Tag Archives: East Kentwood High School

East Kentwood hosts qualifying tournament for robotics competition on March 29 and 30

(Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Building LEGOs as a child jump-started East Kentwood junior Eva Mei into the world of robotics.

“I became interested in robotics and these competitions because I was really into building LEGOs as a kid, and when FIRST LEGO League started at my elementary school I was really interested,” said Mei, a Project Lead on Red Storm Robotics 3875 team. “That eventually led me to joining FIRST Tech Challenge (middle school) and FIRST Robotics Competition (high school). 


Eva Mei, project lead on Red Storm Robotics 3875 team. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)



“I have learned how to cooperate as a team and be really communicative with others, as well as learn how to go through the engineering process of brainstorming, prototyping, setting priorities, and building a robot. I find it really cool to belong in a team that I could find a community in.

Mei will compete with her team this weekend at East Kentwood’s eighth FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics qualifying tournament on Friday and Saturday, March 29 and 30 at the high school (6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood). The competition is free and open to the public.

We expect 40 teams from across Michigan to compete, and 2,000 people to come to this fun, free, open to the public event,” said Wendy Ljungren, event coordinator of FIRST Robotics Competition and founder of Red Storm Robotics in 2010. “This year’s competition theme is CrescendoSM. Two alliances of three teams each compete against each other to shoot foam rings into an overhead bin or a smaller slot earning the alliance points. At the end of each match, the robots climb onto the stage chain to earn additional points.”

Opening ceremonies for Day 1 begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 29 and on Day 2 at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 30 at East Kentwood High School. The complete agenda and more details on the competition can be found here.

Back in 2015, Ljungren volunteered to start and lead the competition with a game called Recycle Rush. She has been the Red Storm coach from Day 1 up until last year, when Trista Vandervoord took over. 

Now a team mentor for Red Storm, Ljungren has been in the aviation business for 40 years, working in high profile roles in engineering for GE Aviation and AiRXOS. After funding was cut at GE, she formed a company called Anzen Unmanned in 2021 with three others.



Photo from a previous FIRST competition. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)



“Get more girls passionate about engineering”

“I got involved in robotics as the leader of GE women in technology group,” Ljungren said. “We wanted to get more girls passionate about engineering, so adopted the FIRST robotics program for not just Kentwood, but all schools in the area. Red Storm has grown to two high school FIRST Robotics Competition teams, eight middle school FIRST Tech Challenge, and 32 elementary FIRST Lego League teams.

“It is very satisfying to see the difference we have made in student’s lives.”


Similar to playing on a sports team?

“FIRST was started to encourage students, and parents, to be as excited about STEM as they are about sports,” Ljungren explained. “Unlike sports, most FIRST students can go professional.”

New head coach and longtime mentor Trista Vandervoord said the robotics model of FIRST directly emulates a sports model, with district competitions, regional championships and a world championship event celebrating the best of the best. 

“Under the guidance of volunteer professional mentors, students create a robot from nothing in a short span of two to three months. Students practice skills in design, manufacturing, assembly, programming, marketing and teamwork to get the job done.”



Red Storm Robotics Coach Trista Vandervoord. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)



The FIRST Robotics website states, “Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. We call FIRST Robotics Competition the ultimate Sport for the Mind. High school student participants call it ‘the hardest fun you’ll ever have.’”

Vandervoord began as a volunteer mentor

Unlike Ljungren, Vandervoord had a career non-related to robotics.

“My education was in statistics and psychology, and I worked doing statistical reporting for an insurance company directly out of college until my children were born and I became a full-time at-home parent,” Vandervoord explained. “I started my involvement with Red Storm Robotics eight years ago as a volunteer mentor with my son’s middle school robotics team. I enjoyed it so much that when he moved on to the high school robotics team, I stayed with the middle school program volunteering as mentor, then eventually became program coordinator for that level.

“Two years ago, it became a mission of Red Storm Robotics and Kentwood Public Schools to grow the program across the district, and I proposed the position of Red Storm Robotics Program Coordinator K-12 (the role she’s currently in).


There are over 600 FIRST Robotics Competition

high school teams in Michigan this year

Photo from a previous FIRST competition. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)



From 75 to 350 members in just two years at EK

When Vandervoord began two years ago, there were 75 students involved across the district. This year, some 350 Kentwood Public School kids participated on a robotics team.

There are 56 Red Storm Robotics East Kentwood high school students participating in the East Kentwood Competition this weekend broken down into team teams:


East Kentwood’s two high school teams: Red Storm Rookies 9566 (left) and Red Storm Robotics 3875. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)

Red Storm Robotics 3875: 10th through 12th grade students who specialize in an aspect of robotics which began 14 years ago. Led by Team Captain Nate, who manages the day-to-day aspects of the project and motivates the team to do its best under the guidance of Coach Alyssa Luna. Project Leads Eva, Ethan and Kailey are all experienced mechanical students who lead the design and building of different functions of the robot (intake, hopper, shooter, climber). Programming Captain Lindsay works with the programming subteam to make sure all programming tasks are completed. Marketing Captains Emma and Zander make sure their subteams complete all award submissions, prepare a presentation for judging, manage all branding and maintain the team’s relationship with their sponsors.

Red Storm Rookies 9566: A new team of 8th and 9th grade students who have just graduated from the middle school robotics program in the fall. They learn all aspects of robotics: design, prototype, build, wire, program and compete. Team Captain Leah works closely with Coach Nick Baribeau to organize the students and manage the workflow of the project.

Leah Bernstein, team captain of Red Storm Rookies

“I became interested after receiving an email from our school in seventh grade that brought many people to introduce our community to our robotics program,” said Leah Bernstein, East Kentwood ninth-grader. “I stayed in robotics through the years because I loved the community, everything I learned from robotics and the amazing experiences and opportunities I got through robotics.”



East Kentwood ninth-grader Leah Bernstein, team captain of Red Storm Rookies. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)



“I have learned many things through Red Storm Robotics like basic programming and building, how to be a part of a team, how to communicate with adults and ask for help better, as team captain I also learned how to lead the team.”

Red Storm generally top 25% in the state

Vandervoord said Red Storm generally finds itself in the top 25% statewide.


“Red Storm students traditionally design, build and program robots that are well-equipped to play the season’s game,” she explained. “We are especially proud of our growing number of female participants; currently 44% of the participants on our high school teams are women.”

Vandervoord said Robotics is an excellent application of STEM skills, and attracts students with an interest in evaluating a problem, proposing solutions, trying the solutions and creating a final product to solve the problem. 

“Our well-rounded students are involved in many extra-curriculars, including STEM-related clubs, but we are often delighted by the creative solutions that our artistic/musical students offer.”

College scholarships available as well

 As far as college scholarships go, Vandervoord said they are definitely available in Michigan.

“Red Storm alumni have received scholarships to Kettering University, Grand Valley State University and scholarships through FIRST sponsors,” she explained.

East Kentwood senior Nate Moxey, team captain for Red Storm 3875

“I became interested in robotics at one of Red Storm Robotics’ many demos at a club showcase,” Moxey said. “They had a robot much larger than I expected driving around quickly, so it was exciting to watch. Joining the team became very enticing to me, so I signed up shortly after.”



EK senior Nate Moxey, team captain for Red Storm Robotics 3875. (Courtesy, East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics)



“By being on the Red Storm Robotics team, I have learned effective communication and cooperation skills, while also improving my time management. RSR imitates the industry in many key areas, so I feel more than ready to succeed in college and beyond. It is genuinely awesome to belong to Red Storm Robotics because it feels like its own family.”

Vandervoord talked about the growth of the students.

“I love to see the personal growth in each student as they develop STEM skills such as manufacturing, building and programming as well as interpersonal skills like leadership and teamwork,” Vandervoord explained. “I’ve seen students decide a career path because of their involvement with Red Storm Robotics. It is truly a blessing to do something I love.”

Next Round: State Championship at SVSU

Every team’s goal is to advance to the FIRST in Michigan State Championship on April 4-6 at Saginaw Valley State University. From there, the best teams move on to the World Championship  from April 17-20 in Houston.

The Red Storm Robotics teams are sponsored locally by Dematic, GE Aerospace, Anzen Unmanned, Trane Technologies, Argosy, DTE Foundation, Members First Mortgage, NDIA Michigan STEM Sponsorship, Savant Automation, and Cascade Engineering.

For more information on Red Storm Robotics and FIRST Robotics Competition:
Website
Facebook
FIRST Robotics Competition

East Kentwood girls open state tournament with semifinal win over Hudsonville Wednesday; get 20th win

East Kentwood senior Kanyla Tyler (2) passes the ball to a teammate during district action. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor

Defense has been the trademark of the East Kentwood girls basketball team this season and that defense was on display in the district semifinal game against Hudsonville. Playing aggressive, intense defense from the opening tip, the Falcons earned a 50-33 win to advance to the district championship game Friday against Byron Center.

“Defense is what we are about,” said East Kentwood Coach Eric Large. “Our team is built on playing tough defense. We are gritty and very tenacious on defense. We work hard on defense and our defense produces baskets on the offensive end of the floor.”

The game was a low-scoring, defensive struggle right from the opening tip. Baskets were difficult to come by in the opening quarter as both teams managed just six points apiece. Senior Santana Eubanks led the way for the Falcons in the opening quarter as she scored all six of Kentwood’s points.

EK led 19-12 at halftime

Kentwood continued to apply strong defensive pressure in the second quarter. Again, the Falcon defense limited Hudsonville to six points in the quarter. The pressure defense also began to produce more turnovers that led to fast-break points on the offensive end for the Falcons. Led by senior Makayla Porter, who scored six points in the second quarter, East Kentwood totaled 13 points in the quarter to take a 19-12 lead into halftime.

The Falcons continued to play stingy defense in the second half. East Kentwood held Hudsonville without a point for almost half of the third. During that span the Falcons’ offense strung together seven straight points to build the lead to 26-12 and take control of the game.

Along with playing strong defense, East Kentwood did a strong job on the defensive boards. The Falcons routinely limited Hudsonville to just one shot on each possession as they dominated the defensive glass with their strong rebounding.

“I thought we did a really good job of rebounding,” Large said. “That is very important. We want to limit teams to just one shot per possession. I thought we rebounded the ball well.”

The Falcons’ offense also picked up the pace as the game went on. After scoring 13 points in the second quarter, they added 14 points in the third and led 33-19 going into the final quarter. A three-point shot from Sophia Wozniak got the Falcons going in the fourth quarter as they opened with a 7-2 scoring run to take a 40-21 lead and all but put the game on ice. The Falcons later went on a 5-0 scoring run to up the lead to 20 points at 45-25.

“Our defense got us going on offense,” Large said. “Once we were able to come down and make some layups, we got things going on offense. We just had to stay focused.”

East Kentwood featured a balanced attack on offense. Porter led the Falcons in scoring with 14 points, while Eubanks added 12. Wozniak added nine points, followed by Harmonie Belton with six.



East Kentwood senior Harmonie Belton (1) drives the lane during the Division 1 district semifinal against Hudsonville. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)


East Kentwood gets 20th win of season

With the win, East Kentwood improved to 20-3 for the season. The 20-win mark is special for the Falcons and Coach Large.

“It is really special,” Large said. “The five seniors on the team, I’ve had them for three or four years on the varsity. They know exactly what I’m going to say every time. They’ve been with me all this time and they know what to expect.

“This team also has great leadership. Kanyla Tyler is our point guard and she does a great job of settling us down on offense.”

Ranked fifth in the state in Division 1, the Falcons next have the opportunity to claim the district title. East Kentwood faces a major hurdle in the district title game in a Byron Center squad that comes into the game with a 19-4 record. East Kentwood faced the Bulldogs in the season-opener in December and came away with a 58-52 win. Byron Center brings a nine-game winning streak into the contest, while East Kentwood is riding a five-game winning streak. 

East Kentwood trio helping boys basketball team navigate rugged schedule

East Kentwood junior Jah Hatchett leads the Falcons from his point guard position. (Photo Courtesy, Cristian Salas-Salinas and Nuha Hussein)




By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



Playing against one of the most challenging schedules in the entire state, the East Kentwood boys basketball team has needed an “all hands on deck” approach. While the entire team has led the Falcons to an 11-6 record heading into the final couple weeks of the season, a trio of players are carving out outstanding seasons.

Senior Christian Humphrey-Rembert, junior Jah Hatchett and freshman CJ Reynolds are all turning in key contributions for a Falcon team that is also in second place in the rugged OK Red Conference.


East Kentwood’s Christian Humphrey-Rembert provides the Falcons with a steady source of points and rebounds. (Photo Courtesy, Cristian Salas-Salinas and Nuha Hussein)



Humphrey-Rembert, a 6-foot-8 junior wing, is a steady source of points and rebounds for the team. He’s averaging 14 points per game along with 8.5 rebounds and two blocked shots. He also has turned in numerous double-doubles in points and rebounds this season.

“Christian is a 6-foot-8 wing who is very athletic and can shoot the ball,” said East Kentwood Coach Mike Thomas. “He is playing at a pretty good level this season. His biggest improvement has been in his rebounding. His rebounding has been a difference maker for us this season.”

Along with being a standout on the basketball court, Humphrey-Rembert also is a standout in the classroom. With his combination of academics and athletic skills he is being recruited by a number of colleges including Wofford, the University of Chicago Illinois and Brown University.

“Academically, Christian is one of the top students in his class,” Thomas said. “He has a grade-point average of 3.7 or 3.8. He is also a great teammate. He is one of the first guys at practice and one of the last to leave. He is always helping me set up the gym and take down the gym. On his off days he’s always in the gym working on his shooting.”

Hatchett leads the team with 17 points per game

Hatchett also is a team leader in multiple categories. A 5-foot-10 junior point guard, Hatchett leads the team in scoring at 17 points per game. He also is dishing out five assists per game along with five rebounds and four steals per game.


“Like Christian, Jah plays a lot of minutes for us and does a lot for us,” Thomas said. “He is our go-to guy. He can get to the basket, shoot the three and is strong off ball screens. He can also break defenses down and make decisions in the lane.”

Although he has another season yet to play in high school, Hatchett is drawing the attention of college scouts. Currently he has offers from Ferris State, Northwood University and Wayne State and also is hearing from Central Michigan University and Northern Iowa.

“Jah is also good in the classroom and that work ethic shows on the basketball court as well,” Thomas said. “He puts in the hours and that shows in his production. He spends hours upon hours in the gym. As a junior, he is getting close to 1,000 career points and is about at 900 points right now.”


Freshman CJ Reynolds averaged 20 points per game on the junior varsity team. On the varsity squad, he averages 7.5 points, four rebounds and two assists per game. (Photo Courtesy, Cristian Salas-Salinas and Nuha Hussein)



Reynolds making an impact as a freshman

The Falcons also have a young and upcoming player in Reynolds who is making an impact as a freshman. A 6-foot-2 guard, Reynolds began the season on the junior varsity. Reynolds was seeing varsity action by taking advantage of the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s fifth-quarter rule, where a junior-varsity player can play a limited number of quarters on the varsity team each week, and the experience has paid off as he recently was moved up to the varsity team permanently.

“CJ is a long and lanky player who is starting to make a name for himself,” Thomas said. “He started the season on the junior varsity, but his talent level is going through the roof.”

Reynolds was averaging 20 points per game on the junior varsity team. On the varsity squad, Reynolds is already averaging 7.5 points, four rebounds and two assists per game.

“CJ is a guy who can beat you off the dribble or shoot the three,” Thomas said. “He can score in a multitude of ways. He is also a strong defender. I think the sky is the limit for him and he is going to do great things in our program the next few years.”

Reynolds is part of an overall young Kentwood team that continues to grow and improve.

“We have a young team,” Thomas said. “We will only loose three seniors. This is just my second year here and we are still building the program. I have a great staff with coaches like Christian Craft and Scott Rawley. These guys are with me for the long haul and are into developing players.


“We have played a challenging schedule this year and that is by design. We want to play a challenging schedule and it’s a pleasure to see how our guys have been competing.”

Of the Falcons six losses this season, two have been in the conference and four have been in non-conference games. Among those non-conference losses have been games against East Lansing, the No.2 rated team in the state in Division 1 and River Rouge, an honorable-mention team in Division 1. The Falcons also have wins against Warren Lincoln, currently ranked No. 2 in the state in Division 2, and Birmingham Brother Rice, ranked ninth in the state in Division 1.          

Caledonia defeated East Kentwood 21-0 Friday; Check out our WKTV game highlights inside



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Check out our WKTV highlights from Caledonia’s 21-0 win over East Kentwood Friday.


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. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.

Check out our latest WKTV Friday Night Highlights from Oct. 6! Don’t miss these local high school football clips




By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Check out our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights above, for clips of many of the local high school football teams in Kentwood and Wyoming.


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. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.

WKTV Game of the Week Remaining Schedule

  • Friday, Oct. 13 (7 p.m.) Holland at Wyoming
  • Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.) West Ottawa at East Kentwood

East Kentwood marching band sparks love of music in students, creates lasting relationships

Drum major Sofia Daniel directs the band during a school day rehearsal (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

East Kentwood High School (EKHS) band directors Mike Gozzard and Sho Dembinski strive to make music a memorable and welcoming experience for each of their 200 students.

“Even if kids don’t continue in music after high school, we’re just trying to make their experience as good as possible while they’re here, making sure they know they are welcome and that they have fun,” said Dembinski.

A love of music instilled in the next generation

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_7910-scaled-e1696341806203-1024x903.jpg
Students practice their show outside each day (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The last two years have brought heartache and necessary adjustments to the EKHS band family.

In May 2022, Kentwood Bands lost their beloved director, Marshall Werling, to cancer. Through his time at EKHS, Werling passed on a lasting love of music to the students.

“Music has always been a very big part of my family, but also the teachers who have led me here,” said Sofia Daniel, drum major and junior at EKHS. “Especially Mr. Werling. He and Ms. [Natalie] Sears were a very big part of why I love music.”

Daniel went on to say that she has always had a positive experience with the EK band program, whether that experience came from new friends or a connection with a teacher.

Bringing a community together

Directors Gozzard and Dembinski continue to bring students of all backgrounds and activities together through the band program.

“The thing I like the most is that [the program] is diverse in the typical meaning of diverse, but also in other meanings,” said Dembinski. “For example, we have kids that do cheer, football, and do other clubs and robotics and things like that. It’s cool to see them come together and do one thing.”

Jennifer Pham enjoys all genres of music (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Daniel agrees, saying she enjoys being in a class where everyone likes music. “It’s a kind of family of people doing what you love as well,” said Daniel.

EKHS junior and flute/piccolo player Jennifer Pham says sharing her love of music is important to her.

“Music has always been a big part of my life,” said Pham. “I love listening to it in my free time, so the chance to be able to play something and share my love of music is something that I like.”

Pham participates in marching band, concert band, jazz band, and combo groups. Though flute is her main instrument, Pham recently learned bass for jazz band.

“I like that there are so many opportunities we are given,” said Pham. “Although you have to pick an instrument, just because you pick something now doesn’t mean that you can’t learn another one later.”

Pham says she will keep music in her life even if she does not choose it as a career path.

Finding the right niche

Raul Aquino-Gonzalez, trumpet player and EKHS senior, joined band because his brothers had also been in the program. But Aquino-Gonzalez didn’t feel a connection to music right away despite saying the atmosphere was inviting.

Aquino-Gonzalez plans to study jazz in college (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“Last year is when I really began to get into it, and I really started trying to get better,” said Aquino-Gonzalez. “I just loved it from then on.”

The catalyst for that change of heart?

“I joined jazz band, and I think that was the spark,” Aquino-Gonzalez said. “That’s when I would spend hours every day playing and trying to get better.”

Aquino-Gonzales recently formed a jazz group outside of school that performs for different events, including the school’s fall play.

A legacy of lasting relationships

While Dembinski and Gozzard work to ensure a certain level of proficiency in all students – and they see improvement in musicianship each year – Dembinski said the first week of band camp is his favorite part of every year.

A family atmosphere forms strong ties between students (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

“My favorite time of year is the first week of band camp when all the freshmen come here for the first time,” said Dembinski. “We work a lot with the section leaders and the leadership, trying to make everyone feel welcome. We do a bunch of games during camp to make sure all sections of the band are one big family.”

Dembinski said that he sees close ties form between students, and knows many of them will last.

“There are a lot of lasting relationships,” Dembinski said. “I see it all the time. Most of my closest friends are friends from high school band or college band.”

A show all ages can enjoy

That sense of relationship is demonstrated in the Home title and theme of the EKHS 2023 marching band show.

There is still time to see the 2023 marching band performance (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Featuring artists from Michigan, the show incudes “Lose Yourself” and “Not Afraid” by Eminem, “Juice” by Lizzo, “Bring It On Home To Me” arranged by Roy Hargrove, and “I Wish” and “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder.

Dembinski said some college marching band shows have also recently featured a home theme.

“We liked the idea, we just wanted to put our own spin on it with the music we picked,” said Dembinski.

Picking music everyone enjoys, however, is not easy.

“If you pick new music, students like it but parents don’t,” said Dembinski. “If you pick ‘old music’ from the 70s and 80s, parents like that but students don’t. This show has a bit of both.

“I’ve heard band parents say they really like the Eminem section, and every time I leave class, students are playing Stevie Wonder,” Dembinski continued. “It surprised me a bit. But I think this show has something that everyone can jam out to.”

Experience the magic of music

The EKHS marching band show can be seen at the Hastings Invitational Oct. 7, the EKHS home football game Oct. 13, and the East Kentwood Invitational Oct. 21.

Dembinski encourages the community to attend the invitational and experience performances from schools all across Michigan.

“You get to see our band, but also a bunch of other sweet bands too,” said Dembinski. “It’s nice to see a bunch of different sized schools, different demographics and different show ideas.”

To learn more about Kentwood Bands, visit www.kentwoodbands.org.

East Kentwood beat host Jenison 31-17 Friday; check out our highlights

(WKTV/Hayden Passig)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Check out our WKTV highlights from East Kentwood’s 31-17 road victory over Jenison above.

And take a look at our WKTV Friday Night Highlights show as well from Sept. 29!



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. To watch the WKTV Game of the Week online, visit WKTVVideos on Youtube.

Byron Center knocked off East Kentwood 33-16

(WKTV/Hayden Passig)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



Check out our WKTV highlights from East Kentwood’s game against Byron Center Thursday night.



WKTV Friday Night Highlights show is back on Sept. 8!

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!

Veteran East Kentwood football team primed to contend for OK Red title



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



With a blend of talented veterans and promising young players, the East Kentwood football team is primed to contend for the top spot in the OK Red, annually one of the strongest football conferences in the state.

East Kentwood has a deep and experienced squad with plenty of depth along both lines, the backfield and the skill positions. Many of the veterans were part of last year’s squad that turned in a 5-5 overall record and qualified for the state playoffs. All five of Kentwood’s losses came against teams that qualified for the playoffs including two against Rockford and defeats against Caledonia and Muskegon who both reached state championship games last season.

“I think we should be very competitive this season,” said East Kentwood coach Tony Kimbrough. “We have a good returning class of seniors, a good group of juniors and a couple of talented sophomores who will contribute this year. We’re looking pretty good. I think we can be in every game and have the opportunity to win but we will need to stay healthy.”


Senior QB Casey Joppie. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)


Offensively, the Falcons welcome back senior quarterback Casey Joppie (6-foot-1, 195 pounds). A three-year varsity player, Joppie has a strong arm and makes good decisions with the ball.


“Casey has started for us the last four years,” Kimbrough said. “He definitely can throw it and put the ball in tight quarters. He makes good decisions with the ball and does not turn it over.”





When Joppie puts the ball in the air he has a talented cast of options to throw to. Shamar White is a returning starter at wide receiver while Kendrick Nou is another senior veteran. Senior standout Stellan Bowman will see action at H-back while senior Jaret Tate and sophomore Aaron Cobb are a pair of talents at tight end.


“We are pretty loaded at the receiver spots,” Kimbrough said. “We also have a host of talented underclassmen who have good size and speed.”


The Falcons also have plenty of options at running back. Seniors Elisee Kanda and Savontes Scott and junior Elijah Jones offer a blend of speed and size running the ball.


Rylan and Matthias Granderson handle the left side of the offensive line.(WKTV/Hayden Passig)


Paving the way for the Falcons is a big and talented group of offensive linemen. Sophomore center Charlie Nichols was brought up to the varsity as a freshman and started the last four games for the Falcons. Nichols has made so much progress that he is a team captain in just his sophomore season. The left side of the line is handled by the Granderson brothers. Senior Rylan Granderson (6-3, 310) lines up at left tackle with junior Matthias Granderson (6-2, 264) stationed at left guard. At right guard, the Falcons have junior Andrew Durr and Kalib Sanders with Justin Negron stepping in at right tackle.

“We have a solid rotation of seven guys up front,” Kimbrough said. “We have some returning players and a host of juniors that will play a role. We can play up to eight guys on the offensive line and that depth is a great thing to have.”

With the depth they have, look for the Falcons to run a balanced offense with the ability to run or throw the ball with equal success to keep opposing defenses off balance.

East Kentwood senior Stellan Bowman, LB. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)

On defense, the Falcons have several starters returning. Senior Stellan Bowman (6-1, 220) anchors the defense from his linebacking position. A returning all-state player, Bowman committed to the University of Ohio during the summer. Bowman leads a solid group of linebackers that include Cobb and Nouha Diaite. 


Lining up in front of the linebackers is a deep and strong group of defensive linemen. The Falcons plan to rotate six or seven defensive linemen to keep a fresh group on the field. Among the defensive linemen to watch for are nose tackle Mike Zua, junior Devaughtae Greely (6-1, 255), junior Shawn DeLano, Kalib Sanders and Rylan Granderson.



The Falcons also boast plenty of talent in the defensive backfield. Kanda returns at a cornerback position with White lining up at the field cornerback spot. A pair of starters graduated at the safety positions so the Falcons will have some new but talented starters. Juniors Gabe Wolf and James Johnson bring a solid skill set to the field at the safety spots.

“We’re pretty excited about the defensive side of the field,” Kimbrough said.


East Kentwood senior Elisee Kanda, CB. (WKTV/Hayden Passig)


The Falcons open the season Thursday when they travel to Hartland. Kentwood then squares off against Byron Center for the first WKTV Game of the Week before beginning conference play in Week Three.

“Our schedule is loaded every year,” Kimbrough said.  





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!

East Kentwood grad Judah Guerra a definite melomaniac

East Kentwood graduate Judah Guerra hosts a podcast at WKTV called Great Lakes Music. Guerra is a jazz studies major at Michigan State University. (WKTV)



By Colleen Pierson

WKTV Contributor



A melomaniac is defined as a person who absolutely and enthusiastically loves music. Kentwood graduate Judah Guerra fits that definition wholeheartedly.

“Music is something I have been surrounded by for as long as I can remember,” he explained.

His Mom is a director of music, his father is a Latin percussionist and his siblings all have college music degrees. His grandmother is a talented singer and pianist.

“Currently, music has brought me connections to understanding the world and to people in a way that I plan on pursuing as far as I can,” he said emotionally.



Great Lakes Music host Judah Guerra (right) and guest Kevin Jones, a Michigan State University percussion instructor who has shared the stage or recorded with many musicians, including The Isley Brothers, Jermaine Jackson, Whitney Houston, Bebe and Cece Winans, Joey DeFrancesco, and many more. (WKTV/Cris Greer)



His music history started with flute lessons at the age of six. And then he joined the Grand Rapids Men and Boys Choir that year. Trombone came next in middle school followed by remarkable experiences at music camps. Thus began his love for jazz.

“I started playing electric bass in 8th grade because my dad had one and always to wanted me to play it. My junior year of high school I bought an upright bass because at that point I was coming to the point of my gigs where bass players weren’t handy,” he said of his love of the instrument.

In high school, Guerra participated in as many musical ensembles as possible. At Grand River Prep he was in the band, choir, jazz band, pep band, pit, and also had lead roles in musicals he participated in.  He also played in college bands in the area, honor bands, Grand Youth Symphony, the St. Cecilia Jazz Orchestra and a band he started out of that orchestra called GR Groove. To say the least, he was very busy with music in high school. 

During Guerra’s senior year he transferred to East Kentwood in order to be in-person during the pandemic. 



Great Lakes Music podcast host Judah Guerra (left) and Nathan Walton, of Nathan Walton and the Remedy, and a former Golden Ticket winner on Season 3 of ABC’s American Idol. (WKTV)



“East Kentwood was extremely helpful in getting me to play at a higher level, and it was very inspiring to see my peers play because of the level they were at.“

Currently, Guerra is a jazz studies major at Michigan State University on a full scholarship. He studies bass and trombone with a world class faculty there, he noted. 

“Michigan State has been an inspiring institution for me to continue my musical path.”

Great Lakes Music podcast at WKTV

Judah credits WKTV for giving him the opportunity to start a podcast named Great Lakes Music.  He has always wanted to have a podcast ever since he started watching his heroes from far and wide talk when the world went online during the pandemic.

“I want Great Lakes Music to be able to highlight the musicians in Michigan at a high level, and to give people a sense of what talent is,” he enthused.



Great Lakes Music podcast host Judah Guerra interviews and jams 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.

 

The podcast itself highlights a new artist every episode.

“It is a chance for the guests to tell their story, give advice, and comment on the music scene as it is,” he explained.

“WKTV has been extremely helpful with the podcast and getting my name out there. The whole staff is out of this world in terms of their talent and kindness; two traits that are very rare to find,” he concluded. 



Great Lakes Music podcast host Judah Guerra interviews Joel Ferguson, former Verve Pipe band member.

Kevin Brewster Quartet performs on WKTV Jazz Works show





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 boys lacrosse team making big strides

The East Kentwood lacrosse team goes through drills prior to facing off against Vicksburg last Saturday. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



The East Kentwood boys lacrosse team has only been a varsity program since 2019 and during that short period of time the Falcons have made big strides and is experiencing plenty of success this season.

The Falcons took another step forward Saturday when they dropped a 7-6 decision to Vicksburg in a match that wasn’t decided until the final seconds.

In a match that featured two teams bringing in winning records to the contest, Vicksburg scored a goal with just 28 seconds remaining on the clock to earn the win.

“I thought the boys from both teams did an incredible job battling and playing lacrosse,” East Kentwood coach Keegan Neitzke said. “The stats from the game show how evenly matched both teams were. I was so proud of our players. These seniors played Vicksburg in 2021 and lost 18-1. To play to a 7-6 loss with the winning goal coming in the last 35 seconds shows the massive growth these kids have taken.


“Our defense and goalie played outstanding and the offense put the ball in the back of the net when we needed it, we just ran out of time at the end.”

 

Sophomore goalie Shawn Delano turned in a big game for the Falcons in net. Delano saved 9-of-16 shots on goal to finish with a 69 percent save percentage. That save percentage was higher than his season average of 62 percent.

“Shawn has two years of experience,” Neitzke said. “He has gotten better every game he has played.”

Delano received plenty of support from Falcon defenders Jaiden Woodson and Corey Hall. Hall caused three turnovers and came up with two ground balls during the match while Woodson caused one turnover and captured four ground balls.

Woodson has been a defensive leader all season for the Falcons.

“Jaiden is an athletic defender who uses his speed and footwork to create turnovers,” Neitzke said. “He has three years of experience and he will continue his playing career at Aquinas College next year.”

For the season, Woodson has totaled 46 ground balls and caused 28 turnovers.



The East Kentwood lacrosse team breaks a huddle during action from Saturday’s match against Vicksburg. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



Defense has been a strong point for the Falcons this season as only two teams have scored in double figures against the Kentwood defense.

 

Ben Cash and Harrison Stidolph led the Falcons on offense. Cash totaled four goals and two assists against Vicksburg, while Stidolph added a pair of goals.

“Ben is a high-energy competitor and is our go-to offensive weapon,” Neitzke said. “Harrison loves the game of lacrosse and is being recruited by the University of Michigan-Dearborn.”

For the season, Cash has 57 goals and 20 assists, while Stidolph has 24 goals and 11 assists. 

EK offense has several high-scoring games

The East Kentwood offense has recorded a number of high-scoring outputs this season, including an 18-goal game against both Coopersville and Kalamazoo Central and games of 17 and 16 goals against Northview.

 

The Falcons also have been receiving strong play from midfielder Waseem Ayad and long-stick middle/attacker Isaiah Ramirez. Ayad has 78 ground balls, 28 assists and caused 22 turnovers this season, while Ramirez has 37 ground balls, created 11 turnovers, added 11 assists and four goals.

“Waseem is the point guard of the offense and a two-way player,” Neitzke said. “He has three years of experience.”

Isaiah is a do-it-all player. He played long-stick middle the last two seasons, but does attack and long-stick mid to help the team. He has three years of experience and will continue his career at Aquinas College next year.”

Seniors help rebuild

This year’s seniors have helped build back the program from the hit it took from the covid pandemic that decimated numbers in 2021.

“I had around 16 kids come out and most of them had zero lacrosse experience,” Neitzke said. “Fast forward to this season and most of the seniors only have two to three years of lacrosse experience. The team has bought in and put in the work to get better on and off the field. Our records have increased each of the last three seasons and we are still learning.


“We are a growing program that started with a youth program so we have made an effort to build and grow lacrosse in the community. 2023 is our first year with a junior-varsity lacrosse team and we have started a middle school speed ball league to offset the expense of lacrosse.”

East Kentwood (8-7) is looking to finish the season strong.

“We have four games left that we believe we can win if we play up to the East Kentwood lacrosse standard,” said Neitzke after the Vicksburg loss. “If we win the next four games, we will finish the season with the most wins in a season in program history. The program is moving in the right direction and we continue to grow the game of lacrosse in the Kentwood community. It’s an exciting time for East Kentwood lacrosse.”      


NOTE: East Kentwood beat Coopersville 22-1 Tuesday, and now only needs three wins to finish with the most wins in a season in program history.  

East Kentwood hosts first-ever cornhole tournament for school students around the state Saturday

The East Kentwood Ice Arena played host to the first-ever East Kentwood Cornhole Invitational Saturday. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor

East Kentwood High School was home to a first of its kind event in the state of Michigan on Saturday as over 40 students from elementary school through high school took part in the inaugural East Kentwood Cornhole Invitational.

Two rows of cornhole boards filled nearly the entire floor space of the Kentwood Ice Arena where the competition took place with students of all ages and skill levels tossing bags back and forth.


The event was sponsored by the Michigan Cornhole League and the Youth Cornhole Organization, two of the main organizations for cornhole in the state of Michigan. Joey Williamson, a member of the staff at the East Kentwood Ice Arena, coordinated the event that drew students from all across Michigan.


Competitors came from schools like Woodhaven and Anchor Bay on the east side of the state, Montabella, Chippewa Hills and Mason County Central from farther north of the Grand Rapids area along with local competitors from schools like Wayland, Caledonia, Grandville, Byron Center, St. John Vianney, Jenison and East Kentwood.

“This is the first tournament just for school kids in the state and we’re putting it on,” Williamson said. “This has been a dream of mine for about two years. I love the sport of cornhole. It is a great community sport and a great way to make friends. It’s an easy sport to play and almost anyone can play regardless of age or skill level.”

The sport of cornhole is still evolving, but is beginning to gain in popularity around the country with events even getting broadcast on national television including ESPN.



School kids from across the state competed at the East Kentwood Cornhole Invitational. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)

Adrian College cornhole

One of the teams that competed on ESPN’s national broadcasts was the college cornhole team from Adrian College. Adrian College is the lone college in the United States that has a school-supported cornhole team and Coach Max Benedict was in attendance at the East Kentwood Invitational getting the word out about college cornhole and helping to grow the sport.

“I’d really like to see cornhole get into the high schools and become a school sport,” Benedict said. “That would help us have a pool of kids to draw from. It’s not like football or basketball where every school has a team. I like getting out to the schools and putting on exhibitions to show the schools they could get a cornhole program going.”

Unlike sports like football and hockey that require large amounts of money for equipment and ice time and other expenses, cornhole is an inexpensive sport that requires just a few boards and some bags.

A push for high school cornhole

Gregg Devitto, who runs Michigan High School Cornholehub.com also was in attendance at the Kentwood tournament. DeVitto is developing an organization that is working to get geographic clusters of high schools in regions across the state playing competitive cornhole.

“Our goal is to eventually have cornhole become a Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsored sport in a few years,” DeVitto said. “We are developing a cluster of schools in Lenawee County that will be playing cornhole and we are hoping for two or three other clusters across the state.”

If Saturday’s event at East Kentwood was any indication, the sport of cornhole is primed to grow quickly among school-age participants who enjoyed the tournament at the East Kentwood Ice Arena.

“I like the idea of the tournament,” said Jayden, a student from Grand Rapids. “No one else has a tournament like this. I like being able to compete against other kids and I know this will grow the game.”

Hudson, who has been playing for a year, also enjoyed the tournament.

“It’s pretty fun,” Hudson said. “It’s just great being able to get out and throw and have fun with the other kids.”

Having fun and meeting other kids is a big attraction to cornhole for youth as it is for adults who play in cornhole leagues across West Michigan as much for the social aspect of the sport as it is the competitive side, similar to a sport like bowling.

Professional player Daniela Luna on hand

“I started playing backyard cornhole about four years ago,” said Daniela Luna, who is a professional cornhole player and was on hand from the Youth Cornhole Organization helping to run the tournament. “We want to get more and more kids involved in the sport. It’s a sport anyone can play and have a lot of fun doing it.”

Luna was joined at the tournament by Joyce Mandala also from the Youth Cornhole Organization.

“We want to get more kids involved,” Mandala said. “In Detroit, Jarron Jackson, who is also part of our organization, has five schools playing cornhole. It gives the kids who don’t play basketball or football a sport that they can play. Not everyone is tall and can play basketball. Cornhole is a sport that anyone can play and they can play after leaving school. It’s a great sport and the kids just love it.”

Williamson believes that once the word gets out the sport of cornhole will only grow not just across the state, but also in the area.

“We are looking for cornhole to start out as a club sport in the schools,” Williamson said. “Someday it will become a varsity sport in the schools. We had kids of all ages here. A lot of the younger kids are really good and even beat the older kids.



“We set up the tournament where we have pool play and the winners of the pools went on to play the other pool winners. After pool play it was set up based on the records in the pools. The kids really had a good time with it.”         

         

East Kentwood boys basketball team and Coach Thomas turn things around; OK Red and district champs

East Kentwood boys basketball coach Mike Thomas. (Courtesy, East Kentwood High School)



By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org



East Kentwood boys basketball Coach Mike Thomas knew right away he wanted to create a “gotta-get-it” mentality when he took over the team last fall.

“The only thing I know about last year is that they didn’t have a winning season, and I knew right away that I wanted to come in and kind of change that,” Thomas said. “I knew right away that I wanted to create a gotta-get-it mentality, and the meaning of a gotta-get-it mentality is to create a sense of urgency, to accomplish unforeseen goals without making any excuses along the way.

“We wanted to create some goals, create some expectations, and then teach them how to work for this year. And we started off early in the year back in the fall with a lot of training, running bleachers, conditioning, all of that stuff. And they didn’t quite realize or understand what it was for, but towards the end of the year, they could see and understand how all of that stuff helped us become successful this year.”


The East Kentwood basketball team celebrates with the district trophy after defeating Byron Center 62-45 in a district title game. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



OK Red and District Champs

Thomas talked about taking first in the OK Red at 11-3 and finishing 18-7 overall with a district title as well, compared to 6-15 overall last year with a 6-8 conference record.

“Oh, this was huge for us,” Thomas said. “I think it’s a statement for where we’re trying to go as the foundation; we established that right away. And it’s unfortunate that we’re losing some seniors, but I told those seniors that whatever we do this year is the start of us accomplishing our ultimate goal and that’s to win a state title. Our seniors have done a really good job by creating a strong foundation of what it takes to be successful.

“They were able to set the stage for us moving forward winning the district and winning the conference title.”

Captain Marshaun Flakes: ‘Willing to do whatever’

“I was able to coach at some special places, special schools; I was able to coach some special players and Marshaun fits in the category of being one of my all time special players,” Thomas said. “He had a huge impact on winning. It’s just unfortunate that I was only able to coach him for one year. I’m going to miss him.


East Kentwood’s Marshaun Flakes. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)




“But you’re talking about a guy who has the power and the energy to control a community, control a school, control a team. When he wants it, we’re all going to get it, and he has a gotta-get-it mentality. He was our leading scorer and he did everything for us. He was Mr. Utility guy. He was willing to do whatever.”

Flakes led the Falcons with 21 points per game and averaged 7 rebounds, four assists and 2-1/2 steals a game as well. He was first team, all conference and Thomas said he’d be the Conference MVP if there was such an award.

“Based on what he did, he was able to turn this program around from sixth place to first place,” Thomas continued. “This guy just did everything.”



Captain Jah Hatchett: ‘Setting the tone’

Another player that played a big role was Jah Hatchett, who averaged 15 points, 4-1/2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1-1/2 steals per game. He also was first team, all conference as well. 


East Kentwood sophomore guard Jah Hatchett sets up the offense during action in the district championship game. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)

“He’s going to go down as one of my all time special players,” Thomas said. “Here he is a sophomore, he’s just a baby. And he shows some great leadership skills. He was one of the guys that set the tone for us … for workouts, morning shoots, offseason workouts, he was always there.

“At one point in the season he was our leading scorer. And I think teams started to key on that. And that’s when Marshaun stepped up. When you have those two guys on the court at the same time great things are going to happen for you.


“Jah is going to be a very, very special player for East Kentwood.” 

Hatchett said it felt good to win an OK Red and district title.

“Especially since we haven’t won conference in eight years,” Hatchett continued. “It feels good and then in districts, we did even better.

“The highlight of my season was coming together as a team and going on our little run up, seven-game winning streak.”


Hatchett began playing basketball at age five.

“When I was little, I was always a two-sport athlete, playing football and basketball. But I just found more interest in playing basketball.” 

Sophomore point guard Darryl Thompkins

“We were very lucky to have him return back to Grand Rapids, as he did some really, really good things for us,” Thomas said. “He was our floor general. He got everybody involved. There were a couple games this year where he had double figures in assists. He also was first team all league.” 

I take my hat off to those two sophomores (Hatchett and Thompkins) just simply because they had to compete against some really, really tough seniors and upperclassmen.”

Coach Thomas’s highlight of the season?

“I would say the highlight of the season was just being able to turn the program around in a short period of time, and just simply having fun mentoring young men. This is nothing but fun to me. Coaching is what I love to do. This is who I am.

“But you can also add winning the conference championship and district title as a highlight. But an even bigger highlight is just being able to see the community, the response of the community, the support of the community, especially within those last couple of games. You can kind of feel that they believe in what we’re trying to do.”

Along with Flakes, Thomas also talked about graduating Rasheed Watkins and Nate Cobbs.

“We’re losing Rasheed Watkins, who was a big time energy guy for us,” Thomas explained. “He started some games, came off the bench for us, but he was always ready when his number was called. He does some really good things for us, but we’ll also miss Nate Cobbs. He’s a football player, wrestler and track star. He’s going to play Division 2 football at Davenport University. He came off the bench and gave us a spark when we needed it, especially against Grandville. He was that big time, muscle guy for us to kind of contain some people and was always ready when his number was called.

“But, for next year, great things are gonna happen for us. We have Jah Hatchett and and Darryl Thompkins returning along with Christian Humphrey-Rembert.”

‘Terence,’ the Red Storm Robot gets rolling March 31

Red Storm Robotics includes 40 East Kentwood High School students, four coaches and four mentors. (Courtesy, Red Storm Robotics)

By Trot Best
Red Storm Robotics


Terence, the Red Storm Robotics FRC Robot, is rolling into Kentwood’s home tournament on March 31 and April 1 to take on 37 other FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Teams’ robots for a chance to advance to the state tournament. In this Charged UpSM competition, the Red Storm Robotics team reimagines the future of sustainable energy and powers its ideas forward to victory.

Hosts: KPS Red Storm Robotics, FRC Team #3875

Where: East Kentwood High School, 

When: March 31 and April 1, 2023 

Teams & More: https://firstinmichigan.us/FRC/miken/

Terence, the Red Storm Robotics’ robot. (Courtesy, Red Storm Robotics)

This is a free event for everyone starting at 10:30 am on Friday, March 31. WKTV Community television crews will be at East Kentwood both days providing television coverage of the FIRST Robotics competition. WKTV’s coverage will be available for broadcast on WKTV and streamed via WKTV’s on demand service in the month of April.

The public is encouraged to attend and cheer our Red Storm Robotics team, or their favorite local team, as they demonstrate “gracious professionalism” through their application of mechanical engineering, computer-aided design, electrical engineering, programming, systems integration, website building, animation, and fabrication/machining skills. Red Storm Robotics’ Terence utilizes autonomous and driver-assisted modes, optical sensors to help guide it to targets, an elevator arm with a mechanical cone-grabbing claw, and gyroscope-assisted balancing to help it perform in this year’s 2022-2023 competition. The KPS FRC Team #3875 is made up of approximately 40 high school students, four coaches, and four mentors from the Kentwood Public Schools and nearby communities.

Project-based, hands-on FIRST® programs introduce students to engineering and coding in an engaging, inclusive, and creative after-school environment where students work collaboratively to solve an annual robotics challenge centered around a yearly theme. Boosted by a million-strong global community of students, mentors, educators, volunteers, sponsors, and alumni in over 100 countries.

East Kentwood boys use big second half to stop Grandville in OK Red showdown Friday

Jamell Hatchett covers Grandville’s Tyson Mann. Hatchett and Marshaun Flakes led the Falcons with 19 points each. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor



If Friday’s result is any indication, opponents of East Kentwood might thick twice about coming out in a zone defense against the Falcons.

Thanks to some accurate outside shooting and timely drives to the basket, East Kentwood’s offense reached overdrive in the second half as the Falcons defeated Grandville 73-58 in an OK Red showdown of conference frontrunners.

“I thought this was a good game for us,” said East Kentwood Coach Mike Thomas. “Our guys struggle against a zone, but they showed tonight they are starting to figure the zone out. This is the largest amount of points we’ve scored against a zone in a long time.”

The 73 points the Falcons scored Friday was almost double the amount of points they scored a month ago when the Falcons dropped a 48-41 decision to Grandville on the road. The win also crowded things at the top of the OK Red as East Kentwood, Grandville, Grand Haven and Hudsonville are all tied for the top spot in the league with 7-3 conference records.

Huge second half for the Falcons

East Kentwood was especially productive against the Grandville zone defense in the second half. Trailing Grandville 32-27 at halftime, East Kentwood outscored the Bulldogs 46-26 in the second half.

East Kentwood stormed out of the locker room at the start of the second half to outscore Grandville 20-5 and take control of the game. Senior Marshaun Flakes led the charge in the second half as he scored Kentwood’s first seven points of the third quarter.

“This was big,” Flakes said. “The last time we played them (Grandville) we started slow. Tonight, we came out with a lot more energy and intensity. We really brought the energy in the second half.”

East Kentwood brought plenty of defensive energy to the floor in the second half. Steals on the defensive end led to some layups on the offensive end of the floor. Both Flakes and Jaden Bowman came up with big steals in the early going in the third quarter as the Falcons took the lead in the game.

“It’s always our defense that gets us going,” Thomas said. “Our defense has kept us in every game. We also made some defensive adjustments at halftime.”

East Kentwood lights up the treys

On the offensive side of the floor, the Falcons sliced apart the Grandville zone with a combination of accurate shooting from the perimeter and timely drives to the basket. East Kentwood connected on seven three-point shots during the game. Jamell Hatchett led the way from outside as he connected on three, three-point shots while Rasheed Watkins hit a pair of treys.

Balance also was a key for the East Kentwood offense. Hatchett and Flakes led the way for the Falcon offense as they both totaled 19 points. Darryl Thompkins poured in 15 points, while Watkins added 12.



East Kentwood’s Darryl Thompkins, Jr. takes the ball up the court. (WKTV/Greg Chrapek)



A standout on both ends of the court, Flakes also was instrumental in providing the Falcons with strong leadership, especially coming out in the second half facing a five-point deficit.

“Marshaun was unbelievable tonight,” Thomas said. “He is the leader of our team. I’ve been coaching for a while now and have had some great leaders. Like I told my wife, Marshaun is one of the top leaders I’ve ever had.”

That leadership was evident in the early stages of the fourth quarter when Grandville made an effort to get back into the game. Up 49-43 at the end of the third quarter, Grandville whittled the Kentwood lead to 51-47  before Flakes drained a pair of free throws to stem the tide.



Grandville managed to cut the Falcon lead to 53-49, but a three-point shot by Watkins started a 7-0 Falcon run that built their lead to 60-49 with five minutes left in the game. Grandville managed to cut the Kentwood margin to 60-52, but that was as close as the Bulldogs would get as Kentwood pulled away in the final few minutes of the game.

“This was a big win for us,” Flakes said. “This win will give us some momentum going into March.”

With the win, East Kentwood improved to 11-5 overall. The Falcons return to action Saturday when they travel to Benton Harbor to play Detroit Old Redford in the Wilson Chandler Shootout. The Falcons then travel to Grand Haven on Tuesday to face another team that is part of the logjam at the top of the conference standings before heading to Caledonia on Friday.

Grandville fell to 10-6 overall and 7-3 in the league. The Bulldogs were led in scoring by Tyson Mann who finished with 31 points.

East Kentwood boys win last-second thriller at Rockford

East Kentwood players Ardrace Morris and Christian Humphrey-Rembert (from left) try boxing out Rockford. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)



By Greg Chrapek

WKTV Contributor


In a long basketball season, there are certain games that can tip the balance between a good season and a great season.


The East Kentwood boys basketball team experienced just such a game Tuesday at OK Red rival Rockford when it erased a 13-point halftime deficit and defeated Rockford 51-49 on a last-second shot.

Sophomore Jah Hatchett gets winning bucket

Falcon sophomore Jah Hatchett provided the game-winning basket with three seconds remaining in the game as he rebounded an East Kentwood miss and layed it in for the winning points.

The bucket gave Kentwood a win that was special in more than one way. First, the Falcons bounced back in a big way from their first loss of the season the previous Saturday against Birmingham Brother Rice. Second, the Falcons managed to do it on the road in a hostile environment, and third, they erased a 13-point halftime deficit to accomplish the feat.



East Kentwood’s Marshaun Flakes helped turn things around against Rockford. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)



“Big Win” says Marshaun Flakes

“This was a big win for us,” said East Kentwood senior Marshaun Flakes, in his third season on varsity. “We haven’t defeated Rockford in a long time. It was also a big win to get after our loss to Brother Rice. It felt good to bounce back.”

Bounce back was what the Falcons needed to do after falling behind by as many as 18 points during the first half. Rockford came out hitting on all cylinders and the Rams led 18-6 at the end of the first quarter. Rockford continued to build on the lead in the second quarter as it feasted on Kentwood turnovers and converted open opportunities.


Big halftime lead for Rockford

At halftime, Rockford went into the locker room with a 30-13 lead, while East Kentwood went back to the drawing board.

The Falcons made some defensive adjustments at halftime and came out in the second half looking like a different team as they picked up the defensive pressure. Using a full-court, trapping press, the Falcons forced Rockford into numerous turnovers and it was Kentwood that turned the turnovers into easy buckets on the offensive end.

“We made a few adjustments to our zone,” said East Kentwood Coach Mike Thomas. “We increased the pressure and started attacking. On offense, once we hit a three our guys really started to feel confident. It was like the light was turned on once they saw that first three fall.”

Marshaun Flakes drained that first three ball of the second half and that trey led to a torrent of points during the third quarter. Down 34-16 in the early minutes of the second half, Kentwood went on a 9-0 run that trimmed the deficit to single digits following a bucket by Jyair Harris.

The Falcons kept applying the pressure on the defensive end producing steals and getting some big blocked shots from 6-foot-9 senior Christian Humphrey-Rembert. Humphrey-Rembert recently joined the team just before Christmas when he transferred back to East Kentwood from La Lumiere prep school in Indiana. 

EK grabs the lead by one to end third

Trailing 40-33, East Kentwood finished the third quarter with an 8-0 run and took a 41-40 lead at the end of the quarter on a bucket from Hatchett.

The contest went back and forth during the final quarter with the score tied twice and the lead changing hands four times as both squads played at a slow pace. Kentwood went up 49-47 on a bucket by Flakes with 2:03 remaining before Rockford tied the game with a pair of free throws with 1:36 remaining. After the teams traded turnovers, East Kentwood held the ball for the last 30 seconds of the game before Hatchett put in the final points with three seconds left.

“We are like a new program,” Thomas said. “I’m a new coach and we have some new players and a new system and it’s taken an adjustment period. There were some crazy things happening, but our guys just kept fighting back and never quit. I’m proud of the way the guys kept battling and never quit.”

Hatchett led the Falcons in scoring with 14 points followed by Flakes with 13 and Darryl Thompkins with 10. Harris added six points while Landon Storms added three, Ardrace Morris, two points and Humphrey-Rembert, two points on a highlight-reel dunk during the fourth quarter.

With the win, East Kentwood improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the OK Red. The Falcons return to action Friday at Grandville and then play Detroit Henry Ford on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. at Ottawa Hills High School as part of the Martin Luther King Day Hoops Classic hosted by Ottawa Hills.        

All-State EK hurdler Joshua Hurt leads on and off the track

Joshua Hurt (left) at the MITCA Division 1 Meet. (Courtesy, Miles Postema)



By D.A. Reed

WKTV Contributor


East Kentwood senior Joshua Hurt isn’t satisfied with staying in one place — in more ways than one.


“Josh is an excellent athlete and student (3.72 GPA), but a better person,” said David Emeott, co-athletic director at East Kentwood High School and the boys track and field coach. “He is kind and caring and always considerate of his teammates … and is willing to do what it takes to improve.”


An All-State 110-meter hurdler the past two years and three-time All-Conference, Hurt is no stranger to hard work. And he doesn’t make excuses.


“I love how there are no excuses,” Hurt told WKTV. “Either you run well, or you don’t, and that’s on you.”


Hurt claimed his outdoor personal best at hurdling and first place in the event during the Charlie Janke Track & Field Invitational in April 2022, with a time of 14.66 during the 110 hurdles. He also placed fourth in the state (14.77) at the Division 1 finals, where his team finished third overall.

Changing it up

Though Hurt excels at hurdling, Emeott said the athlete decided to change things up by joining the cross country team this fall in order to gain an edge on his competitors.


“Before school started, I wasn’t planning to run cross country at all,” Hurt said. “But after my coach invited me to a pre-season meeting with the cross country team, I was persuaded by the possible endurance and mental gains as well as the leadership I could offer the team.”

EK senior Joshua Hurt running at the OK Red Conference meet in 2022. (Courtesy, Miles Postema)

Hurt chose to focus solely on cross country this fall even though he would have liked to compete in hurdling as well.

“It was safer for me to just focus on one thing at a time,” Hurt said.

Despite pulling a personal best at the Otsego Bulldog Invitational with a time of 22:31:3 for the 5,000-meter event, Hurt admitted the highlight of his season came from practices during the season. Specifically, their Roho workouts from an online fitness coaching platform.



Roho in Swahili means “spirit“ or “heart.” Kip Keino, a Kenyan Olympic distance runner, highlighted his Roho workouts in an interview, and how they gave him the ability to push past his physical and mental fatigue during the Olympics.

“We would have our hard workouts, such as our Roho workouts, probably the hardest workout of the season. While our bodies were in pain and we were fighting through this workout, everyone came together to support each other, and helped everyone push through,” Hurt said.

Starting young

“It all started when I was in elementary school, running in the mileage club where I would go run laps around our course every day during recess,” Hurt explained.

Those laps led Hurt to join the Kentwood Track Club, where he was able to try different track and field events for fun, and without pressure. 


Hurt began taking hurdling seriously after a cousin who hurdled in college suggested he try it out. Hurt said he did try hurdling, but “wasn’t the best at it.”



The summer of that year, however, he began training with his current high school coach, Stephanie Stephenson, as well as a past East Kentwood hurdler who is now a University of Michigan hurdler.


“Through this experience, I found a love in the adrenaline rush of getting over these intimidating obstacles that the majority are scared of,” Hurt said.

The East Kentwood track and field team won a Division 1 regional championship and finished tied for third in state in 2022. (Courtesy, Miles Postema)


Growing and learning

Hurt has shown that he is always striving to develop his skills and is not afraid to take on challenges and try new things by becoming a leader as well as an accomplished athlete.

A member of the East Kentwood Athletic Leadership Council, Hurt also guides the track team in pre-season conditioning as well as speed and agility training.

That leadership rolls over into marching band as section leader for the drumline. Hurt also is active in the high school Symphonic Wind Ensemble as a percussionist.

Moving forward

Hurt says he loves hanging out with friends when he’s not training in athletics or practicing for band, and also loves learning new information about, and new skills in, the automotive industry.

“It is one of my main passions,” Hurt continued. “I love learning how the different parts work. I love looking at the basic, untouched cars on the road and envisioning the potential that it has to become my personalized art.”

Hurt is looking toward the future, planning to attend college and to continue running track and field. Though he’s had a few colleges approach him, interested in his various skills, Hurt has not yet committed to one school.

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

East Kentwood Golfer Elise Fennell takes second in state in Division 1

East Kentwood Golf Coach Mike Ketelaar and Elise Fennell at the MHSAA State Finals. (Courtesy, Josh Fennell)



By Cris Greer, WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org


East Kentwood golfer Elise Fennell finished second in state in Division 1 at the MHSAA State Finals held Oct. 14 and 15 at the Bedford Valley Golf Course in Battle Creek.

Fennell finished one stroke behind state champion Kate Brody (Grand Blanc), who grabbed her second title in three years.

Brody took the top prize with a score of 73-72 (145), while Fennell placed second at 76-70 (146).

An inch short of a playoff

“I was so close to tying it up on the last hole to go into a playoff,” said Fennell, a junior who placed fourth and seventh, respectively, in the previous state finals. “I had a 12-to-15 foot putt for birdie, while Kate had a tap in for par and I left it an inch short.

“I am very happy overall to finish second. I played really well the whole event and did everything that I could. I was just trying to enjoy my last high school event of the year.”

Fennell said she will play in the Notah Begay Jr. Golf National Championship the first week of November in Louisiana and will then “take a month off to relax.”


East Kentwood golf standout Elise Fennell at the State Finals.(Courtesy, Mike Ketelaar)



East Kentwood Coach Mike Ketelaar said he couldn’t be happier for Fennell.


“I have been very blessed with memorable experiences throughout my own high school and college golf career, and these were easily my favorite days ever on a golf course watching Elise in her element,” Ketelaar said. “I have never been so proud of a student-athlete before.

“Elise is fearless on the golf course. When she made a clutch par putt on Hole 17, I had a gut feeling she was going to tap into another level and give everything she had to make a run at the current leader at that point, who she was playing with.

“She put together her A-game on the remaining four holes. It was truly special to watch her play those four concluding holes to near perfection.”

From left; Kate Brody, Grand Blanc, state champion in Division 1 (73-72 — 145); Elise Fennell, East Kentwood, second place (76-70 — 146) and Jessica Jolly, Rockford, tied for third with Grace Wang, Rochester Adams, not pictured (72-77 — 149). (Courtesy, Mike Ketelaar)

East Kentwood earns crucial 29-20 win over Hudsonville; keeps playoff hopes alive

By Zach Fanko, WKTV Contributor

Needing a win to improve its playoff chances, East Kentwood pulled away late in the fourth quarter to put away Hudsonville 29-20 at Falcon Stadium.

The Falcons jumped ahead 6-0 in the first quarter on an Elisee Kandee touchdown run that was set up by a J’Kari Couch 40-yard run.

Kandee returned to the end zone once again in the first half, this time on defense with a Pick-6. East Kentwood carried a 22-14 advantage at the half.

Despite being in a solid position to qualify for the 32-team playoff field (the Falcons are ranked No. 23 in playoff points for Division 1 according to MHSAA.com), East Kentwood coach Tony Kimbrough spoke about the importance of playing with a sense of urgency.

The crowd at Falcon Stadium takes in a game between East Kentwood and Hudsonville. (WKTV/Nathan Piers)

“We feel like we control our own destiny in terms of the playoffs,” Kimbrough said. “We treated tonight’s game as a playoff game and I think our effort reflected that.”



The Eagles pulled within two in the third quarter on a Trey Carr touchdown pass, his second TD of the night.



However, the Falcons responded with a touchdown of their own as QB Ben Cash kept it himself for a 14-yard scamper to push the EK lead to 29-20 with 9:20 left the final stanza. A fumble on a punt return would later seal Hudsonville’s fate.

The Falcons defense lines up against Hudsonville’s offensive unit. (WKTV/Nathan Piers)

“Didn’t play our best football tonight,” Hudsonville coach Brent Sandee said. “Had some turnovers and penalties at key moments in the game.



“The effort was certainly there, but we lacked the execution at times tonight.”




Cash finished with 119 yards through the air with a passing TD, as well as 38 rushing yards and a score. Kandee added 56 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, linebacker Stellan Bowman finished the game with 12 tackles.



East Kentwood (5-3, 4-2 OK Red) now looks ahead to its senior night game next Friday with Grandville (6-2, 4-2 OK Red), as both teams jockey for playoff positioning.



Hudsonville (2-6, 2-4 OK Red) hosts Grand Haven (1-7, 0-6 OK Red) next Friday.

WKTV Game of the Week

Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.

East Kentwood golfer Elise Fennell excels on and off the course

East Kentwood golfer Elise Fennell has finished twice in the top 10 in Division 1 and currently has a 3.99 GPA. (Courtesy, Josh Fennell)


By Cris Greer, WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org


At age 9, East Kentwood golf standout Elise Fennell figured out she was talented.

“I was playing Jr. PGA with boys four years older than me and beating them,” said Fennell, a junior at EK and All-State golfer two years straight. 

As a freshman, Fennell finished tied for fourth place at the Division 1 state finals with a score of 74, followed by a seventh-place finish last year with a two-round score of 148 (74-74).

Her determination shined through early on as well.

“My first few words as a baby were ‘no help,’ when I was around 6 months old,” said Fennell, whose favorite food is chicken quesadillas. “I also would always play different sports with my neighbors and would always try my absolute best to beat them.”

Watching golf with dad as a youngster

Fennell said her interest grew while watching golf on TV with her dad, Josh.

“I wanted to try it, so my dad bought me a three-club set,” explained Fennell, whose favorite movie is Shrek. “I was 6 when he bought the set and I got hooked a few months after that. I would hit, and if I didn’t pass my dad’s shot I would pick up and go to his ball.

“I learned how to swing the club just by watching on TV for the most part. I watched and learned from Tiger (Woods) the most.”

Her best golf accomplishment?

Winning the GAM (Golf Association of Michigan) 15 and Under Stroke Play in 2019.

EK golf standout Elise Fennell. (Courtesy, Josh Fennell)

“It was my first GAM win and my first big tournament win.”

EK Coach Mike Ketelaar said though her demeanor is “extremely calm, relaxed and sort of laissez-faire, Elise is the fiercest and most prepared competitor I have ever coached.

“She is truly a complete player,” continued Ketelaar, who’s coached the EK boys and girls golf teams for five years. “This season, she shot 69 twice and 70 twice, and in my opinion, she did not play her “A-game” on those occasions. I am excited to watch her continue striving towards her full potential.”

Her state finals expectations?

“To put up two very solid rounds at the state finals,” Fennell said. “Ideally, I would like to shoot somewhere around 69 or 70 for both rounds and see what happens.

East Kentwood golfer Elise Fennell was OK Red All Conference for a third-straight year. (Courtesy, Mike Ketelaar)

“I think I am very capable of winning this year, but I know there are some amazing players that’ll be there as well.”


Ketelaar said she is no different from most elite players.


“She wants to compete at the highest level, perform her best, and win the state finals as an individual.”  


This year’s MHSAA State Finals are Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15 at the Bedford Valley Golf Course in Battle Creek.


Fennell, who has a GPA of 3.99, would like to play college golf and major in engineering, but is undecided where.


Fennell was OK Red All Conference for a third-straight year, and teammate Camryn Kolzow was honorable mention.

“Elise is undoubtedly the leader of EK’s team,” Ketelaar said. “Elise would probably not refer to herself as a leader, nor desire the role, as most elite high school athletes typically do. Elise leads by her example.

“Players on the team are very aware Elise is one of the best players in Michigan, and they pay attention to Elise and her game.”

East Kentwood edges West Ottawa 14-6 in defensive struggle

East Kentwood players receive instruction from their coach during a previous game this season. (WKTV)



By Zach Fanko, WKTV Contributor



Points were at a premium in this match-up, as East Kentwood kept its playoff hopes alive with a 14-6 victory over West Ottawa.

Following a scoreless first quarter, the Falcons found the scoreboard as quarterback Casey Joppie connected with Nate Cobbs on a 14-yard scoring strike. East Kentwood clung to a slim 7-6 lead at the half.

With 3:53 left in the third quarter, running back Ben Cash punched it in from 2 yards out for a 14-6 advantage. The Falcons defense, led by linebacker Stellan Bowman with 15 tackles, held on to the lead with a scoreless final quarter.

Bowman also forced two fumbles, added a sack, as well as 78 rushing yards. East Kentwood Coach Tony Kimbrough had high praise for his star linebacker.

“He’s the best linebacker in the state,” Kimbrough said. “Show me another guy that plays with the passion he has for the game.

“Nobody loves the game more than he does and it’s infectious. Makes everyone around him better football players.”

The biggest takeaway for the Panthers tonight was the missed opportunities offensively, according to Coach Pat Collins.

“Had some short fields, but just couldn’t convert on those opportunities,” Collins said. “Got to examine what went wrong for us tonight.

“A lot of losing moments. A lot of winning moments, too. We will look at those and improve.”

Despite an inconsistent performance from the offense, Kimbrough was pleased to get back into the winning column.

“You take the wins any way you can get them in this league,” Kimbrough said. “A lot of talent in this league and the coaching is outstanding.”

With this crucial win, East Kentwood (4-3, 3-2 OK Red) turns its attention to a home date with Hudsonville (2-5, 2-3 OK Red) next Friday.

West Ottawa (3-4, 1-4 OK Red) travels to Caledonia for next Friday’s game.

WKTV Game of the Week

Our 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. Watch at home on your Smart TV in brilliant HD.

Kentwood teacher only one in state to receive NEA fellowship

By Tim Hargis
Kentwood Public Schools


East Kentwood High School art teacher Olivia Miller works with students in class. (Courtesy, Kentwood Public Schols)

East Kentwood High School art teacher, Olivia Miller, is a lifelong learner and self-described explorer. She has a passion to experience other parts of the world, other cultures, and that passion spills over into her classroom. It is also taking her places.

Recently, Miller was named a 2023 National Education Association (NEA) Global Learning Fellow. She is the only teacher in Michigan to receive this honor. According to the NEA Foundation, Miller will join colleagues from states across the country to immerse themselves in a year-long study that involves online coursework, webinars, readings, and reflections. Eventually, the group will travel to South Africa this summer as part of this experience.

The goal, Miller says, is to return to the classroom, enriched from the learning, to create a global learning experience for her students. This work, she feels, also helps her to connect with her students.

Recently, East Kentwood art teacher Olivia Miller was named a 2023 National Education Association Global Learning Fellow. (Courtesy, Kentwood Public Schools)

“For me, the biggest way that I can learn is experiential, through traveling,” Miller explained. “It’s so different walking into a school in a different country and seeing how things are done there….It’s a different level of experience that I can connect with and then maybe better understand my students who come from different countries.”

This is not the first time Miller has been part of this type of opportunity. Prior to the pandemic, she was accepted as part of the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. This enabled her to work with teachers from across the nation and to travel to Morocco as part of this learning experience.

Part of Miller’s motivation is rooted in her own heritage. Her mother’s family immigrated to the United States from Ukraine. Growing up in West Michigan, she says she did not see much of her own family’s history and culture represented in the school curriculum. This made her wonder about representation for the students she serves today.

This is Miller’s third year teaching in the Kentwood Public Schools and her tenth year of teaching overall. Kentwood is where she wants to be. “This has been my dream school to come to,” Miller says of East Kentwood High School. “There are so many layers and good things to our EK community and environment. This place is such a cultural hub that many people may not even know about. You can learn about so many different ways of life, different cultures, different people here in Kentwood.”

East Kentwood is definitely glad to have Miller on its team. “Ms. Miller is one of the most culturally sensitive and equity-minded teachers that I’ve had the pleasure to work with,” says EK Assistant Principal Lindsay Kimbrough. “She brings a perspective that goes much deeper than the beautiful art she elicits from her students. She promotes social emotional development, and through her whole-child approach, helps to mold true global citizens.”

East Kentwood art teacher Olivia Miller helps a student on an art project. (Courtesy, Kentwood Public Schools)

Kimbrough adds that the relationships Miller builds with her students are so important. “Her innate ability to build relationships with students is the bridge that leads students to taking academic and artistic risks, reaching heights they may have never dreamed of.”

The trip to South Africa this summer will be a rewarding culminating activity for Miller as part of her role as an NEA Global Fellow; however, there is work to be done between now and then. This work includes a trip next month to Washington, D.C. where she will collaborate with the other NEA Global Fellows from around the nation at a conference in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education.

While Miller is focused on her current students and how the NEA Global Learning Fellowship will positively impact them, she is also looking ahead, and dreaming about possibilities to benefit KPS students and staff in the future.

“I want to someday have funding to take KPS teachers to the countries that our students are primarily from,” Miller explains, “to do a teacher tour. To go into the countries and learn.” She adds, “I think that would really make a big impact. It would close a gap in the relationships between teachers and students because students would be like, ‘Oh my gosh. You cared enough that you went and traveled to where I’m from.”


Reprinted with permission from the Kentwood Public Schools.

“Sugar” McLaughlin aims for FREE basketball camp at East Kentwood

A photo from a past Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin All-Star Basketball Camp at East Kentwood. (Courtesy)

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

This year, camp is free!

At least that’s the goal of the Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin All-Star Basketball Camp, which takes place Aug. 2-4 at East Kentwood High School.

Giving back

“He’s always wanted to give back to the community,” said Bobbie McLaughlin, brother of the area’s biggest basketball star who set records in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s at Creston High School and Central Michigan University.

Nothing but net

Considered the best high school basketball player in Grand Rapids history, Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin averaged 33 points a game his junior and senior seasons at Creston High School in the late 1970s and then went on to score more than 2,000 career points at Central Michigan University. He is a member of the Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame and in 2005 was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.

The camp has been shut down since 2019 because of Covid, and, with “all the crazy things going on for kids in the inner city,” organizers wanted to offer a chance to offer something at no cost.

“Everywhere he goes, the kids are asking about the camp,” said Bobbie, who attended Grand Rapids South High School back in the day. “They’re really thirsty. So we put our heads together and said, ‘Let’s give them a free camp.’ Let’s show them some love.”

Campers practice their skills at the Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin Basketball All-Star Camp at East Kentwood. (Courtesy)

A fundraising campaign is going on right now to help the McLaughlins raise money to make it happen. The goal through the social media platform Vertical Raise is $10,000. They are more than halfway there, he said, as local businesses such as Brann’s Restaurants have contributed, as well as individuals.

The three-day camp is for boys and girls grades 5-12.





Hours are 8-11:30 a.m. for grades 5-8, and from 1-4 p.m. for grades 9-12 from Aug. 2-4.

“All the area kids, inner city kids, just come out and have a good time… We’re just looking for people to help make this happen,” Bobbie McLaughlin said.

Guest speakers

Along with learning basketball skills with drills and instruction, Bobbie McLaughlin said camp organizers are arranging guest speakers to help educate and motivate the kids to learn more than just basketball.

“(Mel) said we need to show some positive love for the kids. Everything’s been a little crazy, not just in Grand Rapids, but all over. We just said, ‘What can we do to help these kids out?’”

The camp has been a staple of summers in Grand Rapids for about 25 years. It originally took place at Ottawa Hills High School, but moved to East Kentwood in 2018 when attendance swelled to more than 200 campers, said Bobbie McLaughlin, who lives in California but looks forward to returning to see old friends and relatives. (He was a pretty good baseball player back in the day.)

Some notable campers

The camp has produced some notable players over the years, including Kobe Bufkin (Michigan),  Marcus Bingham (Michigan State University) and Xavier Tillman (Michigan State, Memphis Grizzlies), just to name a few.

“We know it’s working, we know these kids are learning and having fun,” McLaughlin said.

“We’re so proud of them. A lot of the parents come up to us after the last day of camp and say,  ‘Where are you gonna be next week? This is such a good thing for these kids.’”

McLaughlin said he is in the middle of finalizing a gift bag each player will receive during the camp, which includes a T-shirt, wristband, hat and hopefully a book, which was written about his brother’s life.

Check out “Sweet Shot”

“Sweet Shot: The Basketball Life and Legacy of Melvin ‘Sugar’ McLaughlin,” which was released in 2021, looks at the player’s life on and off the court, from his early childhood in Ann Arbor to today.

“Sweet Shot,” a book about local basketball star Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin, was released in 2021. (Courtesy)

Author Vernon E. Wendt — a theology professor at Concordia University-Chicago, ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and East Grand Rapids native, is expected to be in attendance at the camp, Bobbie McLaughlin said.

“It’s a really cool book,” McLaughlin said. “We want to make an impact.”

In addition, players can compete in contests for trophies, he said. And camp organizers will present sportsmanship and MVP awards.

It’s all about spreading joy, and a message, he said.

“We teach them, sports is like life…you have to learn to play together, to work together, to be a team. Take that home. Spread it. That’s our concept.”

And don’t be surprised to see Sugar put his skills on display.

He still “balls,” his brother said. “He’s always doing something for kids.”

Sugar McLaughlin said in a video message that he wants kids to grow, learn and be the “best version of themselves.”

“Come and join us for this very beautiful and positive experience,” Sugar McLaughlin said. “This is something that is true to my heart and very special to me.”

Learn more about the camp by calling 616-222-6126.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

It’s a robots rumble as teams gather at East Kentwood High School

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


Red Storm Robotics will hosts its first competition in two years. The delay was due to the pandemic. (Supplied)

After two years away from the battlefield, robotic teams from around the state will once again enter the East Kentwood High School gym to face off for honors and a chance to compete at the state level.

The East Kentwood FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, hosted by East Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics, will take place this Friday, and Saturday. There are 34 teams scheduled to compete. Among the local teams are Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics, Wyoming High School’s Demons, and Potter’s House’s Tactical Hams. The event also will be recorded by WKTV and aired on Comcast Channel 25 along with being available on the WKTV on-demand site.

This year’s competition is called “Rapid React,” hosted by Boering. The purpose of the competition is to have teams look at today’s global challenges related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #9. Teams are focused on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

 

“By encouraging FIRST participants to think about future transportation sustainability, we’re also empowering them to be the next generation of leaders and innovators, tackling the world’s toughest challenges,” according to the FIRST Robotics website.

Teams had six weeks to build a robot that would be able to load and move basketballs to designated areas. In the final part of the competition, robots must be able to demonstrate climbing abilities by moving through a series of bars. Through the competition, the teams will demonstrate skills in mechanical engineering, computer-aid design, electrical engineering, programming, systems integration, website building, animation, and fabrication/machining.

Thursday is when the pits officially open and inspections take place. The action starts on Friday, with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and qualifying matches starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday the big day with opening ceremonies again at 9 a.m. and qualifying matches starting at 9:30 a.m. Alliance selections will take place at 12:30 p.m. with playoff matches set for 2 p.m. and awards around 5 p.m.

 

One of the FIRST robotics teams carries its robot off to the pits. (WKTV)

Each team is required to attend two district competitions. Those teams that earn enough points or certain awards, then advance to the state competition which will be April 13-17 with the national competition set for April 20-23 in Houston.

The event is free and open to the public. Masks are required for all participants, volunteers, and spectators. Participants and those in the pits are required to wear safety glasses.

The East Kentwood High School is located at 6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.

Started in 1992, FIRST is an international high school robotics competition founded by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen — the man behind the Segway — and MIT professor emeritus Woodie Flowers. In fact, Kamen often has stated that FIRST is the invention he feels most proud of.

For school glory, and scholarship, East Kentwood esports players earn titles in emerging competitive sport

Video gaming on the big screen — the East Kentwood High School esports team in action. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

It is unclear if letter jackets are still in style at high schools but, if they are, East Kentwood High School’s top esports players earned their letters recently as the Falcons won the Esports State Championship in League of Legends at Eastern Michigan University, beating Northville High School.

The title is the latest success story for the school’s new esports teams and players, who compete in the emerging competitions of electronic sports, also called competitive video gaming. Some of the games they compete in include Super Smash Bros, League of Legends, Valorant, Fortnite, and Rocket League.

State esports title team from East Kentwood High School League of Legends team, from left, are  Kha Di Le, Andrew Hua, Tony Truong, Jacob Le, Anna Ngo and Brandon Le . (Supplied)

The early December League of Legends matches were streamed on Twitch by PlayVS, with professional “shoutcasters” calling out the games.

East Kentwood’s League of Legends team members include Kha Di Le, Andrew Hua, Tony Truong, Jacob Le, Anna Ngo and Brandon Le.

The League of Legends team are the top players in the school, but coach Bill Dixon told WKTV that he and his fellow coaches expect as many as 100 students to compete at some level this school year.

“Only one of these kids is in athletics, so for the rest, Esports gives them an opportunity to connect with their school with something other than academics,” Dixon said.

A history of support and success

“Esports started for East Kentwood High School about 4 years ago,” Dixon said. “A group of four teachers and administrators (Dixon, Justin Michalowski, Chad Songer and Geoff Westman) decided to offer this opportunity to our students. The rationale was there is an underserved student population that needed an outlet to compete for their school outside of the traditional athletic model.

“We wanted to keep the important elements of athletics: eligibility standards, practices, team building and try outs. What separates Esports from traditional sports is that 90 percent of our student population are playing these games and have a chance to participate.”

The East Kentwood High School esports team, at right, in action. (Supplied)

The school’s esports program has produced back-to-back championships in both Valorant and League of Legends  levels, and compete in state leagues such as PlayVS, Michigan High School Esports Federation (MIHSEF) and Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL).

“We have several Kentwood graduates that are competing at the collegiate level at schools like Michigan State (University), University of Michigan, and Grand Valley (State University),” Dixon said.

And, Dixon said in a previous announcement, at the recent League of Legends event, “I was also approached by three different college Esports coaches (Grand Valley, Oakland University and Davenport) that are trying to recruit our kids, offering scholarships.”

Dixon added that the East Kentwood program was “fortunate early on to get support, funding and vision from our principal, Omar Bakri.”

Since it’s beginning, the team has competed in more than 10 different competitions, “sometimes on a national/online format and sometimes with in person competitions,” he said. And East Kentwood has also hosted five events bringing in over a dozen different local high schools.

Bringing home the hardware — State esports title team from East Kentwood High School League of Legends team show off their medals. (Supplied)

“We’ve been fortunate to have excellent teams of great, committed students who have produced back to back championships in both Valorant and League of Legends,” Dixon said.

The East Kentwood program, in cooperation with the West Michigan Sports Commission, also helped run the “Rift Clash”, a League of Legends tournament, which was held live locally in 2019 and online in 2020.  That tournament had 15 colleges and 1 high school — the host Falcons — competing.  East Kentwood was able to beat several colleges and advanced to the semi-finals in 2020, before falling to MSU, the eventual winner of the tournament.

 

That team roster included Anna Ngo, Terry Pham, Ben Pham, Daniel Nguyen, Tony Truong and Scott Luu.

Kentwood Public Schools’ East Kentwood 9th grade, high school students to go virtual for a week due to COVID-19 outbreak

East Kentwood High School. (Supplied/KPS)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Kentwood Public Schools has joined several local public schools districts by closing school buildings and beginning temporary virtual education for all students after a series of positive COVID-19 test results.

In an Oct. 24 letter from district Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff to parent and students, and posted on the district website, the district explained its decision to cease in-person education at its East Kentwood Freshman Campus and the East Kentwood High School buildings from Saturday, Oct. 24 through Friday, Oct. 30.

“On Friday, October 23, 2020, we learned of another COVID-19 positive case at East Kentwood High School and/or the East Kentwood Freshman Campus,” the district letter stated. “In the past week on the East Kentwood Campuses, we have now had seven positive cases and currently have 123 individuals who are in quarantine. We worked late into the night Friday with the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) and they have made the recommendation that we close both the East Kentwood Freshman Campus and the East Kentwood 10-12 Building next week to allow for contact tracing and deep cleaning.”

Students will receive further detailed information from their teachers and principals regarding next week’s class schedule and how learning will continue, according to the letter.

“This decision is very difficult and not made without a great deal of discussion and advice from the Kent County Health Department,” according to the letter. “We apologize for the hardship this puts on our students, staff and families. The recommendation from the KCHD is intended to break and eliminate cycles of transmission and keep our EK Community safe. It is important that we all take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 so we can stay safe and continue to offer in person school for our students, staff and families.”

The Kent County Health Department will conduct contact tracing and may contact members of the East Kentwood schools community for further follow up if it is determined that they were in “close contact” with an person who has tested positive.

“We are moving forward under the guidance of the Kent County Health Department and all measures have been taken to protect the wellbeing of our staff and students,” the letter states. And both buildings will be “thoroughly” cleaned and disinfected following district protocols.

If persons in the district community have any questions or concerns regarding COVID-19, the district recommends contacting the Executive Director of Human Resources, Jamie Gordon, in the KPS Administration Offices at 616-455-4400.

School News Network: Area schools use Dungeons & Dragons as a teaching tool

Social studies teacher Brent VanEnk has built the game with students over four years. (School News Network)

Wyoming: ‘You sneak them into learning

Discover how Wyoming Junior High School teacher Brent VanEnk sneaks students into learning with a virtual reality game he developed. In a Dungeons & Dragons-esque fashion, the game takes the students through the start of humanity and ends between 1400 – 1500. Want to play along? Well then click here for more.

Teacher Bryce Pulley with Paul Shannon, left, and Eire’hon Payton-Moore. (School News Network)

Kelloggsville: ‘Thinking about my world and deciding how to make it’

More Dungeons & Dragons coming as we head over to Kelloggsville Middle School where first-year teacher Bryce Pulley uses the software Inkarnate to help students learn more about geography. D&D players have used the software to create the intricate and detailed maps the game demands. How does Pulley use this software? Well X marks the spot to learn more. 

Damone’t Johnson and Cacia Mitchell play their violas. (School News Network)

Kentwood: Musicians take on anything but classical

Just because they wear formal attire when entering into a concert venue does not mean East Kentwood High School’s Anything But Classical Orchestra is your typical musical performance group. In other words, be prepared to — at minimal toe tap and at maximum dance — along. Click here to read more.

For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

School News Network: Kaleidoscope of Cultures

The Asian Student Union exists to educate the community about Asian cultures (courtesy photo)

By Erin Albanese
School News Network


In 2019, the East Kentwood High School Asian Student Union showcased the kaleidoscope of Asian cultures during its first Asian Festival.

Chinese dragons performed (courtesy photo)

The night of festivities planned by students, included ethnic foods, dances and games. 

The Asian Student Union is a club at East Kentwood High School whose purpose is to educate the community about Asian cultures and celebrating their accomplishments.

“In a community riddled with hundreds of cultures, languages and ethnicities, it is of paramount importance that the community understands their stories,” said Thang Lian, a student officer in the club. “The Asian Festival took inspiration from streets lit by hundreds of lights, food stands littered about, and the general familial, laughter-infested atmosphere of the giant Asian cities.”

Students paint Chinese lanterns durning the East Kentwood High School Asian Festival (Courtesy Photo)

School News Network: Blessed by Brooklyn supports GRPS elementary school athletics

Tonya Elias plans to turn an old warehouse into a resale store. (School News Network)

By Phil de Haan
School News Network


It was a 14-word headline – “Name of 10-year-old killed in Gaines Township golf cart crash is released” – followed by an 86-word story.

In those words on the mLive website on July 19, 2014 was a tale of tragedy: details on the death of Brookelyn Elias, who had died the day before when a golf cart she was on rolled over. 

Brookelyn Elias never backed down from a challenge on the soccer field, and her mom approaches life with the same determination (courtesy of Elias family)

But the story didn’t end that terrible day in July five years ago. And it won’t end anytime soon says Brookelyn’s mom, Tonya Elias. That’s because in the wake of Brookelyn’s death, she and her husband, Paul, started a nonprofit called Blessed by Brookelyn, using the life insurance money received after her death to do so.



“Out of our grief, we have developed a deeper faith and perseverance,” she says. “And we are using the nonprofit that carries Brookelyn’s name to impact our community.”



Among those on the receiving end of that positive impact are elementary schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools system. This past soccer season Blessed by Brookelyn donated some 150 pairs of cleats, plus numerous pairs of shin guards, soccer socks and even balls to the GRPS soccer program. They also purchased gift cards for GRPS volunteer coaches in memory of Brookelyn. 



Now Elias and her organization are collecting basketball shoes to donate this winter to GRPS for the elementary school season, which starts after Christmas (donations are still needed, and Elias can be reached at blessedbybrookelyn@gmail.com or via the charity’s Facebook page).

The current basketball shoe drive for GRPS requires some washing of the footwear before it is given to the students (courtesy of Elias family)

A Teacher Giving Back

The connection to GRPS schools is a natural for Elias, a former GRPS teacher who taught at both Harrison Park and Westwood middle schools before moving to East Kentwood High School, where she continues to teach while also heading up her charity. 

But beyond her background and belief in education, there is also Brookelyn’s history as an athlete, including as a soccer player who loved the game and was a strong last line of support as a defender. Today the charity that bears her name provides a similar last line of support, equipping numerous kids who might not otherwise be able to play with the tools needed to participate. 

For Kellie Kieren, a physical education teacher at North Park Montessori and district coordinator for elementary soccer for GRPS elementary schools, the partnership with Elias has been unexpected but vital.

“It fell into our laps,” she says. “Tonya is an amazing human being. Whatever she could do, she just wanted to help. She and Paul are particularly passionate about helping kids in need within Grand Rapids, and they’ve done amazing things for our district. She will get it done.”

And it’s not just soccer and basketball gear that Tonya collects. Word is getting out about the charity, and donations of clothing now make regular appearances at both the Elias house (on Facebook, Tonya jokes with friends that “yes, the porch is always open”) as well as at the headquarters for both the charity and Paul’s HVAC business on Madison Avenue SE in Grand Rapids, just south of 28th Street.

It was a joy for Tonya Elias to be part of the GRPS elementary soccer season and students felt the same way (courtesy of Blessed by Brookelyn Facebook page)

Developing Center for At-risk Youth

 

The couple is in the process of renovating the building, which they purchased in the summer of 2018, and there, Tonya plans someday to open a resale store. She also brings in young people every week who are required to complete community service hours due to car theft, petty theft, assault, and various other juvenile offenses in Kent County. Together they sort clothes and cleats and whatever else needs doing, and they often have a meal together. 

Eventually, she says, the goal is to set up a job training and internship program for at-risk youth, with all of the money from the resale store going to provide their mentees with a paid, part-time job to go along with a structured learning experience.  

Through it all, Tonya and Paul draw strength both from memories of their precious daughter, and from the power of the stories that are now being written because of the charity that bears Brookelyn’s name. Indeed, on the Blessed by Brookelyn Facebook page there are lots of posts about the work of the charity, the need for donations, where things stand with the renovations and more, but there are also more personal entries. 

On Oct. 13, there was this from Tonya: “Yesterday, the soccer season at GRPS ended. I cried. I cried because of the kids. The season was over. I cried for the kids. I cried from all the hugs. But the tears weren’t tears of sorrow but tears of joy. Tears for the smiles, the laughter and joy that came from them allowing me to be a part of their story.”

Their story, her story, Brookelyn’s story.

For more stories on area schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

School News Network: Reality 101

Senior Morgan Arnold worked to balance her budget on a lawyer’s income. (School News Network)

By Erin Albanese
School News Network


Senior Kuwann Crawford wasn’t looking to live an extravagant lifestyle on his firefighter’s salary, but he found himself feeling flummoxed when discovering that being able to pay the bills meant living with his parents.

“This is very stressful,” he said, looking for ways to cover the cost of housing, transportation, food, furniture, technology and clothes, before even thinking about having anything left for entertainment or charity.

Kuwann was participating in a simulated budgeting session using an app called Bite of Reality 2 in East Kentwood High School teacher Amy Broekhuizen’s personal finance course.

Junior Breona Goldman considers housing options. (School News Network)

His challenge: create a budget on an income of $1,864 a month (the amount left after deductions from a $2,500 monthly income). He and his classmates chose professions with varying salaries and visited 10 stations with options for how to spend their money. An Audi Q7? A used Ford Focus? Restaurants every night? Cooking at Home? High-tech electronics? A modest Internet package?

Kuwann at first chose to live in a studio apartment for $640 month, drive a used Honda Civic for $459 per month in total transportation costs, and eat at home for $360 a month. He soon found he couldn’t stretch his income to pay for everything else.

“I’m in debt!” he said, after figuring in clothing costs. “I feel like I’m seeing how hard it is to be an adult and realizing all these responsibilities.”

Kuwann circled through the stations twice, begrudgingly agreeing to live with his parents and switch to a used Ford Focus to cut costs. “Figuring out how to manage the money is stressing me out.”

After more finagling, he ended up with $109 at the end of the month, 30 percent of which he put into savings and 70 percent toward the credit card debt the game had assigned him.

Senior Chase Montague found out he needed a ‘side hustle’ to make ends meet. Senior Kuwann Crawford had to readjust his budget several times. (School News Network)

Lessons In Money Management

Ben Harman, a relationship development manager with Arbor Financial Credit Union, offered the simulation as a cornerstone of several sessions he’s led in the class on financial literacy. He said many students don’t know how to buy a car or even what a credit report is, and East Kentwood is unique in offering a personal finance class. The Kalamazoo-based credit union has partnered with other high schools as well.

“The reason it’s important to reach these young people is they haven’t really had a chance to make a ruckus of their credit reports or bank accounts; they probably don’t have many bills,” he said, adding that if he can protect one of them from being taken advantage of losing money he considers himself successful.

East Kentwood’s semester-long personal finance class can be taken as an elective or for a math credit. Topics include taxes, checking and savings, credit cards, loans, credit reports, investing, insurance and budgeting.

Senior Kuwann Crawford works to balance his budget. (School News Network)

“The big takeaway is for them to really understand that a lot of the financial decisions they make now are ones that need to be continued throughout life,” Broekhuizen said. “They don’t have to have that instant gratification of buying it now and getting into debt… You need to get into the habit of saving so you can make those large purchases without going into debt.”

During the simulation, senior Morgan Arnold had a bit more money to work with than Kuwann, with her $4,100 lawyer’s take-home income. She had the most left over  in the class — $1,400 — at the end of the month. “You don’t need to buy a new car to have a nice car,” was one of her tips. “Prioritizing is the biggest thing.”

Senior Chase Montague, however, learned he would need to take on a “side hustle” blogging to live on his journalist’s salary, $1,700 a month after deductions, wasn’t cutting it. 

Senior Deivi Martinez also struggled, deciding against becoming an actor after trying to cover expenses on a $2,100-a-month income.  “I couldn’t afford a nice car and a decent apartment,” he said. Instead, he wants to be an electrician.

For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood things to do this weekend

It was a beautiful bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it.

Diana Gabaldon, “Outlander”


By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org


Seventy-six trombones

Flutes, drums, and more will be filling the field at East Kentwood High School as the EKHS Falcon Marching Band Invitational, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 19. Twenty-six bands from across the state will be competing including bands from Kelloggsville and Wyoming. The event opens at 10:30 a.m., with awards being presented at 7 p.m.

Did someone say treats?

The City of Kentwood will be hosting its annual Trunk or Treat Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon. Held at the Kentwood Department of Public Works facility at 5068 Breton SE, kids can dress up in their favorite costume and collect treats from a number of decorated trunks. There also will be a bounce house, hayrides, and face painting. If you have time this evening, Encounter Church, 4620 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, will be hosting a Trunk or Treat from 6 – 8 p.m. Also, next Sunday, Oct. 27, Kentwood Baptist Church, 2875 52nd St. SE, will host its Trunk or Treat from 6 – 7 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Getting Crafty

The holiday craft shows are now up and running. This weekend, Grandville High School will be hosting its Fall Harvest Craft Show from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the high school, 4700 Canal Ave. SW. Breakfast and lunch offerings will be available. For a list of upcoming craft shows, click here.

Fun Fact: Cathelepistemian

Michigan was the first state to establish a university, which was called Cathelepistemian, which means university. It was established in 1817 in Detroit. The name was later changed in 1821 to the University of Michigan. The university moved to Ann Arbor in 1841.

East Kentwood student joins GR Symphony for free Sept. 21 concert

GRS Music Director Marcelo Lehninger will lead the Grand Rapids Symphony in the free Sept. 21 concert at John Ball Park. (Supplied)

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
Grand Rapids Symphony



Music Director Marcelo Lehninger believes it’s the Grand Rapids Symphony’s job to serve its community.

Naturally, that means playing music people want to hear, but it also means taking the orchestra out into the community to play for people where they live.

Grand Rapids Symphony returns for the second season of its Neighborhood Concert Series with Symphony on the West Side, a FREE concertat 6 p.m. on  Saturday, Sept. 21, in John Ball Park, 1300 W. Fulton St.

While the concert is free admission, tickets are required for the program that’ll be held in the park west of downtown Grand Rapids. 

Music Director Marcelo Lehninger will lead the Grand Rapids Symphony in such popular favorites as Rimsky-Korsakov’s explosive Flight of the Bumblebee and Tchaikovsky’s lovely Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker Ballet.

Cellist Zachary Earle, from East Kentwood High School, will be joining the Grand Rapids Symphony for the Sept. 21 free performance. (Supplied)

Grand Rapids Symphony Associate Concertmaster Christina Fong will be soloist in the Autumn Concerto from Vivaldi’s highly popular The Four Seasons. Cellist Zachary Earle, a 17-year-old student at East Kentwood High School, will be soloist with the beautiful Swan from Camille Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals.

The concert also includes Aaron Copland’s El Salón México, and Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture, an arrangement of musical themes from George Gershwin’s folk opera.

Come early for pre-concert entertainment from vocalist Kathy Lamar plus pre-concert activities for kids.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for Symphony on the West Side. Free parking is available at John Ball Park. Guests can bring food and beverages including alcoholic beverages.

If the concert cannot be held due to inclement weather, Symphony on the West Side will be held the following day at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in John Ball Park.

GR Associate Concertmaster Christina Fong will be a soloist in the Sept. 21 free performance. (Supplied)

It’s the second season of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Neighborhood Concert Series, a new initiative launched with help from the Wege Foundation.

“A symphony orchestra in the 21st century has become a service organization,” said Marcelo Lehninger. “We’re here not only to entertain our audience but also to serve our community.”

In 2018, the Wege Foundation awarded the Grand Rapids Symphony a $1 million grant to enhance initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion to engage a broader audience and share live orchestral music with everyone in its community.

Last year, the Grand Rapids Symphony held its first Symphony on the West Side in John Ball Park in July 2018 followed by La sinfonía navideña, a Spanish-flavored Christmas concert, in Wyoming in December at the Dan Heintzelman Fine Arts Center at Wyoming Junior High School.

In November, the Grand Rapids Symphony plans to present a second free concert, La sinfonía navideña at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Kroc Center, 2500 S. Division Ave.

Associate Conductor John Varineau will lead the orchestra in holiday favorites. Admission is free but tickets are required for entrance. Call the Grand Rapids Symphony for details.

Though concerts in DeVos Performance Hall remain central to the orchestra its audience, new programs in new places are important for the continued growth of the Grand Rapids Symphony.

“I have a passion and a mission to reach the hearts and souls of everyone in this community,” said Lehninger said. “Sometimes people feel they don’t belong. We’re trying to show them that, yes, they do belong. Hopefully, they’ll understand that’s it’s their orchestra too.”

Tickets



Admission is free for “Symphony on the West Side” but tickets are required for entrance.

Free tickets are available GRS ticket office, weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza). Call 616.454.9451 x 4 or go online to GRSymphony.org for more information.

Tickets also are available at John Ball Zoo, 1300 W. Fulton St. Call (616) 336-4300 or go online to jbzoo.org.

Other locations for tickets include Rylee’s Ace Hardware at 1205 W. Fulton St., at Nawara Brothers Home Store at 1030 W. Fulton St., at Bridge Street Market at 405 Seward Ave. NW, and at Dairy Queen at 956 W. Fulton St.

Tickets are available at all of the above locations during normal business hours.

Kentwood’s FIRST Robotics event featured on WKTV

Top Dawgs: Code Red Robotics the Stray Dogs took home the prestigious Chairman’s Award.

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org


School starts in just a few weeks and soon after, many of those students will be spending their after school hours building a robot for the annual FIRST Robotics competition. 

Saturday, Aug. 3, WKTV will feature a special presentation of the 2019 FIRST Robotics competition that took place at East Kentwood High School in April. The show features highlights of the day’s events along with interviews with local teams, such as East Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics, and patrons and parents.

The program airs at 2 p.m. on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and WKTV AT&T Channel 99. 

School News Network: Multi-talented Falcon senior shines on and off the field

East Kentwood Captain Kyle Dent hopes to tag the runner. (Courtesy Photo)

By Cris Greer
School News Network



East Kentwood senior Kyle Dent has not only excelled in football and baseball for the Falcons; he also has succeeded in the classroom.

As a quarterback, he passed for 1,800-plus yards with 17 touchdowns. This spring in baseball, he sported a .300 batting average with 13 runs and nine stolen bases.

East Kentwood standout Kyle Dent looking to score from third base during a Falcon baseball game (courtesy photo)

In the classroom he carried a 3.88 GPA, and earned all-academic honors throughout high school. He’s also involved in coaching EK football camps for students in grades 2-5.

“He demonstrates leadership on and off the field and embodies what a Falcon should be,” baseball coach Marty Jackimowicz said of his two-year captain. “He has a great work ethic in practicing and tries to help others around him to also elevate their play.

“Beyond baseball, Kyle is a really great person,” Jackimowicz added. “He is always there for his teammates and classmates and wouldn’t hesitate to help anyone who needed it. He has a great personality and people are naturally drawn to him because of it.”

A four-year letter winner in baseball, Kyle played shortstop and pitched for the Falcons, and also was the team’s leadoff hitter.

East Kentwood senior Kyle Dent had a .300 batting average with 13 runs scored and nine stolen bases this spring (courtesy photo)

Gridiron Standout too

Football coach Tony Kimbrough said Kyle also was a captain on his team last fall because of his strong work ethic and overall leadership abilities.

“He led our team to a record of 9-2 and (we) went undefeated in the OK Red Conference,” said Kimbrough, who played football at Western Michigan University, in the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League. “Great teammate and one of the most positive players I have ever coached. He is the model for the term student-athlete.”

Kyle, who completed 60 percent of his passes and was named First Team All-Conference last fall, will continue his football career at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He plans to major in athletic training with hopes of attending physical therapy school thereafter.

“As for football and baseball, I’ve been playing them ever since I was able to,” said Kyle, who also wrestled for a couple years in high school. “I picked up the sport of wrestling in about third grade, really only to better my agility and conditioning for my other main sports.”

He said he doesn’t stray far from sports no matter what time of year it is.

“Whenever I am not in practice or in a season, I find myself doing a lot of training for them, intense training and more relaxed and fundamental training,” he said. “I love to just go out and throw, whether it’s a baseball or a football. I find this to be a great way to relieve stress for me as well as keep me occupied.”

For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.