WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The Kelloggsville High School boys basketball team will take a break from its OK-Conference Silver schedule to host Comstock Park out of the OK Blue Tuesday, Feb. 4, as both teams look to get back in the win column.
The Kelloggsville Rockets (4-6 overall, 2-4 in league) are coming off a road loss to OK Silver foe Godwin Heights on Jan. 31. Comstock Park (2-8 and 1-5) will be out to break a six-game skid including a home loss to Central Catholic also on Jan. 31.
The WKTV Sports Featured Game will be available on cable television and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director sports@wktv.org
February already brings the final full month of the high school winter sports schedules to the area. The opening rounds of MHSAA State tournaments are near the end of the month in several sports and others, such as girls’ basketball, close out the regular season to begin their state tournament to open up March.
With the change in basketball districts this year having the teams be seeded and matchups announced fifteen days before the opening games, updated schedules will be posted here as they are announced.
Once again, WKTV and its crews will be at two events each week throughout the month but show your support in person to your local schools whenever you can and then join the rebroadcast or watch on-line within a few days of the event.
The Featured Game coverage schedule for the last week of February includes the following:
Tuesday, Feb. 4 — Boys Basketball Comstock Park at Kelloggsville
Saturday, Feb. 8 — Boys Hockey Lowell/Caledonia at East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation
Tuesday, Feb. 11 — Girls Basketball East Grand Rapids at South Christian
Friday, Feb. 14 — Girls/Boys Basketball Christian @ Wyoming
Tuesday, Feb. 18 — Boys Basketball Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
Friday, Feb. 21 — Girls/Boys Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 25 — Girls/Boys Basketball Tri-unity Christian @ Grand River Prep
Friday, Feb. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Tri-unity Christian @ Potter’s House
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Feb. 3 Boys/Girls Bowling Calvin Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – Boys NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Byron Center @ South Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Kelloggsville @ Hilcrest Lanes Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Girls Basketball Lansing Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Girls Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ Hudsonville Libertas Christian Holland Black River @ West Michigan Aviation Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House Muskegon Catholic Central @ Zion Christian Benton Harbor @ Godwin Heights Hudsonville @ South Christian Boys Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ Hudsonville Libertas Christian Holland Black River @ West Michigan Aviation Grand River Prep @ Potter’s House Potter’s House @ Tri-County South Christian @ Calvin Christian FH Central @ Wyoming Comstock Park @ Kelloggsville — WKTV Featured Event Northview @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, Feb. 5 Boys/Girls Bowling Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee Belding @ Godwin Heights South Christian @ Wyoming Kelloggsville @ Hopkins East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Girls Cheer Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Hopkins Wyoming @ Wayland Boys Wrestling Muskegon Catholic Central @ Godwin Heights
Thursday, Feb. 6 Boys/Girls Bowling Tri-Unity Christian @ West Catholic – Boys Boys Swimming Grand Haven @ East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 7 Boys Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Lutheran Kalamazoo Heritage Christian @ Grand River Prep Creative Tech @ Zion Christian Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ South Christian Girls Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Tri-Unity Christian Wellsprings Prep @ West Michigan Lutheran Creative Tech @ Zion Christian Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ South Christian Boys Hockey South Christian vs Plymouth Boys Swimming South Christian @ Hudsonville Boys Wrestling Wyoming @ FH Eastern East Kentwood @ Rockford Girls Cheer East Kentwood @ Hudsonville
Saturday, Feb. 8 Boys Hockey Lowell/Caledonia @ East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation — WKTV Featured Event South Christian vs Powers Catholic Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ Hudsonville Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Mona Shores Wyoming @ Muskegon Mona Shores East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Boys Wrestling Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Godwin Heights @ Belding Kelloggsville @ Belding Girls Cheer Wyoming Lee @ FH Northern Wyoming @ FH Northern Boys Swimming South Christian @ Hudsonville
Monday, Feb. 10 Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee Boys/Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ Belding Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian Zeeland East/Zeeland West @ South Christian Wyoming @ Unity Christian Rockford @ East Kentwood
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
The Alliance League is still early in its boys and girls basketball league season, but the outcomes of Kentwood’s Grand River Preparatory High School’s teams visiting Byron Center Zion Christian Tuesday, Jan. 27, will likely go along way to shaking out the top of the standings.
The Grand River Prep Titans boys (6-1 overall, 1-0 in league) will seek to stay in front of also undefeated-in-league Tri-unity Christian (3-0) and Potters House Christian (2-0) as they visit the Zion Christian Mountaineers (3-6 2-3). On the girls side, Zion Christian is 4-6 overall and 1-2 in league, while Grand River Prep is 4-4, 0-0.
Both games will be WKTV Sports Featured Games, which will be available on cable television and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
While the games are important to both schools, Zion Christian protecting their home court may be have a larger impact on their Alliance League chances.
Mountaineers boys head coach Dan Does (49-65 overall at the school) has a team led by senior guard Julian Edouard, who is averaging 21.5 points, 15 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 55 percent from 2-point range and 38 percent from 3-point range.
Fellow senior Titus Baker is averaging 8 ppg., 4.4 rpg., and 3.4 assists per game, while hitting about 35 percent of his 3-point attempts. Senior Blaze Pasma is averaging 6.5 ppg.
On the Mountaineers girls side, head coach Derek Foltice (52-42 overall) fields a team led by two juniors and a freshman Junior Kelly Leep has per-game average of 15.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 5.3 steals and 2.5 blocks. Fellow junior Avery Hilton’s line is 3.7 ppg. and 6.5 rpg., and freshman Josie Doezema’s line is 6.3 ppg. and 4.7 rpg.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The Featured Game coverage schedule for the last week of January includes the following:
Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Grand River Prep at Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 — Girls/Boys Basketball Caledonia at East Kentwood
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Jan. 27 Boys/Girls Bowling @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian FH Eastern@ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Christian @ South Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 28 Girls Basketball
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Western Michigan Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian Kelloggsville @ Tri-County South Christian @ FH Eastern Galesburg-Augusta @ Potter’s House Grand River Prep @ Zion Christian – WKTV Featured Event West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary Christian Boys Basketball Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Kelloggsville FH Eastern @ South Christian Grand River Prep @ Zion Christian – WKTV Featured Event Lansing Martin Luther @ West Michigan Lutheran West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary Christian Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Boys Wrestling Kelloggsville @ Kent City Girls Cheer Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Wednesday, Jan. 29 Boys/Girls Bowling Caledonia @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Wyoming @ Christian East Grand Rapids @ South Christian Boys Wrestling East Kentwood @ Caledonia Godwin Heights @ Shelby Wyoming @ Hamilton Wyoming Lee @ Lakeview Girls Cheer Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Girls Basketball Grand River Prep @ Holland Black River
Thursday, Jan. 30 Boys Swimming/Diving @ East Kentwood South Christian @ Middleville T-K Boys Bowling Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian Girls Basketball Potter’s House @ Zion Christian Boys Basketball Potter’s House @ Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 Boys Hockey East Kentwood @ Chelsea Girls Basketball Caledonia @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights FH Eastern @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian South Christian @ Christian Creative Tech @ West Michigan Lutheran Boys Basketball Caledonia @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights FH Eastern @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian South Christian @ Christian Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Potter’s House Creative Tech @ West Michigan Lutheran Holland Calvary @ West Michigan Aviation
Saturday, Feb. 1 Boys Hockey Anchor Bay vs East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ Chelsea South Christian vs Northville Girls Cheer Wyoming @ Kalamazoo Central Kelloggsville @ Northview East Kentwood @ Northview Boys Wrestling @ Kelloggsville – Rocket Individual Tourney East Kentwood @ Lakewood Boys/Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Reeths-Puffer Girls Dance East Kentwood @ Jenison Boys Swimming East Kentwood @ Grandville Boys Basketball TBA @ East Kentwood
Monday, Feb. 3 Boys/Girls Bowling Calvin Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – Boys NorthPointe Christian @ Wyoming Lee Hopkins @ Godwin Heights Byron Center @ South Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Kelloggsville @ Hilcrest Lanes Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Girls Basketball Lansing Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian
Godwin Heights boys basketball (shown from a 2019 game) is on the WKTV Featured Game schedule this week . (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
After a tough season-opening stretch of tough non-conference games, the Godwin Heights High School boys basketball team has started its OK-conference Silver schedule with wins over Belding and Wyoming Lee and a tight road loss at Hopkins.
The Wolverines (3-6 overall, 2–1 in conference) will seek to continue its conference roll as the team hosts NorthPointe Christian (3-5, 1-1) Tuesday, Jan. 21, in a WKTV Sports Featured Game, which will be available on cable television and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
So far this season, Godwin head coach Tyler Whittemore’s team has been led by seniors Cleveland (CJ) Baskin (6.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game) and Milton Brown (5 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg). But the team’s leading scorers are both freshmen, Jakhary Towns (17 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg) and Demarie Thompson (8 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3 rpg).
“Baskin is a versatile player. He will handle the ball for us to initiate the offense, but is also good at slashing to the basket off the ball,” Whittemore said to WKTV. “He … is the only player with stats from last year. The other guys have very little to no varsity experience.”
Of his two freshman starters, Whittemore said Townes is an “explosive scorer from outside … (and) he is a very good shooter from the 3-point line.” While Thompson is “a tough and talented point guard. He has very good court-vision.”
Whittemore praised his other senior starter, Brown, as a “very tough player. He is a smart player that will help everyone around him be more efficient. He can guard multiple positions and will end up on the opposing team’s best player down the stretch.”
And the team other usual starter, junior Martine Bickety (3 ppg, 3rpg) is the “toughest defender we have,” his coach said.
First off the Godwin bench are junior Jamontae Burrell (4 ppg) and sophomore Jordan Norman (4.5 ppg), while junior Ru’Quan Buckley will return from injury in the Tuesday game.
Other players on the team (according to the team’s school webpage) include senior Sa’Viance Morris-Miller and juniors Jacob Horrell, Kyeshaun Hunnicutt and Jadyn Rodriguez.
Last season, the Wolverines were 15-6 overall and won the OK Silver with a 12-0 mark before falling to Grand Rapids South Christian in an opening round playoff game.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
The 2019-20 East Kentwood High School boys basketball team. (Supplied/East Kentwood)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
So far this season, after five non-conference games and their OK-Conference Red opener earlier this week, the East Kentwood boys basketball team has had some success and some struggles executing coach Jeff Anama plan to have a team featuring fast-paced offense and defense.
The Falcons have two players scoring in double figures, several seniors playing key rolls, but have a modest early-season 2-4 record (0-1 in conference) as the team hosts Hudsonville (7-0, 2-0) Friday, Jan. 17, as part of a doubleheader of WKTV Sports Featured Games which will be available on cable television and, later, on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
“The kind of offense and defense we run, I think, is … transition, trying to push the ball quickly, look for opportunities to get easy baskets,” Anama said to WKTV in December as the team prepared for its first game. The team wants “to try to create pressure and turnovers an easier baskets with our defensive transition and defensive pressure.”
We need to “be able to push the ball from one end to the other and create opportunities for the depth that I think we have on this year’s team,” he said. “And with the defensive pressure to make the tempo uncomfortable for the team we are playing.”
Anama’s fast-paced philosophy has shown it sometimes takes a few games to click. Last season, the Falcons started 3-3, but ended up 16-10 overall and won five playoff games before falling to Okemos in the state Division 1 Quarterfinals.
This season’s Falcons, through six games, are led in scoring by seniors Ja’moni Jones (14 points per game) and Jordan Jackson (11.2 PPG), with three players averaging about six points per game: senior JaShon Large, junior Tyane Barnes and super freshman Jy’Air Harris. Jackson and Harris also lead the team in rebounds per game with just over four, while Jones is averaging just under four rebounds and leading the team in assists with about 3 per game.
The usual (and tentative Friday) starters are Jones, Jackson, Large, Harris and senior Urim Sahitolli.
Other players on the team (according to the team’s school webpage) include seniors Sean-Anthony Diggs, Deivi Martinez Abreu, Frey Nickson and Adonis Vashon; juniors Christopher Brown, Eric Cohill, Joshua Mayhue, Kellen Roelofs and Kalil Stimage.
“I would say our team is a team that loves to play basketball and they love to be together,” Anama said.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
The Wyoming high girls basketball team used a balanced scoring attack, good defense and some clutch free-throw points down the stretch to score a 73-63 win over Wayland Jan. 14. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The second game of a long OK-Conference schedule may have been too early to be called a must-win game for the Wyoming High School girls basketball team, but the Wolves Tuesday, Jan. 14, home-court win over then undefeated Wayland was a really good win.
Wyoming (4-5 overall and 1-1 in OK Gold) used a balanced scoring attack and some clutch defense down the stretch to score a 73-63 win over the Wildcats (8-1 overall, 1-1) and give the Wolves a little momentum in conference play.
“Our conference is so tough, Wayland was 8-0 coming in … East Grand Rapids is one of the top teams in the state … anytime we go into our conference, it is a battle,” Wolves coach Troy Mast, now in his fifth year at Wyoming, said to WKTV after the game. “It was early in the season, but we play every game as if it were the last game of the year.”
In the Wayland win, the Wolves were led by 20 points — including six 3-pointers — from senior McKenzie Ruppert and 15 points from fellow senior Mikayla Petree. But they also got 12 points each from junior Taejah Cross and sophomore Michelle McGee, eight points from sophomore Mikayla Marzean and six points from sophomore Marissa Menard.
“Our kids were ready tonight,” Mast said. “I am so proud of how they performed and took care of each other and played so hard.”
Wyoming high coach Troy Mast talking to his team during a win over Wayland Jan. 14. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
That balanced scoring, from experienced upperclassmen and still-developing sophomores, has been a strength of Wyoming so far this season.
“We do not have one girl we can count on … but we feel like we have five, six, seven girl who can score on a given night,” Mast said. “We just want to win. It doesn’t matter who scores.”
In addition to seniors Ruppert and Petree, the Wolves are also led by senior Aniyah Jones. Other juniors on the squad include Charde’ Fudge, Naomi Goodson and Delfina Hernandez-Key. In addition to McGee, Marzen and Menard, other youth on the team include sophomores Jenna VanderPloeg and Avery Jirous, and freshman Treyah Cross.
“We have senior leaders … Mikayla Petree has been on the varsity for four years … and each year she has taken on more and more responsibility,” Mast said. “But we also have some young kids who can play. We feel like that, as we go though the season, if we can balance those two together, we’ll be alright.”
While Wyoming lost four of seven non-conference games, Mast said there were lessons learned from close, early-season losses to the likes of Forest Hills Central, Grandville and Rockford.
“We felt like we played a tougher (non-conference) schedule than most teams in our conference,” he said.
The Wolves will be at Grand Rapids Christian (7-1, 0-1) for another conference game Friday, Jan. 17.
The Wolves were 8-13 last season and were 5-7 in OK-Conference Gold play. This season the coaching staff includes assistants Julian Goodson (the junior varsity head coach) and Eric Brown.
The Wyoming vs. Wayland girls and boys games were a WKTV Sports Featured Games and is available on cable television and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
The Wyoming High School Wolves boys basketball team, from an early season game, will be a WKTV Featured Game this week. (Curtis Holt)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The Featured Game coverage schedule for January includes the following:
Tuesday, Jan. 14 — Girls/Boys Basketball Wayland at Wyoming
Friday, Jan. 17 — Girls/Boys Basketball Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Boys Basketball NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Jan. 24 — Boys Basketball Zion Christian at Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Grand River Prep at Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 — Girls/Boys Basketball Caledonia at East Kentwood
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Jan. 13 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Belding Wyoming @ Zeeland East Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Sparta – Boys Hopkins @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Unity Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 14 Girls Cheer @ East Kentwood Girls Basketball West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Belding @ Godwin Heights Wayland @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Event Muskegon Orchard View @ Tri-Unity Christian NorthPointe Christian @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ East Grand Rapids Potter’s House @ Martin Muskegon Catholic Central @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ GR Homeschoolers Hudsonville Libertas Christian @ West Michigan Aviation Boys Basketball East Kentwood @ West Ottawa Godwin Heights @ Belding Wayland @ Wyoming – WKTV Featured Event Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian East Grand Rapids @ South Christian Martin @ Potter’s House
Wednesday, Jan. 15 Boys Wrestling Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Montague @ Godwin Heights Middleville T-K @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Muskegon Catholic Central Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Catholic Central Boys/Girls Bowling NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights East Grand Rapids @ Wyoming Belding @ Wyoming Lee FH Eastern @ South Christian Girls Cheer Wyoming Lee @ Kelloggsville Boys Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Lansing Christian Girls Basketball WMAES @ West Michigan Aviation
Thursday, Jan. 16 Boys Swimming/Diving West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Boys Bowling Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep
Friday, Jan. 17 Girls Basketball Hudsonville @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary Hopkins @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Unity Christian Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ Algoma Christian West Michigan Aviation @ West Catholic Boys Basketball Hudsonville @ East Kentwood – WKTV Featured Event Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Fruitport Calvary Hopkins @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Unity Christian Holland Black River @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ Algoma Christian Zion Christian @ Holland Calvary West Michigan Aviation @ West Catholic Boys Hockey South Christian @ West Ottawa
Saturday, Jan. 18 Boys Wrestling East Kentwood @ Holt Godwin Heights @ FH Central Wyoming @ Jenison Kelloggsville @ Christian Boys Swimming/Diving East Kentwood@ Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Boys Hockey Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard @ East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation South Christian @ Rockford
Monday, January 20 Boys/Girls Bowling Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Tri-Unity Christian @ Muskegon Orchard View Calvin Christian @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Wayland
Godwin Heights High School’s girls basketball team in action against Wyoming Tri-unity Christian on Jan. 7. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The Godwin Heights High School girls basketball team (5-1) closed out their early non-conference season schedule Tuesday, Jan. 6, with a convincing, if at times sloppy, 58-38 non-conference home win over Wyoming Tri-unity Christian.
And while the Wolverines’ schedule will get more challenging now as it enters OK-Conference Silver play Friday, Jan. 10, at Hopkins (3-3 in early season action), head coach Cassie Medina likes what she has seen from her team of nine juniors and one super freshman.
And she really likes what she thinks the team could become this season and next.
“I’m excited, because I had half of them (the juniors) on varsity last year, so we are still building,” Medina said to WKTV after the Tuesday game. “I feel like this year is the year and next year is the year.”
Medina is now 82-59 overall at Godwin, but is 77-44 without a losing season after going 5-15 in 2012-13, her first year leading the varsity.
Godwin Heights High School’s girls basketball team before a game Jan. 7. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
In the Tri-unity game, the Wolverines had seven players in the scoring column, led by center Jakaya Lay’s 15 points and freshman guard KaShari Babb’s 12 points. Guard Lashay Lee added nine points and forward Anika Clark eight.
Other juniors on the team include guards Lanaja Polk-Craig, Diamond Johnson and Hannah Barns, forward Shantil Johnson and center Jaida Walls.
Godwin Heights High School’s girls basketball team head coach Cassir Medina talks during a timeout in a Jan. 7 game. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
And while coach Medina feels she can and will get scoring — and tight defense — from just about anybody she puts on the court, Lay has been very impressive on both offense and defense in the paint, and Babb was is just beginning to show why she was too good to not play point guard/off guard on varsity.
Godwin Heights High School’s girls basketball team had nine juniors and one freshman, guard KaShari Babb, right. (WKTV)
Babb’s “basketball smarts is just too good, there is just no way she should be JV,” Medina said. “If you watch her, her basketball IQ, she sees layups inside, she sees open players. She is just too good.”
And Lay is not only developing into a scoring machine, but she rebounds and plays tough inside defense without drawing carless fouls — she did not have a single foul against Tri-unity.
“Her footwork is so good inside. For her size, she’s a little shorter (5-foot-9), her footwork is so nice,” Medina said. “The way she can get the ball and move … I’m amazed at the inside moves she has.”
But Medina knows that her team will need to get better, this season and next, starting with the conference opener this week.
“Tonight (against Tri-unity) was a little sloppy, we need to clean-up a lot of the turnovers,” she said. “But righty now we are doing a lot of things right.”
The Wolverines were 11-11 last season and were 4-6 in OK-Conference Silver play. They won two games in the state playoffs, including a 56-40 win over conference foe Kelloggsville, before falling to Grand Rapids South Christian in the Division 2 District 44 finals.
The Godwin Heights vs. Tri-unity game was a WKTV Sports Featured Game and is available on cable television and on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
Tri-unity boys basketball is one of the many local sports teams WKTV’s Featured Game coverage team will be covering this season. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
By Mike Moll sports@wktv.org
The holidays are in the rear-view mirror as the calendar has turned over to 2020, and January is jam-packed with high school sports most every night of the month as the winter season goes into full force.
Be sure to get out and show your support for your local school and its student-athletes in person, but then watch the replay on WKTV or watch on-line at any time within a few days of the event.
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The Featured Game coverage schedule for January includes the following:
Friday, Jan. 3 — Boys Hockey Portage Northern at East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation
Tuesday, Jan. 7 — Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Jan. 10 — Girls/Boys Basketball Kelloggsville at Wyoming Lee
Tuesday, Jan. 14 — Girls/Boys Basketball Wayland at Wyoming
Friday, Jan. 17 — Girls/Boys Basketball Hudsonville at East Kentwood
Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Boys Basketball NorthPointe Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Jan. 24 — Boys Basketball Zion Christian at Tri-Unity Christian
Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Girls/Boys Basketball Grand River Prep at Zion Christian
Friday, Jan. 31 — Girls/Boys Basketball Caledonia at East Kentwood
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Jan 6 Boys/Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ South Christian Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee
Tuesday, Jan. 7 Girls Basketball Northview @ East Kentwood Tri-Unity Christian @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Event Wyoming @ Rockford Wyoming Lee @ Holton Kelloggsville @ Wayland Potter’s House @ Ravenna Kent City @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ Hudsonville Home Schoolers Holland Black River @ Zion Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Martin Boys Basketball Wyoming @ Rockford Holton @ Wyoming Lee South Christian @ Byron Center Potter’s House @ Kenowa Hills Kent City @ Grand River Prep West Michigan Lutheran @ Lansing Martin Luther Holland Black River @ Zion Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Martin
Wednesday, Jan. 8 Girls Cheer East Kentwood @ West Ottawa Wyoming @ Zeeland West Wyoming Lee @ Belding Kelloggsville @ Belding Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Hopkins Unity Christian @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Calvin Christian South Christian @ Zeeland East Boys Wrestling Belding @ Godwin Heights Wyoming @ Hamilton Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Ravenna Boys Hockey Rockford @ South Christian Girls Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Wellsprings Prep Boys Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Wellsprings Prep
Thursday, Jan. 9 Boys Swimming South Christian @ Union Boys/Girls Bowling Potter’s House @ Muskegon Orchard View Girls Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES Boys Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Friday, Jan. 10 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights Ottawa Hills Girls Basketball Godwin Heights @ Hopkins South Christian @ Wyoming Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee – WKTV Featured Event Covenant Christian @ Potter’s House Hudsonville Libertas Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran Fruitport Calvary @ Zion Christian Boys Basketball Godwin Heights @ Hopkins South Christian @ Wyoming Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee – WKTV Featured Event Bridgman @ Tri-Unity Christian Covenant Christian @ Potter’s House Hudsonville Libertas Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran Fruitport Calvary @ Zion Christian
Saturday January 11, 2020 Girls Dance East Kentwood @ Kenowa Hills Boys Wrestling East Kentwood @ West Catholic – Dunneback Invite Kelloggsville @ Fruitport Wyoming @ West Catholic Boys Swimming/Diving East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids South Christian @ East Grand Rapids Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ FH Central Rochester @ South Christian Girls Cheer FH Eastern @ Wyoming Wyoming Lee @ Allendale Kelloggsville @ Allendale
Monday, Jan. 13 Boys/Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Belding Wyoming @ Zeeland East Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Sparta – Boys Hopkins @ Kelloggsville South Christian @ Unity Christian
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The tentative Featured Game coverage schedule for December includes the following:
Tuesday, Dec. 17 — Boys and Girls Basketball, Kelloggsville at West Michigan Aviation
Friday, Dec. 20 — Boys basketball, Sparta at West Michigan Aviation
Our featured gam crew will be on break until after the New Years Day week. Check back the first week of January for the complete featured game and weekly schedules.
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! We are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Dec. 16 Boys / Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Christian @ Wyoming South Christian @ East Grand Rapids Tri-Unity Christian @ Orchard View – Boys Girls Basketball Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Heights West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES Boys Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Western Michigan Christian West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Tuesday, Dec.17 Girls Basketball West Michigan Aviation @ Kelloggsville — WKTV Featured Event Wellsprings Prep @ Wyoming Lee Northview @ Wyoming East Kentwood @ East Grand Rapids Zion Christian @ Orchard View West Michigan Lutheran @ Creative Tech Academy Boys Basketball Kelloggsville @ West Michigan Aviation — WKTV Featured Game Godwin Heights @ Grand Haven Sacred Heart of Jesus @ Wyoming Lee Wyoming @ Northview Ravenna @ Zion Christian Grand River Prep @ Holland Black River Boys Swimming / Diving South Christian @ East Kentwood – Christmas Quad
Wednesday, Dec. 18 Boys / Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee Calvin Christian @ Godwin Heights Middleville T-K @ Wyoming South Christian @ Byron Center Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian – Boys Boys Wrestling @ Kelloggsville – Quad Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Wyoming @ Unity Christian East Kentwood @ Lowell Girls Cheer Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Mona Shores Wyoming @ Jenison
Thursday, Dec. 19 Boys / Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ East Kentwood Wyoming @ Allendale Girls Basketball Wyoming Lee @ Ottawa Hills Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep Boys Basketball Sparta @ West Michigan Aviation — WKTV Featured Game Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep
Friday, Dec. 20 Boys Basketball Grand River Prep @ Kelloggsville Godwin Heights @ Northview Calvin Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian Grandville @ Wyoming East Kentwood @ FH Central Caledonia @ South Christian Zion Christian @ Galesburg-Augusta Potter’s House @ Saranac West Michigan Lutheran @ Battle Creek Calhoun Christian Girls Basketball Calvin Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian Wyoming @ Grandville East Kentwood @ FH Central Caledonia @ South Christian Zion Christian @ Galesburg-Augusta Potter’s House @ Saranac West Michigan Lutheran @ Battle Creek Calhoun Christian Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ Jenison South Christian @ FH Eastern/FH Northern
Saturday, Dec. 21 Boys Wrestling Kelloggsville @ FH Central – Kent County Championships Godwin Heights @ FH Central – Kent County Championships Wyoming Lee @ FH Central – Kent County Championships Wyoming @ FH Central – Kent County Championships East Kentwood @ FH Central – Kent County Championships Boys Basketball Wyoming Lee vs West Michigan Aviation @ GRCC Boys Swimming / Diving East Kentwood @ Holland South Christian @ Holland Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ Hudsonville South Christian @ Christian
Monday, Dec. 23 No Games Scheduled
Tuesday, Dec. 24 No Games Scheduled
Wednesday, Dec. 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS No Games Scheduled
Thursday, Dec. 26 Boys Basketball Godwin Heights vs Wayland @ Cornerstone University TBA @ Wyoming Lee – Lee Basketball Tournament
Friday, Dec. 27 Boys / Girls Bowling Godwin Heights @ Catholic Central Wyoming Lee @ Catholic Central Wyoming @ Catholic Central East Kentwood @ Catholic Central Boys Basketball TBA @ Wyoming Lee – Lee Basketball Tournament East Kentwood @ Muskegon Reeths Puffer Girls Basketball NorthPointe Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian Union @ Wyoming Boys Hockey South Christian vs Caledonia @ East Kentwood
Saturday, Dec. 28 Boys Basketball Godwin Heights vs TBD @ Cornerstone University Boys Wrestling Godwin Heights @ Montague East Kentwood @ Grandville Boys Hockey South Christian @ Grandville
Monday, Dec. 30 Boys Swimming South Christian @ Jenison – Curt Pals Invite
From left, U.S. Army Sgt. Gregory Fugitt, veterans Ken McKenney and Pete Zimmer, and U.S. Marine Petty Officer Jordan Beemer. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
When the South Christian Sailors boys basketball team visited Godwin Heights High School Tuesday for the Wolverines 2019-20 season season opener, the score mattered a little — the Sailors won, 63-46.
But what really mattered that night, in a WKTV Sports Featured Game, which was recorded and available WKTV video on-demand, was that the game was also a special Salute to Soldiers game with two veterans honored in pre-game ceremonies.
The two special guests honored — by the school, the crowd and by the presence of two active duty military personal — were Ken McKenney, a 72-year-old U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and Pete Zimmer, a 92-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who served during World War II.
“As an athletic program, we were excited to show our support to veterans and current military personnel for the day-to-day protection they provide for our country,” Godwin Heights athletic director Robert Hisey said to WKTV. “We understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by the families of our service members. This sacrifice allows our military personnel to fulfill their responsibilities and allows us to go about our daily events without worry.”
Godwin Athletic Director Robert Hisey, center, introducing the school’s Salute to Soldiers ceremony on Dec. 10. He is joined by active duty military and other veteran personnel. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The event had the two honored veterans first standing alone on each end of the gym floor, while in the middle were other veterans and active duty personal attending the game — most notably military service recruiter U.S. Army Sgt. Gregory Fugitt and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Jordan Beemer, both in uniform.
There was special music provided by students of Godwin Heights and then brief histories of the honored veterans, McKenny and Zimmer, were read by one player from South Christian and one by Godwin Heights. The players and coaches of each team then met the veterans one-on-one to shake hands and pay their respects.
Veteran Ken McKenney being honored by a South Christian student end athlete. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
McKenney, according to the introduction, was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1967. Following boot camp, and various stateside training, he went to Vietnam in 1968. During that deployment, he was awarded two Purple Heart medals (for being wounded in battle). During his two-year tour, in 1968-69, he served with the 5th Mechanized Infantry Division and with the 184th Ordnance Battalion.
McKenny wrote a book about his Vietnam War experiences, dedicated to “the many brave soldiers who were not able to return home.”
Zimmer joined the U.S. Navy at age 17, and served during World War II from 1944 to 1946 on three different ships in the South Pacific. He was recalled in 1950 to Fighter Squadron 821, to serve in the Korean War on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Essex. He was honorably discharged in 1952 and returned home to continue his education.
Zimmer remains “active and enthusiastic” serving our community in various volunteer capacities and is a member of the American Legion.
“It was a great honor to have both Ken McKenney and Pete Zimmer as our guests at our “Salute to Soldiers” event,” Hisey said. “Both Ken and Pete were an easy choice as Ken was the recipient of two Purple Hearts during the Vietnam War and Pete had experienced both WW II and the Korean War.”
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
Action from a 2018-19 season playoff game between Godwin Heights and South Christian. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Both the South Christian Sailors and the Godwin Heights Wolverines will open their 2019-20 season this week following successful 2018-19 campaigns, but with 0-0 records and a lot of new faces on the court.
And, by a quirk of scheduling, the two coaches may well remember the last time the two met: an opening round state playoff game last season when the Sailors sent the Wolverines home after a fine season and South Christian began a deep playoff ride.
The rematch between two defending OK Conference champions will be Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., in a WKTV Sports Featured Game, which will be recorded and available on cable television and on-demand. The game is also a special Salute to Soldiers game with two veterans honored in pre-game ceremonies.
Godwin Athletic Director told WKTV that the two special guests to be honored will be Ken McKenney, a 72-year-old U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and Pete Zimmer, a 92-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who served during World War II.
Host Godwin Heights, out of the OK Silver, was 15-6 overall in 2018-19, 12-0 in conference and Silver champion. Coach Tyler Whittemore’s team lost 47-45 in opening round playoff game at South Christian.
South Christian, out of OK Gold, was 22-4 in 2018-19, 11-1 in conference and Gold champion. The Sailors won five playoff games before falling to Hudsonville Unity Christian in the state quarterfinals. Coach Jeff Meengs is 56-37 in four seasons at the school.
But the Sailors lost eight seniors, five who started, and only have two players back from that team: senior guard Tyler Buwalda and junior big man (6-foot-7) Connor Dykema. Both were a part of the team’s 8-man playing rotation last season, and both averaged about 4.5 points per game last year. Juniors Sam Meengs, Elliott Grashuis and Tyler Rynbrandt “will also play a lot,” Meengs told WKTV, while other seniors on roster will “contribute and have significant playing time.”
“While we do not have much experience, we do have good players that have had success at the freshman and JV levels the past few years,” Meengs said. (For a WKTV video interview with Coach Meengs, visit here.)
Godwin coach Whittemore, whose team also lost much through graduation, has averaged 20-plus wins in each of the last five seasons with the usual changing of players. So the Wolverines may just be reloaded again. Coach Whittemore told WKTV that his expected starters will be seniors Cleveland (CJ) Baskin, Terrance (TJ) Moore and Savi Morris-Miller, as well as junior Jamontae Burrell and sophomore Jordan Norman.
Other players expected to contribute include junior RuQuan Buckley, freshman Jakhary Towns, and seniors Shadon Ewing and Milton Brown.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
South Christian High School boys basketball, from a 2019 game. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV has your weekly high school sports schedule, and our coverage crew will be out twice the week. The tentative Featured Game coverage schedule for December includes the following:
Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Boys Basketball, South Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Dec. 13 — Boys Hockey, FH Central at East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation
Tuesday, Dec. 17 — Boys and Girls Basketball, Kelloggsville at West Michigan Aviation
Friday, Dec. 20 — Boys basketball, Sparta at West Michigan Aviation
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see the game
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. The games can also be seen on AT&T U-verse 99.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Dec. 9 Boys / Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Grandville Wellsprings Prep @ Godwin Heights Wayland @ Wyoming South Christian @ Middleville T-K Girls Basketball Holland @ Godwin Heights Boys Basketball Fruitport Calvary Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Tuesday, Dec. 10 Girls Basketball Grand River Prep @ Kelloggsville Hopkins @ Tri-Unity Christian South Christian @ Hamilton Zion Christian @ Saugatuck Hackett Catholic Prep @ Potter’s House Barry County Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran Boys Basketball Kelloggsville @ Wellsprings Prep South Christian @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Event East Kentwood @ FH Northern Zion Christian @ Saugatuck Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Hackett Barry County Christian @ West Michigan Lutheran Grand River Prep @ Saranac Boys Hockey Christian @ East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation Boys Swimming / Diving @ East Kentwood
Wednesday, Dec. 11 Boys Wrestling Kelloggsville @ Holland Godwin Heights @ Unity Christian Wyoming @ Unity Christian Wyoming Lee @ Christian East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Girls Cheer Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian Boys / Girls Bowling Wyoming Lee @ East Kentwood Wyoming @ FH Eastern South Christian @ Christian
Thursday, Dec. 12 Girls Basketball Ottawa Hills @ Godwin Heights Algoma Christian @ Zion Christian Sparta @ West Michigan Aviation Boys Bowling West Catholic @ Tri-Unity Christian Boys / Girls Bowling East Kentwood @ Jenison Orchard View @ Potter’s House Boys Swimming / Diving FH Central @ East Kentwood Boys Basketball Heritage Christian Academy @ Zion Christian
Friday, Dec. 13 Girls Cheer Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee – Elayna Durso Memorial Cheer Invitational Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee – Elayna Durso Memorial Cheer Invitational Wyoming @ Jenison Girls Basketball Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian Holland Christian @ South Christian Lake Odessa Lakewood @ Grand River Prep Boys Basketball Hudsonville @ Godwin Heights Wellsprings Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian Wyoming @ Jenison East Grand Rapids @ East Kentwood Holland Christian @South Christian Potter’s House @ Laingsburg Sacred Heart @ West Michigan Aviation Lake Odessa Lakewood @ Grand River Prep Boys Wrestling Wyoming Lee @ Tri-County Boys Hockey FH Central @ East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation – WKTV Featured Event West Ottawa @ South Christian
Saturday, Dec. 14 Boys / Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs Godwin Heights @ Cedar Springs Boys Wrestling @ Kelloggsville – Dave Fleming Memorial Tournament Godwin Heights @ Kent City East Kentwood @ Big Rapids – Cardinal Invitational Girls Cheer East Kentwood @ Jenison Boys Hockey FH Northern @ East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation Rockford @ South Christian Boys Basketball East Kentwood @ Ottawa Hills West Michigan Aviation @ Detroit Southeastern
Monday, Dec. 16 Boys / Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Christian @ Wyoming South Christian @ East Grand Rapids Tri-Unity Christian @ Orchard View – Boys Girls Basketball Godwin Heights @ Muskegon Heights West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES Boys Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Western Michigan Christian West Michigan Lutheran @ WMAES
Wyoming Lee High School’s girls basketball team suited up only five players for this 2017 game. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
In the third year of what is literally a complete rebuild of the Wyoming Lee High School girls basketball program, head coach Tasha Wilson and her staff are measuring success by the number of players in the program and the positive attitude of those players.
The wins will come.
The Lee Legends girls (0-1) will try to get their first win of the season when they host a non-conference game against Byron Center Zion Christian Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., in a WKTV Sports Featured Game, which will be recorded and available on cable television and on-demand.
The Legends also return to an OK Conference Silver schedule this season after going 0-9 last season in a shortened independent schedule.
“At the moment I have a 16-player (varsity roster) — I know it sounds crazy but this is honestly the biggest team I’ve ever had in my career of coaching at Lee High School,” Coach Wilson said to WKTV. “Since I’ve been back its been a battle to pick the program back up. I started with 6 players my first year with some quitting, so we had to cancel our entire (2017-18) season.
“Then going into my second year blind, not knowing what was going to happen, we went with a independent schedule and successfully finished with 8 players. Now my third year I was overwhelmed with the amount of players that came out to play this year.”
While getting the girls basketball program back on the minds, and in the extracurricular plans, of the students at Lee has been an offseason priority, the in-season priority has been keeping the players positive about the program.
“Staying positive is huge for me. The score can be so ugly but all along my bench you hear positivity,” Wilson said. “My girls don’t look at horrible losses in a negative way, they look at them as learning experiences. They know that practice time is valuable and that’s when we need to work our hardest to get to where we want to be. We’re still putting together our puzzle here at Lee.”
The 2019-20 Legends will feature returning varsity players senior Taylor Weekly and junior Keanna DesArmo, and Coach Wilson pointed out junior Emily Martinez and freshman Mya Bruno as varsity newcomers she expects to contribute immediately.
“I’m so honored to have returning players like Keanna DesArmo and Taylor Weekley,” Wilson said. “They seen the program steadily grow now over the past years. Those two young ladies are huge pieces to the program, and I give them a lot of credit for helping me build this program back up as well. They were constantly getting the bug in everyone’s ear about basketball.”
Not only are numbers an issue to be overcome, but having players without much history playing the game is also something Wilson and her staff deal with.
“I’d say this year about 80 percent of my team has never played basketball before, so its been a struggle for me because I have to teach fundamentals for the first three weeks then we jump right into a game,” she said. “Which shows clearly from our first game final score. We weren’t able to get a set offense taught yet so I’m glad to say we’re finally getting there.”
Lee lost to Kentwood Grand River Prep, 67-4, to open the season.
Zion Christian, out of the Alliance League, lost at home to Ravenna, 40-37, on Dec. 3. In 2018-19, Zion was 8-12 (2-5 in league) and one of those wins was a 48-13 victory over Lee.
Lee Athletic Director Jason Faasse also sees progress in the program in terms of numbers as much as wins at this point.
“Coach Wilson … has a great ability to connect with students and make them feel a part of something special,” Faasse said to WKTV. “Year-round they are working to engage the elementary and middle school aged students in the Godfrey-Lee community with the sport of basketball. Her leadership and commitment have played a huge role in increasing the participation at the high school level and I look forward to seeing the development of the program continue in a positive direction for years to come.”
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
WKTV’s coverage of girls high school basketball continues this month. (WKTV)
By Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director ken@wktv.org
Football teams were crowned champions Thanksgiving weekend inside Detroit’s Ford Field and the calendars were then rolled over to December. That means the winter sports open their schedules with tip-offs in girls basketball during the first week followed by the boys openers the second week.
Boys hockey, wrestling, boys and girls bowling, and boys swimming and diving began earlier, and to round out the winter sports teams, girls cheer and dance begin their seasons.
WKTV will bring one or two events each week to viewers, mostly basketball but some hockey.
The tentative Featured Game coverage schedule for December includes the following:
Friday, Dec. 6 — Girls Basketball, Zion Christian at Wyoming Lee
Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Boys Basketball, South Christian at Godwin Heights
Friday, Dec. 13 — Boys Hockey, FH Central at East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, Dec. 2 Girls Basketball Grand River Prep @ Wyoming Lee
Tuesday, Dec. 3 Girls Basketball Tri-Unity Christian @ Kelloggsville Orchard View @ Godwin Heights FH Central @ Wyoming East Kentwood @ Byron Center South Christian @ FH Northern Ravenna @ Zion Christian Potter’s House @ Kenowa Hills WMAES @ West Michigan Aviation Saranac @ Grand River Prep
Wednesday, Dec. 4 Boys Hockey South Christian @ Muskegon Reeths Puffer
Thursday, Dec. 5 Girls Basketball West Michigan Lutheran @ Athens Factoryville Christian
Friday, Dec. 6 Girls Basketball Kelloggsville @ Zeeland West Godwin Heights @ Union Zion Christian @ Wyoming Lee – WKTV Featured Event Tri-Unity Christian @ Belding Wyoming @ Comstock Park East Kentwood @ Muskegon Byron Center @ South Christian Hopkins @ Potter’s House Boys Hockey East Kentwood/West Michigan Aviation @ Kenowa Hills
Saturday, Dec. 7 Boys / Girls Bowling Kelloggsville – OK Silver Pre-Season Meet at Fairlanes Godwin Heights – OK Silver Pre-Season Meet at Fairlanes Wyoming – Tournament @ Eastbrook Lanes East Kentwood – East Kentwood Kickoff Invite Girls Dance East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Girls Basketball East Kentwood @ Kalamazoo Central
Monday, Dec. 9 Boys / Girls Bowling Kelloggsville @ Grandville Wellsprings Prep @ Godwin Heights Wayland @ Wyoming South Christian @ Middleville T-K Girls Basketball Holland @ Godwin Heights Boys Basketball Fruitport Calvary Christian @ West Michigan Aviation
Wyoming quarterback Matthew Berg (11) reacts to a Wolves touchdown in a game at Northview Sept. 6. (Curtis Holt)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV’s sports coverage crew was busy this fall, as our high school football Featured Game crew was all over Wyoming and Kentwood to cover local high schools’ American football teams — and one English ‘football’ game.
As every year, high school sports fans can get their Turkey Day football fix this year as we broadcast 13 hours of football (and two of soccer) on our cable Channel 25.
The special starts at 9 a.m., and highlights the best of our high school football games from the season. The schedule of games (with link to the games on WKTV’s On-Demand video internet channel, at WKTVLive.org ) is as follows:
10: 35 p.m. — Wyoming Lee at Godwin Heights soccer. On-Demand
Lee High School’s boys soccer team from an early season. (WKTV)
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government cChannel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are give the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26).
Wyoming Lee High School’s football team has had some ups and downs this season — the first season of a two-year hiatus from OK Silver conference play and into an independent schedule. But as the team prepares to end their season with a home game, the Legends have reason for optimism and accomplishment.
Lee (2-6 on the season) will host Potterville (0-7; 0-6 Central Michigan Athletic Conference) at Lee’s field Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. And WKTV will be there to record and broadcast the game.
Before the game, WKTV caught up with head coach Tom DeGennaro, who talked about what his team accomplished this season, players who have stepped up this year including a special freshman in the backfield, and how they are preparing for the season finale.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Wyoming quarterback Matthew Berg (11) reacts to a Wolves touchdown in a game at Northview Sept. 6. (Curtis Holt)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
In the third year of Wyoming High School football coach Irvin Sigler’s reboot of the Wolves program, the coach and his team are probably disappointed with their win/loss record in the tough OK Conference Gold.
But the Wolves’s offensive mindset is showing impressive improvement, the team opened their new field in equally impressive fashion, and Sigler’s 2019-20 senior class continues to show the leadership he wants.
Sigler talked to WKTV this week about his Wolves, currently 3-5 (1-4 in conference) with a Friday, Oct. 25, game at East Grand Rapids remaining on the season. And he started with his team’s ability to stay focused and positive after a 1-4 start to the season.
“Our coaching staff and players believe in each other,” Sigler said. “Trust is a critical part of building a team. We have a great time on the practice field and a relentless belief in what we are doing. It’s truly a team effort. Most importantly our players know that they are loved by our coaches.”
That belief in the system led to two impressive wins in weeks 6 and 7 — a 57-51 overtime win at Holland West Ottawa on Nov. 4 and a 47-0 win over Wayland on Nov. 11 as the Wolves opened their newly refurbished field at the high school.
But the team’s scoring outbursts in those two wins were only two signs of the increased offensive prowess of the Wolves. Even in losses, the offense has been scoring points.
As evidence, Wyoming scored 158 points in nine games in 2017-18, Sigler’s first season as head coach, and 132 in 2018-19 — but the Wolves have totaled 279 points in eight games so far this season.
The Wyoming offensive line, from the Wolves game at Northview Sept. 6. (Curtis Holt)
“We’ve got some very skilled guys on our offense,” coach said. “The four Parks have really been a key. We moved DeMari and Marion to running back after some injuries and they blossomed. Monte is an excellent receiver and Deion helps lead our offensive line.
“Mahki Matthews, Payton Lee and Matt Berg have also played very well. The key to everything is our offensive line. Getting Austin Bruce back from an ankle sprain was a big boost.”
De’marion, Diamonte and Dion Parks are seniors, as are Lee and Bruce. DeMari Parks is a junior, as are Matthews and Berg.
Sigler also pointed out several other seniors who have been leaders for the Wolves.
“Logan Cox, Dale Cross and Keeingg Briggs are three guys that come to mind — all have played exceptionally well,” he said. “ Our kicker, Adel Odobasek, has become a great leader in our special teams and has improved greatly.”
But plenty of other underclassmen have played and played well.
Maybe the biggest returner next season, however, will be a return to the Wolves’s new home field — the arrival of which this season was a boost to the team, Sigler said.
“The change in our mindset, with the opportunity to be in the new field, came at a great time,” he said. “While many teams are going through the grind of doing the same thing daily, we had an amazing new facility to jump start our season.”
And he expects that home field advantage, as well as overall program improvement, to carry on in the future.
“We must play our best at home and that is the mindset we are working to build,” Sigler said.
Lee High School’s boys soccer team preps for District tournament play. (Photo Credit: WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
After a 17-1 regular season, and being crowned co-champions of the OK Conference Silver, the Lee High School Legends boys soccer team is preparing for another run at a District title next week at Hudsonville Unity Christian and — hopefully — another shot at a Unity Christian squad which knocked them out in the District finals last season.
But first things first. As his team practiced this week, Lee coach Jaime Ramirez talked to WKTV about his team having a week off after a great regular season, detailed his top players, and his belief that this year’s team has brought their own bit of pride to the school.
Oh, and ya. There is that thing about “the kids” wanting a rematch with Unity Christian.
“It is a fantastic season so far, the kids are playing so good,” Ramariez said. “They earned this (conference co-championship) because they are doing the job on the field. … There is a little (school) pride in this team this year.”
Ramirez gives some of the credit for the school pride to Lee Middle and High School’s new principal, Candy VanBuskirk, who in addition to her impressive educational background played and coached basketball at the collegiate level — “This year the new principal is doing good job announcing (game results) every morning when we play, how we did.”
There was a lot of good news announced, as far as the soccer team’s season was concerned.
The Legends outscored their regular season opponents 81-12, with their only loss being a 1-0 setback to conference co-champion Grandville Calvin Christian, which the Legends beat early in the season, 2-1.
While scoring has not been a problem for the Legends this season, Ramirez still thinks they can do better and he is using the team’s 10-day layoff to “adjust” some things.
The long layoff “is kind of bad because the kids don’t get to play,” he said. “But it is kind of good too because the kids get to rest and I am able to adjust some things, what we’ve been struggling on, like targeting or scoring goals. That is my main thing right now.”
Lee High School’s boys soccer team huddles, from an early season game. (Photo Credit: WKTV)
Senior-led but but with plenty of young stars
The Legends are deep and talented with both offensive and defensive position players, according to their coach.
Senior co-captain and midfielder Raúl Montañez has 10 goals and six assists this season, junior co-captain and midfielder Gerardo Montañez has scored 10 goals and has eight assists, sophomore midfielder Edgar Vazquez leads the team in assists with 16 while adding five goals. But the team’s scoring leader is co-captain Michael Esqueda with 19 goals and five assists this season.
Senior forward Tristan Perez has played through injuries but still contributed nine goals and 10 assists.
On what has been a smothering defense, sophomore Alexandro Ruiz “improved so much and … (is a) very solid defender”, Ramirez said, while junior Gustavo Romero has also anchored the back line. Senior goalkeeper Jorge Montes blocked two penalty kicks, has 25 saves and six shutouts.
Two younger players who have contributed to the team’s success are junior Wili Diaz and Jacob Flores, who has played both on the field and in goal. “Definably he (Flores) will be my main goalkeeper next season, but he did an outstanding job as a defender,” Ramirez said.
District tournament outlook
Coach Ramirez said he and his team are not looking past their first game of the District 35 tournament, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15, at a time to be determined, when they will play the winner of an opening round contest between Grand Rapids Catholic and Grand Rapids West Catholic. But, should they win, they know which team they’d like to see in the District finals.
“We have to beat anybody that is going to be in our way, regardless of who it is,” Ramirez said. “If we come out and play a bad game, and they beat us up, then we don’t have anything to say. But if we play good, it doesn’t matter who we play, if we play good, we beat them.”
And as far as that rematch with Unity Christian — “The kids are looking for that rematch because they think they can do better this year than we did last year.”
Wyoming High School’s football team will be at home this week when the visiting South Christian comes to Davies Memorial Field at Wyoming Junior High for a key game in both teams’ season goal to be a factor in the OK Conference Gold title race.
But will it matter that this week’s WKTV High School Sports Featured Game of the Week is on home turf for the Wolves with the Sailors facing a mostly opposing crowd?
Wyoming is 1-2 (0-1 in OK Gold in early-season action) while South Christian is 2-1 (1-0), with the Wolves only win coming at home, and the Sailors only loss on the road.
For all WKTV’s local high schools — including East Kentwood, Godwin Heights, Kelloggsville, Wyoming Lee and Tri-unity Christian — the football teams are 6-1 at home and 3-10 on the road.
WKTV talked to both head coaches — South Christian’s Danny Brown and Wyoming high’s Irvin Sigler — and while both agree that “they don’t call it home field advantage for nothing”, what happens on the field usually means more.
The coaches also talked about what their team has done well so far this year, and their respect for the opposing head coach and the opposing programs.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Wyoming High School’s football team practicing at their soon-to-be ex-home field this week. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
When Wyoming High School’s football team plays its last game at Davies Memorial Field this week, at the current middle school but at what was once Wyoming Park high, those in attendance will have many memories of games and players on the field.
Jack VerDuin, in a historic photo from Wyoming High School Athletic Department Facebook page.
And the Friday, Sept. 20, game pitting the Wolves against the visiting South Christian Sailors will also be filled with memories of the late Jack VerDuin, who rolled up a 243-118-6 record with the Wyoming Park Vikings before the school merged with Wyoming Rogers into Wyoming high in 2012.
The Friday game will be the first part of a two-part, two-home game special event for Wyoming high as the Wolves will honor VerDuin during their last varsity football game at Davies field before moving to the new football stadium for a Oct. 11 home game.
One person who will have special memories, especially at this week’s game, will be Ted Hollern, Wyoming High School Athletic Director, who remembers VerDuin as an opposing coach, mentor and friend.
Ted Hollern, Wyoming High School Athletic Director. (WKTV)
“I can remember, as a high school student, playing against Jack VerDuin’s teams and how good they were,” Hollern said this week to WKTV. “They were well coached. What a machine they had operating.
“And then (later) … I was at Wyoming Rogers, when he was at Park … to be able to rub shoulders with him. At the time, I was a young football coach … you know, I could pick up on some of his ideas. I was the head football coach at Rogers and he was still coaching here. We shared a lot of time together.”
There will also be many memories by VerDuin’s family and many friends who will be in attendance at the game, set to start at 7 p.m. The Jack VerDuin family will be there as they will be announced as our Honorary Captains for the game.
VerDuin, who died in 2007, coached the Vikings for 38 seasons beginning in 1962. During the years, Wyoming Park won 19 conference championships and the Class B state championship in 1984, a 33-20 victory over Monroe Catholic Central. The Vikings were state runner-up in 1985, falling to Dearborn Divine Child 21-0.
VerDuin is a member of the Wyoming Hall of Fame, Grand Rapids Hall of Fame, Michigan High School Hall of Fame and the Michigan Football Hall of Fame.
Clearly Coach VerDuin and his “Mighty Vikings” built a tradition of excellence — a tradition which Hollern hopes can carry over from the “the house that Jack built” at Davies field to the new football stadium.
“I think of all the players and coaches who have played here, at what was Wyoming Park. How many championships they won. The tradition they had,” Hollern said. “I just think it will be great to remember some of their past, and some of their accomplishments, and then hope that tradition, those accomplishments, kind of springboard into the new place.”
For a story on the new football stadium, and how students and staff at Wyoming high are anticipating its opening, see a School News Network story here.
The South Christian vs. Wyoming Community Night Football Game at Wyoming Junior High will be the WKTV High School Sports Featured Game of the Week, with on-demand video replay available at WKTVLive.org.
The game will have a 7 p.m. kick-off, but, among many special events, will have a Jack VerDuin Family Night pregame with a hospitality tent opening at 5:15 p.m. in the north end zone, with all family and friends welcome.
The Sept. 13 East Kentwood vs. Caledonia football game is available on-demand at WKTVlive.org. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
At East Kentwood High School Friday, the Falcons rallied for 13 points in the fourth quarter — on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Christian Tanner to Josh Ledesma and a 4-yard run by Ledesma — to overcome a 14-10 Caledonia advantage and gain a 23-14 win.
The East Kentwood win Sept. 13 pushed the Falcons to 2-1 on the season and began their OK Conference Red slate with a home win over the Fighting Scots (1-2). East Kentwood had posted a 10-0 first half lead on 25-yard field goal by Tanner and a 51-yard pass from Tanner to Colton Emeott. Tanner was 13-of-23 passing for 198 yards while Drapher Cribbs led the team in rushing with 56 yards on 15 carries.
The Caledonia at East Kentwood game was the WKTV High School Sports Featured Game, with on-demand replays of the game available at WKTVlive.org. This week’s featured game will be South Christian at Wyoming high.
South Christian also pushed their record to 2-1 with a 42-0 win at home over Wayland to open the Sailors’ OK Gold schedule. In the game, short runs by Daniel Possett and Chase Bradman, with extra point kicks by Jeff Heerema, staked South Christian to a 14-0 first half lead. Two more rushing touchdowns by Possett, the second a 29-yard scamper, and a short run by Eli Smith pushed the score to 35-0 to enter the fourth quarter.
Also on Sept. 13, Wyoming high (1-2) lost at Grand Rapids Christian (1-2), 54-14.
In other local football action, Godwin Heights (1-2) and Wyoming Lee (1-2) both gained their first wins of the season. The Wolverines defeated Wyoming Kelloggsville (0-3) 36-14 in the OK Sliver opener for both teams. (Due to three teams in the conference playing non-conference football schedules, the two teams will meet later in the season at Kelloggsville.) For more information on the Lee Legends win, see a story here.
Tri-unity Christian won a 8-Man Midwest Central conference game at Lawrence, 40-28.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
East Kentwood High School’s football team at practice this week. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
There was no shame in East Kentwood High School’s season opening game loss at Muskegon Mona Shores — a team that went 12-2 last year, losing only to state power Muskegon high during the regular season and then in the Division 2 state playoff finals.
There were some lessons to be learned in the loss, however. And those lessons were evident last week when the Falcons rolled to a 39-6 road win at Grand Ledge Sept. 6.
East Kentwood football coach Anthony Kimbrough working with the team at practice. (WKTV)
“I always say you learn more from a loss than you do from a win. We did some things uncharacteristic of ourselves (against Mona Shores), but we got back to basics and tightened up some things, and it showed against Grand Ledge,” Falcon head coach Anthony Kimbrough said to WKTV. “We had a better overall execution on offense and defense. Just doing the little things.”
But coach also knows his team will face another challenge this week against OK Red Conference foe Caledonia — the Fighting Scots.
“It is right in their name, the Fighting Scots,” Kimbrough said. “They fight you, man. They play hard, they play physical, they run around. They do some good things and they are well coached. … We really have got to come to play.”
In last week’s win, the Falcons (1-1) jumped out to a 25-0 first half lead on a 40-yard run by Josh Ledesma and a 13-yard pass from Christian Tanner to Colton Emeott in the first quarter, and then a 39-yard run by Willie Berris and a 22-yard run by Tanner. They did not let up much in the second as they ran the score to 39-0, on an 82-yard touchdown pass from Tanner to Jamoni Jones, and a short run by Carter Selby.
The Fighting Scots (1-1), last week, also had an impressive win, defeating Cedar Springs (10-2 last year) at Caledonia by the score of 19-12, after falling on opening night at Holt, 35-17. Caledonia was 2-7 last year, 1-5 in conference play.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
At Northview High School Friday, Wyoming high got a great effort from running back Cameron (Cam) Simon, who rushed for rushed for 192 yards and one touchdown, and quarterback Matthew Berg threw scoring strikes to Mahki Mathews and Diamonte Parks.
But the Wolves could not match the Wildcats’ big-play power in a 49-21 non-conference loss Sept. 6.
After a finishing the first half with a 21-21 tie, Northview (2-0) scored 28 unanswered points to hand Wyoming (1-1) its first loss of the season.
Last season, Northview was 7-3 including an opening round playoff loss to Grand Rapids Christian, which ended a six-game winning streak. They were 5-1 in OK White and finished second to Cedar Springs, their only conference loss.
Against Wyoming, Wildcat running back Jakaurie Kirkland rushed for 270 yards and four touchdowns, including runs of 60, 37, 82 and 57 yards.
The Wyoming at Northview was scheduled to be televised as a WKTV Featured Games, but technical issues forced plans to be cancelled. This week’s featured game will be at East Kentwood.
In other local football action, East Kentwood (1-1) bounced back from an opening season loss at Muskegon Mona Shores with a 39-6 road win at Grand Ledge Friday. In the win, the Falcons jumped out to a 25-0 first half lead on a 40-yard run by Josh Ledesma and a 13-yard pass from Christian Tanner to Colton Emeott in the first quarter, and then a 39-yard run by Willie Berris and a 22-yard run by Tanner.
Also on Friday, South Christian (1-1) lost at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 35-21; Godwin Heights (0-2) lost at Hudsonville Unity Christian, 36-0; Kelloggsville (0-2) lost at Williamstown, 27-0,Wyoming Lee (0-2) lost at Gobles, 37-20; and Tri-unity Christian lost at Martin, 20-0, in 8-Man football.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
As his team “went to work” at practice this week in preparation for a high school football Week 2 game at Northview High School, Wyoming high head football coach Irv Sigler Jr. sounded like an X’s and O’s football coach as he talked to WKTV.
He praised his offensive line play in the team’s dominating 59-25 win over Holland opening week. He praised his opponent this week and said his team would need to be better to beat the Wildcats on their home field — a game which WKTV’s Featured Game sports coverage crew will be covering. UPDATE: Due to technical issues, WKTV was unable to video record the game.
But Coach Sigler also went a bit beyond the X’s and O’s by talking about the “culture” of his program, which has a modest 5-13 record in his first two years but may be about to turn the competitive corner.
Coach Sigler. (WKTV)
“We’ve grown a great deal in our ability to practice with purpose, with having a sense of urgency about getting better every day when we come out … the little things are the difference between being good and great,” Coach Sigler said in a WKTV interview. (See the entire interview on YouTube here.) “I describe our kids as lunchbox kids. They come here every day. They got a lunch box and they go to work.”
In their opening night games, Northview defeated Comstock Park 28-7 while Wyoming defeated Holland 59-25 in a game which was began on Thursday night but finished on Friday night due to storms moving through the area.
Wyoming High School football practice. (WKTV)
For the Wolves, junior running back (and linebacker) Cameron (Cam) Simon rushed for just shy of 200 yards and scored four touchdowns, while junior quarterback Matthew Berg passed for three TDs.
Northview, out of OK White, had 10 new starters on defense against Comstock Park but still held the Panthers to a single touchdown. Running back Jakaurie Kirkland had 220 yards on 23 carries. Senior quarterback Dan Frey went 7-of-11 for 72 yards, with two touchdown passes to sophomore Kyler VanderJact.
Northview, last season, was 7-3 including an opening round playoff loss to Grand Rapids Christian, which ended a six-game winning streak. They were 5-1 in OK White and finished second to Cedar Springs, their only conference loss.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
South Christian head football coach Danny Brown, at left, at a practice last week. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, one of the interviews is a special high school sports segment with South Christian High School’s new head football coach Danny Brown, of whom it would not be an understatement to say he bleeds Sailor Blue.
Coach Brown is no stranger to the Sailors’ program having served as an assistant coach since 2011 and as defensive coordinator for the past five seasons under Mark Tamminga, who retired after last season. Being a Sailor runs deep for Brown, having played varsity football at South Christian in the early 2000s. Brown attended Hope College and now is a small business owner in Byron Center.
During the discussion, Coach Brown talks about working with Coach Tamminga, playing for the late Bob Blacquiere, who was head coach when Brown played for the Sailors and was a big influence on his becoming a coach, and Brown’s transition from running the South Christian defense to being the man in charge of the entire program.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Late game action from the Lee at Godwin Heights boys soccer game Aug. 29. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The Lee High School boys soccer broke open a tight, defensive struggle with two goals near the end of the first half, and then ran their early-season record to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in OK Conference Silver with a 5-1 win over cross-town rival Godwin Heights on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Jesus “Chucho” Cruz.
The game was televised by WKTV Community Media’s high school sports coverage team with special Spanish-language announcing by local soccer instructor and radio host Jesus “Chucho” Cruz. The Spanish language audio game telecast will be replayed Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m., and then again Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. on WKTV cable channels. It will also be available both with Spanish and English announcers on-demand at WKTVlive.org. (See note below for details.)
Cruz is a goalie trainer for GRAS Academy of Grand Rapids and hosts the local La Mejor GR radio program.
In the actual game between Lee and Godwin Heights, Legends junior Gerardo Montañez broke the scoreless tie with about 4 minutes remaining in the first half, then about two minutes later sophomore Edgar Vasquez scored to push the score to 2-0. Lee and Vasquez wasted little time getting on the board in the second as he scored again with only about seven minutes played in the second half.
Lee pushed the score to 5-0 with goals by junior Willi Diaz and senior Michael Esqueda before Godwin sophomore Mario Aguilar tallied late for the final 5-1 score. Senior Godwin goalkeeper senior Eric Truong had several good saves despite the one-sided score. Lee sophomore Jacob Flores faced relatively few threats on goal as the Legends defense played very well.
With the loss, Godwin Heights’ record is now 1-1-1 overall and 0-1-1 in conference play.
In the lead-up to the contest, WKTV interviewed Lee coach Jamie Ramirez on the state of this current team and the school’s soccer program. For a story visit here. For a video, visit here.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org .
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
The Lee High School boys soccer team is off to a 6-0 start this season, and coach Jaime Ramirez has plenty of reasons to smile about their goals of a conference title. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Lee High School boys soccer coach Jaime Ramirez likes the state of his program, top to bottom, from the nearly 40 kids in the middle school program to the deep, talented varsity roster that has posted a 6-0 early-season record heading into a cross-town rivalry with Godwin Heights on Thursday, Aug. 29.
But Ramirez and his newly-named Legends expect more after last season’s 18-7 record including two playoff wins with an 8-3 record in OK Conference Silver standings, and this season’s fast start including a 2-1 comeback road win over Grandville Calvin Christian in conference play.
“The kids are working really hard. They have ambitions to make history on their own this year. The last conference championship we had was in 2010,” Rameriez said to WKTV early this week. “They are anxious to put another conference championship on their shoulders.”
The Lee boys soccer game at Godwin Heights will be this week’s WKTV High School Sports Featured Game of the Week.
Lee lost only two players from last year’s squad and feature not only five seniors and five juniors on the varsity roster, but also several young players who are too good to keep off the varsity roster.
“That is what is making the team pretty strong,” Ramirez said. “This is my dream team. I can substitute like four of them and not notice a big difference on the team, which is what I believe all the coaches dream for.”
Coach (reluctantly) pointed out several players who are the “players to watch” on the offensive side of the squad, starting with senior Raul Antonio Montañez — “He is one ofr the best leaders I have. He works hard every single game and, right now, he is the number one we are looking for. … but like I said, we have a lot of good players coming back.”
Among those “good players coming back” is senior goalkeeper Jorge Andres Montes — “He is another straight-up leader.” As is junior Gerardo Montañez and senior Tristan Perez.
“I’ve got quite a few of them,” Ramirez said. “On defense I’ve got (sophomore) Alexander Ruiz, he is really good. And I’ve got a couple others coming back … (but) my midfielders are new this year. Wili Diaz has been playing really good. And Leonardo Maldonado, I put him up (on varsity), he was playing JV last year. … We have a lot of good players, it is hard for me to name just a few.”
The depth, on the varsity team and in the program, is not something the Legends have had in past years.
The Lee High School varsity team before a recent game. (WKTV)
“We have, if I’m not mistaken, something like 38 kids in the middle school program, and we are shooting to have two teams,” Ramirez said. “Back in 2007, when I started as a coach, I had 13 players on varsity. That’s it. That says something right there.
“The program is getting better and better. We’ve got more kids joining and we got a girls (program building the numbers) too. … The kids they really want to do things.”
And what the varsity “kids” want to do is win a conference title for a school which has struggled in many varsity sports in recent years.
“I talked to the guys and I keep telling them ‘We’ve got a lot of chances, a lot of potential to become OK champs this year.’ I’m not going to say we will, because I don’t like to say that. I’m going to say we’re going to try really hard.”
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
The high school soccer season has already started with football close behind.
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV’s high school sports coverage truck will all over our local Wyoming and Kentwood football teams this season, but with a change of schedule for Wyoming Lee High School’s football team, we have switched our coverage to the other “football” — we will be at Godwin Heights as the Wolverines host the Lee Legends for a boys soccer game Thursday, Aug. 29.
As far as the Lee football game is concerned, after the originally scheduled home game against White Cloud was cancelled by the visiting school, Lee added a second game against Grandville Calvin Christian, which will be at Lee on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.
And, there is no shortage of high school sports action all over the Wyoming and Kentwood area, so check out something live if you can.
Where and when to see featured games
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org .
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this weeks’s schedule:
Saturday, Aug. 24 Girls Volleyball Tri-Unity Christian vs TBA – WMVOA Invitational @ MSA Fieldhouse Godwin Heights vs TBA – Officials for Kids Tourney @ MSA Fieldhouse Potter’s House vs TBA – Official for Kids Tourney @ MSA Fieldhouse Zion Christian vs TBA – WMVOA Invitational @ MSA Fieldhouse South Christian @ Grand Haven Boys Tennis South Christian @ East Kentwood – EK Invite TBA @ Wyoming – David Bentley Tournament Boys / Girls Cross Country South Christian @ East Kentwood Wyoming Lee @ Muskegon Catholic Central Boys Soccer TBA @ Zion Christian – Zion Soccer Invite Boys Water Polo East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer – Pioneer Invite Girls Volleyball East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – Lakeshore Classic
Monday, Aug. 26 Boys Soccer Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian Wyoming @ FH Eastern Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Girls Golf South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores Boys Tennis Holland Christian @ South Christian Girls Volleyball Wyoming Lee @ Algoma Christian
Tuesday, Aug. 27 Boys / Girls Cross Country South Christian @ St. Joseph Girls Swimming South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian Central @ East Kentwood Boys Soccer NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming Zion Christian @ Saugatuck Boys Tennis Wyoming @ Zeeland East TBA @ East Kentwood – EK Quad Girls Volleyball Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming Zion Christian @ Martin – Quad TBA @ East Kentwood – EK Early Bird Tournament
Wednesday, Aug. 28 Girls Golf South Christian @ Kent Country Club – OK Jamboree Boys Tennis Unity Christian @ South Christian Girls Volleyball Caledonia @ South Christian – Sailor Invite Boys Soccer East Grand Rapids @ South Christian Wyoming @ Wayland Rockford @ East Kentwood Boys / Girls Cross Country Godwin Heights @ Saranac Wyoming Lee @ Saranac Wyoming @ Wayland
Thursday, Aug. 29 Girls Swimming South Christian @ East Kentwood Boys Football Greenville vs South Christian @ Byron Center Godwin Heights @ Hamilton Grandville Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee Holland @ Wyoming Boys Soccer Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – WKTV Featured Event Potter’s House vs West Michigan Heat – @ Hudsonville Christian Zion Christian @ Kalamazoo Christian Plainwell @ East Kentwood Girls Volleyball TBA @ East Kentwood – Lady Falcon Invite Boys / Girls Cross Country East Kentwood @ Milford – Invite
Friday, Aug. 30 Boys Football Tri-unity Christian @ Climax-Scotts East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores
By Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director sports@wktv.org
Here comes the start of another academic school year opening this month, which also means the local high school sports schedules are doing the same.
Beginning on Aug. 16, fall seasons for girls golf and volleyball, along with boys and girls cross country, and boys soccer, tennis, swimming, water polo and — of course — football all get under way throughout the last two weeks of the month leading to Labor Day weekend.
WKTV will once again be featuring a weekly football game starting with the Thursday, Aug. 29, matchup between White Cloud and Wyoming Lee.
There are some changes not only to Wyoming Lee this year, but to the O-K Silver conference, where the former nicknamed Rebels and now called Legends have played.
For a variety of reasons, Lee, along with NorthPointe Christian and Calvin Christian have all made the change to play independently this season.
As a result, the four remaining Silver teams — Godwin Heights, Kelloggsville, Belding and Hopkins — will each play a home and home conference schedule to determine the league champion.
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Where and when to see featured games
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured 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 feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this month’s schedule, starting Friday, Aug. 16:
Friday, Aug. 16 Boys Soccer Wyoming @ Wyoming Lee East Kentwood @ FH Central Girls Golf East Kentwood vs Jenison – Jenison Invite @ The Meadows Boys Tennis East Kentwood @ Ludington – Ludington Invite
Saturday, Aug. 17 Boys Soccer Whitehall @ South Christian – Mark Hasper Invite TBA @ Wyoming Lee – Copa Leyendas
Monday, Aug. 19 Girls Golf South Christian @ Traverse City Invite – Spruce Run Boys Soccer Holland Christian @ South Christian Holland @ East Kentwood Boys Tennis Wyoming @ Holland
Tuesday, Aug. 20 Girls Golf South Christian @ Traverse City Invite – Wolverine Boys Soccer Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Union @ Wyoming Boys / Girls Cross Country Godwin Heights @ Kent City
Wednesday, Aug. 21 Boys Tennis TBA @ South Christian – Sailor Quad TBA @ Wyoming – Quad Boys Soccer Caledonia @ South Christian Wyoming @ Zeeland West Portage Northern @ East Kentwood Boys / Girls Cross Country Wyoming Lee @ Hesperia – Baker Woods Invitational Potter’s House @ Holland Calvary
Thursday, Aug. 22 Boys Tennis TBA @ South Christian – Sailor Quad Wyoming @ Lowell Boys Soccer Belding @ Godwin Heights Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee Ravenna @ Zion Christian
Friday, Aug. 23 Boys Soccer Tri-Unity Christian @ Barry County Christian Potter’s House @ Wyoming East Kentwood @ West Ottawa Girls Golf South Christian vs Middleville T-K – TK Invite @ Yankee Springs Girls Volleyball Wyoming Lee @ WMAES Wyoming vs TBA – WMVOA Meet @ MSA Fieldhouse Boys Water Polo East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer – Pioneer Invite
Saturday, Aug. 24 Girls Volleyball Tri-Unity Christian vs TBA – WMVOA Invitational @ MSA Fieldhouse Godwin Heights vs TBA – Officials for Kids Tourney @ MSA Fieldhouse Potter’s House vs TBA – Official for Kids Tourney @ MSA Fieldhouse Zion Christian vs TBA – WMVOA Invitational @ MSA Fieldhouse South Christian @ Grand Haven Boys Tennis South Christian @ East Kentwood – EK Invite TBA @ Wyoming – David Bentley Tournament Boys / Girls Cross Country South Christian @ East Kentwood Wyoming Lee @ Muskegon Catholic Central Boys Soccer TBA @ Zion Christian – Zion Soccer Invite Boys Water Polo East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer – Pioneer Invite Girls Volleyball East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – Lakeshore Classic
Monday, Aug. 26 Boys Soccer Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian Wyoming @ FH Eastern Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Girls Golf South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores Boys Tennis Holland Christian @ South Christian Girls Volleyball Wyoming Lee @ Algoma Christian
Tuesday, Aug. 27 Boys / Girls Cross Country South Christian @ St. Joseph Girls Swimming South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian Central @ East Kentwood Boys Soccer NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming Zion Christian @ Saugatuck Boys Tennis Wyoming @ Zeeland East TBA @ East Kentwood – EK Quad Girls Volleyball Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming Zion Christian @ Martin – Quad TBA @ East Kentwood – EK Early Bird Tournament
Wednesday, Aug. 28 Girls Golf South Christian @ Kent Country Club – OK Jamboree Boys Tennis Unity Christian @ South Christian Girls Volleyball Caledonia @ South Christian – Sailor Invite Boys Soccer East Grand Rapids @ South Christian Wyoming @ Wayland Rockford @ East Kentwood Boys / Girls Cross Country Godwin Heights @ Saranac Wyoming Lee @ Saranac Wyoming @ Wayland
Thursday, Aug. 29 Girls Swimming South Christian @ East Kentwood Boys Football Greenville vs South Christian – @ Byron Center Godwin Heights @ Hamilton White Cloud @ Wyoming Lee – WKTV Featured Event Holland @ Wyoming Boys Soccer Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Potter’s House vs West Michigan Heat – @ Hudsonville Christian Zion Christian @ Kalamazoo Christian Plainwell @ East Kentwood Girls Volleyball TBA @ East Kentwood – Lady Falcon Invite Boys / Girls Cross Country East Kentwood @ Milford – Invite
Friday, Aug. 30 Boys Football Tri-unity Christian @ Climax-Scotts East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Wyoming Lee’s football team will be playing an independent schedule for the next two seasons. (2018 photo/WKTV)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Wyoming’s Lee High School has historic rivalries in the OK Conference Silver, especially with local Godwin Heights and Kelloggsville high schools. But, in football, it has also had a history of struggling mightily against its conference rivals.
Ultimately, though, it was “doing what is best for the kids” that drove the Rebels — soon to be Legends — to take at least a two-year hiatus from conference play and play an independent schedule this season starting with a home game against White Cloud Thursday, Aug. 29.
While Lee athletic director Jason Faasse said he and others are excited about the possible impact of two years playing an independent schedule, head coach Tom DeGennaro also hopes for a little excitement but wonders if, after decades, Lee football and the OK Conference should part ways for good.
“We’re excited about it,” Faasse said to WKTV. “Our coaching staff is excited about it. Our kids are excited about it. I think it is going to help build our program. It is going to get more kids out. … We are excited to see what this is going to bring.”
The decision to go independent was actually made last season, in the midst of a 1-8 season, and a streak of winning only five games against 22 losses in three years.
“We put together a proposal to do that back in October of last fall, the decision really came because of the state our program has been in the past several years,” Faasse, said. “Just the amount of players we have coming out seems to ebb and flow but we have seen a decrease (and) a lot of that is based on success.”
Faasse said there was some talk about making the jump to independent schedule in 2017, “but we thought we’d be rushing it.”
“We went out to our (varsity) coaches, our other coaches in the program, our parents, our (school governing) board,” Faasse said. “And we just asked for their input on if you think this is a good idea. We got overwhelming support of it.”
Also, there was no serious consideration of playing 8-man football. “We are above the (student count) threshold … we could play, however we would not qualify for the playoffs because of student count,” Faasse said.
Faasse said they would look at resuming conference play again in two years.
DeGennaro, however, says “what is best for our kids” may be no longer playing football in the OK Conference.
Lee head coach Tom DeGennaro. (WKTV)
“We’ve struggled, and it hasn’t just been a short term thing,” DeGennaro said to WKTV, who, like all coaches, had the stats to back up his actions.
The team has had a 61-year history with the OK Conference, it was one of the founding members, he said. And during those 61 years, the team has had 4 winning seasons. The last time they won the conference championship was 1965. They have had 357 total games in conference and 284 losses.
Lee has football players, many of them hitting the weight room this summer. But maybe not enough to compete at there OK Conference level. (WKTV)
“We preach we should do what is best for our kids … last year we had the score run up on us, a team putting their first string back in so they could break 60 points on us. We were not physically able to stay in a game with anybody,” DeGennaro said.
The decision on what will happen in the future is yet to be decided, Faasse said.
“After two seasons of playing an independent schedule, we (will) conduct a review of the status of the program to determine if rejoining the OK Conference schedule is in the best interest of our students,” Faasse said in a previous memorandum to the district governing board detailing the plan to play an independent schedule.
“The goal of this decision is first and foremost putting our athletes in a safe situation,” Faasse also said in the memorandum. “… Under the direction of our coaching staff, this move will help jump-start the development of the program and provide for a culture of success at Lee High School.”
Lee also has history of success when it has gone with an independent schedule — something both coach and athletic director can attest to.
“We pulled out when I was the coach here for my first tenure, we pulled out in ’05 and ‘’06, and we won 13 games (over those two years) and we lost six,” DeGennaro said. “We made the playoffs when we played schools we could compete with.”
Faasse was, coincidentally, a player at Lee when they went independent in 2005.
“Hopefully this gives out kids something to be excited about,” DeGennaro said. “I think they are excited to play teams that they are more on an even par with.”
Lee’s complete football schedule is available at leelegends.org .
Where and when to see Lee football on WKTV
Lee’s Aug. 29 game and all WKTV Featured Games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured 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 feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV’s spring baseball and softball schedule is nearing its end but this week as our coverage crew will be on the road twice this week, with baseball games featuring Wyoming high and Kelloggsville.
But there is high school sports action all over the Wyoming and Kentwood area, so check out something live if you can.
The tentative schedule of WKTV featured game’s remaining this month are as follows:
Wednesday, May 22, boys baseball, South Christian at Wyoming, at Lamar Park Friday, May 24, boys baseball, Zion Christian at Kelloggsville, at Kellogg Woods Park
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured 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 feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, May 20 Boys Golf South Christian @ Middleville T-K Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – Maple Hill Wyoming @ Christian – Thornapple Pointe Boys Baseball Wyoming @ South Christian – DH East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee Girls Softball Wyoming @ South Christian – DH East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian – DH Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee – DH Girls Soccer FH Eastern @ South Christian Hudsonville@ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Zion Christian @ Calhoun Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Heritage Christian
Tuesday, May 21 Boys Golf East Kentwood – OK Red Post Season Tournament @ Thornapple Pointe Girls Softball Belding @ Kelloggsville Boys Baseball Zion Christian @ Ottawa Hills – DH Holland Black River vs West Michigan Aviation – DH @ Zion Christian Girls Soccer West Michigan Aviation @ Calvin Christian
Wednesday, May 22 Boys Baseball South Christian @ Wyoming – Lamar Park – WKTV Featured Event West Ottawa @ East Kentwood NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Girls Softball South Christian @ Covenant Christian – DH East Kentwood @ Byron Center – DH NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Boys Golf Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep – The Mines Girls Soccer Wyoming – MHSAA Districts @ Hamilton
Thursday May 23, 2019 Girls Soccer Godwin Heights – MHSAA Districts @ Godwin Heights Wyoming Lee – MHSAA Districts @ Wellsprings Prep Boys Baseball Grand Rapids Crusaders @ Wyoming Lee Potter’s House @ Holland Black River – DH
Friday, May 24 Boys Baseball Godwin Heights vs Saugatuck – @ Hope College Zion Christian @ Kelloggsville – DH Wyoming @ Zeeland East West Michigan Aviation @ Belding – DH Girls Soccer TBA – @ Godwin Heights – MHSAA Districts West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep – MHSAA Districts Girls Softball Wyoming @ Zeeland East – DH
Saturday, May 25 Boys /Girls Track MITCA State Meet Boys Baseball Wyoming @ West Ottawa – DH
Monday, May 27 Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 28 Boys Baseball @ East Kentwood – MHSAA Districts Godwin Heights @ Christian – MHSAA Districts Kelloggsville @ Holland Christian – MHSAA Districts Wyoming Lee @ Christian – MHSAA Districts Zion Christian @ Holton Girls Softball @ East Kentwood – MHSAA Districts Kelloggsville @ Christian – MHSAA Districts Wyoming Lee @ Christian – MHSAA Districts Wyoming @ Ottawa Hills – MHSAA Districts Girls Soccer Tri-Unity Christian vs Zion Christian – MHSAA Districts @ NorthPointe Christian
Wednesday, May 29 Boys Golf East Kentwood — MHSAA Regionals Kelloggsville — MHSAA Regionals @ Diamond Springs Wyoming – MHSAA Regionals Girls Soccer TBA @ South Christian — MHSAA Districts
Thursday, May 30 Girls Soccer East Kentwood @ TBA — MHSAA Districts Boys Golf East Kentwood @ TBA — MHSAA Regionals
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV’s spring baseball and softball schedule continues this week as our coverage crew will be on the road for softball at Kelloggsville.
But there is high school sports action all over the Wyoming and Kentwood area, so check out something live if you can.
The tentative schedule of WKTV featured game’s remaining this month are as follows:
Wednesday, May 15, girls softball, Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville Wednesday, May 22, boys baseball, South Christian at Wyoming Friday, May 24, boys baseball, Zion Christian at Kelloggsville
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com .
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured 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 feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s (original) schedule; due to rainouts and other factors, please check the school’s websites for latest changes:
Tuesday, May 14 Girls Softball South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH Wyoming Lee @ East Grand Rapids Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH Boys Baseball South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH — WKTV Featured Game Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Heritage Christian Girls Soccer FH Central @ South Christian Kenowa Hills @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Wyoming West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep Boys Lacrosse East Kentwood @ Jenison Girls Tennis Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Catholic Central Boys Golf Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian
Wednesday, May 15 Boys Golf South Christian @ FH Eastern – Egypt Valley East Kentwood @ Caledonia – Broadmoor Country Club Kelloggsville – OK Silver Conference @ The Meadows Wyoming @ FH Eastern – Egypt Valley Boys Lacrosse South Christian @ East Kentwood Girls Softball Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville — WKTV Featured Game Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee FH Central @ Wyoming Boys Baseball Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee West Michigan Aviation @ Kalamazoo Cougars – DH Girls Soccer Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River Wyoming @ Christian
Thursday, May 16 Boys Baseball FH Eastern @ South Christian East Kentwood @ Grandville Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River – DH Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian Academy – DH Girls Tennis East Kentwood @ TBA – MHSAA Regionals Kelloggsville @ TBA – MHSAA Regionals Wyoming – MHSAA Districts @ FH Northern Girls Softball East Kentwood @ Grand Haven Godwin Heights @ Ottawa Hills Girls Soccer East Kentwood @ West Ottawa Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep Boys Golf Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian – Maple Hill
Friday, May 17 Boys / Girls Track South Christian – MHSAA Regionals @ Houseman Field West Michigan Aviation – MHSAA Regionals @ Houseman Field East Kentwood – MHSAA Regionals @ Grand Haven Wyoming – MHSAA Regionals @ Grand Haven Godwin Heights – MHSAA Regionals @ FH Eastern Wyoming Lee – MHSAA Regionals @ Saugatuck Girls Tennis @ South Christian – MHSAA Regionals Girls Soccer South Christian @ Wyoming East Kentwood @ Kalamazoo Central Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville Girls Water Polo @ East Kentwood – Regionals Girls Softball East Kentwood @ Caledonia Holland @ Wyoming – DH Boys Baseball South Christian @ Wyoming – Lamar Park Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville – DH West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian – DH
Saturday, May 18 Boys Baseball Hamilton @ South Christian – Sailor Invite East Kentwood @ Lakeview – DH Wyoming Lee @ Saranac – Saranac Invite Zion Christian @ North Muskegon West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian – DH Girls Water Polo @ East Kentwood – Regionals Girls Softball Christian @ East Kentwood – DH Wyoming Lee @ Saranac – Saranac Invite
Monday, May 20 Boys Golf South Christian @ Middleville T-K Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – Maple Hill Wyoming @ Christian – Thornapple Pointe Boys Baseball Wyoming @ South Christian – DH East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee Girls Softball Wyoming @ South Christian – DH East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian – DH Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee – DH Girls Soccer FH Eastern @ South Christian Hudsonville@ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Hopkins Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian Wyoming @ Middleville T-K Zion Christian @ Calhoun Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Heritage Christian
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director sports@wktv.org
May is the last full month of high school sports schedules as the spring seasons along with the academic year are quickly ending.
Many high school graduations will be this month and we wish all students the very best as they take that next step in life, and for the student athletes that we have had the opportunity to cover and watch over the course of your high school careers, thank you.
There are many state tournaments beginning near the end of the month including state championships in girls tennis on the final day.
Take advantage of these last opportunities to watch in person, but then also catch the games that WKTV will be rebroadcasting on cable television as well as on-demand. The tentative schedule of WKTV featured game are as follows:
Wednesday, May 8, boys baseball, Godwin Heights at Wyoming Lee Thursday, May 9, boys baseball, West Michigan Aviation vs Tri-Unity Christian at Pinery Park #3 Tuesday, May 14, boys baseball, Grandville at East Kentwood Wednesday, May 15, girls softball, Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville Wednesday, May 22, boys baseball, South Christian at Wyoming Friday, May 24, boys baseball, Zion Christian at Kelloggsville
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured 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 feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Thursday, May 2 Boys / Girls Track South Christian vs FH Eastern @ West Catholic Girls Tennis South Christian @ Holland Christian West Catholic @ Kelloggsville Sparta @ Wyoming Girls Softball South Christian @ Zeeland East – DH East Kentwood @ Grandville East Grand Rapids @ Godwin Heights – DH Wyoming @ Kelloggsville Union @ Wyoming Lee – DH Boys Baseball South Christian @ Middleville T-K Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Tri-Unity Christian @ Barry County Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Covenant Christian – DH Boys Lacrosse Kenowa Hills @ South Christian East Kentwood @ Northview Boys Golf East Kentwood @ FH Central – Ranger Invite – The Meadows Wyoming @ Kenowa Hills – Graewil Girls Soccer East Kentwood @ Grandville Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep West Michigan Aviation @ Holland Black River
Friday, May 3 Boys / Girls Track East Kentwood @ Traverse City – Ken Bell Meet Godwin Heights @ Kalamazoo Central Girls Water Polo East Kentwood @ Rockford Girls Softball West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Boys Lacrosse Comstock Park @ East Kentwood Girls Tennis Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs Girls Soccer Belding @ Wyoming Lee Wayland @ Wyoming West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary
Saturday, May 4 Boys / Girls Track South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – EGR Classic Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids – EGR Classic Kelloggsville @ Hopkins – Vikings Invitational Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins – Vikings Invitational West Michigan Aviation @ Hopkins – Vikings Invitational Girls Water Polo East Kentwood @ Rockford Girls Softball East Kentwood @ Northview – Northview Invite Kelloggsville @ East Grand Rapids Girls Tennis East Kentwood @ Jenison Boys Baseball Kelloggsvillle @ Wayland Grand Rapids Crusaders @ Wyoming Lee – DH Wyoming @ Union – DH Heritage Christian Academy @ Zion Christian Girls Soccer Kelloggsville @ Comstock Park – Kristen Stowie Memorial Invite Tri-Unity Christian @ Comstock Park – Kristen Sowie Memorial Invite Zion Christian @ Barry County Christian Boys Golf Tri-Unity Christian – Christian Schools Invitational @ Chase Hammond Country Club
Monday, May 6 Boys Golf South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – Kent Country Club East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Kelloggsville @ Wellsprings Prep – The Mines Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids – Kent Country Club Girls Softball Unity Christian @ South Christian – DH Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – DH Hopkins @ Kelloggsville – DH Wyoming @ Covenant Christian – DH Boys Baseball Unity Christian @ South Christian – DH Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Hopkins @ Kelloggsville Grattan Academic @ Zion Christian – DH Boys Lacrosse South Christian @ Jenison Girls Soccer South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Wyoming @ FH Eastern Zion Christian @ Wellsprings Prep Boys / Girls Track Rockford @ East Kentwood Girls Tennis West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Catholic Central Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
