Tag Archives: City of Wyoming

Wyoming football team entering next stage of growth process

City of Wyoming, Local Sports, Sports, West Michigan, ,



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor

greer@wktv.org



The Wyoming football team is entering year three under Coach Carlton Brewster, and with plenty of experience on hand, the Wolves are primed to take the next step in the growth process.



When Brewster took over the team three years ago one of his goals was to build around the freshman class. Those freshmen are now juniors and primed to make an impact on the field.


Wyoming Football Coach Carlton Brewster. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)

“One of the first things I tried to do when I got here was to grab a hold of the freshman class and try and mold it,” said Brewster, whose Wolves finished 0-9 last season.



“They say when you are trying to change the culture of a team it usually takes five to seven years.



“Our goal was to do it in three or four years. Now, those freshmen are juniors and they are a very mature group of juniors as most of them played on the varsity last year.”

Brewster also is more comfortable with the team heading into his third year.








“Last year was a learning experience for everybody,” Brewster said. “Some things that I thought would work for us didn’t. We had to figure things out along the journey. We had some success, but overall, it was a learning experience and we learned a lot of things.”



Jay Johnson (pictured) and Antwan Brown Jr. are promising quarterbacks for the Wolves. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)


On offense this season the Wolves have a pair of promising quarterbacks leading the way. Junior Jay Johnson is a strong runner while sophomore Antwan Brown Jr. brings a strong arm to the position.

“Both guys are young, first-time varsity quarterbacks and that is a process in itself,” Brewster said. “They are both looking pretty good, but it will definitely take some time for them to get used to varsity football.”










While the quarterbacks gain experience the Wolves can rely on a deep cast of running backs to shoulder the load. Senior Nasir Purnell and juniors Adrian Moore, Kason Merchant and Sharrod Mitchell will all contribute and give the team good depth at running back.




Wyoming RB/CB Adrian Moore. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)

Wyoming also has a solid group of pass catchers. Senior Donavyn Edwards is a talented veteran receiver that leads the way.



Adrian Moore will see time at the slot back position while juniors Julian Toscano and Jack Terveen are a pair off promising tight ends that can catch the ball.

The Wolves run a spread offense that will rely on the running game to set up the passing game.








Paving the way for the backs is an experienced offensive line. Senior Zhari Horton anchors the line at center flanked by junior guards Charles Anderson (6-0, 270 pounds) and Joseph Awator. The Wolves have a pair of big, talented tackles in juniors Jackson Lamrouex (6-3, 280) and Jharimiah Harris (6-0, 275).



Wyoming OL/DL Jackson Lamrouex. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)


“We have some experience on offense and we know who we are now,” Brewster said. “We want to run the ball on the edge and out-physical teams on the edge and then open up the inside.”



On the defensive side of the ball the Wolves have plenty of experience and depth, especially along the defensive line. Darius Scott (5-9, 230), Terveen (6-1, 235) and Lamrouex anchor the defensive front. 







At linebacker, the Wolves have Merchant and Mitchell at inside linebacker with sophomore Tae White and Johnson at outside linebacker.

The secondary looks solid with senior Mauricio Hernandez and Moore at cornerback along with Pernell and Edwards at the safety positions.



“Our defensive line should be pretty good,” Brewster said. “Our secondary also looks like a strong point. We had six sophomores start on defense last year so we were pretty young.”



Senior RB/S Nasir Purnell. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)

Wyoming also has decent depth with around 30 players on the team this season.



“Our numbers are decent,” Brewster said. “It’s one of those things where we have to keep chopping wood. We have to keep moving forward.”



Wyoming opens the season Thursday, Aug. 24 when it hosts Forest Hills Northern.    


WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back next week!

Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.

As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well. 

You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!

Wyoming senior living community celebrates completion of renovation project

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The dining room at Holiday Aurora Pond senior living community received extensive renovations (Courtesy, Holiday by Atria)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

Upgrades in design and amenities help residents enjoy a vibrant lifestyle (Courtesy, Holiday by Atria)

Aurora Pond, a Holiday by Atria independent living community, has completed their $1.5 million renovation project for capital upgrades in design and amenities.

The public was invited to come see the enhancements during a grand opening celebration on Thursday, Aug. 17. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at 3 p.m. with refreshments, live entertainment and community tours following.

Helping residents thrive

A main focus of the renovation was to create an expanded fitness room to meet the needs of seniors working to maintain a more active lifestyle as they age. The game lounge, living room with library, atrium, and dining room also received extensive renovations.

Other improvements included added A/V capabilities in all common areas, exterior enhancements, and energy-efficient lighting.

Updated and energy-efficient lighting create a cozy atmosphere at Aurora Pond (Courtesy, Holiday by Atria)

“We are always delighted to welcome guests to Holiday Aurora Pond, but we [were] especially excited to show our surrounding community these recent improvements to our communal spaces,” said Matt Kruchowski, General Manager.

“Improving our dining room, fitness room, and multi-purpose rooms helps our residents thrive and continue to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle,” Kruchowski continued. “Social engagement – whether that’s sharing a meal with friends, group fitness classes, or movie nights – is a critical component to our residents’ physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing.”

For more information or to schedule a community tour, call 616-530-2511 or visit www.HolidayAuroraPond.com.

About Holiday by Atria

Holiday by Atria operates senior living communities with friendly neighbors and services designed to simplify life for older adults. Holiday by Atria is one of six distinct brands operated by Atria Senior Living.

An expanded fitness room will help seniors maintain an active lifestyle (Courtesy, Holiday by Atria)

Atria Senior Living, a leading operator of independent living, assisted living, supportive living and memory care communities, is the residence of choice for more than 38,000 older adults and the workplace of choice for more than 13,000 employees.

Atria creates vibrant communities where older adults can thrive and participate, know that their contributions are valued, and enjoy access to opportunities and support that help them keep making a positive difference in our world.

For more information about Holiday by Atria, visit HolidaySeniorLiving.com or follow them on Facebook or LinkedIn. For career opportunities, visit AtriaCareers.com. 

City of Wyoming mourns loss of dedicated public servant Sam Bolt

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Sam Bolt was a dedicated servant of the City of Wyoming for several years (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

The City of Wyoming mourns the loss of dedicated public servant and community gem, Sam Bolt, who passed away Aug. 10 at the age of 75 after a 15-year battle with metastatic prostate cancer.

A 1966 graduate of Grand Rapids Central Christian High School, Sam enlisted in the Air Force after graduation and was stationed at McQuire AFB in New Jersey until 1971. He then spent 23 years at Chicago Dr. Schwinn (now West Michigan Cyclery and Fitness), and then as a financial planner with Gunn, Kol, and Bolt until his retirement in 2015.

Harboring a passion for service, Sam served on the Wyoming City Council as a councilmember-at-large and Mayor Pro Tem from 2005-2022, and was a Wyoming paid-on-call firefighter from 1981-1998.

Sam generously served on various boards and commissions including the Retirement Board, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, West Michigan Regional Planning Commission, Kent County Waste to Energy Advisory Committee and Family Network of Wyoming.

Sam dedicated many years of service to the residents of Wyoming, worked daily toward the betterment of the community, and always put Wyoming residents and staff first when making decisions.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds, 11253 Lakeshore Dr., Grand Haven MI 49417.

Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.

Wyoming Police make three weapons arrests in last 24 hours

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Wyoming Police Department (Courtesy, Deborah Reed, WKTV Staff)

By WKTV Staff

Contents provided by Wyoming Police Department

Wyoming Police arrested three individuals for carrying a concealed weapon in 12 hours resulting in the seizure of four handguns and narcotics.

At approximately 12 p.m. on Aug. 15, officers from the Wyoming Police Department responded to the 5500 block of Byron Center Avenue on the report of a retail fraud at a local business. The suspect in the retail fraud had fled the scene and was located by officers a short time later.

The 18-year-old male resident of Wyoming was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun. The male was arrested and brought to Kent County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon.

Seven hours after the first weapons arrest, officers from the Wyoming Police Department conducted a traffic stop near 44th Street and Clyde Park Avenue to arrest a subject wanted for a felony warrant.

The individual, a 50-year-old male Kentwood resident, was arrested without incident for an outstanding warrant. The suspect was found to be in possession of two loaded handguns at the time of his arrest. The male was taken to Kent County Jail on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of cocaine, and a felon in possession of a firearm.

(Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)

Just after 12 a.m. on Aug. 16, Wyoming officers responded to the 2600 block of Spring Hill Street on the report of a suspicious vehicle. The occupied vehicle was located shortly after officers arrived in the area.

The occupant of the vehicle, a 22-year-old male Benton Harbor resident, was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun. The suspect was taken to Kent County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon.

These incidents are just a small example of the exemplary work that Wyoming officers engage in daily. Wyoming Police Department’s commitment to safety in the community is unwavering and will continue to be the utmost priority.

The Wyoming Police Department has seized 63 firearms in 2023.

Wyoming-Kentwood Business Diversity Council works to prepare local businesses for the “New American” workforce

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The Business Diversity Council is part of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

With a combined 130K residents, Wyoming and Kentwood are the two largest neighboring communities to Grand Rapids, and represent one of the most diverse areas of West Michigan.

Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber’s Business Diversity Council continually works to uncover issues and concerns for those in the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities of Wyoming, Kentwood, and surrounding south Kent County areas.

The Business Diversity Council met Aug. 9 to discuss how to prepare for an international workforce and new American neighbors (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The Council recently met to discuss how local companies can best receive and support international employees and new American neighbors.

The meeting included presentations of cross-cultural training by Laura Cronin, Director of West Michigan Friendship Center, and Natasha Mueller, Community Engagement Director, that worked to give businesses ideas and tools that would help them navigate language barriers, religious considerations, transportation, cultural differences, and much more.

Also touched on during the meeting was the importance of continuous efforts to understand and learn about those in our communities.

In a supplied statement, Mueller said that she believes “curiosity is key to cultural understanding.”

Mueller has put that belief into action over the years as she worked with leadership from various Latin American countries, the Cuban and Haitian refugee communities at Bethany Christian Services, and now as part of a multicultural team that represents each continent and more than 5 countries.

Cronin’s time teaching in under-resourced neighborhoods and directing international mission work has taught her that “valuing the individual is good for cross-cultural relationships and good for business.”

The Kent County Welcome Plan website states that “Grand Rapids and Kent County are home to everyone who lives here, and it should feel like it too.”

The site went on to say that creating a “welcoming and inclusive environment for new Americans, immigrants, and refugees in Kent County is not only the right thing to do, it also contributes economically to the area’s well-being.”

To learn more about the Business Diversity Council and how to become involved, visit https://www.southkent.org/business-diversity-council/.

For a list of resources for international neighbors, visit Thrive.

Coming Soon to this Space: Lots of WKTV Local Football Coverage

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The WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is coming soon, along with our in-depth Journal coverage of the Wyoming and Kentwood area football teams. Our FNH host will walk you through highlights from most of the local games every single Friday night throughout the season and into the playoffs.



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



With the first week of high school football practice in the books, games under the lights are just about here. This means our in-depth coverage of WKTV Games of the Week, Journal web stories and our exciting Friday Night Highlights show will all be here shortly as well.


We plan to bring you another great season of local high school football, covering your favorite teams from Wyoming and Kentwood, including East Kentwood, Wyoming, Godwin Heights, Lee, Kelloggsville, South Christian and Tri-unity.




WKTV Game of the Week

Year after year, our high-tech WKTV Game of the Week truck films one game each week, which includes two play-by-play announcers, a field announcer and various camera angles with slow motion replays to capture all those great plays for your viewing pleasure.



Game of the Week airs every Friday night on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 at 11 p.m. with a rebroadcast on Saturday at 11 a.m. If you don’t have cable, visit our website at WKTV.org to watch the livestream. See GOW sked below.

WKTV Journal Website

Don’t miss our large footprint of local high school football on the WKTV Journal website.


Continuing from last season, we’ll have a huge presence with local high school football. Beyond our fantastic Game of the Week truck coverage, every week our sports staff will post football game stories, features, roundups and final scores and stats on most teams in the Kentwood/Wyoming area on our Journal website.



We plan to give you the stats and highlights in our game stories … explaining the details of how your team marched to victory.



WKTV Friday Night Highlights show coming soon!

Friday Night Highlights will be back soon. Just like we did during basketball season, every Friday we’ll bring you many great high school football clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area teams, highlight some top performers and their stats, give final scores, and show a snapshot of the latest conference standings in an exciting 30-minute program.

As a bonus, we’ll have a reporter on the field at the Game of the Week to interview coaches and players for the show and occasionally have them come into our studio for a live interview as well.


You won’t want to miss all our great local coverage. Thanks for tuning in!


WKTV Game of the Week Truck Schedule

  • Thursday, Aug. 31 (7 p.m.) Byron Center at East Kentwood
  • Friday, Sept. 8 (7 p.m.) Kenowa Hills at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
  • Friday, Sept. 15 (7 p.m.) Grand Rapids Sacred Heart at Lee
  • Friday, Sept. 22 (7 p.m.) Union at Wyoming
  • Friday, Sept. 29 (7 p.m.) Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights
  • Friday, Oct. 6 (7 p.m.) TK at South Christian (EK Falcon Stadium)
  • Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
  • Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood


Click here for your home team’s season schedule.

For more information on WKTV and what we offer, visit here

The Reverend Jesse Ray takes the stage at Lamar Park with his Americana Rock N Roots experience on Aug. 15

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , ,
The Reverend Jesse Ray sings with soul at Ramshackle Brewing in Jonesville (Courtesy, Paul Jensen)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

The Reverend Jesse Ray will wrap up the Concerts in the Park summer series with an Americana Rock N Roots experience at Lamar Park in Wyoming on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.

Patty Matters – Food Truck will have gourmet burgers available to purchase during the concert, and attendees are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the summer evening and live music.

The beginning of it all

The Reverend Jesse Ray has always enjoyed music, singing with his mom and grandparents as a child and learning to play the ukulele under the tutelage of his paternal grandfather (who Ray called “Gumpy”) at 8 years old.

“It’s the ultimate form of self-expression,” said Ray about music.

Ray moved on to guitar at age 12, when “Gumpy” showed him that guitar chords were quite similar to ukulele chords.

The Reverend Jesse Ray performs in Grand Haven (Courtesy, Jeff Brinn)

Ray went on to say that his mother accompanied him to bars in the evenings that same year so he could participate in open mic nights.

His music repertoire moved on to include playing trumpet in high school jazz band, marching band, and concert band. For his senior year of high school, however, Ray decided to join choir and play guitar in the jazz band instead.

“That was a riot,” said Ray. “I really liked trumpet, but I really wanted to keep singing.”

“I would do open mics as a senior three or four days a week, and then go sleep in my car during lunch period,” said Ray.

College brought experiences in street performance and an interest in rockabilly blues and roots music, leading Ray to start the high-energy band, Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, in 2013.

A life pivot

When asked if he pursued a degree in music, Jesse responded, “I was a music major for one whole day. The next day I skipped all of my classes, went to the counselor, and said no, we’re going to focus on history.”

Ray said that he felt unable to focus on what he wanted to do musically while being a music major. With a love of history as well, Ray pursued that interest during his college tenure instead.

“I really like American History,” said Ray. “I’ve been fascinated by it since I was a kid, how things got to be the way that they are. You can understand a lot if you look into the past.”

However, “I kept music as my love, my passion,” said Ray.

Lyrics and secrets

Ray said that a lot of his music stems from personal experiences, and that he tends to hide things in his song lyrics, some of them personal.

The Reverend Jesse Ray performs at outdoor venue in Grand Haven (Courtesy, Jeff Brinn)

“Some people get it, some people don’t,” said Ray. “Sometimes it’s a joke, and sometimes it’s something really deep and personal.”

Ray went on to say that music helped him process events and experiences in his life when he was younger.

“I write a song and put it out there, and then I feel a lot better when I walk away,” said Ray.

The Reverend: master of his own destiny

Always looking for new and creative musical opportunities, Jesse Ray brought forth The Reverend Jesse Ray, an Americana Rock N Roots experience.

But the moniker did not feel natural at first.

Coined “The Reverend” by a studio producer and then by band drummer Dingo, Ray said he didn’t care for the nickname. However, the nickname stuck as a way to set his music apart from other musicians bearing the name Jesse Ray.

“There were lots of Jesse Rays, but no Reverend Jesse Ray,” said Ray.

The Reverend Jesse Ray was born, and performs at venues all across Michigan.

Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish are also going strong with plans to release a new album Sept. 29th, and with at least 30 tour dates already in place across the United States.

To find out more about The Reverend Jesse Ray, visit: Facebook – The Reverend Jesse Ray and JRCC Band – The Reverend Jesse Ray.

To find out more about Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, visit: JRCC Band.

City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department seeks residents’ input on park facilities

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The City of Wyoming Marquette Park playground. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

With 700 acres of park property distributed among 21 parks within the City of Wyoming, developing and maintaining facilities and programs has always been a high priority for the Parks and Recreation Department.

As they look to update their five-year master plan, the Parks and Recreation Department is inviting residents, business owners and community members to provide input on the vision of its future.

Sunshine peeks through the trees at a City of Wyoming park

The master plan, which will be used to guide growth and development in the park system will be shaped by community input. The feedback received will help the department prioritize where and how to make investments in parks, facilities and programs.


Residents and business owners are being encouraged to share their thoughts through an online survey, in English and Spanish, designed to allow users to share areas where they feel there are opportunities for growth, improvement or areas that they enjoy within the City.

“We are excited to hear from the community as they help us shape the future of our parks and programs,” Director of Parks & Recreation Krashawn Martin said. “The plan will consider long-range goals for our community as well as recommended actions to guide updates and land use for the future.”


Residents interested in participating in the survey may do so online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WyomingParks or in person at Wyoming City Hall and the Wyoming
Branch of Kent District Library. The survey closes on Aug. 31.

Wyoming Parks & Recreation will soon announce community meetings as part of the process of updating
its master plan. Visit www.wyomingmi.gov for more information.

To learn more about the City of Wyoming parks, visit: City of Wyoming Parks.

Volunteers will gather at Lemery Park in Wyoming on Aug. 19 for annual Buck Creek Clean Up

2-row, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Environment, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , ,
Volunteers with trash pulled from Buck Creek 2021 (Courtesy, Martha Stout Vermeulen)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

Volunteers of all ages are welcome to meet at Lemery Park in Wyoming at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 to help remove trash from Buck Creek during the family-friendly 10th Annual Buck Creek Clean Up event.

Event team leaders will assist in finding sites that meet volunteer needs and will provide necessary information.

Breakfast will be provided for volunteers by Marge’s Donut Den and Steenstra’s Royal Dutch Bakery, along with Littlefoot Coffee Roasters. Volunteers are also invited to a post-clean up lunch at Wedgewood Park, compliments of Grandville Mayor Steve Maas.

“It has been said that an individual’s effort is a single drop, but when a community gives effort, it is a tsunami,” said Martha Stout Vermeulen, Founder and former President of Friends of Buck Creek-Michigan (FOBC).

Trash lines a portion of Buck Creek near an EJ manufacturing facility (Courtesy, Martha Stout Vermeulen)

FOBC began as a grassroots group of concerned citizens that has evolved into a nonprofit watershed organization with hundreds of followers on Facebook and Instagram. FOBC’s focus is to inspire, initiate, promote, and engage in activities that improve and enhance both the environmental quality and the beauty of Buck Creek.

Over the past decade, Friends of Buck Creek-Michigan (FOBC) and Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited (SWMTU) have partnered to remove trash from the Buck Creek watershed in Grandville by organizing the annual Buck Creek Clean Up. On Aug. 19, current FOBC President Becky Dykhuis will extend the clean up into Kentwood and Byron Township.

Volunteer numbers have grown steadily since the event’s inception, with several tons of trash removed from the rare urban trout stream’s waters. Tires, shopping carts, microwaves, 55 gallon drums, and scary-looking dolls are only a few items removed from the creek.

The most frequent, and toxic, trash recovered is plastic and styrofoam.

A portion of Buck Creek after clean up near an EJ manufacturing facility (Courtesy, Martha Stout Vermeulen)

Vermeulen says she has observed several benefits resulting from the annual clean up, and a definite reduction in trash in areas that have been frequently cleaned.

“Getting citizens up close and personal with Buck Creek reveals problems that a disposable society creates, and increases awareness to reduce and reuse,” said Vermeulen. “Indeed, it takes a community to love a creek!”

Volunteers can register at: Volunteer – Buck Creek Clean Up.

A full schedule of the event can be found at: Facebook Buck Creek Clean Up.

If you are interested in being a sponsor of this year’s clean up, email mibuckcreek@gmail.com.

More information can be found at: mibuckcreek.org.

Magnus Capital Partners’ free-to-attend Summer Market set for Aug. 12 in Wyoming

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Kent County, Kids Activities, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , ,
Annual Summer Market hosted by Magnus Capital Partners (Courtesy, Magnus Capital Partners)

by Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

Magnus Capital Partners (MCP) will host its third annual, free-to-attend Summer Market featuring more than 25 vendors at HōM Flats at 28 West Saturday, Aug. 12.

Open to the public and HōM Flats residents, the event will take place from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at 1401 Prairie Parkway SW in the City of Wyoming. Community members are invited to enjoy live music and browse items for sale from local food trucks, artisans and other vendors.

“This is the perfect fit of bringing people out of their apartments, gathering, and building those bonds with each other and with the community,” said Jason Chronowski, Magnus Marketing Manager.

In addition to bringing community members together, the Summer Market also works to support local artists.

“Our Summer Market at HōM Flats creates an opportunity for people to strengthen their community by supporting local small businesses, gain an appreciation for the depth and breadth of emerging local artists, and engage in a positive atmosphere that recognizes our most basic need to create connections with others,” said Magnus CEO Vishal Arora.

(Courtesy, Robert Couse-Baker at pxhere.com)

Chronowski said that feedback on the Summer Market has been positive, with residents saying they enjoy the event and meeting their neighbors.

“It’s nice that this has both elements to it where it’s not only for our residents, it’s for the public too,” said Chronowski.

Attendees are encouraged to park at the south end of the 28 West Place Mall parking lot, located just east of HōM Flats at 28 West off of Prairie Parkway. Overflow parking will be available at Wyoming High School.

More than just a summer market

The event will serve as the main annual fundraiser for the Magnus Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating art, culture and community-building in the areas where Magnus Capital Partners operates.

Focused on building connections with artists and local communities, the Magnus Foundation often utilizes funds to pay local artists to give HōM residents free art classes. The Foundation also commissions artwork from West Michigan artists to be used at various MCP locations.

Though the Magnus Foundation is a recent addition to MCP, Chronowski says it is off to a “really good start,” and that events like the Summer Market help “develop that momentum” in keeping the Foundation moving forward.

To learn more about the Magnus Foundation or to make a contribution to the Foundation, email info@magnuscapitalpartners.com.

Event sponsors

The sole platinum sponsor for this year’s Summer Market is Hooker DeJong, Inc. Other key sponsors include Coldbrook Insurance, Merchants Capital, Rohde Construction and Highpoint Community Bank.

Wyoming Concerts in the Park brings big sounds of Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Kent County, Upcoming Events, , , , , ,
Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps: Patty, guitarist Lucas Powell, and original drummer Alec Klinefelter. (Courtesy of the band)

By K.D. Norris

WKTV Contributor

Listening to Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps’ latest EP release, it is clear why they called
it Perpetual Motion Machine. The five-song release is all about power pop, with a fair
amount of rockin’ blues blasting through, and continues the band’s drive to its own
sound and popularity.

“Not slowing down in 2023, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps are stepping hard on the
gas pedal and touring more cities and music festivals than years prior,” the band states
on its website. “The trio have plans to record their next full-length album within the year.”

So expect a fast ride on a summer night when the band hits the stage Tuesday, Aug. 8.

The Tuesday evening Concerts in the Park are free of charge and open to the public at
Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. Performances start at 6 p.m. and conclude around 8 p.m.

A wild ride for Patty and her music

Michigan native Patty PerShayla hit the scene as a singer, songwriter, and multi-
instrumentalist after winning the 2019 WYCE Jammie Award for Best Rock/Pop Album
for her solo EP, Oracle Bones, according to a bio on her website.

Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps’ latest EP, Perpetual Motion Machine (Courtesy)

But later in 2019, she joined forces with guitarist Lucas Powell and drummer Alec
Klinefelter to form Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps. After road-testing their music, they released their “blues-infused, riff-driven debut album,” Cheap Diction, in 2021. (Current band drummer is Chris Thomas.)

A music video from that album went on to win Best Music Video at the 2022 Grand
Rapids Film Festival, and another was featured at the 2023 Michigan Music Video
Awards.

When Patty is not touring with the Mayhaps, she plays solo gigs and even toured with the equally great local band of multi-instrumentalists, The Accidentals, in 2021. For more information on Patty’s musical journey, visit: Patty PerShayla at home in Nashville.

For more information about Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps and a video of the song “Spill” from the new EP, visit pattypershayla.com.

About the concert and venue

The Tuesday evening concerts feature a food truck with food and beverages available
for purchase. Concertgoers are welcome to bring their own food, however alcohol is not
permitted in the park.

“Concerts in the park are a highlight of summertime in Wyoming. We hope you will grab
your blankets, chairs and friends and join us for some fun in the parks!” Krashawn
Martin, Wyoming Parks and Recreation director, said earlier in introducing the concert
series.

For more details visit www.facebook.com/WyomingParksRec


Wyoming Police Department investigates fatal crash

1-featured, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Hard News, Kent County, West Michigan, , ,
Wyoming Police Department (Courtesy, Deborah Reed, WKTV Staff)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

One person is dead after a crash in the 2500 block of South Division Avenue.

At approximately 12:55 a.m. on August 4, 2023, officers from the Wyoming Police Department
responded to the 2500 block of South Division Avenue SW on a report of a crash involving a
vehicle and a bicyclist.

The bicyclist, a 39-year-old female resident of Grand Rapids, was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. The female later died at the hospital.

Initial investigation indicates the bicyclist was struck by a southbound vehicle. The driver remained at the scene to speak with investigators. Speed and alcohol are not believed to be a factor in this incident.

The Wyoming Police Accident Investigation and Forensic Science Units are continuing to
investigate this crash. Wyoming Police were assisted by officers from the Grand Rapids Police
Department.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-
7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.

City of Wyoming celebrated National Night Out with activities at several locations

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Officer Willshire of Kentwood PD (left), Officer Klaassen of Wyoming PD (center), and Officer Quintard of Wyoming PD (right) talk with families at Celebration Cinema (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

City of Wyoming’s first responders and leaders teamed up with several departments across Kent County as they joined residents at multiple gatherings to celebrate National Night Out on Aug. 1.

Wyoming National Night Out 2023 (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“National Night Out is something staff and our community look forward to each year,” Wyoming Mayor Pro Tem Rob Postema said.

An annual event celebrated across the country, National Night Out began in 1984 to promote safety in communities and build relationships under positive circumstances. Participating cities encourage residents to turn on their porch lights and gather with their neighbors, community leaders, and police and fire personnel.

Deputy Melissa Gokey with the Kent County Sheriff’s Department said a personal highlight of National Night Out is photographing all the events. “I get to go to every single location,” said Gokey. “I get to see a little piece of everything.”

Wyoming National Night Out 2023 (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Wyoming residents had the opportunity to explore police and fire equipment and learn about a variety of safety topics at several local locations, including Lamar Park, Celebration Cinema, Grace Christian University, Grace Christian Reformed Church, and The Door Christian Fellowship Church.

Residents were also able to see a variety of first responder vehicles, including fire trucks, ambulances, motorcycles, marine units, mobile command centers, and even horses.


Kent County encouraged participating local businesses to set up a booth with children’s activities.


“The whole point is to educate kids on safety and to build that partnership with them and other businesses within the community,” said Gokey. “It just helps them to feel safe and comfortable around us.”

Wyoming National Night Out 2023 (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Gokey went on to say that all first responders join in during National Night Out, including the Road Commission and Army National Guard, in order to make the event a memorable experience for the kids.

“Setting up an event like this is going to be a much different way for children to feel comfortable approaching us, talking to us, and asking questions,” said Gokey.

Wyoming Director of Public Safety Kimberly Koster said, “Spending time and having fun with residents is important for all of our officers and firefighters as we work to build and strengthen relationships in our community. National Night Out allows us to connect with residents in a positive and meaningful way.”

Wyoming resident Megan Washburn agreed. “It’s nice to see them out, having fun, eating hot dogs, and being regular people,” said Washburn.

City of Wyoming to celebrate National Night Out with community and neighborhood events

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During a summer market, a Wyoming firefighter sends a message about safety. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


The City of Wyoming is inviting community members to participate in National Night Out events throughout the city on Tuesday, Aug. 1.



An annual event celebrated across the country, National Night Out encourages residents to turn
on their porch lights and gather with their neighbors, community leaders, and police and fire
personnel.



Wyoming police officers, firefighters and leaders will join residents at multiple gatherings across
the city. Most events will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and residents will have the opportunity to
explore police and fire equipment, including police cruisers, fire trucks and other emergency
response vehicles, as well as learn about a variety of safety topics. Community members can
also visit with the Wyoming Police Department K9 team.



“National Night Out is something staff and our community look forward to each year,” Mayor Pro Tem Rob Postema said. “Our team is looking forward to another fun year of building relationships with our residents and having a good time while connecting with the community we serve.”

Give me five: A resident gives a Wyoming police officer a high-five. (WKTV)



Lt. Kirt Zuiderveen of the Wyoming Police Department agreed. “People are busier than they’ve ever been. It’s a great night for people to go outside the house, lock their doors, turn the lights on, and meet the neighbors,” Zuiderveen said.



The department will hold community events at Lamar Park, Celebration Cinema Rivertown, Grace Christian University, Grace Christian Reformed Church and The Door Church.

  • Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Celebration Cinema, 3728 Rivertown Pkwy from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Grace Christian University, 1011 Aldon St. SW from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a fire truck water
    activity at 5:45 p.m.
  • Grace Christian Reformed Church, 3030 Burlingame Ave SW from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • The Door Church, 154 44th St. SW, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.


“Spending time and having fun with residents is important for all of our officers and firefighters
as we work to build and strengthen relationships in our community,” said Director of Public
Safety Kimberly Koster. “National Night Out allows us to connect with residents in a positive and
meaningful way. We are looking forward to returning to connecting with community members
across our city.”



Zuiderveen said residents benefit from knowing their neighbors. “[Neighbors] watch out for each other. They build relationships, they build trust. There is safety in numbers,” Zuiderveen continued. “If you are a victim of a crime, you are more willing to share it with your neighbors if there is trust.”



National Night Out began in the 1984 with a group of law enforcement agencies, volunteers,
neighborhood watch groups, and state and regional crime prevention associations. It grew from
porch vigils to neighborhood celebrations to promote safety in communities and build
relationships with public safety.



To learn more about National Night Out, visit natw.org

Wyoming’s City Center project gets boost with $20 million state grant

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

The City Center project includes the construction of a pedestrian bridge over 28th Street. (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

The City of Wyoming’s City Center project got a boost this week with a $20 million public infrastructure grant from the state of Michigan that will accelerate the project to be completed in two years.

The public infrastructure grants are part of the state’s “Make It In Michigan” $82 billion budget, which was recently passed by the state House and Senate and expected to be signed by the governor soon.

“The investment from the state allows us to expedite the City Center project and complete most of the phased project immediately,” said City Manager John Shay. “Watching this project come to fruition is a success for our entire community and we are deeply thankful to Senator Winnie Brinks and State Representative John Fitzgerald for putting a spotlight on our community infrastructure project.”

In January, the city received $6 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) contribution from Kent County. That coupled with the city’s investment of $10 million of its own ARPA funds allowed the for the completion of the first phase of the City Center project, which includes a pedestrian bridge across 28th street and 3.1 miles of non-motorized trails.

The City Center project is located near the 28 West site and adjacent to Hom Flats. (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

The additional $20 million from the state will allow the city to complete the second phase which is an additional 1.5 miles of non-motorized trails, with a total of 4.6 new non-motorized trails that will connect the City Center to the trails in Pinery Park and the Kent Trails system in Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker, and Byron Township.

 

The second phase also included the burying of overhead power lines along 28th Street between Burlingame and Clyde Park avenues. The lines needed to be buried to prevent them from having contact with the bridge, said Nicole Hofert, the city’s community and economic development director. Burying the lines also accommodates the city’s form-based code, which designs a more walkable experience within the city, and it improves the aesthetics along the corridor with less visual clutter, Hofert said.

Construction on the pedestrian bridge is expected to kick off at the end of July. The bridge, which will provide a safe crossing for 28th Street, also referred to as M-11, will be located near Hook Avenue on the north side of 28th Street and will serve as the entryway to the city’s future downtown center and provide a direct connection to the city’s park system. The bridge is estimated to be completed in spring of 2024, Hofert said.

On the south side, the bridge, will anchor on to the city’s 28 West project and the future City Center site. Adjacent to the City Center site, Magnus Capital has invested $62.9 million into Hom Flats, a mixed-income housing project that incudes class A commercial space and office space.

 

The burying of the utility lines will improve aesthetics along the corridor by reducing visual clutter. (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

This summer, residents also will begin to see work done on burying the utility lines underground, Hofert said. Work on the non-motorized trail project will begin in the spring of 2024 and continue through the spring of 2025, she said, adding that the original 3.1 miles is about 90% completed in the design phase with the other 1.5 miles scheduled to be prioritized over the next month for design.

“For months, my colleagues and I listened to our constituents about their priorities, and this budget reflects those priorities and works for all people across Michigan,” said State Representative John Fitzgerald. “I am grateful to have brought home more than $30 million to the 83rd House District. Notably, $20 million has been awarded to the City of Wyoming for a transformational infrastructure project that will create economic opportunity for the people of this community and put Wyoming on the map as the preeminent suburb in metro Grand Rapids.“

The City of Wyoming’s master plan, which was adopted in 2021, includes an updated 28th Street sub area plan with recommendations for the City Center project. In September, the city will host an open house for residents and community members to learn more about Wyoming’s City Center. 

West Michigan under Air Quality Alert due to Canadian wildfires; air labeled “unhealthy”

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(Courtesy, IQAir)



By D.A. Reed

WKTV Contributor


An Air Quality Alert has been issued across Michigan due to wildfire smoke from Quebec, Canada that has blanketed West Michigan, creating a haze that has drastically reduced visibility and air quality throughout the state.

With 483 active fires across Canada and that smoke infiltrating the United States, an Air Quality Alert has been issued for all of Michigan through June 28.

Earlier this week saw the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Grand Rapids well over 200, firmly in the “very unhealthy” category. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, the AQI is classified as “unhealthy” with AirNow placing Grand Rapids at 195 and IQAir at 192.

While these numbers fluctuate and are projected to drop over the next few days, the current air quality has prompted health advisories that remain in effect.

Recommendations:

*Avoid strenuous outdoor activities

*Shorten the length of outdoor activities

*Move physical activities indoors or reschedule them

Wyoming concert and Whitecaps canceled Tuesday night events

Several West Michigan activities were canceled or postponed, including the West Michigan Whitecaps game scheduled for Tuesday evening and the Wyoming Concerts in the Park performance by Cabildo. The Whitecaps game has been rescheduled to Friday, June 30 as the first game of a doubleheader.

“Having to reschedule activities due to poor air quality was new terrain for us,” said Krashawn Martin, Wyoming Parks and Recreation director. “While it was disappointing to postpone the concert, we are looking forward to rescheduling and hosting this community event. Public safety is of the utmost importance and that guides the decision to cancel or postpone programs.

“Stay tuned for Concert in the Parks updates by following us on social media.” 

The Whitecaps posted a statement on Twitter stating, “In consultation with local weather and health officials, and for the safety of fans and players and in accordance with MLB safety guidelines, tonight’s game has been postponed due to poor air quality.”

While many outdoor events were canceled or postponed and others moved indoors, some events like the Michigan National Guard Air flyover on Tuesday still occurred, though those lining the Grand River were disappointed, unable to see the aircraft due to the smoke covering the sky.

West Michigan residents are urged to continue precautions and limit outdoor activities through Wednesday, June 28th.



(Courtesy, IQAir)

 

You can find air quality information at: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), AirNow, and IQAir

For more information on the Canadian wildfires, visit the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Inc website.

D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author

Don’t miss Judah Guerra’s latest WKTV podcast, where he jams with a former American Idol Golden Ticket winner, Nathan Walton

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Great Lakes Music podcast host Judah Guerra (left) and guest Nathan Walton having some fun at WKTV.




By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



You don’t want to miss local talent Judah Guerra’s latest WKTV podcast, “Great Lakes Music.”


As host and creator of the new podcast, Guerra interviews and performs original music with professionals from all corners of the music scene in Michigan.



His very inviting, warm and witty personality definitely shines through in these weekly conversations with musicians.


“This is a pursuit to learn more about what’s going on here in Michigan with music,” said Guerra, a bass and trombone player born and raised in Grand Rapids, a band leader of GR Groove and a jazz studies major at Michigan State University.



Be sure to check out his interview and jam session below with local musician Nathan Walton, of Nathan Walton and the Remedy, and a former Golden Ticket winner on Season 3 of ABC’s American Idol.



Check out local talent Judah Guerra’s first WKTV podcast called Great Lakes Music

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Michigan State University percussion instructor Kevin Jones, left, and MSU jazz studies major Judah Guerra in the podcast room at WKTV. (WKTV/Cris Greer)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Take a look at Michigan State University junior Judah Guerra’s first podcast he recently created at WKTV, “Great Lakes Music.”


As host of the new podcast, Guerra is interviewing and performing with professionals from all angles of the music scene in Michigan.


“This is a pursuit to learn more about what’s going on here in Michigan with music,” said Guerra, a bass and trombone player born and raised in Grand Rapids, a band leader of GR Groove and a jazz studies major at MSU.



Guerra studies under Michael Dease and Rodney Whitaker, “two of the most highly-regarded musicians in their fields today,” he said.


His first guest was MSU percussion instructor Kevin Jones, who has shared the stage or recorded with many musicians, including The Isley Brothers, Jermaine Jackson, Whitney Houston, Bebe and Cece Winans, Walter Bishop Jr., Tommy Turentine, Joey DeFrancesco, Melvin Sparks, Art Blakey, and a whole bunch more.



Kids’ Food Basket founder’s memoir about finding a purpose-driven life, inspiring others

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Mary K. Hoodhood (far left) with volunteers assembling dinners at the Kids’ Food Basket. (Courtesy, Kids’ Food Basket)


By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor


When you first glance at the book cover of Kids’ Food Basket founder Mary K. Hoodhood’s new memoir, you can read the title in at least two different ways.


You can see it as asking the question “What Can I Do,” as in resignation to the inability to tackle difficult social problems such as hunger among our youth.


But you can also see it as a call to action, personal action: “What I can do” to be part of the solution to such issues. The book was co-written with Lisa McNeilly, PhD.


The life story, so far, of “Mary K” as most people know her, is a testament to “doing what you can do” in one’s personal journey, even overcoming huge physical obstacles, to serve the community.


In Mary K’s life, serving the community, including founding Kids’ Food Basket (KFB), has been a driving force in moving her forward.  


“My upbringing and Catholic education helped me understand the importance of community and giving back,” Mary K. said to WKTV. “I was working at God’s Kitchen when I found out about kids not receiving an evening meal at home at the three GRPS (Grand Rapids Pubic Schools) schools KFB started with.





“I knew that this was an injustice, and it wasn’t the kids fault. I also knew that I could raise the money and get the volunteers to help.”



And raise the money, and get the volunteers/community/government support needed to run Kids’ Food Bank is exactly what she has done — this year, KFB sends 10,000 sack suppers to 60 schools across four counties every weekday.


Inspiring others to “Do what they can do,” that just came along naturally.



(WKTV/Katie Bogema)



Finding a calling after tragedy

In the introduction to “What I Can Do,” Mary K. dedicates the book to her husband, Jeff, with the words “My life is possible because of your love and devotion.”

And discussion in the book of her support network is an essential part of understanding her drive to serve the community as she overcame an automobile accident in her 20s that left her paralyzed from the chest down.


Instead of focusing on what she could no longer do, she states, she started repeating her mantra: “I will focus on what I can do.”


Successful before her accident, Mary K. Roach was born and raised in Grand Rapids and earned a degree in education from Michigan State University in 1973. One of her first jobs was working with the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan, working with high school and community college counselors as well as the Michigan legislature.


But then came May 1980 and a car accident that left her in a wheelchair, but not idle. She got married, helped raise a stepdaughter, took in her teenage nieces and nephew, and began volunteering for the Meals on Wheels program at God’s Kitchen, a local food pantry.



Mary K. Hoodhood with one of the dinner bags distributed by Kids’ Food Basket. (Courtesy, Kids’ Food Basket)



There she saw the need to feed not only seniors and adults, but also school-age youth triggered by a 2002 phone call from a local school principal to say that students were regularly going into the cafeteria after school in search of food to take home.


With $3,000 and a handful of volunteers, she committed to seeking a solution to childhood hunger in our community and Kids’ Food Basket was founded.


“Many volunteers from God’s Kitchen followed me to KFB,” Mary K. said, and the group began feeding 125 meals a day. “What I didn’t anticipate is how much KFB has grown to increase access to good food for kids.”


The first big growth in 2008 and 2009

“There was a recession and we expanded our services outside GRPS to where there was need. I knew our numbers would increase and we would grow,” she said.


With the growth and recognition of Kids’ Food Basket, Mary K. has gained local, regional and national recognition, including being named one of The Grand Rapids Business Journal 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan in 2018.


(Courtesy, Kids’ Food Basket)


But KFB is and will always be closest to her heart. She is past Chair and current member of the Kids’ Food Basket Board of Directors, and volunteers many hours every week, focusing on fund development and public relations, but also sometimes just working the line putting together “dinner” bags. 


That growth has led Kids’ Food Basket to becoming one of the largest non-profits in West Michigan, with staff and leadership carrying it into the future.


“Mary K.’s motto to ‘Do what I can do’ is one of many driving forces behind everything that we have built at Kids’ Food Basket,” Bridget Clark Whitney, President and Founding CEO of Kids’ Food Basket, said to WKTV.


“Food insecurity is a very real concern, and breaking down the barriers to good food access can feel overwhelming. At KFB, we create a space where people can make a real impact, one step at a time. Packing a single Sack Supper is easy, and together across three locations, it adds up to 10,000 healthy evening meals each school day.”


(Courtesy, Kids’ Food Basket)


What can you do?

Community volunteering and financial support has been a key factor in the growth and success of Kids’ Food Basket. Many people, it seems, believe in the title of Mary K.’s book — doing “What I Can Do.”


To find out what you can do, visit the Kids’ Food Basket website.




Kevin Brewster Quartet performs on WKTV Jazz Works show

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By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



As a child, it was Kevin Brewster’s mom that helped steer him toward the saxophone.



The 2021 East Kentwood grad said his mom, Audrey Reed, often listened to gospel, R&B and soul music such as Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind & Fire. 



“I always wondered what the specific instrument I heard in those songs was until eventually I found out it was a saxophone which made me want to play it,” Brewster said. “I then began playing the saxophone at 11 years old.



“As far as I remember, growing up I was always into music, either if it was dancing, listening to music or singing. I grew up in the church which got me involved with playing the drums, saxophone and singing in the choir.”



Brewster, who just finished his second year of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University, was recently in the WKTV studio with his quartet taping a television program called Jazz Works, which will air soon on our station.

The other members of the quartet are Max Gage on piano, Judah Guerra, bass and Brian Allen, drums.



The Kevin Brewster Quartet recently performed on the WKTV Jazz Works program. Front, Kevin Brewster; from left; Max Gage, piano; Judah Guerra, bass and Brian Allen, drums. (WKTV/Cris Greer)



East Kentwood and MSU connection

Guerra also graduated from EK High School, while Allen went to Grand Rapids Christian and Gage, Northview. All members study music at Michigan State University.



Brewster said they all met while in high school and began practicing together.



“We had one of our first gigs at a restaurant and I knew ever since then I wanted to keep playing with these guys,” Brewster explained. “We formally got together in 2021, and then we gigged throughout the summer our first year of college.”



The quartet has performed locally at the Grand Rapids Foodie Fest, GRNoir Jazz Club, GR Festival of the Arts and the Kentwood Winter Concert Series.



While at East Kentwood, Brewster performed in the marching band, wind ensemble and jazz ensemble I.



He’s counting on his high school and college experiences to guide him through his career.



“After I graduate college, my goal is to attend graduate school to pursue my masters in jazz performance while continuing to put out music and eventually become a recording artist. I also want to tour around the world as a band leader and/or sideman, and then soon become a college professor to teach jazz saxophone.”

East Kentwood’s Lacey-Pierce one of several area boxing champs at Michigan Golden Gloves finals Saturday

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,
Justin Lacey-Pierce (left) looks for an opening during his match against Jason Jackson in the 165-pound Elite Open class final at the Michigan Golden Gloves state finals Saturday at West Catholic. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor

East Kentwood graduate Justin Lacey-Pierce led the list of area boxers who brought home state titles at the 2023 Michigan Golden Gloves state championship finals on Saturday evening at West Catholic High School.

Lacey-Pierce, a 2017 grad of East Kentwood, turned in a solid performance as he won a decision against Jason Jackson of the Holland Westside Boxing Club in the 165-pound Elite Open division final. Lacey-Pierce, who defeated Jackson in last week’s West Michigan Golden Gloves finals, took charge of the bout from the opening bell and carried the action throughout the match.


Lacey-Pierce, like all the other champions from the state finals, now heads to the Golden Gloves of America National Tournament from May 8-14 in Philadelphia.

“Winning the state title feels ok, but what I really want is the national championship,” Lacey-Pierce said. “I’ve won a national championship before and what I want is to win a Golden Gloves national championship. That is my main goal.”

Lacey-Pierce cleared the next hurdle in reaching that goal by taking care of business against Jackson which gave him his second Golden Gloves state title of his career.

“It was a rematch of last week,” Lacey-Pierce said. “It was pretty much the same thing again. He (Jackson) is a very tough fighter. He’s durable and tough. I just tried to keep jabbing and sneak in some body shots and try to wear him out.”

Junior Rios gets fifth state title

While Lacey-Pierce won his second state title, former Wyoming Pride Boxing Club boxer Aneudy “Junior” Rios won his fifth state title. Like Lacey-Pierce, Rios fought a familiar foe in the title match as he squared off against Gentle Gibson of Kalamazoo who he defeated in last week’s West Michigan state finals in the 132-pound open division. Like the previous fight, Rios relied on his speed and quickness to carry him to the decision.

Junior Rios (right) squares off against Gentle Gibson of Kalamazoo in the 132-pound Elite Open class at the Michigan Golden Gloves state finals. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)

“He (Gibson) was going for the knockout,” Rios said. “I used my quickness against him. I have quicker hands and quicker feet and I used that to my advantage. His gameplan was to land a knockout punch. It was definitely a good fight. He tried to knock me out but I knew I could outbox him.”

Winning a fifth state title meant plenty to Rios who plans to turn professional after making a run at qualifying for the 2024 Olympics.

“This feels great,” Rios said. “I have dreamed about this moment and to come out on top really means a lot to me. I’m looking forward to the national tournament and I feel right now I’m in better shape that I’ve ever been in during all the years of going to nationals. I feel way quicker, have way more experience and have a way better boxing IQ.”

Mo Mercado 125-pound open division champ

Like his training partner Rios, Guillermo “Mo” Mercado is another multi-time state champion and faced a rematch in his title bout in the 125-pound open division. Like he did the week prior, Mercado utilized his outstanding boxing skills to win a decision against Jason Wells.

Guillermo Mercado (left) looks to set up his shot during his match against Jason Wells in the 125-pound Elite Open class final at the Michigan Golden Gloves state finals. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)



“I went into the match trying to stay focused and to get the job done,” Mercado said. “I knew that I could outbox him and that was my plan. He tried some different things but I just stayed composed and outboxed him.”

The state title meant plenty to Mercado who also plans to turn professional after the Golen Gloves.

“This is a tremendous feeling,” Mercado said. “I put my heart on the line for this one. I’ve went through a lot of adversity to get this one and this really means a lot to me.”

Catholic Central grad Ulysses Campos wins at 147 pounds

Ulysses Campos, a 2018 graduate of Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School is another area boxer who was looking to add to his collection of state titles before turning pro later this year. Campos won a decision against Tyrone Welch of Saginaw in the finals at 147 pounds. The title was the sixth Golden Gloves title for Campos and the fourth Golden Gloves state championship on his resume.

“I won my first Golden Gloves title when I was 16-years old,” said the 23-year old Campos, who also was part of a state championship soccer team while at Catholic Central. “This one is pretty special. It is my last one and I knew it was going to be a tough one. My opponent is really tough and I knew it was going to be a big challenge.”

Bryan Caceres wins fourth state title

Bryan Caceres rounded out the area open champions. Caceres, who won a fourth state title for his career, needed to avenge a loss from last week’s West Michigan finals to earn his title. In a match that was just as hard-fought as last week’s title match at 139 pounds, Caceres won a decision against Marcos Saucedo Jr. of Holland. Like the other area open division boxers, Caceres is also planning on turning professional later this year.

Also claiming open-division titles were Nicholas Young of Flint at 156 pounds, KeiShawn Partee of Muskegon, 176 pounds, Solomon Jagun of Lansing, 203 pounds, and Shaquan Cox of Flint, 203-plus division.

Sarah Batenburg takes 146-pound title in the female division

There also were three uncontested open division champions all in the female division. Sarah Batenburg of Hudsonville won at 146 pounds, Zoe Hicks of Lansing won at 110 pounds and Kimberly Green of Lansing was the 178 pounds-plus champion.

In novice action, Michael Guzman of Grand Rapids won the 132-pound novice title with a decision against Gage Stafford of Flint.

“It feels good,” Guzman said. “I’ve loved fighting in the Golden Gloves this year. It’s a great feeling to be the last man standing.”

Guzman’s twin brother Mike Guzman just missed a state title of his own as he dropped a close decision to Brant Bowlin of Lansing at 139 pounds. 

In the 147-pound novice division, Alejandro Hernandez of the Anahuac Boxing Club, located in southwest Grand Rapids, won a decision against Stephen Ramirez. The bout was a rematch of last week’s West Michigan finals contest and Hernandez used a similar formula to get the win.

“(He) Ramirez was not as aggressive as last week,” Hernandez said. “Like I did last week, I just tried to outbox him. Winning the state title feel so good. It feels good to see all my hard work pay off.”

At 203 pounds, Zachary Brayton of Traverse City Significant Strikes won a decision against Austin Connors of the Kalamazoo Boxing Club in a rematch of their fight last week. Brayton, who improved his record to 7-0 over the weekend, also was named the Outstanding Novice Boxer for this year’s state finals.

Also winning state titles in the novice division were Van Davis (125 pounds) of Muskegon, Brant Bowling (139) of Lansing, Ndeye Diouf (female-146 pounds) of Flint and Monjuan Walker (156) of Flint. Uncontested novice champions included Sulliman Aamer (112) of Holland, Abel Vilchis-Mendoza (176) of Muskegon and Cody Leonard (203-plus) of Muskegon.

Michigan Golden Gloves Championships begin 91st tournament; Opening night April 1 at West Catholic High School

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,
Local boxer Junior Rios (right) and his coach Anbrocio Ledesma. Rios will be one of the top open division boxers to watch at this year’s Michigan Golden Gloves Championships. (Courtesy, Junior Rios)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



If it’s April in West Michigan it must be time for some Golden Gloves boxing and this year is one of transition for the fabled boxing tournament.

The 91st annual Michigan Golden Gloves Championships begin this weekend, Saturday, April 1. This year’s tournament will be held at West Catholic High School (1801 Bristol Ave. NW, Grand Rapids) as the DeltaPlex, which hosted the tournament the past several years, closed its doors earlier this year.





“The Golden Gloves is one of the most prestigious tournaments in boxing,” said tournament co-director Brian Lentz. “The Golden Gloves is an exciting five-day event. The first three days are the West Michigan Championships and the final two days are the Michigan State Finals.”


Began in 1923

The Golden Gloves began in Chicago in 1923 and the Chicago Golden Gloves is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. This year’s Michigan Golden Gloves will be the 91st running of the tournament that began in 1932. Over the past 90-plus years, the Michigan Golden Gloves has produced some of the greatest boxers to have ever come out of the state of Michigan.

Floyd Mayweather and many other big names were Golden Gloves Champs

One of the greatest boxers of all time, Floyd Mayweather, is a former Golden Gloves champion from West Michigan along with a host of other champions, including Tony Tucker, Buster Mathis Jr., Roger Mayweather, Chris Byrd, Tim Littles, Andre Dirrell, Anthony Dirrell, Ra’eese Aleem, Fabian Williams, Roger Turner and Peter Quillin to name a few.

38 gyms represented

There are a total of 38 gyms in Michigan and this year’s tournament hopes to have representatives from all of those gyms. The first three days of the event will be the West Michigan Championships where boxers from Lansing to the west will compete. The East Michigan Championships will be held for boxers from east of Lansing. The final two dates will be the state championships where the winner and runner-up boxers in each division from the east will square off against the top two boxers in each division from the west with a spot on the Michigan team for the National Golden Gloves tournament on the line. This year’s National Golden Gloves Tournament is scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, PA. from May 8 through May 13.

Three divisions

The Golden Gloves is split into different divisions. There is a novice division, for beginning boxers that have had fewer than 10 fights, and an open division for more experienced boxers. There also is a female division.  

WKTV will televise the tournament (see below)

WKTV will televise all five nights of this year’s tournament. WKTV commentator Bob Serulla is in his 23rd year of working the Golden Gloves and is excited about this year’s tournament. 

“I think we are going to have a heck of a year,” Serulla said. “There is a lot of good, young talent and some highly-ranked fighters this year. Obviously, the Golden Gloves is going through a transition with the closing of the DeltaPlex, but I’m looking forward to a big year.”

Among the open division boxers are some highly-ranked local boxers. Justin Lacy-Pierce is a former national champion who recently qualified to compete for a spot on the USA National team. Lacy-Pierce is ranked fourth in his weight class by USA Boxing in their recent rankings at the end of last year.



Local boxer Junior Rios will be one of the top open division boxers to watch. (Courtesy, Junior Rios)



Junior Rios is another local standout who placed second at the regional qualifier for USA Boxing that took place March 18-25 in Detroit. Maurice Davis of Kalamazoo is another standout in the open division to watch along with Ulysses Campos of Grand Rapids, while Zoe Hicks of Lansing is a nationally-ranked female boxer in the 114-pound weight class.

Another name to keep an eye on is Ryan Schmidt. A member of the famed Schmidt family of boxers from the west side of Grand Rapids, Schmidt is making a comeback to the Golden Gloves at age 38. Schmidt was a five-time state champion from 2001-2005 and also was a silver and bronze medal winner at the National Golden Gloves during that time. 

Along with the big names, the tournament is the birthplace of boxing dreams for young boxers making their first appearances in the ring.

“Opening night is a night you have some of the best fights,” Serulla said. “A lot of guys match up who have never fought before. You see people who come out of nowhere put on a show, especially in the novice division. I love opening night at the Gloves. You see some out and out wars on the first night.” 

The opening night of this year’s Golden Gloves takes place Saturday, April 1. Boxing begins at 7 p.m. Action continues Wednesday, April 12 and Saturday April 15 with the state finals scheduled for Friday and Saturday April 21 and 22. Bouts begin at 7 p.m. each day with the doors opening at 6 p.m.


WKTV Golden Gloves Schedule

Catch all the action on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T U-verse 99 with a live tape delayed airing of each night. You also can stream WKTV at WKTV25Live 

West Michigan Preliminaries

Saturday, April 1 

 Airs Wednesday, April 5 at 5 p.m.

West Michigan Semifinals

Wednesday, April 12

Airs Saturday, April 15 at 11 a.m. and Tuesday, April 18 at 11 p.m.

West Michigan Finals

Saturday, April 15

Airs Sunday, April 16 at 12 p.m. and Wednesday, April 19 at 5 p.m.

State Semifinals 

Friday, April 21 

 Airs Saturday, April 22 at 11 a.m. and Wednesday, April 26 at 5 p.m. 

State Finals 

Saturday, April 22  

 Airs Sunday, April 23 at 12 p.m. and Wednesday, May 3 at 5 p.m.

Friday Night Highlights Special Edition: Host Zach Fanko interviews Tri-unity and South Christian teams after both finish second in state

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, , ,



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org




Take a look at our boys basketball state finals edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights, where host Zach Fanko interviews Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler and players Roy Fogg and Owen Rosendall in the first half of the show, followed by South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson and player Sam Medendorp in the second half.



You will enjoy watching both coaches talk through some season highlight reels, giving their play-by-play analysis of these games.


From Left: South Christian center Sam Medendorp, Coach Taylor Johnson and WKTV Friday Night Highlights host Zach Fanko taped a special edition Wednesday honoring the Sailors second-place finish in the Division 2 state finals. (WKTV)





From Left: Tri-unity Christian boys basketball guard Owen Rosendall, forward Roy Fogg, Coach Mark Keeler and Friday Night Highlights host Zach Fanko taped a special edition Wednesday honoring the Defenders second-place finish in the Division 4 state finals. (WKTV)

Tri-unity Christian two points short of back-to-back D-4 state championships

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,
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By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



The Tri-unity Christian Defenders were going for a second straight Division 4 state championship Saturday morning at the Breslin Center at Michigan State University, but they finished just two points short as Munising edged them 39-37.

The game featured plenty of strong defense from both teams, but a late surge proved to be the difference as Munising won its first-ever basketball state title in school history while Tri-unity fell just short of title number six.

“I thought we had a golden opportunity to win the state title, but we came up empty,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “We shot ourselves in the foot. I thought that we played some phenomenal defense, but on offense we took a lot of bad shots. Shots that were just rushed and we kept doing it. I thought we also had way more turnovers than we usually have and that doesn’t help.”

Tri-unity committed 15 turnovers for the game, while Munising finished with eight.

The Defenders looked to negate the turnover issue with its work on the boards. They outrebounded Munising 39-17 with 17 of those boards coming on the offensive end of the floor. While the Defenders produced extra shots, a lid seemed to be on the basket for Tri-unity as it connected on 14-of-45 shots for the game, a 31.1 percentage. The Defenders were especially cold from long range as they shot 21.1 percent from three-point range, connecting on 4-of-19 three-point shots for the game.

An early lead

Despite the cold shooting and turnovers, Tri-unity was right in the game from beginning to end. They jumped out to an 8-2 early lead before Munising battled back to take a 9-8 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Munising built on the lead in the second quarter as it outscored Tri-unity 9-4 to go up 18-12 midway through the second. Both defenses were in control the remainder of the first half with a three-point shot by Tri-unity’s Jordan VanKlompenberg cutting the Munising lead to 18-15 at halftime.

Defense continued to hold serve in the third quarter with points being at a premium. Tri-unity outscored Munising 10-9 in the third quarter and trailed 27-23 heading into the final quarter.

After Munising opened the fourth quarter with a bucket, Tri-unity scored the next five points to go up 30-29. A three-pointer by VanKlompenberg and a layup by Roy Fogg put the Defenders up 30-29 with 3:45 remaining in the game.

Munising, however, regained the lead for good when Cully Trzeciak hit a three-pointer with 2:11 remaining to put his team up 32-30. Seconds later a steal and layup by Trevor Nolan put Munising up 34-30.

After a Tri-unity turnover, Munising added a free throw with 1:07 remaining to go up 35-30. Fogg responded with a pair of free throws for Tri-unity, but a pair of free throws by Munising upped the margin to five with 33 seconds to go. After a steal by Munising, the Mustangs tacked on a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining to go up 39-32.

One final push by the Defenders

Tri-unity made one final push in the game’s final seconds. Owen Rosendall connected on three straight free throws with 13 seconds remaining and VanKlompenberg added a bucket with two seconds left, but the Defenders were unable to get a steal in the final two seconds of the game.

“They (Munising) had a great strategy,” Keeler said. “They were not going to allow us to beat them inside. They were letting us take all the threes we wanted and we were not able to knock them down. I’m proud of our kids. They played their hearts out and did their very best. Give credit to Munising, they have a nice team.”



Jordan VanKlompenberg led the Defenders with 15 points. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



VanKlompenberg led Tri-unity with 15 points, while Fogg added 11. Rosendall finished with five points, followed by Akais Giplaye, four and Trey Rillema, two.

Giplaye led Tri-unity with 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Fogg and VanKlompenberg both added seven rebounds, including three offensive boards apiece. Rosendall, Rillema, Keaton Blanker and Wesley Kaman added three rebounds each. Rosendall led Tri-unity with six assists.

“I felt we had a chance to win back-to-back titles and we actually did,” Keeler said. “We just fell two points short.”

With the season ended, the Defenders say goodbye to a trio of seniors, including Dylan Bruinsma, Hanif James and Fogg.

“It’s tough to say goodbye to the seniors,” Keeler said. “We did have a pretty young team this year. We started three juniors and one sophomore so I’m pretty excited about the future. I’m looking forward to next year. I feel we have a lot of potential especially if we work in the summer and get stronger in the offseason.”

Tri-unity finished the season with a 22-7 record, while Munising ended at 27-1.      

Defense, offensive rebounding key to semifinal win for Tri-unity; aiming for back-to-back D-4 state titles

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,

Tri-Unity Coach Mark Keeler (far left) and his team watch the action during their semifinal win over Frankfort Thursday. The Defenders are looking to win a sixth state championship on Saturday morning. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



The Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University has seen hundreds of wins over the years with the home team playing stingy defense and dominating on the offensive boards.



Tri-unity Christian took those pages out of that successful Michigan State playbook during Thursday’s Division 4 state semifinal game against Frankfort and the result was a 54-37 win that sends the Defenders on to Saturday’s D-4 state championship game against Munising at 10 a.m.

Tri-unity played solid defense from the opening tip to the final buzzer as it limited Frankfort to 10 points or less in three of the four quarters.



The Defenders celebrate after a state semifinal win Thursday at the Breslin Center and are looking to win back-to-back state titles on Saturday. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



“We focused in on making sure we challenged them (Frankfort) and not letting them have anything easy,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “We played great defense. I was really happy with our defense.”

The Defenders also dominated the boards, outrebounding Frankfort 41-22 for the game including pulling down a whopping 21 offensive rebounds.

“I was really happy with the way our guys controlled the boards,” Keeler said. “That was huge to have that many second shots.”

Akais Giplaye led the way on the boards as he pulled down 11 rebounds including nine offensive rebounds. Wesley Kaman added four offensive rebounds while Roy Fogg and Trey Rillema had three offensive boards.

Offensively, Tri-unity did a solid job of sharing the ball and spreading the scoring load around. Owen Rosendall led the Defenders in scoring with 13 points while Fogg added 11 points, Rillema, seven; Giplaye and Kaman, six apiece and Jordan VanKlompenberg, five. Keaton Blanker added two points, three assists, a steal and an offensive rebound.



Tri-unity fans had a lot to celebrate during its team’s state semifinal win Thursday at MSU. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



‘Everyone contributes’

“We had great balance which I really like,” Keeler said. “This team does a great job of sharing the ball. We don’t have one or two guys that do all the scoring. Everyone contributes on offense and we really take pride in that.”

Tri-unity took control of the game in the first quarter. The Defenders jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the early minutes thanks to three-point shots from VanKlompenberg and Rosendall.

Tri-unity led 16-8 going into the second quarter. Frankfort kept the score close throughout the second quarter and trailed 25-21 at halftime.

The Defenders began to pull away in the third quarter. Up by two points early in the quarter, Tri-unity closed out the third on a 15-4 run to take a 40-27 lead into the fourth. Frankfort managed to cut the margin to 10 points before Tri-unity pulled away in the final quarter.

Defenders succeed at wearing them down

“Our desire was to really up the tempo of the game,” Keeler said. “We did not want them to walk the ball up the court. They had a couple of big guys and we wanted to get them tired so every chance we got we pushed the ball trying to wear them down. By the fourth quarter it seemed they were pretty tired.”

Tri-unity improved to 22-6 for the season, while Frankfort finished at 18-9.

14th appearance in the state semifinals

The Defenders made their 14th appearance in the semifinal round at the Breslin Center.

“It’s not so much the number of times we’ve been here so much as it is special for these young men to get here,” Keeler said. “This is a different group. Every year it is a different group of young mean and it’s something we don’t want to take for granted. Thise guys really love each other and play for each other.”



Tri-unity celebrates after its state semifinal win Thursday at MSU. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)



The Defenders, who defeated Ewen-Trout Creek in overtime to win last year’s Division 4 state title, face Munising in Saturday’s championship game at 10 a.m. Munising (26-1) defeated Marine City Cardinal Mooney 55-44 in the other semifinal game.

“We know they are a good team and there is no quit in them,” Keeler said. “They had a lead on Cardinal Mooney before Cardinal Mooney came back at the end of the third quarter. Munising then turned it up a notch in the fourth quarter and pulled away. We are going to have to come in ready to play.”  

Ford International Airport expecting busy spring break; ‘pack your patience’

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Travel, West Michigan, ,
Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (Courtesy, Ford Airport)



By WKTV Staff

greer@wktv.org



As we approach spring break travel, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is expecting a busy week and is reminding guests to pack their patience. 

With the upcoming spring break travel season happening between March 30 and April 11, Ford International Airport is gearing up to ensure the more than 150,000 passengers visiting the terminal that week are ready for a safe and smooth travel experience. As a reminder, the terminal building never closes; however, the security screening checkpoint opens at 4 a.m. or 60 minutes before the earliest departure. 

“We are once again prepared to ensure safe and happy travels for spring break passengers,” Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Chief Operating Officer Alex Peric said. “We look forward to another busy travel season and are grateful to the many teams and partners who make it possible.”

Important Travel Tips and Numbers

Some of the top prohibited, voluntarily abandoned items for spring break travelers include:

•Sunscreen lotion and tanning lotion

•Water bottles with water in them

•Gel and spray deodorants

•Liquid makeup and perfumes


Be sure to keep all liquids, gels, creams under 3.4 oz.

Arrive at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure to begin the check-in procedure. Parking will be busy, so please give yourself extra time to find a space.

Passenger Traffic: Guest traffic is currently surpassing 2019 levels, which was a record-breaking year for the Airport. “We expect to be at or above our 2019 spring break travel levels and 8 percent above our 2022 spring break traffic.”

Peak Holiday Travel Dates: March 30 through April 11. Peak departure dates are March 30 and April 2. Expected peak return dates for passengers are April 8 and 9. 

Expected Spring Break Travel: 150,000-plus total passengers from March 30 through April 11. This includes both departing and arriving passengers. As many as 13,000-plus passengers on peak days.

Top Destinations: Punta Gorda, Orlando, Clearwater, Tampa, Sarasota and Washington D.C. 

In addition, to kick off one of the most anticipated weeks of vacation, the Airport will host a Passenger Appreciation Day on March 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Passengers will be greeted with a live band, special costumed characters, a puppy parade and more. 

Airline Contacts

Individual airlines are responsible for the check-in process, all matters related to gates (including departures and deplanings), the handling of passenger luggage, their plane de-icing process, cancellation or delay of flights, passenger ticketing and rebooking options.

If you have questions related to any of the items listed above, please contact your airline.

Tri-unity Christian boys heading back to Breslin Center after quarterfinal win Tuesday

Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,
Tri-Unity Coach Mark Keeler huddles his team at an earlier game this season. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Tied at 22 apiece at the half, Tri-unity Christian outscored Kalamazoo Phoenix 32-19 in the second half to grab a 54-41 win in a Division 4 quarterfinal Tuesday at Gull Lake High School.

The win advanced the Defenders (21-6) to a semifinal matchup with Frankfort (18-8) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Breslin Center at Michigan State University.

“The team is very excited and very tired; a lot of emotion,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler, whose team won a state title last year. “They are looking forward to playing in the Breslin Center.

“They (Kalamazoo Phoenix) jumped out on us and then we tied the game heading into the half. We started out nervous and scared. I was quite surprised by our start.  However, the boys settled down and we finished strong with excellent defense. We led most of the second half, but it was not decided until late in the fourth quarter.”

Roy Fogg led the Defenders with 16 points, followed by Owen Rosendall, 10 and Akais Giplaye, nine. Keaton Blanker had four assists and five rebounds.

Roy Fogg led the Defenders with 16 points. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)

“Roy played an excellent game the entire night,” Keeler said. “However, he was in foul trouble a lot, missing a lot of the second quarter and the last half of the third quarter.

“Owen Rosendall really stepped up big with excellent defense on Phoenix’s explosive guard.”

Keeler said they are looking forward to playing at the Breslin Center.

“Frankfort is a good team with nice size,” Keeler added. “We will need to be at our best to beat them.”

Lee boys basketball program completes major turnaround season; 19-2 overall, 8-0 atop Alliance League

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,
Coach Dominic Shannon huddles up his team during a game earlier this season with Potter’s House. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)


By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



After a successful basketball season, Lee Coach Dominic Shannon said it’s an understatement to say he’s proud of the boys.

“Words truly can’t express the love and respect we have for this special group of boys,” said Lee, whose team finished 19-2 overall and 8-0 in the Alliance League. “We accomplished the first conference championship in 43 years and lost by a total of four points all season. In my second year as head coach, we are well on our way to revitalizing a program which once upon a time had rich basketball history.

“The goal coming into this season was to continue to reshape the culture and for the student-athletes to understand what must be accepted or received in order to have a memorable season. I’m not surprised that we were successful, but I did not expect us to win 19 games this year. My staff and I, once fall league started, we began to see the team form and we all believed we would have the first winning season since 2010-2011, in which that Lee team finished 12-11.”


Last year, the Legends were 5-16 overall and 2-6 in the League.

Shannon’s highlight this season?

“Seeing the boys accept accountability and holding their brothers accountable,” Shannon said. “The 19 wins and two losses are impressive, the first conference championship in 43 years is extremely impressive, but as a coach I understand that the ball stops bouncing after so much time has passed.

“Once that ball stops bouncing all they’ll have left is their character and values and principles that they’ll stand on. We definitely want to win and compete, but the growth and maturity of the boys is essentially the driving force behind the success. This season was a success on several levels.”

Overtime loss to Godwin Heights in the districts

Shannon said the overtime loss to Godwin was and still is tough to swallow.

“We executed the game plan as we were up five points with under 40 seconds left in regulation and not to mention we missed 16 total free throws while being in position to win the game in regulation,” Shannon explained. “Execution late in the game was not what we’re capable of, essentially leading to an early playoff exit. I am already preparing for next season as I see where I can sharpen as preparation is key.

“The environment was very fun and I hope this game has restored the rivalry between Lee and Godwin.”

Scoring leader junior Marc Whitfield

Whitfield averaged 20 points, 5 assists and 3 steals this season. He had three 30-point games with a season high of 36 points against Lansing Eastern.

Lee guard Marc Whitfield. (Courtesy, Lee High School)



“Marc came into the season as our best player and I believe he exited the season as a more well-rounded player,” Shannon said. “The challenge for Marc this season was leading vocally the correct way. Marc’s energy and passion is felt each day in practice. So as coaches we evaluate what a student-athlete can do to improve themselves on and off the court, and for Marc it was communication.

“We’ve seen him accept ownership in not so pleasant times, lift up his teammates when they get down on themselves and show full maturity in the Godwin game. We believe he is a special athlete and his senior year is going to be fun to watch.”



Lone senior starter Joe Russau

“We sincerely appreciate the example he set as a senior by maintaining a 3.5 GPA all season and the presence he had as a captain,” Shannon said. “As a captain, there’s certain expectations the coaches have and he absolutely met them and it’ll be tough to see him go. He has yet to make a decision on where he’ll be playing college basketball next year, but whichever school he commits to will be receiving an awesome young man.”

Expectations for next year? 

Shannon said they will keep building upon the foundation laid two years ago.

“We are only losing one starter and three seniors total entering next season which provides comfort for the coaching staff as our senior class will be strong and understanding of expectations,” he explained. “We are expecting next season to be a battle in our conference and we’ll likely have a target on our back as defending conference champions.

“It would definitely be sweet to repeat as conference champs, but to meet those expectations, the work begins now.” 

Tri-unity Christian boys use big fourth quarter to advance to Division 4 state quarterfinals

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,
The Defenders with their regional championship trophy. (Courtesy, Tri-Unity Christian)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Ahead by five points heading into the fourth quarter, Tri-unity Christian outscored Lansing Christian 18-5 to secure a 62-44 regional championship Wednesday at Fowler High School.


Roy Fogg led with 17 points in the win. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)

“Last night was a great game to watch,” said the Defender’s Coach Mark Keeler, whose team improved to 20-6 overall. “My Assistant Coach Brent Voorhees suggested we try pressing down to get them out of the rhythm and it worked. They had made 12 threes for the game. Lansing Christian is a very well coached team.”

“Roy Fogg led us with 17. He was very versatile,” Keeler said. “He has really improved his outside shot so he’s affective going to the bucket or shooting outside. What I really enjoy about this team is the versatility of the players. We never know who’s going to step up and act out some key shots.




“Jordan VanKlompenberg had a great game with his 10 points, five assists and four steals. Akais Giplaye had eight points and six rebounds. He played huge for us. Owen Rosendall knocked down two key threes right before half to give us a lead of five. Wesley Kaman came off the bench and scored 15 points for us. He was awesome.”

Jordan VanKlompenberg had 10 points, 5 assists and 4 steals in the win. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)



Division 4 State Quarterfinal

The Defenders now face Kalamazoo Phoenix (17-2) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 at Gull Lake High School.

“As far as Kalamazoo Phoenix, we know that they are a very good team,” Keeler said.

Boys Basketball Coach Tyler Whittemore reflects on Godwin Heights’ season

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,
Godwin Heights Coach Tyler Whittemore. (Courtesy, Godwin Heights)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



After winning its first two tournament games, including a barnburner over a great Lee team, and losing to Hudsonville Unity Christian in a district final, Godwin Heights boys basketball Coach Tyler Whittemore looks back at his team’s successful season.

“I am lucky to have one of the best backcourts in West Michigan with Damarie Thompson and Jakhary Towns,” said Whittemore, whose team finished 14-8 overall and 8-5 in the OK Silver. “Those two guys are our leaders. Damarie has a toughness and intelligence about him that helped him lead the team in assists and steals.


Jakhary Towns. (Courtesy, Troy Maleport)
Damarie Thompson. (Courtesy, Godwin Heights)

“Jakhary is a special player that has a scoring ability that he has crafted over the years. His ability to score inside and out is dangerous for other teams. He often faced specialized defenses that attempted to take that away, but he continued to find ways to be efficient and effective for our team.”



Towns led the Wolverines with 28 points per game and also registered 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals.

“We came a long way this season when it comes to consistency and providing that effort needed to be successful,” Whittemore said. “The guys truly pushed one another to be great every possession. We improved on that and were in some great games throughout the season.”

Godwin beat Lee to advance to a district final last week

Godwin beat Lee 83-80 in overtime in a district semifinal matchup. Lee finished the season atop the Alliance League at 8-0 and was 19-2 overall.

“That game was important because it was win-or-go-home,” Whittemore explained. “We trusted and followed our leaders for this game. One of our captains, Jamarion Collins, set the tone tremendously by his defensive pressure and intensity. Many of his teammates fed off of his focus and were aggressive this game.

“I believe it was the toughness and intensity of Tre’Vonte Buckley that really helped us that game. Yes, Jakhary scored a lot of points that game (47), but it was Tre’ diving for loose balls and gathering second chance opportunities for his teammates.



From left: Damarie Thompson, Jace Reid-Anderson and Tre’Vonte Buckley. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)



“We knew if we just played our game, remained together, and never stopped flying around until the buzzer sounds then anything can happen.”

Whittemore said he was very fortunate to have so many great athletes that are quick and can impact a game at any point.

“A couple of seniors that stick out to me that I knew I could lean on and trust in tough spots, even if things weren’t going their way earlier in the game, are Rashaad Dorsey and Johnny Horrell,” Whittemore said. “Those guys are very mentally tough and bring much quickness to our full-court defensive pressure.”

With many seniors this year, who will step up next season?

“Big leaps are made by all players who commit themselves to the weight room and time in the gym to work on their skills,” Whittemore explained. “A few players that I am excited for next season are Ben Dolo, Jaylen Martin and Jacari Jones. The underclassmen that will impact varsity greatly are Marcos Rodriguez, Jamaan Hastings and Isaiah Guyton.”

Tri-unity uses long ball to beat Baldwin in regional semifinal Monday

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,
Jordan VanKlompenberg led Tri-Unity with 20 points in the Defenders 79-36 win over Baldwin in their regional semifinal Monday.



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org


Tri-Unity Christian made nine 3’s in the first half of its 79-36 regional semifinal win over Baldwin on Monday at Fowler High School.

The Defenders (19-6) advanced to their regional final against Lansing Christian (16-9) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Fowler.

“This was the best first half of a game this year for us,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “We had nine 3’s in the first half and a lead of 45-23 against a team that was 22-1.”

The Defenders led 26-9 at the end of the first quarter.

Jordan VanKlompenberg led Tri-unity with 20 points, including four treys, followed by Roy Fogg, 16; Wesley Kaman, 15 (3 treys) and Akais Giplaye, 10 points, 8 rebounds. Fogg and Keaton Blanker had 5 assists apiece.

“Roy has really been working on his shot and had great rotation on the ball,” Keeler said. “Our team played great team defense. 

“Going into the regional final we know that Lansing Christian is in an extremely tough conference and will come ready to play.  It will take another excellent effort by our team to continue the run we would like to have.”

Lansing Christian beat Fruitport Calvary Christian 51-40 in its regional semifinal.

Boys Basketball: South Christian, Tri-unity advance to regional finals Wednesday

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , , , ,
Tri-unity’s Jordan VankKlompenberg led the Defenders with 20 points in his team’s regional semifinal victory. (Courtesy, Tri-unity)


By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org


Division 1

Regional 3 at West Ottawa

Semifinal: Hudsonville 55, Rockford 50

Semifinal: Muskegon 68, East Kentwood 48

Regional Final: Muskegon vs. Hudsonville at 7 pm Wednesday at West Ottawa

Division 2

Regional 12 at Vicksburg

Semifinal: South Christian 72, Niles 33

(SC: Nate Brinks, 15 points. The Sailors had 10 3’s.)

Semifinal: Hamilton 63, Marshall 62

Regional Final: South Christian (22-3) vs. Hamilton (22-4) at 7 pm Wednesday at Vicksburg

Division 4

Regional 29 at Fowler

Semifinal: Tri-Unity Christian 79, Baldwin 36

(TU: Jordan VanKlompenberg, 20 points; Roy Fogg, 16; Wesley Kaman, 15; Akais Giplaye, 10 points, 8 rebounds; Fogg and Keaton Blanker, 5 assists apiece)

Semifinal: Lansing Christian 51, Fruitport Calvary Christian 40

Regional Final: Tri-unity (19-6) vs. Lansing Christian (16-9) at 7 pm Wednesday at Fowler

Watch our latest WKTV Friday Night Highlights show HERE, March 10! Featuring boys basketball districts

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, , ,



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org

Take a look at our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights right now, Friday, March 10.

 

Check out our local boys teams’ district highlights here … our last highlights show of the season!

Many thanks to all you coaches, players and fans for watching our show all season long! It has been a rewarding and fun season covering our local boys and girls basketball teams.



We’ll be back with great highlights and a weekly show during football. Look for our continued coverage of the boys playoffs with stories and updates on this website: wktvjournal.org

Thanks Again!!

Godwin Heights rallies to outlast Lee 83-80 in district semi OT thriller; Towns scores 47 points

City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, , ,
Godwin’s Jakhary Towns (10, far right), teammate Damarie Thompson (2) and Lee’s Clarence Lewis (11) during the district semifinal game. Towns finished with a career-high 47 points. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor


The venerable Godwin Heights gym has seen some thrillers in its long history, but few have produced the drama that the host Wolverines and Lee produced in Wednesday’s district semifinal game.

Trailing by six points with 20 seconds remaining, Godwin tied the game and sent it into overtime where it eventually came away with an 83-80 win.

Godwin Heights senior guard Jakhary Towns turned in a game for the ages as he poured in 47 points to lead the comeback and give himself and his teammates one more game to be played on their home court.

“When we were down by six late in the fourth quarter we were talking in the huddle about getting two more stops,” Towns said. “We had a lot of energy left and we knew if we could get two more big stops, we could do it.”

Godwin’s comeback hopes received a big shot of adrenaline with 17 seconds left in the game when Towns stepped back and drained a three-point shot that cut the Lee lead in half. After a turnover by the Legends, Godwin regained the ball and Towns cut the margin to 69-67 after splitting a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining in the game.

Off to overtime at 69-all

On the ensuring inbounds play, the Godwin defense forced the second turnover it needed with 13 seconds left on the clock. Three seconds later Godwin tied the game when Towns drew a foul and connected on both free throws to tie the game at 69-69.

Lee, however, was determined to retake the lead. The Legends quickly moved the ball down the floor, but missed a pair of shots that would’ve won the game in the final seconds of regulation.

“That was crazy,” said Godwin Heights Coach Tyler Whittemore. “I told the guys we needed to execute on offense and force a couple of turnovers. I told the guys whatever happens we have to stay together and that’s what we did. Everybody came through and did their jobs.”

As thrilling as the final seconds of the game were, the four-minute overtime session provided even more thrills. The two teams combined for 25 points in overtime. Like regulation, the overtime had plenty of lead changes as the two teams exchanged the lead six times.


Lee’s Marc Whitfield (0) prepares to drive to the basket as Jaylen Martin (23) of Godwin Heights defends. Whitfield led Lee with 27 points. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



Up 75-74 with 1:36 remaining in overtime, Marc Whitfield drained a pair of free throws putting the Legends up 77-74.

Godwin Heights cut the lead to 77-76 with 1:25 remaining when Towns scored. The next basket came with 23 seconds left when Towns again delivered from long range putting the Wolverines up 79-77.

Lee split a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left to cut the margin to 79-78. With 10 seconds remaining Towns proved to be money at the free-throw line by draining two free throws to up the Godwin lead to 81-78.

Lee battled to the end and with 1.5 seconds remining in the game Whitfield scored on a drive to the hoop cutting the margin to one point before Godwin ended the game with Jaylen Martin hitting a pair of free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining.

“When we were down by six points, we still knew we could come back,” Martin said. “It was not just a one-man effort. We all had to produce if we were going to come back and win this game.”


Lee’s Joe Russau (14) and Marc Whitfield (0) and Godwin Heights’ Jaylen Martin (23) line up along the lane during a free-throw attempt during a Division 2 semifinal game Wednesday at Godwin. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



Towns, who scored a career-high 47 points, delivered five three-point baskets during the game along with scoring on numerous drives to the hoop.

“It feels great,” Towns said. “I’ve never been to a district final during my four years of high school. To have a game like this on my home court is special.”

Along with the 47 points from Towns, Godwin received 12 points from Damarie Thompson, eight from Jamarion Collins and seven from Tre’Vonte Buckley.

“Jaylen Martin was a big, big part of this win,” Whittemore said. “He has just dug in and gotten better all season. He played some great defense tonight.”

With the win, Godwin Heights improved to 14-7 for the season and will host Unity Christian for the district championship Friday after Unity defeated Grand Rapids Catholic Central 57-55 in the other semifinal game.

Lee finishes exceptional season with big turnaround

Lee finished the season with a 19-2 record and first place in the Alliance League at 8-0.

“This team really laid the foundation for our program going forward,” said Lee Coach Dominic Shannon. “Every one of our players left everything they had on the court. I’m so proud of our players and so proud of our coaching staff.



“We won only five games last year so to go 19-2 this year is a big turnaround. We also became the first Lee team in 43 years to win a conference championship.”

Whitfield scores 27

Junior Marc Whitfield led Lee with 27 points, followed by Clarence Lewis, 18; Joe Russau, 16; Ny’Zhem Marshall, 10 and Troy Fox, nine.

“You have to salute their senior guard Jakhary Towns,” Shannon said. “He had a great game tonight. We knew he was one of the keys. We put our best defender, Clarence Lewis, on him and he made it hard on him. He just was hitting shot after shot. They played well. You have to give them credit.” 

East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell shows strength as leader, eclipses expectations

City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, West Michigan, ,
East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell won first place in the OK Red tournament at 215 lbs. earlier this season. (Courtesy, Sara Kohns)



By D.A. Reed

WKTV Contributor



East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell shows that strength and sportsmanship go hand in hand.

With 27 pins on the wrestling mat this season, and a record of 36-8, Mitchell is no stranger to showing physical strength. His senior year of high school brought the OK Red Conference and District titles at 215-lbs, as well as state tournament qualification for 2023.

“He has eclipsed even his own expectations,” said EK wrestling Coach Eric Foster.

But Foster said physical strength and skill are only part of what make Mitchell a great team leader.

“We look for hard-working, strong, and dedicated athletes,” Foster. “As a teammate, we are looking for individuals who care for their teammates and support each other to be the best they can.”

Mitchell embodies those characteristics.

“Corey has had moments off the mat where he demonstrated a strong leadership with the team,” Foster said. “He is a loud supporter of each teammate when they are on the mat and has encouraging words for them in times of difficulty.”

Not all about the medals

While Mitchell’s accomplishments are numerous, he doesn’t mention medals or awards when asked about the highlights of his wrestling season. Instead, his attention turns toward relationships with teammates and having friends and family present at meets.

“The highlight of my wrestling career would be the sounds of my friends and family that cheer me on while I wrestle,” Mitchell said. “Even if sometimes I don’t live up to their expectations, I know they respect me as their captain.”

Sara Kohns, Mitchell’s mother, says she sees both the team spirit and the hard work her son puts in on a daily basis.


“I have faith in him that he is going to do great regardless of if he wins or not. Corey has the heart.”

That heart extends to more than just wrestling.

Football also is a big part of Mitchell’s life, and he plans to pursue football in college while majoring in Business. Three colleges have already extended offers to include Mitchell as part of their football team, including Kalamazoo College and Olivet College.


East Kentwood wrestler Corey Mitchell won first place in the OK Red tournament at 215 lbs. earlier this season. (Courtesy, Sara Kohns)



When asked about professional athletic role models, Mitchell admitted, “I don’t really watch any type of sports; I know it’s something that can boost my craft as an athlete. But I like learning upfront.”

The youngest of Kohns’ three sons, Mitchell is described as quiet yet dedicated by both his mother and coach.

“He is quiet, but a great listener and follows directions,” Kohn said. “Corey has taught me so much from watching him wrestle … he is the total package and one awesome son.”

‘Hard-working student athlete’

Foster has a similar view of the athlete.

“Corey is a hard-working student athlete who loves playing football and being part of a team,” Foster said. “He is a dedicated son and quiet soul. Corey lets his actions speak for him in most instances and has excelled throughout.”

Mitchell enjoys working out when he isn’t wrestling or playing football, but he also understands the importance of keeping his grades up, admitting that he does “a lot of homework.”

Kohns says Mitchell’s journey is one she is proud of: “I have loved every minute of watching him grow into the young man he has become!”



D. A. (Deborah) Reed is an award-winning author of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor from the Grand Rapids area. To find out more about D.A. Reed, visit her website: D.A. Reed Author