The City of Kentwood is inviting community members to its annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 25, to highlight the important role trees play in our environment and encourage tree planting.
Residents of all ages are invited to join the Arbor Day Celebration at Home Acres Park, 145 Farnham St. SE. The event will begin at noon with an Arbor Day proclamation reading by Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, followed by a tree planting. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will be on-site to provide giveaways and free educational materials. Complimentary refreshments also will be provided.
“Each year, we gather to honor the trees that provide clean air and enhance the beauty and biodiversity of our parks and public spaces,” Kepley said. “Our Arbor Day Celebration is also an opportunity to encourage one another to plant new trees and protect our existing trees from invasive species for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley speaks at Arbor Day Celebration 2024. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Kentwood residents can pick up a free tree seedling April 22-25 at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. Tree seedlings also will be available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday or until supplies are gone.
Kentwood residents can check on tree seedling availability by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270. Residents are invited to share a photo of their planted seedling on social media using the hashtag #GreeningKentwood.
The Arbor Day Celebration is sponsored by Railtown Brewing Company, which hosts an annual fundraiser in March that provides a portion of sales from its Bike Ride Blonde ale toward the purchase of trees for the Arbor Day Celebration. This year Railtown Brewing Company raised $1,168 for the Arbor Day Celebration.
Learn more about Kentwood’s Arbor Day Celebration and sign up to volunteer at kentwood.us/ArborDay.
WKTV Host Joey Sutherlin walks you through the qualifying rounds of the recent FIRST Robotics Michigan District event at East Kentwood High School (PART 1).
Our WKTV crew got highlights of the following local teams: East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics and Red Storm Rookies, Wyoming Demons, Grandville RoboDawgs, Kelloggsville Astrobots, Godwin Heights Robosnacks, Grand River Prep Titans and the West Catholic Enigma Robotics.
We also interviewed many student leaders and coaches!
Also take a look at Part 2 of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights Robotics Edition. Let us know what you think of our coverage mimicking Friday Night Highlights football and basketball.
WKTV Host Joey Sutherlin walks you through the playoffs and finals of a recent FIRST Robotics Michigan District event at East Kentwood High School (PART 2).
Our WKTV crew got highlights of the following local teams: East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics and Red Storm Rookies, Wyoming Demons, Grandville RoboDawgs, Kelloggsville Astrobots, Godwin Heights Robosnacks, Grand River Prep Titans and the West Catholic Enigma Robotics.
We also interviewed many student leaders and coaches!
Also take a look at Part 1 of our WKTV Friday Night Highlights Robotics Edition. Let us know what you think of our coverage mimicking Friday Night Highlights football and basketball.
The City of Kentwood invites community members to connect with senior-focused resources at the 26th annual Spotlight on Seniors Expo on Tuesday, April 15.
The free indoor event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. It will feature more than 60 vendors from a variety of community businesses, free health screenings, snacks and lunch, door prizes and more.
“Kentwood is full of community resources to support aging individuals,” said Ann Przybysz, recreation program coordinator. “We encourage older adults and other community members to join us at the Spotlight on Seniors Expo, where they can explore services that encourage a healthy lifestyle and promote independence.”
Kentwood Spotlight on Seniors Expo 2024. Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley (center) at the Kentwood Police Department booth. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
The expo vendors will represent a wide variety of industries, with professionals knowledgeable in everything from physical therapy and hearing services to recreational opportunities and retirement planning.
The event’s gold sponsors are StoryPoint Group, Tim Hortons and We Care 4 U. Silver sponsors are Cranberry Park Grand Rapids, HealthMarkets Insurance, Home Pro of West Michigan, Ken Ables Insurance Agency, Miracle-Ear and Valley Pines Senior Living.
East Kentwood Red Storm Rookies Coach Nick Baribeau’s team recently showed off its talents at an FIM District Competition hosted by East Kentwood. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
When it comes to robotics, few schools in the state can match the size and talent of the robotics program at Kentwood Public Schools.
Like their athletic teams, the East Kentwood robotics program has large numbers of participants, and like the athletic squads, those students start at an early age.
While East Kentwood has large high school and middle school teams, the numbers are strong all the way down to the kindergartens in the district where prospective students get their first exposure to robotics through interaction with LEGOs.
The East Kentwood high school squads displayed just how talented they are at the recent FIRST In Michigan (FIM) district championship on March 29 and 30 at their gymnasium. The varsity team, Red Storm Robotics 3875, finished second overall out of 40 teams at the district tournament. They captained the team and were aligned with the Wyoming Demons Robotics and Gull Lake Twisted Devils.
East Kentwood’s Red Storm Rookies 9566 also performed well at the varsity event qualifying for the finals.
“Things went really well for us,” said East Kentwood Red Storm Rookies Coach Nick Baribeau. “We were able to become alliance captains and won our first game against Alliance 2. I’m really proud of the way my kids performed.”
The Rookies are comprised entirely of freshmen and eighth graders. Many of those students became involved in robotics at an early age in the Kentwood school system and by the time they joined the rookie team they had acquired numerous skills that can be utilized on a robotics team.
They have turned in a solid season placing second at their first tournament and fourth at their second one.
A big part of the success of the East Kentwood robotics teams is the total effort put in by coaches, mentors and the students who log countless hours learning and honing a variety of math, science and technical skills.
I make sure that we have viable programs all the way up,” said Red Storm Robotics Coach and Program Coordinator Trista VanderVoord. “I get volunteers to coach the teams. A lot of our coaches from kindergarten through 12th grade are parent volunteers. Once we get into middle school and high school, we have some more technical mentors because that requires that kind of technical level.”
East Kentwood High School’s Red Storm Robotics 3875 robot that competed in the recent district competition.
Kids in the Kentwood school system can begin gaining technical skills in kindergarten working with LEGO robotics kits. Once they enter elementary school they can join school robotics teams. All 10 elementary schools in the East Kentwood school district have robotics teams.
“Kindergarten through third grade have their own mixed team,” VanderVoord said. “Then fourth and fifth grade is the next level. Then middle school, sixth through eighth grade, is a jump up and at that stage they are dealing with metal robots and their robots are 18 inches by 18 inches cubed, so they are dealing with bigger robots. And then the high school level is mammoth 125-pound robots.”
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Coach Trista VanderVoord.
Large program with 331 participants, 91 on a waiting list
The Red Storm program has 331 kids from K-12 with 91 on a waiting list due to needing more coaches. A total of 30 students are on the varsity team and 34 students on the Red Storm Rookies.
The robotics’ year-round calendar
Like the sports teams, robotics has competitions where the students can put their skills to the test. The competition season begins the first week of January when the teams get their challenge and begin building their robot and preparing for the first competition that usually takes place six weeks after starting to construct the robots. The competition season lasts for five weeks after the six-week building season. During the offseason, the students have summertime skill building, and then meet weekly in the fall to work on more skills.
The building of the robot requires advanced skills that prepare the students for real-life work in technical fields.
“The students do prototypes, they do the testing on all of their stuff,” VanderVoord said. “They actually put all their stuff in CAD (Computer Aided Design), so they make a virtual 3-D. They use the CAD to use our CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine to cut pieces out to use on the robot. It’s a huge process and it’s really like industry. That’s how things are built. It follows the same process just on a very short time frame.”
Just like a sport; robotics is a big commitment
The students on the team also put in plenty of time working on their robots and their skills. During the season the varsity team meets four nights a week from 6 to 9 p.m., and then on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a total of 17 hours per week.
Students also learn to specialize in specific skills in the years leading up to being on the varsity team much like athletic teams. Students learn skills in electrical, programming, mechanical and marketing and once they reach the varsity team they specialize in a particular skill.
Like the varsity team, the eighth grade/freshmen team also takes advantage of specialization to enjoy success.
“We have our team separated into several sub groups,” Baribeau said. “We have groups that focus on pit, fixing up the robot and repairing and replacing parts. We have a group that is devoted to just drive. We have a team devoted to building and manufacturing the parts. We even have a marketing crew.
“Allowing the students to experience all the different parts and then choose to specialize has really allowed the students to specialize.”
15th anniversary of the Kentwood Public Schools Robotics Program
This is the 15-year anniversary for the Kentwood Robotics Program.
“It’s a very cool model,” VanderVoord said of the robotics teams. “It sets them up for careers, and they can explore careers.”
The Super Bowl of high school robotics in West Michigan took place last weekend at East Kentwood High School and the fans in a jam-packed Falcon gymnasium had plenty to cheer about.
Forty 40 high school robotics teams and about 2,000 fans from across Michigan descended on the gym for the FIRST In Michigan (FIM) District Kentwood Event presented by Dematic.
For the third year in a row, the Grand Rapids West Catholic High School Enigma Robotics team won the district championship. West Catholic also earned the Excellence in Engineering Award and recorded the highest match score in the state.
West Catholic aligned with the Hopkins Tech Vikes and Shelby Tiger Bytes to defeat East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics, Wyoming Demons Robotics and Gull Lake Twisted Devils 2-0 (192-121, 199-111) in a best of three championship.
“We had a great weekend here,” said Anthony Uriarte, one of the coaches of the West Catholic team. “We actually had the state high-record with our alliance this weekend in the eliminations. It was a close match, but we were just really happy that our alliances and partners got together and put up some amazing scores and had a lot of fun.”
West Catholic Enigma Robotics took first for the third year in a row. (Photo Courtesy, FIRST Robotics, Phillip Place)
In this two-day event, teams compete in qualifying rounds and then form alliances with other teams to determine the overall champions in the playoff rounds.
Red Storm Robotics had a neighborhood alliance partnering with the Wyoming Demons Robotics. The partnership worked out great for the team as they placed second and qualified for this week’s state finals that are scheduled to take place from April 3-5 at Saginaw Valley State University.
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics finished in second place in the districts and also won the Impact Award, considered the most prestigious at the FIRST Robotics Competition. (Photo Courtesy, FIRST Robotics, Phillip Place)
“The 3875 Red Storm Robotics did amazingly well,” said East Kentwood Coach Trista VanderVoord. “We had not performed this well at either of our other competitions. They’ve been really working between competitions to get the robot even more robust. This competition is where it all came together. We had amazing alliance partners. We had the Demons from Wyoming, shout out to them, we love them.
“It all fell into place. They all worked so well together. Enigma (West Catholic) is just a great team and it would’ve been really hard to beat them. They are a force to be reckoned with for sure.”
Wyoming Demons
For the Wyoming Demons squad, the chance to be aligned with East Kentwood in the finals was a great experience.
“This was a fantastic competition for us,” said Wyoming Coach Amy Oostdyk. “We had a rough start at the beginning. After the first rounds we were the 40th team. We were the last one in the whole competition, but our students never gave up. They just kept fighting and fighting. And doing what they needed to do. No matter what happened. They fought their way back to where we are today in second place.”
Wyoming Demons Robotics 2025. (Photo Courtesy, FIRST Robotics, Phillip Place)
The alliance of neighbors Kentwood and Wyoming was not something new as the two programs have teamed up at other competitions in prior years.
“We were the winners of the Kentwood event together in 2022,” VanderVoord said. “So this was like a reunion for us. We didn’t win the event, but at least we were on an alliance.”
With 12 students, the Wyoming team was one of the smaller squads at the competition. While the team is small in numbers, it has outstanding team chemistry and unity which allows it to be successful.
“We are a very small team,” said Oostdyk, in her second year as Wyoming coach. “We have 12 kids that we brought today. Our team is really close. We are always working to support each other. Because life is complicated for a high school student whether they join a robotics team or not.”
West Catholic Enigma Robotics
Like Wyoming, the champion West Catholic team also is small in numbers with 12 students on the team. What the squad lacks in numbers, it makes up with versatility as the students learn a variety of skills that they blend together.
“We are actually a pretty small program,” Uriarte said. “We have about 12 students and about five active mentors that come on a pretty regular basis. The nice thing about being a small team is it allows the students to be involved in many different aspects. For instance, our drivers are design students. It allows the students to get involved in a lot of things and have a large impact on our program.”
West Catholic is among the premier teams in robotics in the state as they not only have qualified for the state tournament the past several years, but have also advanced to the world competition. Two years ago, the West Catholic team actually advanced to the final rounds at the world competition.
“We have been to the world competition the last five or six years,” said West Catholic co-Coach Matt Dressel. “This year we hope for the same thing, to get to the world competition and compete. We will do the best we can do and see what comes.”
A high school robotics team needs a variety of skills from designing and building the robot to driving the robot and developing marketing skills to acquire backing for the team.
The robotics season typically begins in early January where the students come up with the concept for the robot and then design and build the robot to be ready for competition that begins in March. While the competition season takes place for a few months, robotics teams meet and work on different robotics skills all throughout the school year to prepare for the season.
After competing in different competitions, the teams begin tournament play like the district tournament at East Kentwood.
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Coach Trista VanderVoord. (WKTV)
The EK tournament drew a packed and enthusiastic crowd of several thousand to the gymnasium creating a true big-game atmosphere.
“They work for at least eight weeks building something to showcase it for just a short five weeks,” VanderVoord said. “Every event is like our own Super Bowl. We’ve worked so hard to get here and now we get to actually do the thing we built this robot to do. The hype is real. It’s electrifying. It’s loud in here. States will be four-times louder because it’s four fields in the same arena. The energy level is amazing.”
A disease more associated with the 20th century is showing up across America this past winter and early spring, and while cases are rare in Michigan, the public needs to be aware that measles is making a comeback.
The measles disease was officially considered eliminated in the United State in the year 2000 due to the MMR vaccine and high vaccination rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disease, which is particularly rough on children, began showing up in February and early March in the Southwest United States and specifically New Mexico and West Texas.
As of March 28, 483 measles cases confirmed in U.S., one in Kent County
Since then, measles has been showing up across the nation, and according to the CDC, the latest numbers have shown an increase of cases with nearly half the states in the U.S. reporting cases. As of March 27, 2025, a total of 483 cases are confirmed across the nation. A total of 20 states have reported cases of measles, including Michigan. (CDC)
The first measles case in Michigan was confirmed in Oakland County (suburban Detroit) by the Michigan Health and Human Services Department (MHHSD). The CDC also has reported five outbreaks (defined as three or more related cases), across the country. A total of 14% of the cases have required hospitalization. The CDC also reports one confirmed death due to the measles and one other death under investigation. At the beginning of the month the CDC reported 164 confirmed cases.
As of April 2, there is one reported case in Kent County. Local health department officials are vigilant and monitoring the situation.
“We are monitoring measles activity statewide and nationally, and working with schools, healthcare providers and community partners to keep them informed about symptoms, testing protocols and reporting requirements,” said Christina Anthony, Communications Manager for Kent County overseeing the Health Department. “We also continue to raise awareness through our monthly newsletter and social media pages.”
According to the Michigan Health and Human Services Department, measles is a disease caused by a virus. It is one of the world’s most contagious diseases. The MHHSD website also states that 90% of persons without immunity to measles will become ill after exposure to the virus. It also states that measles can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area.
The MHHSD website also states the while some people think of measles as a rash and fever that clears up in a few days, the measles can actually cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than five years old.
While measles was considered eliminated in 2000, declining vaccination rates have opened the door for the disease to make a comeback, according to the CDC website. Health organizations across the country strongly recommend getting vaccinated to combat the disease.
Kent County residents can do their part to help prevent the spread of measles by taking some basic steps.
Residents are encouraged to ensure that their vaccinations are up to date with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Residents should check their immunization record through the Michigan Immunization Portal to ensure they are up to date or contact their healthcare provider.
Residents also are encouraged to avoid contact with infected individuals as the measles are highly contagious. Staying away from people who are known to have measles is important. Good hygiene practices also help prevent the spread of measles. Frequent hand washing with soap and water and covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing is stressed.
The CDC also has guidelines for when people should receive the MMR vaccine. For children, the CDC recommends they receive the first dose of MMR vaccine at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose at four through six-years of age.
For adults, the CDC recommends that those who do not have evidence of immunity, namely those born in 1957 or later, get at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Adults at higher risk, such as healthcare workers or individuals traveling internationally, may need an additional dose. A healthcare provide can offer specific recommendations based on an individual’s risk factors.
The MMR vaccine also is recommended for people six months and older who are planning on international travel. There is no recommendation for MMR vaccination for domestic travel. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, with two doses being about 97% effective at preventing measles. (CDC Website)
The City of Kentwood will again offer its brush and leaf drop-off service for residents starting Saturday, April 5.
Residents may drop off brush, sticks, tree limbs, logs, loose leaves and grass clippings at the Public Works Department, 5068 Breton Ave. SE, during new adjusted hours. The new hours are from 11 am. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
“We look forward to opening our brush and leaf drop-off site for the season and offering shifted hours based on community feedback,” Public Works Deputy Director Jim Wolford said. “We’re happy to provide an easy and convenient way for residents to dispose of brush and leaves during times that work with their schedules.”
The brush and leaf drop-off service will be offered through Friday, May 23, for Kentwood residents only, and proof of residency is required.
Materials that can’t be dropped off:
Materials that cannot be accepted include trash, paper and plastic bags, dirt, concrete, asphalt, tires, rocks, stones, construction materials, glass and metal.
In addition to making yard cleanup easier, the brush and leaf drop-off service also helps residents stay in compliance with City of Kentwood ordinances. The accumulation of leaves and debris on a property or in the right-of-way as well as the burning of leaves and brush are prohibited in Kentwood.
The Public Works Department gathered input through emails and phone calls from residents. Residents are encouraged to share feedback on the spring brush and leaf drop-off service by contacting the Public Works Department at ePublicWorks@kentwood.us or 616-554-0817.
More information about the City of Kentwood’s brush and leaf drop-off services is available at kentwood.us/BrushLeafDropOff.
Woodland Mall will celebrate the start of spring and the return of bunny photo opportunities with a Bunny & Friends event Saturday, March 29.
The free, entertainment-filled event will feature a special appearance by the bunny, Elsa and Spider-Man, as well as face painting and balloon twisting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Macy’s court. The event will mark the return of bunny photo opportunities, available through April 19.
“Our Bunny & Friends event promises to be a fun-filled morning as we welcome our favorite bunny along with other popular characters to Woodland Mall,” Senior Marketing Director Lisa Wolstromer said. “Everyone is invited to join for activities kids will love while capturing photo memories with friends and loved ones.”
Photos with the bunny will be offered in a spring-themed photo set March 28 through April 19 from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For the last weekend, extended hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be offered on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19.
(Photo Courtesy, Woodland Mall)
Beginning March 31, pets can join in for photos every Monday noon to 8 p.m. through April 14. Feathered and whiskered pets of all kinds are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash or in a carrier at all times. Owners must also sign a release prior to visiting.
Digital photo packages are available with add-ons such as prints and frames. Online reservations are encouraged at VIPholidayphotos.com/event/WOODLANDE25. Walk-up visits are permitted when space is available.
A sleepover at a friend’s house opened up an entire new world for East Kentwood sophomore Cadence Geemes.
Her friend asked if she’d like to come with her to robotics and she said, “Sure … and it just sparked my curiosity. I’ve always loved tinkering and robotics is just the place for it.”
Geemes is a project lead of the mechanical group on the East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Team 3875. As Project Lead of the robot, she’s responsible for teaching and directing other students as the primary builders of robot mechanisms.
Red Storm Robotics Coach Trista VanderVoord said though Cadence is at the beginning of her journey in robotics, she’s “pretty good at teaching one-on-one with students and is very interested in learning.
“Her placement into a leadership role as a 10th grader is impressive.”
Geemes will compete with her team at East Kentwood’s ninth FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition on Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30 at the high school (6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood).
“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. “In the 2025 game REEFSCAPE, two alliances of three robots each compete to score coral (tubes) on their reef, harvest algae (balls) from the reef, and attach to the barge before time runs out.”
Opening ceremonies for Day 1 begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 29 and on Day 2 at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 30 at East Kentwood High School. The complete agenda and more details on the competition can be found HERE. For a one-page game overview click HERE.
Always on her mind
Geemes talked about her love for robotics and how it never leaves her brain.
Cadence Geemes, Red Storm Robotics Team 3875 Project Lead. (Photo Courtesy, Trista VanderVoord)
“I’m always thinking about robotics,” she explained. “It’s a fun spot to be in. It’s taught me how to problem solve and think around the problem and go from different angles.
As for teaching people as a Project Lead, “I do enjoy guiding people. At first it was a little difficult because a lot of my friends are around the same age group as me. So, it’s weird them saying, ‘Why is my friend bossing me around?’ But I do enjoy having a leadership role, and I like checking things off and assigning people jobs.”
A bowler and tennis player, Geemes compares robotics to team sports.
“I would say it’s like you’re on a sports team because you’re so included and you do everything as a team together,” Geemes said. “At the same time they’re different because robotics is known as the sport of the mind and other sports are physical.
“I just love robotics so much because I love working with my hands and it makes me think, and I love to solve things and just figure things out.”
A mission to increase females in STEM
VanderVoord and Ljungren are on a constant mission to increase female participation in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Founder Wendy Ljungren and Coach Trista VanderVoord. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
Red Storm Robotics consists of 55% female leadership, which is a good number compared to the global average that women comprise only 29% of the STEM workforce, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum.
Though the numbers are slowly rising, 40% of girls with a 4.0 GPA don’t think they are smart enough for their dream career and 28% avoid classes with low female enrollment, according to a 2024 survey of 17,502 girls through ROX and Battelle. Rox is the national nonprofit authority on girls that conducts large-scale national research with girls and delivers evidence-based programs in schools nationwide and equips adults to better support and empower girls.
“On our high school team, the 10th through 12th graders, there are 30 kids with nine student leaders they have selected and five out of the nine are female leaders, which is excellent,” VanderVoord said with a smile. “That comes from many years of developing a culture where female participation is encouraged and Wendy is an excellent example for these girls in this program. She has the strong engineering background and is the perfect example of being a woman in this industry with the kinds of things she’s gone through to get where she’s gotten.
“She’s got a very successful business and she teaches them a lot of things beyond how you build a robot. She teaches them how to exist as a female engineer in this world.”
Geemes said sometimes you just see all guys, and, “you’re like, ‘Why am I the only one here?’ So if you see more females around you, you’re like, ‘Oh, I belong here. I can do this,’ like, that’s empowering.”
VanderVoord said she didn’t start her career in anything 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 kids were born and became a stay-at-home mom,” VanderVoord explained. “When I was going through college, I had absolutely no idea about robotics. This didn’t exist at Kentwood when I was in school.
“The goal was always that I was going to stay home with my kids, and then as my son was growing up he was interested in just about everything,” she continued. “And one of his interests, he saw a demo of robotics at his middle school and he said, ‘This sounds really cool,’ and I said, ‘Great, you and your dad can go do that robotics thing,’ and so that first year they did.”
The following year, however, her husband asked for help and VanderVoord jumped in and fell in love.
“I saw the growth in the kids and it wouldn’t have mattered to me if it was basket weaving or robotics.”
East Kentwood Red Storm Robotics Team 3875 robot that will compete in the upcoming competition. (WKTV/Cris Greer)
East Kentwood’s growth of robotics
“That first season was just a few kids and started by GE Aerospace and Wendy Ljungren in 2010,” VanderVoord explained. “The very next semester they started a high school level program.”
25 participants to start
VanderVoord said they had no supplies to start with and had to raise money, and had a teacher that came in to coach and a team of about 25 kids, “which was amazing that they got that much interest.”
And then 75
When VanderVoord took over as program coordinator, there were approximately 75 kids in the middle and high school program. However, COVID had just happened, and many of the kids didn’t rejoin.
“So we were starting very, very low then and one of my first objectives was to get robotics into the elementary schools in this district. We’re opening our 11th elementary school program this year. And I also needed to increase the number of girls in the program.”
A growth surge to 240, and now 330 and counting
“I was thrilled and that includes recruiting coaches for every single team, a lot more parents, some of them are staff … so the entire district at this point knows about this program.”
VanderVoord has now helped grow the program to 330 participants with a waiting list of 91, which exists because of a lack of coaches.
Ljungren on breaking the glass ceiling; “A long way to go”
“When I started it was at a facility with probably 350 engineers, and I was the first female at that time,” explained Ljungren, who’s been in the aviation business for more than 40 years in high profile roles in engineering for GE Aviation and AiRXOS, and recently formed a company called Anzen Unmanned. “It took years before there were many of us, and even now if you look at the number of women that are in engineering it’s pretty pathetic. The number of engineering graduates is getting better, but it still has a long way to go.”
It all began with recruiting more females in STEM
“Around 15 years ago, I was at GE Aviation leading the women in technology group and we were looking at how to get girls to take the math and science classes because they were not taking them to become engineers or scientists or going into those fields,” she explained. “That’s where we got started with FIRST Robotics LEGO League, then we were asked to start the high school team that spring, and now it’s our 15-year anniversary all because of trying to get girls excited about STEM.”
Ljungren talks about her passion for student led teams and giving them all the education and skillsets in technology, communication and teamwork that they can, and stresses how it’s for both females and males, “Because both sexes need all the help and maturing they can get … and opportunities to develop and grow.”
What sparked Ljungren’s career?
“I was always very good at math and relatively logical,” she explained. “I always had that skill, but I was thinking lawyer or architecture, and then my parents were very smart. They basically took me to see architecture and at that time women were just drafters, they didn’t do real serious architecture work … and my parents had me talk to both those professions. I really didn’t know much about engineering, but my favorite math teacher, my mom, highly encouraged me.
“And then I took engineering classes, was good at it, and I’m in the aerospace business and I really love the satisfaction of seeing airplanes that I help develop fly, and I’m very proud that I have not had any accidents with them.”
Senior Eva Mei
Building LEGOs as a child jump-started East Kentwood senior Project Lead Eva Mei into robotics.
“I’ve always been interested in robotics and any engineering related things since elementary school,” said Mei, who leads a team of three people on a certain aspect of the robot. “It started out with my elementary school having a program for Legos, like block coding, and it started from there. In middle school I got to explore in a lot of different fields from the programming to the designing to the actual hands-on manufacturing.
“I really enjoyed building a product … starting from scratch, working especially with other people to all create something that we’re proud of.”
Eva Mei, Red Storm Robotics Team 3875 Project Lead, has received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for the past three years for her impact on the community through Red Storm Robotics’ volunteer activities. (Photo Courtesy, Trista VanderVoord)
VanderVoord said Mei is a very strong, mechanical minded person that wants to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University. Mei has received a merit scholarship for $25,000.
“Eva’s been involved in the program since middle school, and has consistently grown year to year,” VanderVoord said. “She volunteers over a hundred hours a year to share FIRST Robotics with our school district and the community and has received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for the past three years for her impact on the community through Red Storm Robotics’ volunteer activities.”
Mei compares robotics with a sports team
“We’re all kind of rooting for each other and we want obviously to see ourselves win, but we also have to rely on each other as teammates,” Mei said. “I really enjoy passing my experiences along and my knowledge along to my other teammates so that in the future, when they are seniors, they can continue to pass that knowledge.”
Kudos to the teachers
“I have a lot of respect for Wendy, especially as a woman in STEM who started from way back when the balance was not as high as it is now,” she explained. “And even I still in this day and age struggle with some of the disparities that happen, and for them to be able to persevere through that, I have a lot of respect for them when they do that.
“With Miss V, she’s been leading our team for a pretty long time, and with her initiatives was able to break through in 2022 with boosting our stats of the percentage of women to men in robotics and STEM.”
Her plans are not only to major in mechanical engineering in college, but also to help improve the percentages of females in STEM fields.
“Right now, I’m looking into the automotive industry, but I really want to be able to succeed in a career, in a way, also as a woman,” Mei explained. “To be able to continue to extend the reach of STEM towards women, and not just reaching towards women more with STEM, but also creating a better environment and relationship between men and women within the field.
“I think robotics has allowed me to understand exactly what I want to do because it’s allowed me to experiment a lot with different aspects of engineering … but then in some aspect, it’s also allowed me to open my eyes into leadership, how to lead a team, how to manage different projects, and then has allowed me to see more of that balance between women and men in the STEM fields.
“I think that has made me push even more to want the field and the experience for women to be even better.”
At approximately 4:45 a.m. Thursday, the Kentwood Police Department responded to a report of a fight near the 4200 block of Nature Trail Dr. SE. Upon arrival, Officers found one male subject with a stab wound to his chest. The subject was later transported to a local hospital for treatment with serious injuries that do not appear to be life-threatening.
Another male subject was detained at the scene and is being questioned regarding the incident. At this time officers and detectives are currently working to speak with all involved and there is no further threat to the public.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentwood Police Department Detective Bureau at 616-656-6604. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or SilentObserver.org.
The South Christian Sailors girls basketball team found itself in a similar situation to last week’s regional title game, but unlike last week, a late comeback fell just a bucket short.
When a last-second layup attempt bounced off the rim with no time remaining on the clock, the Sailors saw a memorable state tournament run end with a 39-37 loss to Grand Rapids West Catholic in the Division 2 state quarterfinal game at Unity Christian.
Similar to the regional title game against Vicksburg, South Christian found itself facing a seven-point deficit with five minutes remaining. Just like the regional final, the Sailors mounted a furious comeback led by their defense. South Christian limited West Catholic to just two free throws in the final five minutes. Those free throws, however, proved just enough for West Catholic to hold off the determined Sailors.
“They don’t ever quit,” said South Christian Coach Erika Brown, about her player. “We just couldn’t connect on the offensive end like we usually do and it didn’t help missing our free throws tonight either. It was just one of those games where time just ran out on us.”
The game was a close, defensive struggle throughout. South Christian was up 9-7 at the end of the first quarter and took a 20-18 lead into halftime.
“We knew it was going to be a grind-out battle against a conference opponent,” said West Catholic Coach Derek Paiz. “We just wanted to come out here and execute on offense. I thought they (South Christian) did a really good job of switching between man and two-three zone. That kind of threw us off and held us below our season average.”
South Christian’s Lizzie Wolthuis (3) prepares to pass during the state quarterfinal game. (Photo Courtesy, Greg Chrapek)
Sailors up by three in the third until West Catholic run
The Sailors were up 28-25 midway through the third quarter before West Catholic went on a scoring spurt. The Falcons closed out the quarter with an 8-0 run to take a 33-28 lead into the fourth quarter.
West Catholic upped the lead to 37-30 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter before South Christian ramped up the intensity on the defensive side of the floor and began to create turnovers.
A bucket by Abby Prins cut the West lead to 37-32 with 3:54 remaining in the game. With 2:17 left, the Sailor defense forced another turnover, which led to a drive to the bucket by Sophia Prins. She was fouled and added the free throw to trim the Falcon lead to two.
With 1:44 remaining, West’s Elish Dykstra split a pair of free throws to put the Falcons up 38-35. South, however, trimmed the deficit to a single point with 57 seconds remaining in the game when Sophia Prins drained a pair of free throws.
The Sailor defense forced a turnover with 50 seconds remaining in the game, but came up empty on the ensuing possession. Abby Prins came up with a steal for the Sailors with 28 seconds remaining, but the Sailors lost possession with seven seconds remaining in the game.
Sailors’ last-second layup bounces out
West Catholic’s Anna Ignatoski split a pair of free throws with 6.8 seconds remaining giving the Sailors one final opportunity to tie or take the lead, but a last-second layup attempt bounced off the rim.
Sophia Prins South Christian with 12 points, followed by sophomore Meredith Helmus, 10 and freshman Natalie Wolthuis with five.
South Christian’s Kamryn Boonstra (10) and Meredith Helmus (14) prepare on defense during the state quarterfinal game. (Photo Courtesy, Greg Chrapek)
South Christian finished the season at 24-3, and shared the OK Gold with West Catholic, both teams at 11-1 in the conference.
“This season was pretty special,” Brown said. “With the group of girls that we have and coming off the season last year where we started that run at the end. We had some battles early in the season, but the run at the end just inspired us for this year. It’s one thing to sit down and talk about your dreams at the beginning of the season, but it’s another thing to actually work at the process of it and enjoy the process because it’s a long season.
“The girls bought into that this year and that alone speaks testament to how these girls are as individuals on and off the court. The whole journey was just fantastic.”
While the loss marked the end of the careers for South Christian seniors Kamryn Boonstra, Lily Nitz, Brianna Knott and Kaylee Quist, the bulk of the team is due back next season. The outcome was not what the Sailors wanted, but the state tournament run will propel the team into what should be another memorable season next winter.
“As a coach, when you look ahead that gets you excited about the future,” Brown explained. “Once this wears off, the hurt of this game wears off, it will sink into them that they made a run that was something special and they can make a comeback next year.”
The Falcons, who improved to 23-3, were led in scoring by senior Elisha Dykstra with 13 points.
The Tri-unity boys basketball team poses right after winning another Division 4 state championship. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler accepts the Division 4 state title boys basketball trophy from MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity’s Keaton Blanker lays one in during his team’s Division 4 state title win at MSU. Blanker led with 12 points. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity senior Noah Silverton on defense during his team’s Division 4 state title win. Silverton scored 11 points. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity fans cheer on their Division 4 state champs at the Breslin Center. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity’s Joey Mellon scored nine points in the championship game. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Joey Mellon had nine points and eight rebounds while nursing a knee injury in the championship game. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Clayton Rowlader hits a three during the championship game at MSU. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity’s Keaton Blanker quickly takes the ball down court during the title game at MSU. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity boys basketball team celebrates Division 4 state championship at school. (Photo Courtesy, Katlyn Keeler)
As the clock struck zero on his remarkable 38-year career coaching at Tri-unity Christian, Mark Keeler could finally let it all soak in at the Michigan State University Breslin Center Saturday as his Defenders captured back-to-back state championships for the first time in school history with a 49-32 win over Fowler.
Coach Keeler already has the court at Tri-unity named in his honor, but he stamped his legacy on the court at the Breslin Center. He concludes his career with a 20-10 record at the home of the Michigan State University Spartans.
“It’s surreal,” said Keeler, who’ll retire as one of Michigan’s most decorated high school basketball coaches. “I was really happy with the way they played.
“I was blessed by the Lord; nobody will convince me otherwise. For me, as a coach, we try to reflect Jesus in what we do. We are humans, so sometimes we lose it and don’t do the right things, but that doesn’t mean you don’t stop working at it; that’s the key: don’t quit.”
Keeler cemented at third statewide on all-time wins list Keeler concludes his career with a 721-218 record, placing him third on the all-time wins list. Additionally, he will finish with 13 appearances in the state finals, which ranks him second all-time, behind the legendary River Rouge Coach Lofton Greene, who holds the record with 17 appearances. Keeler retires with seven state championships.
Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler accepts the Division 4 state title boys basketball trophy from MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Defense has been the calling card for a Keeler-led team since the start, and it’s the type of play that led Tri-unity back to the state finals for the fifth consecutive time. The Defenders allowed only 39.4 points per game on their way to a 27-2 record this season.
“This is the best defensive team I’ve ever coached,” Keeler said.
The matchup against Fowler was a rematch of Tri-unity’s second game of the season on December 3, ending with a 62-59 Fowler win.
A strong 11-0 start
Tri-unity started strong, quickly jumping out to an 11-0 lead. It took Fowler until 3:27 remaining in the first quarter to score their first points of the game off a Jacob Halfmann trey. The Defenders rebounded well and limited the shots from the Eagles, but took only a five-point lead into the second quarter as the Eagles held firm on the defensive side and added another three-point shot by Aaron Simon to end the first at 11-6.
“I don’t think teams are ready for our defense at the beginning of games,” Keeler said.
Tri-unity answered back swiftly with a 13-0 run to start the second frame.
Tri-unity’s Keaton Blanker quickly takes the ball down court during the title game at MSU. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Keaton Blanker led the way with 12 points
Senior captain Keaton Blanker led the charge in that second quarter and for the game leading all scorers with 12 points, while adding five rebounds, five assists and four steals in the final game of a career that ended with three state championships.
“Our biggest emphasis was playing 32 minutes,” Blanker said. “We don’t stop fighting until that final buzzer, and we did that. I’m just so happy for all us players.”
Up by 18 in the second quarter
The Defenders led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter before Fowler scored seven unanswered points including their first ones in the paint with 2:05 remaining in the half.
Blanker ended the half with two free throws, giving Tri-unity a 28-16 halftime lead.
If the Defenders had a weakness on the season, it was the third quarter. In the regional final game against Kalamazoo Phoenix, Tri-unity fumbled an 18-point lead.
“We’ve had letups in the past, and it almost cost us against Kalamazoo Phoenix,” Keeler said. “Having those games helped us. I can point it out when we let up on defense and let them back in the game. But we didn’t let up and we played great defense all the way through.”
Fowler begins closing gap near the end
Fowler closed the gap to within nine points with 3:07 left in the game, but the Defenders managed to slow down the pace. With two minutes remaining, junior guard Clayton Rowlader made a three-pointer to extend their lead to 12. Thirty seconds later, Rowlader hit another three to seal the victory, allowing Keeler to let out a sigh of relief.
Fowler finished 5-26 from beyond the arc in a challenging shooting game, scoring only 16 points from the paint while shooting 27.7 percent from the field.
Senior center Joey Mellon had nine points and eight rebounds all while nursing a knee injury.
“I can’t say enough good things about that young man (Mellon); him and Keaton have been phenomenal leaders,” Keeler said. “I give them all the credit as captains. I had great senior leadership and when you have good senior leadership good things happen.”
Senior Noah Silverton added 11 points in his final game.
“What a great group of boys to coach my last year, they were very coachable, they were a great group.”
It all began in 1983 for Keeler
Keeler’s coaching career at Tri-unity began during the 1983-1984 season, when the program started with an eighth and ninth-grade team. Coach Keeler became a varsity coach for the first time during 1985-1986 season.
“That first year we got drilled a few times,” Keeler said with a laugh.
He took a two year break before returning to Tri-unity for the 1991 season and has led the program since.
Tri-unity Athletic Director Evan Przybysz had a front-row seat to many of Keeler’s years at Tri-unity. First, he was a water boy, then, a player winning a state championship, and finally, he worked side-by-side with Coach Keeler, first as an assistant coach and then as athletic director.
“Coach Keeler cared more about your spiritual journey…”
“He’s instilled a culture through the school where so many kids wanted to play basketball for him,” Przybysz said. “He would teach the game of basketball and implement his systems that have been so successful for many years, but ultimately, Coach Keeler cared more about your spiritual journey than your basketball journey.
“He wanted to make sure your relationship was right with the Lord, and that was his number one priority. Basketball gave him that ability and platform to pour into young men and help instill that foundation that when they left Tri-unity, they would become better husbands and fathers one day.”
After a legendary career, Coach Keeler is now ready to embrace retirement. He looks forward to cherishing precious moments with his wife, Cheryl.
“Now that we are retired, she’s stuck with me,” Keeler said. “We spend a lot of time together. I love it, we have a blast.”
The City of Kentwood is inviting job seekers to explore seasonal opportunities available in its Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments at a hiring event Wednesday, March 26.
The event takes place in the Community Room at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. There will be two sessions: 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 7 p.m. Attendees can explore various seasonal job opportunities, complete a job interest form or application and may be invited to participate in an on-the-spot interview. The event is open to all individuals ages 18 and older.
Positions featured at the event include sports, fitness and enrichment instructors, park custodians, day camp counselors and referees for Parks and Recreation and seasonal grounds maintenance assistants for Public Works.
“We hire many people each summer to support all of our various programming,” Parks and Recreation Director Val Romeo said. “We’re excited to meet passionate candidates who are looking for flexible work schedules and the chance to earn income, whether part-time or full-time, this summer.”
Bring copies of your resume
Community members planning to attend the event should bring copies of their resume and be prepared for an on-the-spot interview.
“With summer approaching, our Public Works Department is looking for seasonal employees to help during our busy season,” Public Works Director Chad Griffin said. “We’re looking for dedicated community members to help maintain the city’s appearance and infrastructure.”
Individuals interested in learning more about seasonal employment opportunities at the City of Kentwood but unable to attend the event can visit kentwood.us/employment for current openings. For more information about the hiring event, visit the city’s website.
Trailing by seven points midway through the fourth quarter of the Division 2 regional championship against Vicksburg, the South Christian girls basketball team was at a crossroads.
They needed to turn things around in a hurry if they were going to continue their state tournament run. The Sailors did just that, as they mounted a furious rally in the final minutes of the game to overtake Vicksburg and claim a regional crown with a 64-57 win.
The win sends them to next Tuesday’s Division 2 state quarterfinal game at Unity Christian where they face Grand Rapids West Catholic at 7 p.m.
South Christian Coach Erika Brown called a timeout during the fourth quarter to remind the team of what they needed to do to accomplish their goal of a regional title and to continue what has been a memorable tournament run.
“We called that timeout and I just said to the girls, this is what you’ve been preparing for all season and it comes down to the will to win,” Brown explained. “That’s what we had to concentrate on. We weren’t doing the little things all game long that we needed to so we needed to really focus on that.
That (Vicksburg) is a good team; a very, very good team. They are well coached and we needed to do everything spot on to give ourselves a chance.”
The Sailors responded to Brown’s words in a big way, trailing 53-46, South Christian closed out the game by outscoring Vicksburg 18-4. Junior guard Sophia Prins played a key role in the rally, coming up with a big steal and bucket to start the run. With 1:40 remaining in the game, Prins delivered a key assist as her pass to Lizzie Wolthuis led to a bucket that put the Sailors up 56-55.
South Christian’s Lizzie Wolthuis (3), who totaled 14 points, drives the baseline against Vicksburg. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
Prins then had another key steal and drove the floor for a layup attempts. She was fouled on the play and then sank a pair of free throws upping the lead to 58-55 with 1:16 left.
“That is Sophia our point guard,” Brown said. “She is so physical on both ends of the floor. She is our general, our floor leader. When she gets going the rest of us just follow.”
Six consecutive points near the end to seal the win
Vicksburg cut the margin to 58-57 before the Sailors closed the game out with six consecutive points in the final minute of the game. Four of those points came from Prins, including a pair of key free throws.
“We got down by a little bit, but we just worked super hard and we didn’t give up,” Prins said. “We knew that the game wasn’t over. It was because we love each other and we stuck together.”
The two teams were no stranger to each other as the Sailors and Bulldogs met in the regional title game last season. Vicksburg came out ahead last year with a 49-34 win, and for the Sailors, winning the title this year against the Bulldogs was extra special.
“Last year we lost in regionals to Vicksburg so this was revenge,” Prins said. “We did everything we could to make it to quarterfinals next week. I knew to win this we would have to get deflections and steals and give them the least amount of offensive possessions as possible, and we did just that.”
The game was a back-and-forth struggle throughout. South Christian led 21-13 at the end of the first quarter and was up 36-30 at the half before Vicksburg battled back to take a 49-46 lead heading into the final quarter.
“We knew we were going to get a game of runs with them,” Brown said. “They (Vicksburg) are good three-point shooters and flashers to the hoop and that’s what they did.”
Prins led South Christian with 24 points, including 3, three-point buckets. In all, the Sailors connected on 12 three-point shots. Junior Lizzie Wolthuis converted four treys as part of her 14 points, while senior Lily Nitz scored all nine of her points on treys. Sophomore Meredith Helmus added seven points, followed by freshman Abby Prins with six.
“This title is so special,’ Brown said. “We talk a lot about being family and being connected and what will get you to that victory line is that. This is a special group of girls. From seniors down to our two freshmen on our team. The way our seniors have led this team with grace. Our freshmen have never skipped a beat.
“It’s been a really good journey. I’m so proud of these girls. The fight, the determination, the competitiveness. The outright love they have not only for the game, but for each other. It’s really special.”
Vicksburg, which finished the season with a 23-3 record, was paced in scoring by seniors Scarlett Hasner (26 points) and Makayla Allen (19). The pair was especially effective from long range as they combined for 9 three-point buckets.
South Christian, which improved to 24-2, advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinal to face OK Gold rival West Catholic (22-3). The two teams finished atop the conference at 11-1 each. West Catholic won the first meeting between the two rivals in January by a 62-49 margin, while South Christian won the rematch in February 58-51.
All season long, Tri-unity Christian has used a suffocating defense to get out to a sizable lead to start games. Their quarterfinal matchup against Adrian Lenawee Christian was no different.
The Defenders claimed a 32-12 lead after the first half en route to a 56-43 victory that sends them to the Breslin Center for their sixth consecutive final four appearance.
“This is the best defensive team I have coached,” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler, whose program will make its 16th appearance in the final four under his coaching. “I don’t think teams are ready for our defense, and it takes them a while before they can adjust. We’ve done that to a lot of teams where they can’t score against us. The tough part is we get those leads and then we start coasting and let them back in … we need to keep that intensity.”
Tri-unity held Adrian Lenawee Christian to a 26.9 shooting percentage and out rebounded them 36-27. The Defenders also excelled in the paint, outscoring the Cougars 34-8 from in close. Lenawee Christian was averaging 75 points per game throughout their playoff run.
“We played a really good game, we put them on their heels and they could never recover,” Keeler said.
Senior Noah Silverton was tasked with guarding the leading point scorer on the Cougars.
“Noah had to cover their best player; he did a wonderful job. He came in averaging 25 points per game and Noah held him to 17. He matched him step for step.”
Silverton also added 16 points on the offensive side of the floor.
Senior capitan Keaton Blanker once again showed why he is considered one of the best players in Division 4 in the state of Michigan. Blanker delivered in his third career quarterfinal game finishing the night with 11 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
“Keaton had an unbelievable game, he did great in the playoffs last year as well,” Keeler said.
Tri-unity’s Keaton Blanker from earlier this season. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Keeler credits his teams tough non-conference schedule as a huge advantage when it comes tournament time. Tri-unity played multiple Division 2 teams throughout the year, even beating Division 1 East Grand Rapids 61-58 earlier this season. Tri-unity also beat Sparta, who lost to local powerhouse Grand Rapids Catholic Central in its regional final D-2 matchup.
“It definitely helps us, you play tough teams it makes you tough,” Keeler explained.
Tri-unity now hopes to reach a fifth consecutive state championship game in Coach Keeler’s final season.
“I think the kids do care about that, they are a great group of boys, I don’t think I could say enough good things about them. They have been very coachable.”
The No. 1 ranked Defenders (25-2) face No. 2 Crystal Falls Forest Park (25-2) Thursday night at the Breslin Center in East Lansing at 5:30 pm. Crystal Falls edged Pickford 45-43 to advance.
The other Division 4 semifinal game is Fowler (24-3) vs, Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (24-3).
Avelo Airlines announced today it will start service at Grand Rapids’ Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) with nonstop routes to North Carolina’s Research Triangle via Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Central Florida’s Lakeland International Airport (LAL). Avelo is the only airline offering nonstop service between Grand Rapids and these two destinations. Affordable one-way fares start at $59*.
Beginning in May, Avelo will operate these routes twice weekly on Fridays and Mondays, utilizing Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. Travelers can make reservations at AveloAir.com.
Lakeland International Airport (LAL)
Begins June 13, 2025, with twice weekly service on Mondays and Fridays
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Begins May 23, 2025, with twice weekly service on Mondays and Fridays
Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, “Grand Rapids – say hello to Avelo! We are proud to announce service at GRR and introduce a new era of convenient, affordable and industry-leading reliable travel to the Grand Rapids area. This service makes visiting North Carolina’s Research Triangle and Central Florida’s Lakeland easier than ever. We also look forward to making Grand Rapids’ world-class attractions, outdoor recreation and famous food and craft beverage scenes, easier than ever for RDU and LAL travelers to enjoy.”
GRR Airport Authority Board Chair Dan Koorndyk said, “We are thrilled to welcome Avelo Airlines to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, marking an exciting milestone for our community. With the addition of nonstop service to Raleigh-Durham and Lakeland, we’re not only expanding our flight options but also opening up new, unserved markets for our passengers. This new partnership reflects our commitment to providing greater connectivity and convenience for the West Michigan region, and we look forward to the opportunities it brings for both leisure and business travelers.”
Raleigh / Durham, N.C. (RDU) – Nonstop Access to The Research Triangle
The Triangle Region offers the widest range of activities and attractions in North Carolina. This region boasts award-winning inns, hotels and spas, culinary delights for every taste, and cultural experiences including university gardens and art and history museums. A trip to this blossoming Southern metropolis leaves visitors enriched and energized the instant they’re welcomed by its smart, savvy locals. RDU is also home to three large research universities: Duke University, NC State University and the University of North Carolina.
Exploring the Best of Central Florida via Lakeland (LAL)
Conveniently situated between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland is only a short drive to two of Florida’s most popular destinations and just an hour away from the Gulf Coast’s beaches.
Lakeland is one of the fastest growing areas in the country with its strong appeal for vacationers, retirees, and entrepreneurs. It is home to a multitude of family-friendly activities, including the LEGOLAND Florida Resort and Detroit Tigers Spring Training. The community has award-winning parks, vast trail networks, scenic lakes, a vibrant restaurant scene, and craft breweries all within walking distance of its historic downtown.
America’s most reliable and convenient airline
Since taking flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo has flown more than 6.3 million Customers on over 50,000 flights. Today Avelo serves 56 cities spanning 23 states and Puerto Rico, as well as four international destinations: Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Avelo has unlocked a new era of convenience, choice, and competition by flying unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country. Most Avelo routes have at least one small, easy to use airport. This makes traveling with Avelo a smoother, easier and more enjoyable experience than contending with the crowds, congestion and long walks at larger airports.
Avelo is distinguished by its industry-leading reliability. In 2024, Avelo ranked #1 in on-time performance and achieved the lowest flight cancellation rate in the U.S. airline industry. These results are provided by Anuvu, a leading aviation data services company also utilized by The Wall Street Journal for the publication’s annual airline ranking. Anuvu’s complete industry results and rankings are available at AveloAir.com.
Avelo also delivers world-class customer satisfaction, exemplified by our Net Promoter Scores (NPS), which consistently rank among the best airlines and most admired brands in the world.
Avelo offers an abundance of advanced seating options. One third of its aircraft seats (Avelo Premium and Premium Economy) offer extra leg room — ranging from 32 inches to more than 36 inches of pitch. These seats offer a more comfortable experience for customers who value more space. Customers can also purchase window and aisle seats in advance of their flight. In addition to advance seat assignments, Avelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give customers the flexibility to pay only for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin.
Additionally, families can travel with ease knowing every child 14 and under will be automatically seated with an accompanying adult at no additional cost.
Tri-Unity Christian was pushed to the limit, but ultimately secured its 20th regional title with a 62-52 home-court win over Kalamazoo Phoenix Thursday night.
With a comfortable 35-17 lead at halftime, the Defenders hoped to cruise to an easy victory, but had to fend off a Kalamazoo Phoenix team that erased an 18-point deficit.
“There was no quit in them (Kalamazoo Phoenix),” said Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler. “We were up comfortably at halftime, and they came all the way back; they fought back, but then they ran out of gas. That will happen when you need to expend that much energy.”
Falcons get close with 22 in the third
The Falcons used a 22-point third quarter to cut the Tri-unity lead to one early in the fourth. Kalamazoo Phoenix was only down six with 3:30 left before the Defenders finally put them away.
“We didn’t shoot well so we had to win ugly,” Keeler explained. “We were 1-for-15 from the free point line and had 15 turnovers, but we responded by being more patient with our plays.”
Six-foot-seven senior center Joey Mellon led the Defenders with 18 points, adding six rebounds. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity sophomore Cody Osbun had 16 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity wins 20th regional title in school history. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity wins 20th regional title in school history. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Six-foot-seven senior center Joey Mellon paced the Defenders with 18 points, adding six rebounds. Sophomore Cody Osbun made his presence known with 16 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Tri-unity advances to its sixth consecutive quarterfinal game, a matchup with Adrian Lenawee Christian at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at Gull Lake High School.
The two teams meet for the second time this season. Tri-unity notched a 58-44 win over them in the Schoolcraft Champions Classic on January 4, the beginning of a 19-game winning streak for the Defenders.
“We’ve met up with them a few times over the years,” Keeler said. “We played a great game against them right after the holiday. They were missing a few players so we expect an even closer game this time; they are a great shooting team.”
With seven sophomores and a freshman on the roster, the East Kentwood girls basketball team has a bright future. That future, however, is actually now as the young Falcons collected a major trophy when they defeated Caledonia 44-40 Friday to win the Division 1 district championship at Byron Center High School.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 13-12 for the season. East Kentwood advances to a regional semifinal game against Forest Hills Northern (22-2) at 7 p.m. Monday at Grandville High School.
Grit and hustle proved key for East Kentwood, and those elements were displayed on defense and the boards where the Falcons scored a number of points off offensive rebounds. They also displayed plenty of poise down the stretch as they connected on some key free throws in the final minutes.
“I think it was our grit that got us over the top,” said East Kentwood Coach Eric Large. “Our sophomores, Logan Richardson and Jazanaye Silva, and we have a freshman, Nevaeh Eubanks, they are so scrappy and gritty that I knew that we could dominate the boards.”
East Kentwood’s Jazanaye Silva secures a rebound in between a pair of Caledonia defenders. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
East Kentwood led 20-17 at the half
Eubanks and Silva came up big on the offensive glass late in the opening half as the Falcons scored some key buckets derived from offensive rebounds to take a 20-17 lead into halftime.
The Falcons kept up the strong work on the offensive boards in the opening minutes of the second half as buckets off rebounds by Sophie Cobb, Jaslynn Ward and Silva enabled the Falcons to open up a 26-21 lead.
East Kentwood’s Sophie Cobb looks for an open teammate during Friday’s district game. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
Their lead grew to 29-21 later in the quarter before Caledonia trimmed it to 31-26 at the end of the third after a three ball by Myla Gortmaker and a bucket by Emily Stauffer.
East Kentwood extended the lead to 36-29 midway through the final quarter highlighted by a pair of buckets by Ward.
Caledonia, however, continued to battle back. The Fighting Scots cut the Falcon advantage to 36-34 with 2:29 remaining in the game when Olivia Foster drained a three ball.
Kentwood rebuilt the lead on a bucket by Richardson and then an offensive rebound putback by Silva gave the Falcons a 40-34 advantage with 1:04 left.
Caledonia refused to fold as Sauffer and Foster nailed treys in the final minute of the game. The Falcons, however, were able to stave the Fighting Scots off as sophomore guard Aries Branch connected on four of six free-throw attempts in the final 30 seconds of the game to secure the win.
“This is special because I have so many sophomores playing,” Large said. “My seniors have been hurt all year and I just got Ward back two weeks ago.”
Ward, who has been a consistent source of offense for the Falcons this season, finished the game with a team-high 14 points. Silva and Sophie Cobb both added nine points, followed by Branch with six.
“That’s good for them to get a trophy,” Large said. “We are so young with the sophomores and its good for the seniors to be able to advance and get some hardware. It’s good for the younger kids to understand what winning looks like.”
Playing a rugged schedule both in the conference and in non-league play also helped the young Falcons reach a point where they can bring home a district trophy. Along with playing state-ranked teams Rockford, Grand Haven and Hudsonville two times each during the conference schedule, the Falcons played non-league games against state-ranked teams like Belleville (23-1), South Christian (22-2) and Grand Rapids West Catholic (20-3).
“I schedule a rigorous schedule,” Large explained. “I think Rockford had the number one strength of schedule and we were number two. A lot of the losses that we took were against top ten teams. People look at our record and go ahhh, we can beat them, but no, we are coming to play hard basketball.”
Caledonia finished the season with an 18-6 record. Like the Falcons, the Fighting Scots have a young team with six freshmen and three sophomores on the roster. Two of the freshmen, Emily Stauffer and Olivia Foster, led the team in scoring against the Falcons as Stauffer had 14 points and Foster added 11. Gortmaker, also a freshman, added five points.
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
The East Kentwood, South Christian and Zion Christian girls basketball teams all won their respective district championship games on Friday and advance to the regional semifinals.
In a Division 1 final at Byron Center, East Kentwood beat Caledonia 44-40 to advance to regional play. The Falcons (13-12 overall) face Forest Hills Northern (22-2 overall and OK White champions) at 7 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Grandville High School.
In Division 2, South Christian defeated Holland Christian 59-50 for its district title. The Sailors (22-2 and top of the OK Gold) will play Paw Paw (20-4) at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, at South Christian.
Meanwhile, Zion Christian won a Division 4 district championship Friday with a 33-28 win over local rival Tri-unity Christian. The Mountaineers (18-6) face St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran (10-14) at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Martin High School.
A leader on the basketball court as a high school and college standout, and then a leader in the classroom and at every level of educational administration over a 33-year career, Arnetta Thompson has been a staunch advocate for underrepresented groups in sports.
To recognize her work in creating opportunities for those groups, and all students, the Wyoming Godfrey-Lee Public Schools superintendent has been selected as the recipient of this year’s Nate Hampton Champion of Progress in Athletics Award by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
The Hampton Award was created by the MHSAA’s Representative Council to honor Nate Hampton, who retired in 2021 after serving in education and educational athletics for 50 years, including the last 32 as an MHSAA assistant director. Honorees have championed the promotion and advancement of opportunities for women, minorities and other underrepresented groups within interscholastic athletics, while serving as an administrator, coach, official, educator or school sports leader in Michigan.
Thompson is the second recipient of the award, as Novi principal Nicole Carter received the inaugural honor last year. Thompson will receive the Hampton Award during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Division 1 Final on March 15 at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
“I’m passionate about students – especially students that are not always the top of the class…”
“I just feel honored that I’m allowed to be in these spaces, to be selected as a principal or a superintendent, that people believe in me enough to believe I can help their students become better people and reach their goals,” Thompson said. “The rewarding part is seeing those students that you reconnect with or those you stay connected with and see what their paths in life become as a result of crossing paths with me.
“I’m passionate about students – especially students that are not always the top of the class, not the typical student – and helping guide them with the resources and with people that look like them and then opportunities to do some things they hadn’t done and didn’t even think they could do.”
Thompson is in her second school year as superintendent of Godfrey-Lee schools. She previously served 20 years in Grand Rapids Public Schools – as a teacher for six, then as an athletic director, assistant principal, instructional assistant principal and K-8 principal – and also served as an elementary curriculum specialist for Muskegon Public Schools and in multiple roles in the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System including as superintendent during the 2021-22 school year. She began her professional career as a teacher in Memphis City, Tenn., schools after graduating from Tennessee Tech University.
She is a two-time appointee to the MHSAA Representative Council – previously serving from 2009-13 and currently a two-year term.
“Arnetta Thompson’s work to empower her students and those who have worked for her and with her is simply inspiring,” said MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl. “She has brought compassion and vision to every district with which she’s served. The Hampton Award recognizes promotion and advancement of underrepresented groups within interscholastic athletics, and Arnetta has continuously provided leadership in that area including now during a second tenure on the MHSAA Representative Council.”
Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education biology from Tennessee Tech in 1990, and her master’s in education with a concentration in educational leadership from Western Michigan University in 2001. She went on to also earn an educational specialist degree from Grand Valley State University in 2011 and her doctorate in philosophy from Eastern Michigan University in 2017.
During six years teaching at Memphis City, Thompson also served as varsity head coach of the girls basketball, volleyball and track & field teams. Coming to Grand Rapids Public Schools in 1997, she served as a lead teacher at Grand Rapids Union’s alternative high school, then as athletic director and assistant principal at Grand Rapids Creston. She also served as an assistant girls basketball coach at Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills for one season and coached the Grand Rapids Central varsity for four.
Achieved 8 varsity letters at Ottawa Hills and played basketball at Tennessee Tech
Thompson earned eight varsity letters across three sports for Ottawa Hills before graduating in 1985, garnering all-state recognition in basketball and all-city in volleyball and also competing in track & field. She then played four seasons of basketball at Tennessee Tech, starting on the team that reached the NCAA Tournament in 1988-89. Thompson has been married to her husband Willie for more than 30 years. They have two daughters, Daenetta Joseph and Arnell Thompson.
At Emmanuel Hospice, legacy projects typically involve hand molds, fingerprints and heartbeat recordings, often paired with a quote, poem or song. (Photo Courtesy, Misty Galant)
Sentimental objects have a special way of keeping the memory of a loved one alive.
In hospice, creating keepsakes or legacy items has become increasingly common as a meaningful way to help cope with grief by physically preserving the memory of a loved one through tangible items.
At Emmanuel Hospice, legacy projects typically involve hand molds, fingerprints and heartbeat recordings, often paired with a quote, poem or song. As a bereavement coordinator, Katie Mayberry has facilitated numerous legacy activities, alongside volunteers and other care team members. She’s found them to be rewarding for everyone involved.
“Legacy projects are very patient-centered experiences that have a profound impact,” Mayberry said. “The activities themselves create a memory in the moment, often elicit stories and lead to more in-depth conversation afterwards. Loved ones then have a keepsake to reflect on later and use to process their grief.”
The projects, offered through the nonprofit’s art legacy and music therapy programs, are unique to each individual patient and can incorporate personal elements. The ultimate purpose, Mayberry says, is to foster connection. The activities also can be adapted for a patient’s energy level and comfort, including those transitioning to the active dying stage.
“We make sure every legacy-type experience is met with lots of grace,” Mayberry explained. “That’s especially important during times when patients aren’t able to participate in the same way as someone earlier in their end-of-life journey.”
That was the case for Misty Galant’s husband, Jon, who received care from Emmanuel in 2023 when his health began rapidly declining in the end stage of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease.
“Katie was supporting our family, and when it became clear Jon was beginning to transition, she asked if we would be interested in a hand mold,” Galant said. “I said absolutely, and she showed up the next morning. It was a nice distraction from the condition my husband was in, and to have a conversation with Katie the whole time we were waiting for the mold to harden.”
With Misty and Jon, Mayberry remembers the experience was very intimate. The women knelt together on the ground next to Jon’s bed to ensure he stayed comfortable throughout the process.
“It is an imperfect process to create the hand molds, in the loveliest way,” Mayberry explained. “You must be in close proximity to one another, relatively still and physically present for 10 minutes.
“It often brings a lot of laughter, actually, and in a sense, joy. Stories come up that we don’t anticipate. It can also be a really emotional experience between patient and their spouse, or whoever they’re holding hands with.”
While Misty and Jon’s hand mold was a little more challenging to set up, Mayberry says theirs was one of the most detailed she has ever obtained.
“You could see all 10 fingers and their wedding rings, and that was really important,” Mayberry said. “I just remember it being a really wonderful experience with both laughter and tears.
“Misty has the hand mold on a shelf with a picture of them. It is just so rewarding to see something like that and know it’s so important for her to be able to have it. It was such a meaningful experience. That’s what we’re aiming for.”
Misty added: “I’m not sure what it is about the hand sculpture, but it’s just such a visual reminder I think because it’s actually our hands. Anytime I look at it, it’s a visual reminder of Jon and the bond we had. It’s the most personal gift I received during that time. I love it.”
Misty now volunteers with the nonprofit. As interest in legacy projects continues to grow, Emmanuel Hospice is seeking the support of additional volunteers, as well as donations, to help serve patients and families. Those interested may call 616-719-0919, email info@EmmanuelHospice.org or visit EmmanuelHospice.org for more information.
A scoring drought at the worst possible time proved to be the difference for the South Christian boys basketball team as the Sailors dropped a 47-44 decision to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the semifinals of a Division 2 regional Tuesday at Grand Rapids Christian.
In a game that was close throughout, the Sailors were unable to buy a bucket in the final two minutes and 30 seconds of the struggle between the perennial Division 2 powerhouses.
“This game won’t define us”
“It was a great game,” said South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson. “I thought it was two really, really physical tough teams. Give them (Catholic Central) a lot of credit. They made one more shot than we did and it ended up being the difference.
“This game won’t define us. It won’t define the season that we had. We won 20 games, the conference championship, a district championship, we beat some really, really good teams along the way. I’m really proud of my guys the way they kept fighting when the ball wasn’t going in for us.”
The fourth quarter looked promising for South Christian in the early going. The Sailors, who were up 32-31 at the beginning of the quarter, built the lead to 38-33 with five minutes remaining in the contest. South Christian senior standout Carson Vis led the Sailors in the early minutes of the final quarter as he pumped in six points during a 6-2 run.
Cougars post 8-0 run in the fourth
Catholic Central, however, responded in a big way led by junior Izaya Lathridge. The Cougars responded with an 8-0 run as Lathridge scored a bucket and then came back to drain a three-point shot that tied the game at 38-38 with 4:20 remaining in the game. Lathridge then struck again from long range as his three-pointer at the 3:19 mark found the bottom of the net and staked the Cougars to a 41-38 lead.
“The guys did a tremendous job,” said Catholic Central Coach Chris Pearl. “We were locked in as we knew they beat us by double digits January 28. The way our guys have fought, the ways these guys bonded together. Our effort, our fight, our togetherness is second to none.”
That trey ignited a run of threes by both teams. South Christian responded with a three of its own as Caleb Pleune sank a triple tying the game at 41-41 with 3:04 remaining.
Catholic then came back with a three ball from Jordan McCoy with 2:42 remaining that put the Cougars up 44-41. On South’s ensuing possession Davis Kemper rained in a trey to tie the game at 44-44 with 2:29 remaining.
South Christian’s Davis Kemper (35) looks for an open teammate. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
For the Sailors, those points would prove to be the final points they would score in the contest as the basket seemed to have a lid on it for the remainder of the game.
Catholic Central took the lead for good with 1:17 remaining in the game when McCoy drove baseline and scored what proved to be the game-winning points.
South missed a three-pointer on its next possession and with 30 seconds left the Sailors were denied again after turning Catholic Central over on defense and coming up empty on the offensive end.
After McCoy split a pair of free throws with 15 seconds remaining in the game, South had one final opportunity, but the Sailors missed a pair of free throws and a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
“The ball wasn’t falling for us tonight”
“The ball wasn’t falling for us tonight,” Johnson said. “We obviously didn’t play our best. Man, we missed a lot of layups, a lot of free throws. In a three-point game you can’t do that at this stage.”
Both teams experienced difficulties at the free-throw line in the tense game as South Christian finished the game converting six-of-13 free throws, while Catholic Central converted just two-of-six.
Catholic Central, which improved to 19-7 with the win, led the game 9-8 at the end of the first quarter. South Christian, which ended the season with a 20-5 record, surged ahead in the second quarter and led 24-19 at halftime before the lead was whittled down to 32-31 heading into the final quarter.
South Christian’s Nolan Fackler (13) looks to inbound the ball against Catholic Central. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
Lathridge led Catholic Central with 14 points, including four treys. Collin Lott added 11 points, followed by Jordan McCoy and Jack Bowen with nine apiece.
Catholic Central drains 7 threes
For the game, the Cougars connected on seven three-point shots.
“Every day, these guys are in the gym,” Pearl said. “Whether its before school, after school, before practice or after practice. If you looked at our season shooting, it’s not the best. We average about five threes a game on 20ish attempts, but if you trust it, you have confidence, and that’s the biggest thing in shooting. It’s not the way you start, it’s the way you finish it.”
Vis led the way for South Christian with 19 points, followed by Ike Schrotenboer, 12 and Davis Kemper, five.
For the Sailors, the loss meant the end of the high school careers for a memorable eight-man senior class that included Vis, Schrotenboer, Kemper, Pleune, Fackler, Charlie DeHaan, Ty Brinks and Wyatt Sall.
“This class was really special,” Johnson said. “Eight seniors that I felt were all in, all year. They gave us a lot of stuff to be proud of. I’m really, really proud of them. I think some of the guys left their legacy and they will be remembered forever.
“This game can’t define us who we are as people, we just have to continue to be strong in our faith and just think about all the positives in life.”
Tri-unity Coach Mark Keeler returned to the bench Tuesday night for a regional semifinal game against Bellevue after missing the district finals last Friday with the flu.
“The guys are clicking on all cylinders and my assistant coaches are amazing,” said Keeler, who’s seeking his 20th regional championship in his career. “They didn’t miss a beat. You spend all that time as a coach preparing them and it’s a matter of them walking it out and they are doing a great job of it.”
Tri-unity got off to a hot start in the first half with a 48-23 lead into halftime and went on to an impressive 80-45 win over the Broncos.
Junior Clayton Rowlader shot the ball effectively throughout the game, leading the Defenders with 13 points and grabbing five rebounds.
“He’s always been a good shooter, but sometimes kids have to learn how to shoot and be consistent,” Keeler said. “He’s grown so much; he is very coachable. He turns down shots that he can’t take his time with. Some kids that are good shooters don’t like playing defense, but he’s really bought in.”
Keaton Blanker had 12 points and six assists. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Seniors Noah Silverton and Keaton Blanker filled the stat sheet. Silverton was all over the floor scoring 12 points with six assists, four steals and five rebounds. Blanker also scored 12 points and added six assists.
The Defenders were dropping shots all game long in the 80-point effort, which equals their season-high point total.
Noah Silverton had 12 points, six assists, four steals and five rebounds. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
“We were popping them; Keaton hit a couple of threes early, and Noah hit a couple,” Keeler explained. “Even Marcus (Lokiden) came off the bench and hit a few as well.”
Tri-unity (23-2), ranked No. 2 in Division 4, hosts Kalamazoo Phoenix (19-4) in the regional finals at 7 p.m. Thursday. This is a rematch from last year’s regional finals, where the Defenders secured a decisive 73-37 victory.
“They are a good team; it will be a challenging game,” Keeler said. “They have some talented and explosive players, we have to stop their penetration and make them earn their buckets from the outside.”
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team beat Bellevue 80-45 to advance to a regional final.
The Defenders host Kalamazoo Phoenix at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Clayton Rowlader led Tri-unity with 13 points and five rebounds in the win over Bellevue, followed by Keaton Blanker, 12 points, six assists; Noah Silverton, 12 points, six assists, four steals, five rebounds and Joey Mellon, 10 points, five rebounds.
Tri-unity’s Noah Silverton (photo earlier this season) had 12 points, six assists, four steals and five rebounds in the win over Bellevue. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Division 1, District 8 at East Kentwood
First Round: Ottawa Hills/East Kentwood 6 p.m. Monday, March 3 District Semifinal: Winner faces Wyoming 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5
Division 2, District 44 at Kelloggsville
First Round: Aviation Academy/Kelloggsville 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 3 Winner faces Catholic Central in Semifinal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 Godwin Heights/Grand River Prep 7 p.m. Monday, March 3 Winner faces Grand Rapids Christian in Semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5
Division 4, District 113 at Zion Christian
District Semifinal at Zion Christian: Tri-unity Christian/Sacred Heart 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 Muskegon Catholic Central/Zion Christian 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 District Final at Zion Christian: 7 p.m. Friday, March 7
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity Christian Boys Basketball District Championship 2025. (Photos Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
The Tri-unity Christian boys basketball team advanced to the regionals with a district final win Friday night, beating Zion Christian 66-35 to claim yet another district title for legendary Coach Mark Keeler.
This time, however, Tri-unity had to play without Coach Keeler, who was out due to illness. Assistant Coach Brent Voorhees guided the team to victory.
“Last week showed the maturity of our senior group,” Voorhees said. “With our head coach being out with sickness, our seniors stepped up from a leadership standpoint and made sure we came out focused. Our game plan on Friday was to bring intensity on defense, aggressiveness on offense, and get great energy from our bench. We accomplished all three things and the boys played well.
“Seniors Keaton Blanker and Noah Silverton led the way offensively with 17 each. Both were able to get penetration and finish through contact, and we got some early production from senior captain Joey Mellon as well. Joey had to come out late in the first quarter with foul trouble, and sophomore Cody Osbun picked up the slack on the defensive end in Joey’s absence. We also had a huge dunk from senior Joseph Peters in the first quarter that gave our team a lot of energy to jump out to an early lead.”
Mellon added eight points and Osbun had 10 rebounds.
The Defenders host Bellevue on Tuesday, March 4, at 5:30 p.m. in a Division 4 regional semifinal.
Jerry Berg’s passion for sword fighting didn’t arrive until his college days, but it has now exploded into more than a passion.
“Very simply put, I have my education and degree in public school teaching and I wanted to teach more freely, more interactively, more movement based and for whatever reason this small aspect of my life of sword fighting grew into this massive section of what I live for,” Berg explained.
“It has become one of the most successful, interesting and exciting ways to teach history and create an amazing community together.”
The Swordsmanship Museum and Academy offers everything from high-intensity combat to historical education. (WKTV, Jaylah Lewis)
Video games gave Berg a great curiosity about history
Berg said back in the days when many people thought video games caused violence, his experience with them caused a great curiosity about history that developed into a passion.
“My passion for history started in my youth,” said Berg, who has a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in history and education from GVSU.
The Swordsmanship Museum and Academy locations. (WKTV Jaylah Lewis)
The Swordsmanship Museum and Academy officially launched in September of 2019. Berg is not only the owner, but also is actively involved as an instructor and guide. The main location is in Comstock Park, but there are satellites in Muskegon, Holland and Kalamazoo.
The Museum exists to spread knowledge, action and appreciation of human history through exhibits, events and classes, more specifically, the human history of Swordsmanship, i.e., the Revolutionary War, the Renaissance period, and much more.
Jerry Berg, owner of the Swordsmanship Museum and Academy. (WKTV, Jaylah Lewis)
Museum attracts those who like fantasy, history and athleticism
The Museum attracts those who enjoy fantasy, history and athleticism uniquely, with classes starting at $80 and events that can be attended for free, such as public library events and Renaissance Faire at Mill Creek Days. It’s for anyone ages 11 and up.
Swordsmanship educator Natalie Budnick said the Museum teaches Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA).
“Everything we do comes from an old manuscript,” said Budnick, who has taught at the Museum for three years. “We study swordsmanship from primary sources … from the 1300s.”
Educator Natalie Budnick of the Swordsmanship Museum and Academy. (WKTV, Jaylah Lewis)
Something for everyone
Berg said there’s something for everyone in the community at the Museum; learning how to sword fight, high-intensity combat, casual fan-base building, or even learning, education and research.
“I want everyone to follow their own path and how the Museum can help them achieve their goals.”
Teen Swordsman Club
Swordsmanship client Jessica Carmody takes her son Charles to the Museum for a Teen Swordsman Club for ages 11-16 on Wednesday nights, taught by Budnick.
The Carmody’s learned about the Museum at their local library, where Berg and Budnick often demonstrate and allow audience interaction to intrigue the public.
“We wanted to get him involved in something active, he’s really into Dungeons and Dragons and other fantasy type stuff so this was right up his alley,” Jessica said. “I see him practicing with the other kids and using moves he’s learned in past classes and I’m really impressed.”
The Swordsmanship Museum and Academy offers everything from high-intensity combat to historical education. (WKTV, Jaylah Lewis)
When asked about any negative connotations to participating, Jessica said the expenses can start to add up.
“Purchasing equipment such as padding can get a bit pricey, but they have lots of equipment here for him to use.”
Some may believe that a child learning combat skills to this extent could be dangerous or cause violence, but Jessica said, “This is like any other martial arts class, karate class. These are not violent kids, in fact one of the things they teach is control and holding back your power.”
Not all about combat
And it’s not all just about participating in combat, but about the Museum teaching the history of swordsmanship as well.
“Recommend this to anyone who has a kid who would be interested”
“Every now and then he grabs a book off the shelf and reads and learns about something history related,” said Jessica, who is pleased with the staff. “The staff here is great, Natalie is great; I’m very happy with the instruction Charles is receiving here. I would recommend this to anyone who has a kid who would be interested.”
(WKTV Jaylah, Lewis)
Berg wants to see the Museum grow in the future.
“Specifically towards acquiring a plot of land where we would create a living history park or village,” he explained. “Not only would it be a great facility for families and schools to visit, but we could teach a wider variety of classes there.
“I would also like to see a larger Museum facility with permanent exhibits, possibly at a different location from the living history park.”
For more information, or to sign up for classes and events, click here: Swordsmanship Museum and Academy or to keep up with the Swordsmanship community, check out their Facebook.
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights featuring many area boys and girls high school basketball teams in action.
Every week, we’ll bring you several high school basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
It took a quarter for the young East Kentwood basketball team to get acclimated to the state tournament, but once the youthful Falcons got up to speed, they flew off with a 60-43 win against Wyoming in the semifinals of the Division 1 district tournament at Wyoming.
The win sets up a district final between East Kentwood and Byron Center at 7 p.m. Friday at Wyoming.
Few varsity teams in the area are as young as East Kentwood, as the Falcons start four sophomores and a junior. They also bring three to four more sophomores off the bench in their typical rotation.
“We started off pretty slow, but that is to be expected as this team is pretty much all sophomores and this was their first district basketball appearance,” said East Kentwood Coach Michael Thomas. “The crowd was large and very loud and I think that surprised our guys a little. It forced us into some turnovers and unusual plays, but by the second quarter the guys became used to it.”
The opening quarter was a tight, defensive struggle with East Kentwood leading 12-9 after eight minutes.
East Kentwood took control of the contest in the second quarter. The Falcons offense began to heat up behind the offensive skills of junior Randy Chapman, who led all scorers with 26 points. The Falcons outscored Wyoming 19-8 during the second quarter and Chapman led the way with 13 of Kentwood’s 19 points during the second stanza.
“RJ just kind of took over,” Thomas said. “He really went to work in the second quarter. He is our one guy that has that state tournament experience as he has played in two district championship games before and it showed.”
The big second quarter by Chapman helped the Falcons take a 31-17 lead into halftime.
Wolves pick up pace in third
Wyoming picked up the pace on the offensive end of the floor during the third quarter. The Wolves scored 16 points during the third led by Warren Williams, who scored seven that quarter, and Avonte’ Wiggins and Taeshon Wilson both added four.
East Kentwood also scored 16 points during the quarter as the Falcons took a 47-33 lead into the final quarter.
Along with the offensive exploits from Chapman, the Falcons received strong play along the front line from 6-foot-9 sophomore Drew Kenyi.
East Kentwood’s Drew Kenyi. (Greg Chrapek, WKTV)
“Andrew played really well,” Thomas said. “He finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He was huge for us and scored on a lot of putbacks. He finished well around the basket.”
The Falcons also received a solid game up front from 6-foot-5 sophomore Sammy Makung.
“Sammy scored six points for us and also had 10 rebounds,” Thomas said. “He really helped us out on the boards. Those two big fellas really came up huge for us. They did a really good job of helping limit Wyoming to one shot (per possession).”
East Kentwood tightened the defense during the final quarter as the Falcons outscored Wyoming 13-10 to come away with the 60-43 win.
A big factor in the young East Kentwood team being able to adjust to the big stage of the state tournament was the difficult schedule during the season. The Falcons played just three teams with a non-winning record the entire season. East Kentwood also played six teams ranked in the top 15 in Division 1 of the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Power Ratings. That included two games apiece against No. 3 Rockford and No. 7 Hudsonville in conference play.
In non-league play the Falcons played No. 4 Birmingham Brother Rice, No. 6 Detroit U-of-D Jesuit, No. 9 Detroit Martin Luther King and No. 15 Port Huron Northern. The Falcons also played Saginaw United, who has a 17-5 record and Center Line at 16-6.
“I think what helped us was our strength of schedule,” Thomas said. “We played the No. 2 strongest schedule in the state. After Orchard Lake St. Mary, we were No. 2 in the entire state in strength of schedule, and we went 11-11 against that schedule. We were also competitive in those games. I’d say there was only one time that we got run out of the gym and the rest were pretty close games. To finish with an 11-11 record against that type of schedule starting four sophomores and a junior is impressive. I’m proud of these guys and how well they competed against some of the best teams in the state.”
With the win, East Kentwood improved to 12-11 for the season. Along with 26 points from Chapman and 14 from Kenyi, the Falcons received eight points from CJ Reynolds, six from Makung, three points from Major Barnes, two from Dau Dau and one point from Jeremiah Cook.
Wyoming’s Avonte’ Wiggins led the Wolves with 14 points. (Greg Chrapek, WKTV)
Wyoming finished the season with a 12-12 overall record. The Wolves were led in scoring by senior Avonte’ Wiggins who finished with 14 points. Senior Taeshon Wilson added 11 points followed by senior Warren Williams with seven points. Jack Hogan added three points while Elijah McGee, Brayden Williams and Brad Lewis added two points apiece with Qua’vari Palmer and Zy’erre Debose adding one point each.
The current Tri-unity Christian team and some former players join together at Coach Mark Keeler’s final home game of his career. (Courtesy, Tri-unity Christian/Katlyn Keeler)
As the final whistle blew last Friday at Tri-unity Christian’s home court, which bears the name of legendary Coach Mark Keeler, the gym was filled with former players and community members who honored him after an impressive 38-year career at the school.
“It’s bittersweet, after doing this for 40 years it’s done,” said Keeler, who now has 714 career wins, third on the all-time MHSAA list. “It was a little overwhelming … it was so much fun seeing some former players come out, and I got many text messages from those that couldn’t make it.”
WKTV Friday Night Highlights host Ty Marzean interviews Coach Mark Keeler.
Tri-unity notched their 15th consecutive win on Senior Night with a 57-25 victory over Potter’s House. All eight of the Defenders seniors played significant minutes in their last regular season game in front of the home crowd.
Senior forward Noah Silverton led the team with 13 points, and 6-foot-7 center Joey Mellon filled the stat sheet with 10 points, five rebounds and four blocked shots. Hudson Ghent added nine points, while Keaton Blanker scored eight.
Seniors Tyler Laansma, Joseph Peters, Hezekiah Nobel, and Marcus Lokiden, as well as student manager Sean Gibbons, all contributed.
‘It was nice because we knew this was a game we could get everybody in,” Keeler explained.
The Defenders maintained their strong defensive performance, leading 31-11 at halftime and allowing only 14 more points in the second half.
“Our goal was to keep them under 30,” Keeler said. “They all played defense really well. Sometimes late in those types of game the players tend to want to relax on defense, but they played well throughout. We have had some games this year where that wasn’t the case, but they have improved greatly this year.”
With the regular season now complete, the Defenders can concentrate on defending their Division 4 state championship from last year. Tri-unity aims to compete in its fourth consecutive state finals game.
Tri-unity was due to play the winner of the Holland Calvary vs. Covert game, but Covert dropped out of the tournament.
“We still have a tournament to coach, the team is excited. We are going to get after it and hopefully we can play in that final game of the tournament,” Keeler said.
Tri-unity Christian Coach Mark Keeler. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity (20-2) faces Holland Calvary (7-5) at Martin High School on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.
The winner of that game will play the winner of Zion Christian vs. Martin on Friday night at Martin High School for the District 113 title.
Keeler will now have to follow the advice he used to give his seniors about leaving it all out on the court.
“I would always tell the seniors, this is a whole lot more important to you because I’ll be coming back, you’re not. I can’t say that anymore.”
Tri-unity Christian Coach Mark Keeler chatting with a ref. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
By Cris Greer WKTV Managing Editor/Sports Director greer@wktv.org
Check out our latest edition of WKTV Friday Night Highlights featuring many area boys and girls high school basketball teams in action.
Every week, we’ll bring you several high school basketball clips from the Wyoming and Kentwood area, highlight some top performers and give a snapshot of the latest conference standings.
A fast start proved to be the difference for the South Christian boys basketball team in its showdown with Northview as a big first quarter propelled the Sailors to a 73-68 win in a clash of the top two teams in the OK Gold.
Northview entered the game with a perfect conference record and needed a win to wrap up the conference title. The Wildcats were in position to win the Gold outright after defeating South Christian earlier thanks to a last-second buzzer beater. Not only are the two teams the front runners in the conference, but both squads entered the game ranked in the state with Northview coming in at 17th in Division 1 in the latest MHSAA power rankings, while South Christian entered the game ranked eighth in Division 2.
Playing on its home floor, South Christian wasted little time in getting its home fans fired up as it jumped out to an 18-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“We had a great start which was huge for us,” said South Christian Coach Taylor Johnson. “We hit some shots early and got a lot of momentum going and we were able to get the crowd into it.”
Vis sinks 11 points in first quarter, including 3 treys
Senior standout Carson Vis was a big part of South Christian’s fast start. Vis totaled 11 points in the opening quarter, including draining three treys.
“Carson had a huge first quarter for us,” Johnson said. “He hit some big shots for us. Ike Schrotenboer also had a big first quarter as he made some big layups for us.”
Northview clawed back into the game during the second quarter as the Wildcats trimmed the South Christian lead to 37-33 by halftime.
Foul trouble played a role in Northview cutting into the Sailor lead. While the Sailors had some players in foul trouble, several players came into the game and provided some quality minutes. One of those players was sophomore Austin Burgess.
“Austin came off the bench and hit some big shots for us,” Johnson said. “Ike Schrotenboer also continued to play really well for us inside. He finished the game with 13 points and all of those points came in the first half.”
South Christian center Ike Schrotenboer totaled 13 points and seven rebounds against Northview.
(WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
South opened up some breathing room during the second half as the Sailors built a 56-47 lead to end the third quarter.
Northview made a final push during the final quarter as foul trouble continued to hamper the Sailors. South, however, was able to hold off the Wildcats and claim the victory.
“We had some turnovers and we continued to battle foul trouble in the fourth quarter,” Johnson said. “I’m proud of the way the kids battled and hung in there. We had some big rebounds and played some good defense in the fourth quarter.
“We also hit some key free throws at the end. We had a great crowd and it was a great high school basketball game. I’m really proud of our guys.”
Vis led the Sailors with 28 points, while Schrotenboer turned in 13 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Burgess added 13 points and Davis Kemper totaled 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Davis Kemper tallied 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists. (WKTV, Greg Chrapek)
South Christian going for share of OK Gold Friday
The Sailors improved to 10-1 in the conference, while Northview finished conference play at 11-1. South Christian has a chance to clinch a share of the league title when it hosts Wayland on Senior Night Friday.
“Wayland is going to be ready to play,” Johnson said. “We have to be focused and come out ready to play. It will definitely be special to win the conference. For us, it’s always a goal to win the conference, but we are going to have to come out with a lot of clarity and be ready to play.”
Overall, South Christian improved to 17-4 for the season. After starting with a 1-3 record, the Sailors have won 16 of their last 17 games.
“We’ve played a tough schedule,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen a lot of growth in this team during the season and the guys play with a lot of grit. They have continued to get better and better throughout the season.”
After wrapping up the regular season Friday, the Sailors and the rest of the teams in the state begin the state tournament next week.
South Christian is hosting a Division 2 regional next week. The Sailors have a bye in the first round and open district action by playing the winner of the Kelloggsville/West Michigan Aviation Academy game in a semifinal next Wednesday.
As the boys basketball regular season nears the end, the Tri-unity Defenders are in the midst of an impressive 13-game winning streak after a pair of wins Friday and Saturday.
The Defenders secured their 23rd conference championship under longtime Coach Mark Keeler with a 60-30 victory over West Michigan Aviation Academy Friday, winning the Alliance League for the first time since 2022.
“I can’t tell you how much fun I’m having with this being my last year and with this group of young men,” said Keeler, who has earned six state championships, six state runner-up trophies, 15 Final Four appearances, 19 regional titles, 26 district titles and 23 conference championships. “They are so coachable. I’ve been very proud of the maturity level of the team this year. They have done a great job keeping their focus during the season.”
Tri-unity Christian Coach Mark Keeler and wife Cheryl after getting his 700th win. He now has 712 wins, which puts him at third place in the MHSAA state record book. (Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
The Defenders are led by senior captains Joey Mellon and Keaton Blanker, who both played key roles on last year’s State championship team.
“Joey and Keaton are my leaders,” Keeler said. “They were a part of the 8-man rotation I had last year. They really have bought in this year and are great team guys. Senior leadership has a lot to do with how far your team can advance.”
Tri-unity senior captains Joey Mellon (pictured) and Keaton Blanker have led the Defenders this season. Mellon had 25 points and 12 rebounds in a Saturday win over Beal City. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity used great defense and rebounding to claim a 32-7 advantage after the first half on Friday night.
“When you play defense like that it allows you to build a lead,” Keeler explained. “I stress to them how important it is to put their identity in something and they have done a phenomenal job on defense this year.”
The Defenders have lived up to their name as they have allowed only 39 points per game during their 13-game winning streak.
“I don’t think we could play any better defense than what we did on Friday,” Keeler said. “We have been able to do that against some of the teams we’ve played. We also look at rebounding, we did a great job with offensive rebounds. Everyone wants to shoot the three in today’s game. We want to hurry them so it’s a lower percentage shot and rebound well.”
Tri-unity senior captains Keaton Blanker (pictured) and Joey Mellon have led the Defenders this year. Blanker had 12 points, six assists and four steals in a Saturday win over Beal City. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Mellon and Blanker are not the only seniors making plays for the Defenders. Senior forwards Noah Silverton and Marcus Lokiden have played meaningful minutes at a high level for Keeler’s crew.
Silverton scored 13 points against Aviation Academy, while Lokiden added 10 points and three steals.
“Noah is really helping us this year, and Marcus sparks us, he plays much taller than he is and is a great shooter.”
Tri-unity’s Marcus Lokiden. (Photo Courtesy, Becky Rillema)
Tri-unity also participated in the Alliance Invite at Kuyper College, where they faced Beal City, ranked No.12 in Division 4.
Joey Mellon was the standout performer for the team, scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in their 62-42 victory over Beal City. Keaton Blanker also had a strong game, contributing 12 points, six assists, and four steals. Noah Silverton added 10 points and four steals.
Tri-unity concludes the regular season with an away game against Muskegon West Michigan Christian on Tuesday night, and returns home for Senior Night Friday against Alliance League rival Potter’s House, marking the final home game of Coach Keeler’s career.
“I think there will be some emotion for this old ball coach, I can’t say enough for this community, it’s been a joy to be a part of it.”
