver Conference with 2-0 records.
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Monday, Sept. 25
Boys Tennis
Coopersville @ Kelloggsville
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
Grand Rapids Christian @ Wyoming
Boys Soccer
Coopersville@ Kelloggsville
Postponed — South Christian @ East Kentwood (Special WKTV broadcast)
Girls Golf
South Christian @ FH Northern – Ernie Popiel Invite
Boys Water Polo
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Tuesday, Sept. 26
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
Boys Soccer
Belding @ Wyoming Lee
West Michigan Heat/Homeschool @ Godwin Heights
Tri-Unity Christian @ Zion Christian
Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Wayland
Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
EGR @ Wyoming
Girls Volleyball
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian – Alliance Double Quad
Chris Pulliams, at his induction into the Ferris State University Hall of Fame this month. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
Chris Pulliams
“Student. Athlete. Intern. Coach. Athletic Director. Teacher. Mentor.” — Those were the words used to describe long-time Wyoming Godwin Heights teacher, administrator and coach Chris Pulliams prior to the school’s Sept. 1 home football game.
Joining him at center field during a ceremony honoring Pulliams impending induction into the Ferris State University’s Hall of Fame were Principal Chad Conklin, Athletic Director Rob Hisey, and head varsity football coach Carlton Brewster, as the stadium announcer told the crowd: “We say congratulations and thanks by honoring Chris Pulliams for his dedication to his work, whether that be in the classroom or on the field, he continues to give back to the Godwin community in immeasurable ways! Chris Pulliams, we thank you for being what it means ‘To Be a Godwin Heights Wolverine’.”
Pulliams was inducted into the Ferris State Hall of Fame Sept. 15.
Pulliams arrived at Godwin as a student and athlete, according to supplied information. He played varsity football at Godwin Heights before moving on to success as a running back at Ferris State, where he currently ranks sixth on the school’s all-time career rushing chart with 2,743 yards and 35 TD’s in his career. He claimed All-America honors in 1995 and was a two-time All-GLIAC tailback. He received the 1996 GLIAC McAvoy Leadership Award. He ran for a career-high 1,729 yards and 23 scores during the 1995 season, which ranks as the most yards in a single-campaign by a FSU tailback in school history. His performance helped the Bulldogs post a 12-1 overall record in route to the school’s first NCAA Division II National Semifinal appearance.
He was also a First Team MIFC All-Academic choice in 1996 with a 3.29 GPA in Business Education.
Next, after graduating from college, and teaching at Forest Hills Public Schools, he returned to Godwin Heights as athletic director.
“Two years later, he moved back into the classroom as a teacher in order to impact our students academically; this truly is his calling. He continues to dedicate his days, nights, and weekends in honor of our students’ needs,” the announcer told the crowd.
Whether you say “football” or “fútbol”, WKTV’s broadcast crew’s coverage has you covered as our high school sports crew will make two stops at East Kentwood High School over the next week, first with a Friday, Sept. 22 football game between Grandville and East Kentwood, then a Monday, Sept. 25, boys soccer game between South Christian and East Kentwood.
Currently, WKTV sports events will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
Local high school sports events this week are as follows:
Tuesday Sept. 19
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Kelloggsville @ Hopkins
West Michigan Aviation @ Holland Calvary
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Boys Soccer
NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
Zion Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
South Christian @ FH Eastern
East Kentwood @ Rockford
Holland Black River @ Tri-Unity Christian
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Girls Volleyball
Godwin Heights @ West Michigan Aviation
Tri-Unity Christian @ Zion Christian
Grand Rapids Christian @ South Christian
FH Eastern @ Wyoming
West Michigan Lutheran @ Rivertown Christian
Girls Golf
Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Boys Tennis
Wyoming @ Zeeland West
Wednesday, Sept. 20
Boys Tennis
Catholic Central @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
Easy Kentwood @ Caledonia
Girls Golf
Middleville T-K @ South Christian
Wyoming @ South Christian
Boys/girls Cross Country
South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Boys Water Polo
Grandville @ East Kentwood
Thursday, Sept. 21
Boys Soccer
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Holland Black River @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Wellsprings Prep
Wyoming @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights
Holland Black River @ Zion Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Wellsprings Prep
EGR @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Wayland
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Algoma Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Calvin Christian
West Ottawa @ East Kentwood
Girls Golf
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Friday, Sept. 22
Boys Football
Belding @ Wyoming Lee – Homecoming
Cadillac @ Godwin Heights
Calvin Christian/Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ Wayland
Grandville @ East Kentwood (WKTV’s game of the Week)
Wyoming @ EGR
Girls Golf
Kenowa Hills @ Wyoming
Saturday, Sept. 23
Boys/girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Cedar Springs – Cedar Springs Invitational
Godwin Heights @ Lowell
Grand River Prep @ Lowell
Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs
South Christian @ Catholic Central
East Kentwood @ Jackson
Girls Volleyball
Hastings @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming @ Zeeland East
Boys/girls Equestrian
South Christian – Barry County Fairgrounds
Boys Football
Central Lake @ Tri-Unity Christian – 8 Man
Monday, Sept. 25
Boys Tennis
Coopersville @ Kelloggsville
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
Grand Rapids Christian @ Wyoming
Boys Soccer
Coopersville@ Kelloggsville
South Christian @ East Kentwood (Special WKTV broadcast)
Girls Golf
South Christian @ FH Northern – Ernie Popiel Invite
WKTV’s football coverage crew was at Wyoming Godwin Heights last week as the Wolverines went 3-0 with a big win over Calvin Christian. (WKTV)
By Rob Gee
WKTV sports volunteer/news@wktv.org
What a start for Wyoming-Kentwood area high school football as four teams start the season 3-0 and two others start 2-1.
Lots of winning going on in the area right now and when was the last time East Kentwood, Kelloggsville, Godwin and South Christian all started the season 3-0? How about never.
One would need to go all the way back to 1960 when East Kentwood, Godwin and Kelloggsville all started 3-0 to find the last time three of these teams did it, but that would be five years before South Christian would begin fielding a team.
And WKTV’s high school football broadcast coverage crew will be at East Kentwood for the next two Fridays, first for a home game for South Christian and then for a home game for East Kentwood.
East Kentwood, who has started the season 3-0 for the fifteenth time, narrowly defeated Hudsonville, in Week 3. Defense in the first two weeks of the season only allowed 6 points but Hudsonville was able to almost triple that in their scoring 17 points. MLive had East Kentwood at No. 10 in the state prior to the game but after this last weeks performance, East Kentwood dropped to No. 13. East Kentwood is the only area team in MLive top 50.
South Christian did not have an easy time with Benton Harbor in Week 2 Forest Hills Eastern in the first half but the Sailors widened the gap in the second half to cruise to a 36-20 win and open the season 3-0 for the 15th time in school history. That is equal to the number of times East Kentwood has started the season 3-0, despite South Christian starting its football program five years after East Kentwood.
Kelloggsville looks to repeat as OK Conference Silver champs as they start the season 3-0. The Rockets were averaging 41 points a game in their first two games and only increased that average by scoring 51 at home against Buchanan. The Rockets defense was averaging 22 points a game given up and dropped that average to 17 points given up per game by holding Buchanan to just 8 points. Weeks 2 and 3 have seen Kelloggsville outscore their opponents 107-29. This is the eighth season in school history that the Rockets have started 3-0. This is the twelfth season Kelloggsville has started undefeated as they have had three seasons start at 2-0-1 and another season start 1-0-2.
Godwin Heights are no strangers to starting 3-0 as this is the third in the last five years that the Wolverines have begun 3-0 and the 11th overall. Last Friday’s game was a huge win for Godwin and Coach Carlton Brewster as they defeated Calvinm Christian by 49 points. Godwin had been 2-12 against Calvin Christian in their last 14 meetings. When Godwin has beaten the Squires, its not been by a whopping total. You would have to go all the way back to 1996 to find a similar result, Godwin won 53-13 that year. There is reason for pause in getting too excited to this 3-0 start as the opponents combined record is 0-9.
Tri-Unity Christian’s 8-man football tam started the season with an upset loss to Battle Creek St. Philips but have rebounded to win their last two. The Defenders seem to be only getting better as in Week 2 they beat Suttons Bay by 9 and Week 3 saw them easily defeat Atlanta by 26 points, 34-8.
Wyoming high head coach Irvin Sigler, at a preseason press conference. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Wyoming continues to struggle adjusting to Coach Irvin Sigler schemes as the Wolves start the season 0-3. Wyoming was outmatched by Grand Rapids Christian 65-8 in Week 3 and led to the worst loss in school history. Like Godwin’s record can’t be given too much credit however, Wyoming’s record can’t be criticized too much as their opponents combined record is 9-0. Make no mistake, when Coach Sigler’s philosophies are grasped by his players this trend will not only stop but reverse.
Lee High school started off red hot at 2-0 but ran into a buzz saw in Northpointe Christian and their workhorse Jalen Shaffer. Surprising most everyone in the universe, its seems, Lee moved to 2-0 in Week 2 defeating White Cloud 48-0 and we would need to go back to 2005 to find that level of domination by the Rebels. Week 3 would not be a good one for the young upstarts as Northpointe was the dominant force in a 42-0 game. Lee’s lifetime record against Northpointe is 0-8 with a combined score of 330-46 and marks the third time Coach Tim Swore’s team has held the Rebels scoreless.
Currently, WKTV’s football games will be broadcast the night of the game on Comcast Channel 25, usually at 11 p.m., and repeated on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99 in Wyoming & Kentwood.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and features on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/
