The Kentwood Public Schools recently received two awards recognizing its commitment to its community.
Heart of West Michigan United Way 2021-2022 Top Campaign trophy. (Courtesy, Kentwood Public Schools)
In September, the district was presented with the Heart of West Michigan United Way 2021-2022 Top Campaign trophy. According to Superintendent Kevin Polston, the impact the staff has made in the community this past year through the district’s campaign was significant.
“You (KPS) have gone the extra mile to advocate for our mission and for those struggling in our community,” according to The United Way. “On behalf of the United Way team, we are incredibly grateful for all support and efforts to create a thriving community for all.
“Thank you for being someone our community can count on!”
Challenger Elementary was the recipient of the MI Heart Safe School award. Challenger was recognized for its efforts to help prevent sudden cardiac death by creating a safer learning environment for students and staff.
Polston noted that with help from its partnerships with Spectrum Health, the students and staff demonstrated knowledge of our cardiac emergency response plan, ability to identify symptoms of cardiac arrest, CPR, and the use of defibrillators.
The award is given on behalf of the Michigan Department too Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Education, American Heart Association, Michigan High School Athletic Association, and Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young.
“He’s always wanted to give back to the community,” said Bobbie McLaughlin, brother of the area’s biggest basketball star who set records in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s at Creston High School and Central Michigan University.
Nothing but net
Considered the best high school basketball player in Grand Rapids history, Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin averaged 33 points a game his junior and senior seasons at Creston High School in the late 1970s and then went on to score more than 2,000 career points at Central Michigan University. He is a member of the Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame and in 2005 was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.
The camp has been shut down since 2019 because of Covid, and, with “all the crazy things going on for kids in the inner city,” organizers wanted to offer a chance to offer something at no cost.
“Everywhere he goes, the kids are asking about the camp,” said Bobbie, who attended Grand Rapids South High School back in the day. “They’re really thirsty. So we put our heads together and said, ‘Let’s give them a free camp.’ Let’s show them some love.”
Campers practice their skills at the Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin Basketball All-Star Camp at East Kentwood. (Courtesy)
A fundraising campaign is going on right now to help the McLaughlins raise money to make it happen. The goal through the social media platform Vertical Raise is $10,000. They are more than halfway there, he said, as local businesses such as Brann’s Restaurants have contributed, as well as individuals.
The three-day camp is for boys and girls grades 5-12.
Hours are 8-11:30 a.m. for grades 5-8, and from 1-4 p.m. for grades 9-12 from Aug. 2-4.
“All the area kids, inner city kids, just come out and have a good time… We’re just looking for people to help make this happen,” Bobbie McLaughlin said.
Guest speakers
Along with learning basketball skills with drills and instruction, Bobbie McLaughlin said camp organizers are arranging guest speakers to help educate and motivate the kids to learn more than just basketball.
“(Mel) said we need to show some positive love for the kids. Everything’s been a little crazy, not just in Grand Rapids, but all over. We just said, ‘What can we do to help these kids out?’”
The camp has been a staple of summers in Grand Rapids for about 25 years. It originally took place at Ottawa Hills High School, but moved to East Kentwood in 2018 when attendance swelled to more than 200 campers, said Bobbie McLaughlin, who lives in California but looks forward to returning to see old friends and relatives. (He was a pretty good baseball player back in the day.)
Some notable campers
The camp has produced some notable players over the years, including Kobe Bufkin (Michigan), Marcus Bingham (Michigan State University) and Xavier Tillman (Michigan State, Memphis Grizzlies), just to name a few.
“We know it’s working, we know these kids are learning and having fun,” McLaughlin said.
“We’re so proud of them. A lot of the parents come up to us after the last day of camp and say, ‘Where are you gonna be next week? This is such a good thing for these kids.’”
McLaughlin said he is in the middle of finalizing a gift bag each player will receive during the camp, which includes a T-shirt, wristband, hat and hopefully a book, which was written about his brother’s life.
Check out “Sweet Shot”
“Sweet Shot: The Basketball Life and Legacy of Melvin ‘Sugar’ McLaughlin,” which was released in 2021, looks at the player’s life on and off the court, from his early childhood in Ann Arbor to today.
“Sweet Shot,” a book about local basketball star Melvin “Sugar” McLaughlin, was released in 2021. (Courtesy)
Author Vernon E. Wendt — a theology professor at Concordia University-Chicago, ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and East Grand Rapids native, is expected to be in attendance at the camp, Bobbie McLaughlin said.
“It’s a really cool book,” McLaughlin said. “We want to make an impact.”
In addition, players can compete in contests for trophies, he said. And camp organizers will present sportsmanship and MVP awards.
It’s all about spreading joy, and a message, he said.
“We teach them, sports is like life…you have to learn to play together, to work together, to be a team. Take that home. Spread it. That’s our concept.”
And don’t be surprised to see Sugar put his skills on display.
He still “balls,” his brother said. “He’s always doing something for kids.”
“Come and join us for this very beautiful and positive experience,” Sugar McLaughlin said. “This is something that is true to my heart and very special to me.”
Learn more about the camp by calling 616-222-6126.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Wyoming Potter’s House Christian’s Lezawe Osterink (left) was a state champion in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs at last spring’s Division 4 track and field finals, and was a member of the winning 3,200-meter relay with teammates Ian Palacios, Jackson Rodriguez and Logan Swiney. Osterink also won the D-4 boys cross country individual title last fall. The boys team placed third at the track and field finals and 12th in cross country. (Courtesy of MHSAA)
Participation in Michigan High School Athletic Association sports rebounded tremendously during the 2021-22 school year, despite a slight decline in enrollment among the MHSAA’s 750-member high schools.
Big decline during COVID-19
The onset of COVID-19 during the spring of 2020 was followed by a significant decline in participation in sports during 2020-21. However, participation for the most recent school year concluding last spring saw an increase of 6.6 percent from 2020-21 to a total of 260,542 participants across the 28 sports for which the MHSAA sponsors postseason tournaments – even as statewide enrollment fell nearly 1 percent to 440,728 students this past school year.
Girls participation increased 6.8 percent to 109,128 athletes, while boys participation was up 6.5 percent at 151,414. The overall MHSAA participation totals count students once for each sport in which they participate, meaning students who are multiple-sport athletes are counted more than once.
“We’re excited to see participation beginning to rebound, and in a big way in a number of sports,” said Geoff Kimmerly, MHSAA communications director. “Something reaffirmed during the months of COVID-19 shutdowns and delays was the value of sports in our school communities, and we expect those participation numbers to continue to rise as more families feel comfortable and we continue to learn more and more about best practices for living and competing while the coronavirus remains with us.
“Something else to consider is how our participation has begun to bounce back even as enrollment in our member schools has continued to decline slightly. Michigan generally ranks higher in participation nationally than for student-aged population, and while we may not be at our pre-COVID levels yet, we do anticipate our numbers to keep growing during 2022-23.”
The Forest Hills Northern girls tennis team won the Division 2 state championship last spring. (Courtesy of MHSAA)
Track and field, boys skiing lead way
A total of 23 sports saw increases in participation during 2021-22 compared to 2020-21. Ten sports saw double-digit percentage increases, led by boys track & field (27.2 percent to 22,120 participants), girls track and field (22.4 percent to 15,594 participants), and boys skiing (22.4 percent to 1,001 participants).
Wrestling (17.1 percent) and boys bowling (16.2 percent) also saw double-digit increases, along with girls tennis (11.4 tennis), girls bowling (11.2 percent), girls competitive cheer (10.6 percent), boys golf (10.5 percent) and girls lacrosse (10 percent).
Girls boost wrestling numbers
Wrestling’s major boost came in part because of a nearly 300-percent increase in girls participants with 620 taking the mat for the first season of the MHSAA offering a girls championship division at its Individual Wrestling Finals.
Also enjoying increases in participation during 2021-22 from the previous year were girls golf (8.1 percent), girls skiing (7.6 percent), boys basketball (6.4 percent), girls soccer (6.3 percent), boys swimming and diving (6.1 percent), boys lacrosse (5.8 percent), softball (3.6 percent), girls basketball (3.1 percent), baseball (3 percent), boys tennis (2.8 percent), football (2.4 percent), girls volleyball (2 percent) and girls swimming and diving (1.2 percent).
Decreased participation
Five sports saw decreased participation in 2021-22, including boys soccer (0.21 percent with 28 fewer participants), girls cross country (1.4 percent), boys ice hockey (1.2 percent), boys cross country (3.9 percent) and girls gymnastics (4.6 percent).
Football highest participation
Football, with a combined 33,284 participants over the 11- and 8-player formats, remained the most-played sport during the 2021-22 school year. Boys track and field (22,120) and boys basketball (20,017) were next for total participants, followed by girls volleyball (18,798), the most popular girls sport, baseball (16,528) and girls track and field (15,594).
Golf and skiing enjoy high participation
While the majority of sports are still building back to their pre-COVID participation totals, golf and skiing posted some of their highest totals in some time. Boys golf (6,829) had its most participants since 2012-13, and girls golf (3,875) its highest total since 2003-04. The boys skiing total (1,001) was its highest since 2002-03, and the girls skiing total this past season (837) was the highest for that sport since 1998-99.
The participation figures are gathered annually from MHSAA member schools to submit to the National Federation of State High School Associations for compiling of its national participation survey. Results of Michigan surveys from the 2000-01 school year to present may be viewed on the MHSAA Website
After overcoming some obstacles this season, the East Kentwood varsity dance team rose to the top with many awards and honors.
Soon before their national championships in February in Orlando, the students learned their flight was overbooked and it was time for Plan B. With no other options, the team drove 18 hours to Florida to make it just in time for the semifinals and compete with the nation’s best teams in the 2022 Dance Team Union National Championship.
Both the jazz and hip hop teams reached the finals, and earned 15th and fourth place, respectively.
Coach Kat Albertson (far left) and her East Kentwood varsity dance team proudly show off their two trophies at the 2022 Dance Team Union National Championship in February in Orlando. (courtesy)
“It was a great feeling to be recognized among the best teams in the country,” said EK coach Kat Albertson, who coached the Falcons for four years and is now pursuing coaching at the collegiate level. “Luckily, this was the most hard-working and determined group of student-athletes I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching. They were all so eager to prove to themselves, and to their school, that not only is the dance team at East Kentwood one of the best in Michigan, but also that dance team is a sport.
“We had incredible success this past year due to the team’s hard work, dedication and the positive team culture we built together. We were undefeated in hip hop this year, won the grand champion award at every local competition (registered the highest scoring dance in the entire competition), and won two regional championships for the first time in program history.”
Albertson said her team captain, junior Saniya Harvey, is an “exceptional dancer and leader.”
Check out the dance team’s performance at the national championship by clicking here.
“We lost five incredible seniors in 2021 and only had five returning members for the new year,” continued Albertson, whose assistant coach was EK dance alum Brooklyn Smithers, a freshman at GVSU. “We were uncertain if we’d be able to have ample time to create a family-like bond with so many new members, get our technique where it needed to be, and to reach the level of excellence that our past teams had been able to do.
“It’s taken a really long time for us to get the recognition that we deserve, and I think that has truly been the most fulfilling thing that we’ve seen come out of this year.”
Kentwood’s Redo Storm Robotics will hosts its first competition since 2019 on April 1 and 2. (WKTV)
FIRST Robotics competitions kick off this weekend when 36 teams, two from Wyoming, competed in the district event at Grand Valley State University.
The teams from the Wyoming area competing are Lee High School’s robotics team and Potter House’s Tactical Hams robotics team.
Opening ceremonies are set for 10:30 a.m. with matches running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m .on Friday. Saturday, opening ceremonies are set for 9 a.m. with matches beginning at 9:30 a.m. and playoff rounds running from 2-5 p.m. Teams are guided by teachers and industry mentors. Under strictrules, limited time and resources, teams are challenged to raise funds, design a brand, hone teamwork skills and build and program competitive, industrial-size robots.
All events take place at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena on the Allendale campus. Events are free and open to the public, however per GVSU and FIRST Robotics COVID-19 guidelines, participants, volunteers and visitors must wear face masks.
Next week, WKTV will be filming the FIRST Robotics competition at East Kentwood High School. The free event follows the same rules and guidelines of the GVSU one.
There will be 33 teams at this event including the local teams of Potter House’s Tactical Hams, Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics, and Wyoming High’s Demons. Events will start on Friday with play-offs taking place on Saturday.
The 2021-22 high school basketball post-season is in full swing with three local girls teams heading into MHSAA District tournament finals Friday, March 4, and all the local boys teams set to open District play next week.
In the only girls District tournament on a Wyoming-Kentwood high school home floor, the East Kentwood High School girls (12-9 overall) look to continue their post-season run against Byron Center (18-2) in the D1 Girls District 12 finals at East Kentwood. Tipoff will be at 7 p.m.
The Falcons girls, who closed the regular season winning of 10 of 13 games after a slow start, rolled past Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 81-14, to open District action Feb. 28; then defeated Caledonia, 50-36, on March 2. Byron Center enters the District finals 18-2 and with an OK Conference White title after a 14-0 conference season.
In other District finals action involving local teams, Grand Rapids South Christian (18-3) will challenge Grand Rapids Christian (15-6) in the D2 Girls District 44 finals at Grand Rapids Christian, while Wyoming Potter’s House (16-5) will play Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (11-8) in the D3 Girls District 76 finals at Fennville. Both tip-off at 7 p.m.
To get both the District finals, the Sailors girls defeated Wyoming Kelloggsville (7-15 final overall record), 54-27, on March 2. (For a WKTV feature on South Christian visit here.)
The Pumas of Wyoming Potter’s House girls, in early District games, first defeated Holland Black River, 50-25, on Feb. 28, and then defeated Saugatuck, 44-33, on March 2.
Boys Districts begin with big games at Kelloggsville
Kelloggsville High School will be the place to be in the local area for boys District play, beginning with opening night action Monday, March 7, as OK Conference Silver foes Wyoming Godwin Heights (9-7 overall, with a “stay sharp” game schedule for March 3) and Kelloggsville (12-8) play the deciding third game in their 2021-22 season in D2 Boys District 44 opening round action with tip off at 5:30 p.m. (See a WKTV feature on the two teams here.)
Kelloggsville high boys basketball team senior Damario Montgomery during a game Feb. 25 at Kelloggsville. (WKTV)
The District 44 tournament at Kelloggsville is loaded with quality local teams as well. In addition to the Wolverines and the Rockets, Grand Rapids West Michigan Aviation Academy (13-6) will open play on March 7 at 7 p.m. against Kentwood Grand River Prep (6-8). Then, set to start play Wednesday, March 9, Grand Rapids Christian (15-4) will play the winner of the first opening round game, while Grand Rapids South Christian (15-5) await the winner of the second opening round game. The finals will be Friday, March 11, at Kelloggsville at 7 p.m.
Two local teams, Wyoming high and East Kentwood, will be in action at Caledonia in the D1 Boys District 12 tournament. The Falcons (6-14) will open play Monday, March 7, against Byron Center (5-14). The Wolves (13-6 overall, with a “stay sharp” game at home against Benton Harbor March 3) get a first-round bye and are set to play the winner of Monday’s game between Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills and host Caledonia on Wednesday, March 9, at 5:30 p.m.
Wyoming Lee (4-13 overall with at least one game scheduled this week at the Battle Creek Academy Tigers Tournament) will play in the D2 Boys District 43 Tournament at Grand Rapids West Catholic, starting opening night, Monday, March 7, against the host school at 5:30 p.m.
Wyoming Potter’s House (14-5 overall, with a “stay sharp” game at North Muskegon March 3) will play at the D3 Boys District 76 Tournament at Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, starting with an opening round game Monday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. against Saugatuck (8-11).
And Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (14-5, with a “stay sharp” game scheduled at Grandville Calvin Christian March 3) will play in the D4 Boys District 114 Tournament at Climax-Scotts, with a semifinal game scheduled for Wednesday, March 9, against Kalamazoo Phoenix (10-5).
WKTV featured games covered throughout the season, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand at wktvlive.com. You can also follow all WKTV sports programing at wktk.org/sports.
The sport of curling in action at the Kentwood Ice Rink. (GR Curling Club)
The sport of curling in action at the Kentwood Ice Rink (preparing to throw the stone). (GR Curling Club)
The sport of curling in action at the Kentwood Ice Rink (giving instructions on placement of stones into the house). (GR Curling Club)
The sport of curling in action at the Kentwood Ice Rink (throwing the stone). (GR Curling Club)
The sport of curling in action at the Kentwood Ice Rink (notice the sweeper helping the stone’s movement). (GR Curling Club)
The sport of curling in action at the Kentwood Ice Rink (who has the shot for point?). (Kristina King)
By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer
Continuing a local history of the sport of curling which the Grand Rapids Curling Club “didn’t even know” about initally, the club is bringing a taste of the Winter Olympics to West Michigan by offering curling lessons and leagues at the Kentwood Ice Arena.
“We are getting more and more people who want to try curling,” said Greg Robinson, president of the Grand Rapids Curling Club. “They see it on the Olympics and want to try it. … We have seen curlers as young as 8 and as old as 90. It is an approachable sport that you can play for a long time.”
Curling has a strong history in Grand Rapids. Robinson said the club discovered records in the Grand Rapids Public Library archives that show a curling club was started in 1897 and was very successful until it dissolved slowly in the late 1920s.
“We are standing on history we didn’t even know we had,” said Robinson. “We aren’t starting a new club, we are restarting one that had gotten lost to history. We want to build upon that.”
The original Grand Rapids Curling Club’s Arch Founders, (front) David Forbes, William Miller, John Paul; (standing) George McInnes, John McNabb, Henry Sherwood; (inset) Alex Reeves, James MacGregor.
(Image courtesy of Grand Rapids Public Library Digital Collection and Grand Rapids Public Museum Collection)
Grand Rapids Curling Club’s Arch Ladies from 1908. The note included with it in the GR Public Library read “The city at the time boasted the first curling club in the country composed of women.” Their names are, from left, Mrs. John Brower, Miss Helen Barstow, Mrs. F.E. Hill, Mrs. Stuart Foote, Miss Rosetta Leitelt, Mrs. H.B. Snyder. (Image courtesy of Grand Rapids Public Library Digital Collection and Grand Rapids Public Museum Collection)
The original Grand Rapids Curling Club’s rink, circa 1905, located on the Southeast corner of the intersection of Lake Drive and Norwood Avenue.(Image courtesy of Grand Rapids Public Library Digital Collection and Grand Rapids Public Museum Collection)
While the history of curling in the Grand Rapids area goes back a century, the modern history of the sport started just last year as the Kentwood Ice Arena, a part of Kentwood Public Schools, reached out to the GR Curling Club in the summer of 2021 with an offer to host curling lessons and leagues for the club.
It is the first time the ice arena has been used as a venue for curling, and Philip Sweeney, KPS manager of campus operations and events, said that configuring a schedule to ensure the ice is ready for curling while also hosting hockey and other ice events was a challenge.
“Hockey ice versus curling ice is very different,” Sweeney said. “We need an hour to get the ice ready for curling.”
The challenge, however, did not deter the rink or the curling club. They began by offering Learn to Curl classes on Saturday nights and then began developing leagues on Sunday mornings.
“This is a process that is now starting to come to fruition,” Sweeney said. “We now offer corporate events as well.”
Robinson said that the two-hour “Learn to Curl” classes have been a hit with community members, with many saying they want to do it again.
“We hope curling will become more of a hobby than a curiosity,” he said.
A fun sport for old and new
West Michigan resident Kristina King recently began curling after a recommendation from a co-worker who is also a member of the GR Curling Club. “She talked me into joining the league with her and it all progressed from there,” King said.
Like many others, King watched curling as part of the Winter Olympics over the years — with shouts of “Sweep!” at the television screen being her only engagement with the sport.
After trying it, however, King found she enjoys curling.
Susan Yaw (left) and Kristina King (right) have taken up the sport, and taken lessons. (Kristina King)
“It seemed like a sport that I could get better at slowly without being too hard on myself for not being good at it the first time I tried,” she said. “You definitely have to give yourself some grace when learning a new sport on such a slippery surface.
“It has been somewhat of a life lesson being able to laugh at my ‘newborn fawn’ stature on the ice and having everyone around you show support and encouragement.”
King has also been impressed with both Kentwood Ice Arena and the GR Curling Club, mentioning the friendly and inviting atmosphere, staff willingness to answer questions, and easy to use facilities.
“The instructors do a great job of teaching at a level of the crowd,” King said. “I feel as though they balance the class very well and don’t overwhelm you with the technicalities on the very first try.”
Like her co-worker, King has begun recruiting friends to try out the sport.
“My friend, Kristina, was looking for a fourth teammate for an upcoming bonspiel (tournament). I thought, why not?” said Susan Yaw, a Learn to Curl class member. Yaw admitted that she never really gave curling a thought up until that point, but that she is “always willing to try (almost) anything once.”
Yaw said that she found her time at Kentwood Ice Arena and with GR Curling Club members to be enjoyable, even planning to join a Sunday league to get more time on the ice and hone her skills.
“They were very well organized from the registration process through the time I walked out the door,” Yaw said. “The instructors did a wonderful job breaking down the throwing and sweeping motions and teaching the rules and scoring of the game.”
Yaw urges others to try the sport as well.
“I would highly recommend anyone who thinks they might be remotely interested in learning about curling to attend the next Learn to Curl. A couple of tricks to make it more enjoyable … dress warmly and make sure you use rubber bands on your shoes for traction!”
Current and future home in Kentwood
Sweeney believes curling will be a mainstay at Kentwood Ice Arena.
“We envision a 5-year plan where curling becomes a major portion of our ice arena and our business,” Sweeney said. “We have a great partnership with the Grand Rapids Curling Club. They are great people who are excited to grow enthusiasm for the sport.”
Robinson agrees that curling is here to stay in West Michigan.
“This is our first year…and we are over 70 members strong,” Robinson said. “We have had eight classes since the start of the season in October, and all have sold out.”
Part of Robinson’s hopes include the possibility for starting up a junior program since their partnership with KPS has been so successful. “We have had their full support,” Robinson said. “It’s been wonderful.”
Interested community members can sign up for curling lessons on the Grand Rapids Curling Club website: grcurling.com, and also their Facebook page: facebook.com/GRcurling.
Health and COVID protocols for Kentwood Ice Arena and the GR Curling Club are outlined in the registration process.
The WKTV Feature Game coverage crew will pay a visit to Lee High School Friday, Feb. 18, as both the boys and girls teams will be in action in an evening which will also be the athletic department’s Hall of Fame night. (See a preview story on the Lee high Hall of Fame night here.)
While the truck crew will be at Lee, we will also have cameras at Wyoming high on Feb. 18, as the Wolves athletic department also holds its Hall of Fame night at the halftime of a girls basketball game and as part of a special community night celebration. (See a preview story on the Wyoming high Hall of Fame night here.)
The Wyoming Lee games, when Byron Center Zion Christian comes to the Legends home court for an Alliance League doubleheader, will feature a girls basketball game at 5:30 p.m., and boys game at 7 p.m.
The WKTV Feature Game coverage crew will wrap up the 2021-22 basketball regular season with planned coverage of East Kenwood boys basketball on Tuesday, Feb. 22, against Caledonia, and then a boys and girls basketball doubleheader Friday, Feb. 25, when Wyoming Tri-unity Christian visits Wyoming Potter’s House Christian.
A look-in at Wyoming/Kentwood area basketball
The Grand Rapids South Christian girls won a big game Wednesday, Feb. 9, 42-39, over visiting Grand Rapids Catholic Central — and then avoided a letdown on Friday, Feb. 11, with a home win over Wayland, 51-38 — to run their record to 13-3 overall and take control in the OK Conference Gold conference race with a 9-1 record. (The Cougars are also 9-1, but are 12-4 overall). (For a game story and a WKTV video, visit here.)
The Wyoming high boys (9-6, 6-4 OK) won an early week contest last week, defeating Holland, 81-36, at home Feb. 8, before falling to state powerhouse and OK Green leader Muskegon on Feb. 11. (For an on-demand recording of the Wyoming-Holland game, visit here.)
The South Christian boys (10-5, 7-3 OK) went 2-1 last week in a stretch of three-straight OK Conference Gold road contests, bouncing back from a Feb. 8 loss at GR Central Catholic to score wins over Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 59-45, on Feb. 9, and then defeating Wayland, 71-44, on Feb. 11.
The West Michigan Aviation Academy boys (10-4 overall) saw their six-game win streak come to an end in their only game last week, a 57-50 loss to Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, on Feb. 8. The two teams are still at the top of the Alliance League standings, however, as Wyoming Potter’s House Christian (10-4) leads the league title chase at 5-0, with Tri-unity at 4-0, and the Aviators at 5-1. In addition to the win over WM Aviation Academy, Tri-unity also defeated Byron Center Zion Christian, 72-31, on Feb. 11.
WKTV coverage and schedule/scores
Complete local basketball schedules as well as up-to-date scores of previous night’s games are also available at wktvjournal.org/sports-schedules-scores. (You can also just just bookmark WKTVjournal.org on your phone or other device and click on the blue banner at the bottom of the screen.)
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of basketball and other winter prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
Wyoming High School boys basketball in action Jan. 21 against Zeeland East. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff
The basketball season is winding down for local Kentwood and Wyoming area high school teams, with key conference games and tournament seeding at stake. So the WKTV Featured Game coverage crew will pay a visit to Wyoming High School Tuesday, Feb. 8, as the Wolves boys basketball team continues its push to the postseason with a home game against Holland.
Replays will be available the night of the game (and later as scheduled on our cable channels) on WKTV.org and hit the “Watch Live” button, and later on-demand at WKTVlive.org.
Wyoming enters the game 9-5 overall and 5-3 (and tied for second in the standings) in OK Conference Green. The Wolves won their only game last week, at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (8-6, 5-3 OK), 58-53, and avenged an early season loss. Holland will enter the contest with a 4-9, 2-6 OK record, but won twice last week in conference action. (For a recent WKTV Sports report on the Wyoming Wolves boys basketball team, visit here.)
A look-in at Wyoming/Kentwood area basketball
The Grand Rapids South Christian girls continue on their roll of now six-straight wins and enter the week 11-3 overall and 7-1 in OK Gold games after another convincing win last week at Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg, 41-31. The Sailors only conference loss came at OK conference leader Grand Rapids Central Catholic (currently 11-3, 8-0 OK), with the rematch coming this week, Wednesday, Feb. 9, on the Sailors’ home court.
The South Christian boys also won last week, over Middleville TK, 76-55, to push their record to 8-4 overall and 5-2 in OK Conference Gold. The Sailors play at OK Gold leader Grand Rapids Catholic Central (13-1, 8-0 OK) this week, on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
The West Michigan Aviation Academy boys won twice last week, over Saugatuck and Wyoming Lee in non-Alliance League action, and now have won six straight to push their record 10-3 overall and 5-0 to lead the Alliance League. But the Aviators face a league showdown this week with the Wyoming Tri-unity Christian boys team which will enter the Tuesday, Feb. 8, game at 7-4, 2-0 in the Alliance.
WKTV coverage and schedule/scores
Complete local basketball schedules as well as up-to-date scores of previous night’s games are also available at wktvjournal.org/sports-schedules-scores. (You can also just just bookmark WKTVjournal.org on your phone or other device and click on the blue banner at the bottom of the screen.)
The tentative WKTV Feature Game schedule for February is as follows:
Friday, Feb. 18, boys and girls basketball, Zion Christian at Wyo. Lee (HOF night)
Tuesday, Feb. 22, boys basketball, Caledonia at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 25, boys and girls basketball, Tri-unity Christian at Potter’s House
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of basketball and other winter prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
WKTV Featured Game winter coverage of local Kentwood and Wyoming area high school usually focuses on basketball, but each season we pay a visit or two to East Kentwood High School to catch up on the Falcons hockey team — so this week, Wednesday, Feb. 2, will have have our cameras at the Mainstee vs. East Kentwood match.
WKTV will cover high school hockey this week. (WKTV)
The hockey match, set for puck drop at 4 p.m., will find the Falcons playing a non-OK Conference Red foe from up north in the second half a home-and-home series. Manistee defeated East Kentwood on Jan. 28.
Then, on Friday, Feb. 4, WKTV will be at Wyoming Potter’s House Christian for an Alliance League basketball doubleheader as the Pumas host Grand River Prep, with the girls playing at 5:30 p.m., and the boys playing at 7 p.m.
In the girls game, Potter’s House will enter the game 7-5 overall and 1-0 in league, including a win Jan. 28 over Lee and a cancelled game against Grand Rapids Wellspring Prep originally scheduled for Feb. 1. Grand River Prep enters the week at 0-5 and 0-2 in Alliance, but has two early-week games on the schedule before visiting Potter’s House.
In the boys game, Potter’s House enters the week at 6-4, 1-0 in Alliance games, following a win over Lee Jan. 28. The Pumas are scheduled to play Wellspring Prep on Feb. 1. Grand River Prep will enter the week with a 3-6, 2-4 league record.
A look-in at Wyoming/Kentwood area basketball
The Grand Rapids South Christian girls continue on their roll of now five-straight wins and enter the week 10-3 overall and 6-1 in OK Gold games after convincing wins last week at Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (63-32) and at home over Cedar Springs (52-22). The Sailors only conference loss coming at OK conference leader Grand Rapids Central Catholic (currently 10-3, 7-0 OK), with the rematch coming Feb. 9 on the Sailors’ home court.
The South Christian boys also won twice last week, over Ottawa Hill (69-51) and Cedar Springs (76-49) to push their record to 7-4 overall and 4-2 in OK Conference Gold. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (12-1, 7-0 OK) and Forest Hills Eastern9-3, 6-1 OK) currently lead the conference and are the two teams to have beaten the Sailors; but rematches with both are looming in February.
The Wyoming boys team (7-5) split OK games last week, with a 73-50 home win over Muskegon Mona Shores on Jan. 28, to stay near the top of the OK Conference Green standings at 4-3. This week, in a rescheduled game Feb. 3, the Wolves get a chance to avenge an early-season OK loss to Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (8-3, 5-2 OK).
The East Kentwood girls (4-7, 4-3 OK Conference Red) won early last week, 55-51 over Caledonia, to push their winning streak to four games and then gave state power Rockford (11-2, 7-0 OK) all it could handle in a 66-63 overtime loss on Jan 28.
The West Michigan Aviation Academy boys won twice last week, and now have won four straight and six of seven, to push their record 8-3 overall and 5-0 to take over the lead in Alliance League action.
The Wyoming Tri-unity Christian boys team won for the fight time in six games, pushing their overall record to 6-4, with a 78-52 win over Godwin Heights on Saturday, Jan. 29. In the game, it was reported on other media that senior Brady Titus set a school record for the Defenders by scoring 44 points.
WKTV coverage and schedule/scores
Complete local basketball schedules as well as up-to-date scores of previous night’s games are also available at wktvjournal.org/sports-schedules-scores. (You can also just just bookmark WKTVjournal.org on your phone or other device and click on the blue banner at the bottom of the screen.)
The tentative WKTV Feature Game schedule for February is as follows:
Tuesday, Feb. 8, boys basketball, Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Feb. 11, boys hockey, Petoskey at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 18, boys and girls basketball, Zion Christian at Wyo. Lee (HOF night)
Tuesday, Feb. 22, boys basketball, Caledonia at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 25, boys and girls basketball, Tri-unity Christian at Potter’s House
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of basketball and other winter prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
WKTV Featured Game coverage of local Kentwood and Wyoming area high school basketball continues this week with one game Tuesday night, as the South Christian High boys host Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, and a boys/girls doubleheader of action on Friday as Kelloggsville visits Godwin Heights.
The early week game Jan. 25 will find the Sailors (5-4 overall) looking to go over .500 in OK Conference Gold standings — both teams are 2-2 in early conference action, but the Bengals are 2-6-1 overall. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
The Friday night featured games are a backyard rivalry as Kelloggsville and Godwin Heights clash with the boys game set to start at 6 p.m. and the girls at 7:30 p.m.
In the boys game, the Rockets will enter the week with a 7-3 record, 4-1 in the OK Conference Silver, while the Wolverines enter 2-3, 1-2 in OK Silver (with the team having several canceled and postponed games shortening their schedule.)
On Tuesday, Godwin will be at Sparta (5-4, 2-3 OK), while Kelloggsville will be at home to face conference leader Grandville Calvin Christian (6-3, 5-0 OK).
In the girls game Friday, the host Wolverines begin the week at 4-5 and 1-4 OK, while the Rockets enter at 3-5 and 0-2 OK. On Tuesday, Godwin will be at home to face OK Silver leader Sparta (7-1, 3-0 OK), while Kelloggsville will be at Calvin Christian (3-6, 2-2).
A look around the Wyoming and Kentwood area courts
The East Kentwood girls team, after starting the season 0-6, have reeled off three straight wins including two last week, to push their OK Conference Red record to 3-1. After an early week game at home to Caledonia (5-6, 0-5) on Jan. 25, the Falcons will face state power Rockford (10-1, 4-1 OK) on Jan. 28.
The Wyoming boys team swept the OK Green Zeeland schools last week to push their record to 6-4, 3-2 in conference games. This week the Wolves will be at Grand Rapids Union (3-6-1 and 2-4 OK) on Jan 25 and then host Muskegon Mona Shores (5-6, 2-3 OK) on Jan. 28. Also, the Wyoming girls (4-7 overall) gained their first OK win last week, over Zeeland East.
The Grand Rapids South Christian girls won twice last week and enter the week 8-3 overall record and 4-1 in OK Gold games — with their only conference loss coming at league leader Grand Rapids Central Catholic (8-3, 5-0). The rematch with Central Catholic will be Feb. 9 on the Sailors’ home court.
The West Michigan Aviation Academy boys won twice last week to push their record 6-3 overall and 3-0 in Alliance League action. The Aviators have a huge league game this week for league leadership when Fruitport Calvary Christian (7-1, 1-0 Alliance) comes got the airport on Jan. 25.
WKTV coverage and schedule/scores
Complete local basketball schedules as well as up-to-date scores of previous night’s games are also available at wktvjournal.org/sports-schedules-scores. (You can also just just bookmark WKTVjournal.org on your phone or other device and click on the blue banner at the bottom of the screen.)
The tentative WKTV Feature Game schedule for February is as follows:
Wednesday, Feb. 2, boys hockey, Manistee at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 4, boys and girls basketball, Grand River prep at Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 8, boys basketball, Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Feb. 11, boys hockey, Petoskey at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 18, boys and girls basketball, Zion Christian at Wyo. Lee (HOF night)
Tuesday, Feb. 22, boys basketball, Caledonia at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 25, boys and girls basketball, Tri-unity Christian at Potter’s House
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of basketball and other winter prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
WKTV Featured Game coverage of local Kentwood and Wyoming area high school basketball continues this week with a key OK Conference Green boys basketball game as Zeeland East visits Wyoming high Friday, Jan. 21, for a 7 p.m. contest.
The Wolves enter the week with a 4-4 overall record, 1-2 in OK action, after a road loss to traditional power Muskegon (6-0, 3-0 OK) on Jan. 14. Prior to that game, Wyoming had won four of five games including a conference road win at Holland and tight loss to Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (5-2, 2-1 OK).
Early this week, on Jan. 18, Wyoming will host Zeeland West (5-2, 2-1) as both teams try to stay near the top of the conference standings. Zeeland East enters the week with a 1-5, 0-3 OK record, and will play an early-week game hosting Grand Rapids Union (1-5-1, 1-3 OK).
A look around the Wyoming and Kentwood area courts
The Grand Rapids South Christian boys (5-3) enter the week in a three-way tie at the top of the OK Gold standings with a 2-1 record, with the other two teams being Forest Hills Eastern and Ottawa Hills. The Sailors will play both of the teams this week, including a home game against Ottawa Hills on Friday.
The South Christian girls enter the week with a 6-3 overall record and are also 2-1 in early season OK games.
The Kelloggsville boys (5-3 overall) enter the week in the middle of the OK Silver race with a 2-1 conference record including two road wins last week at Comstock Park and at Sparta.
The Godwin Heights girls enter the week at 4-3 overall, 1-2 in OK Silver standings, with road games this week against two teams behind them in the conference: Belding and Hopkins.
The West Michigan Aviation Academy boys enter the week 5-3 overall and 1-0 in Alliance League action, tied with the Wyoming Tri-unity Christian boys (4-2 overall) and also 1-0 in Alliance.
WKTV coverage and schedule/scores
Complete local basketball schedules as well as up-to-date scores of previous night’s games are also available at wktvjournal.org/sports-schedules-scores. (You can also just just bookmark WKTVjournal.org on your phone or other device and click on the blue banner at the bottom of the screen.)
The tentative WKTV Feature Game schedule for the remainder of January and February is as follows:
Tuesday, Jan. 25, boys basketball, Ottawa Hills at South Christian
Friday, Jan. 28, boys and girls basketball, Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights
Wednesday, Feb. 2, boys hockey, Manistee at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 4, boys and girls basketball, Grand River prep at Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 8, boys basketball, Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Feb. 11, boys hockey, Petoskey at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 18, boys and girls basketball, Zion Christian at Wyo. Lee (HOF night)
Tuesday, Feb. 22, boys basketball, Caledonia at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 25, boys and girls basketball, Tri-unity Christian at Potter’s House
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of basketball and other winter prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
WKTV Featured Game coverage of local Kentwood and Wyoming area high school basketball will offer up three games this week, beginning with the Wyoming Potter’s House girls hosting Ravenna on Tuesday, Jan. 4, and a boys and girls basketball doubleheader on Friday, Jan. 7, at Kelloggsville when NorthPointe Christian visits.
WKTV was originally scheduled to cover a game at East Kentwood, with the girls team hosting Muskegon, on Jan. 4. But the non-conference game has been cancelled due to a pandemic safety issue.
The Potter’s House Pumas girls enter the week 2-4 in early season play, including a 43-36 win at Cedar Springs on Dec. 21 in their last game, while Ravenna enters 2-3.
On Friday, and opening the team’s OK Conference Silver schedule, the Kelloggsville boys will begin the doubleheader with a 6 p.m. tip-off. Starting the week, the Rockets are 3-2 and the in early season action, with NorthPointe at 1-4.
The Kelloggsville girls will tip-off their OK Silver schedule at about 7:30 p.m., and enter the week with a 2-3 record before a scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 4 home game against Covenant Christian. The NorthPointe girls come to Kelloggsville with a 5-0 record.
Complete local basketball schedules as well as up-to-date scores of previous night’s games are also available at wktvjournal.org/sports-schedules-scores. (You can also just just bookmark WKTVjournal.org on your phone or other device and click on the blue banner at the bottom of the screen.)
The tentative WKTV Feature Game schedule for the remainder of January and February is as follows:
Tuesday, Jan. 11, girls basketball, Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Jan. 14, boys and girls basketball, Calvin Christian at Godwin Heights.
Friday, Jan. 21, boys basketball, Zeeland East at Wyoming
Tuesday, Jan. 25, boys basketball, Ottawa Hills at South Christian
Friday, Jan. 28, boys and girls basketball, Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights
Wednesday, Feb. 2, boys hockey, Manistee at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 4, boys and girls basketball, Grand River prep at Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 8, boys basketball, Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Feb. 11, boys hockey, Petoskey at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 18, boys and girls basketball, Zion Christian at Wyo. Lee (HOF night)
Tuesday, Feb. 22, boys basketball, Caledonia at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 25, boys and girls basketball, Tri-unity Christian at Potter’s House
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of basketball and other winter prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
It is unclear if letter jackets are still in style at high schools but, if they are, East Kentwood High School’s top esports players earned their letters recently as the Falcons won the Esports State Championship in League of Legends at Eastern Michigan University, beating Northville High School.
The title is the latest success story for the school’s new esports teams and players, who compete in the emerging competitions of electronic sports, also called competitive video gaming. Some of the games they compete in include Super Smash Bros, League of Legends, Valorant, Fortnite, and Rocket League.
State esports title team from East Kentwood High School League of Legends team, from left, are Kha Di Le, Andrew Hua, Tony Truong, Jacob Le, Anna Ngo and Brandon Le . (Supplied)
The early December League of Legends matches were streamed on Twitch by PlayVS, with professional “shoutcasters” calling out the games.
East Kentwood’s League of Legends team members include Kha Di Le, Andrew Hua, Tony Truong, Jacob Le, Anna Ngo and Brandon Le.
The League of Legends team are the top players in the school, but coach Bill Dixon told WKTV that he and his fellow coaches expect as many as 100 students to compete at some level this school year.
“Only one of these kids is in athletics, so for the rest, Esports gives them an opportunity to connect with their school with something other than academics,” Dixon said.
A history of support and success
“Esports started for East Kentwood High School about 4 years ago,” Dixon said. “A group of four teachers and administrators (Dixon, Justin Michalowski, Chad Songer and Geoff Westman) decided to offer this opportunity to our students. The rationale was there is an underserved student population that needed an outlet to compete for their school outside of the traditional athletic model.
“We wanted to keep the important elements of athletics: eligibility standards, practices, team building and try outs. What separates Esports from traditional sports is that 90 percent of our student population are playing these games and have a chance to participate.”
The East Kentwood High School esports team, at right, in action. (Supplied)
The school’s esports program has produced back-to-back championships in both Valorant and League of Legends levels, and compete in state leagues such as PlayVS, Michigan High School Esports Federation (MIHSEF) and Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL).
“We have several Kentwood graduates that are competing at the collegiate level at schools like Michigan State (University), University of Michigan, and Grand Valley (State University),” Dixon said.
And, Dixon said in a previous announcement, at the recent League of Legends event, “I was also approached by three different college Esports coaches (Grand Valley, Oakland University and Davenport) that are trying to recruit our kids, offering scholarships.”
Dixon added that the East Kentwood program was “fortunate early on to get support, funding and vision from our principal, Omar Bakri.”
Since it’s beginning, the team has competed in more than 10 different competitions, “sometimes on a national/online format and sometimes with in person competitions,” he said. And East Kentwood has also hosted five events bringing in over a dozen different local high schools.
Bringing home the hardware — State esports title team from East Kentwood High School League of Legends team show off their medals. (Supplied)
“We’ve been fortunate to have excellent teams of great, committed students who have produced back to back championships in both Valorant and League of Legends,” Dixon said.
The East Kentwood program, in cooperation with the West Michigan Sports Commission, also helped run the “Rift Clash”, a League of Legends tournament, which was held live locally in 2019 and online in 2020. That tournament had 15 colleges and 1 high school — the host Falcons — competing. East Kentwood was able to beat several colleges and advanced to the semi-finals in 2020, before falling to MSU, the eventual winner of the tournament.
That team roster included Anna Ngo, Terry Pham, Ben Pham, Daniel Nguyen, Tony Truong and Scott Luu.
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators recently announced that Kentwood Public School’s Endeavor Elementary School has been nationally recognized as a Distinguished School, according to an emailed statement from KPS administration.
The honor is only awarded to two schools within the state of Michigan. Selected schools must show excellence in education as evidenced by student achievement gains.
“The team at Endeavor Elementary demonstrates excellence and tenacity in their work on a daily basis,” KPS Superintendent Kevin Polston said in supplied material. “We are extremely proud of Endeavor’s achievement and commitment to academic achievement for all students.”
Endeavor Elementary won the award for excellence in serving English Learners. Schools are recognized for their approaches to teaching and learning, professional development opportunities, individualized programs and strong partnerships between schools, parents and the community. The selection criteria for this award included the multilingual learners’ achievement on WIDA assessment and school accountability data.
“This is a whole team award. All of our staff have played a crucial role in loving and educating our multilingual learners,” Mark Bea, principal of Endeavor Elementary, said in supplied material. “From our KPS central office who provides clear direction, to our school EL program and EVERY teacher who creates the family environment and targeted instruction to make it happen; from our food service, custodial, and paraprofessionals who provide critical services, to our office and itinerant staff who offer unending support.
“Together with the efforts of students, parents, staff and a supportive community we can achieve true excellence!”
Out of the top nine Michigan schools, MDE identified two other Kentwood elementary buildings, Glenwood and Discovery, for their success with English Learners.
The Michigan Department of Education will cover the cost for travel, food and lodging for three staff members to be recognized at the National ESEA Conference. The conference, held in New Orleans, offers opportunities for staff members to learn from nationally recognized leaders and experts in education. Participants can also network with colleagues from all over the United States.
The best of Kent County’s wrestlers, many of them state-ranked in their weight classes, will be on the mats at East Kentwood High School as the Falcons wrestling program hosts the Kent County Wrestling Championships Saturday, Dec. 18, with matches starting at 9:30 a.m.
In addition to the East Kentwood wrestlers, other local schools expected to attend are Wyoming, Godfrey Lee, Kelloggsville and Godwin Heights. In all, as many as 20 schools will have wrestlers on the mats.
The format, according to information supplied by East Kentwood wrestling coaching staff will have the top 16 in each weight class placed in “Championship Division” with double elimination format. The remaining Wrestlers will be placed in a “Beltline Division”. There will also be a bracket for female wrestlers.
The Championship Division will be pre-seeded based on Trackwrestling criteria including state tournament placement/qualification, regional qualification, and records.
The Beltline Division competitors are 1st or 2nd year wrestlers or the wrestlers who had a sub-.500 winning percentage the previous season.
Awards will go to teams, individual wrestlers and Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Championship finals, and third and fifth place matches will be wrestled starting at same time, 4:30 p.m.
Robert Roelofs may be new the boys varsity head coaching position at East Kentwood High School, but he is no stranger to the boys program, having served as the junior varsity coach since 2015, and no stranger to Falcons basketball fans having led the girls varsity team in the early 2000s.
So he knows the school, he knows the fan base and, maybe most importantly, he knows the players on the varsity squad having coached many of them earlier. All of those things, plus a more normal off-season for the program, should help the Falcons rebound from a rough 2020-21 season.
“Obviously you have a pretty good idea of their skill sets, their strengths and weaknesses,” Roelofs said to WKTV as his varsity (and junior varsity) teams practiced recently. “It’s pretty advantageous for me to know the kids … I know them and they know me.”
Roelofs takes over the men’s program from Jeff Anama. The Falcons were 3-12 in last year’s pandemic impacted 2020-21 season.
The team opens its season Saturday, Dec. 11 vs. Lansing Sexton at Battle of I-96 at Ottawa Hills High School.
East Kentwood High School varsity boys basketball head coach Robert Roelofs at a varsity and junior varsity practice Dec. 3. (WKTV)
“We lost four starters from last year’s team, the one starter back is Marshaun Flakes,” Roelofs said. “He started for us as a sophomore, he played for me as a freshman on the JV team … very good basketball savvy. Competitor. Long, athletic kid.”
“We have a couple returning kids. Timmy (Leutrim) Sahitolli. Jack Scrimshaw, who played limited minutes last year. Timmy never played for me, but Jack played for me as a sophomore and had a good year. (Scrimshaw is a) good shooter, long kid. Timmy is kind of a workhorse, strong kid.”
“We have some kids from last year’s JV team,” Roelofs added. “Razah Townsend, 6-(foot)-3, about 225 (pounds) and strong, a linebacker type kid. We will look to him for some production in the post. Some guards who are coming through. Feng Logan, he played a little bit on the varsity, athletic, a quick guard.”
New coach has history of success
Roelofs is a graduate of Creston High School, and later Aquinas College. (He also has higher degrees from Central Michigan and Grand Valley State universities.)
He coached at West Catholic and Ravenna high schools in the 1980s, then was at Northview in the 1990s, where he had success with first the varsity girls and then the varsity boys teams.
He has been a social studies teacher and coach at East Kentwood since 1997, where he led the girls varsity team from 1999-2004, when his Falcons went 80-33 and made a trip to the final four one season. He got back onto the Falcons sideline again when he took over the junior varsity team in 2015.
Having run the East Kentwood girls varsity team for five years, and the varsity boys and girls programs at Northview, Roelofs experience in running a “program” and not just running a team will also help his transition to varsity this year.
“There is a lot of administrative things that you are responsible for when you are the head coach. It’s one of the things that has come back into my mind here, the last two weeks,” he said. “Young coaches ask that questions all the time — they are pretty good at the ‘Xs’ and ‘Os’ stuff but they do not understand the administrative stuff. Transportation, schedules, parent communication. All that stuff that goes on in the periphery that you are not really tuned into as a JV coach. It is a huge advantage.”
And is there any difference in coaching girls and boys basketball? Maybe just a little.
“The game is the same — it is organically the same game, right?” he said. “But from a standpoint of motivational techniques, there is definitely some changes (to the boys game). Some of them you have pat on the back and some of them you need a little kick in the butt. (But) I don’t really see the need to change anything in terms of the game.”
Bouncing back from an pandemic-altered season
The varsity program struggled a bit last year, a very unusual year due to the pandemic. But Roelofs thinks a more normal off-season will greatly benefit the Falcons.
“The bad thing about the team last year really goes back into the offseason,” he said. “Most of the kids could not participate in AAU. We were very limited in what we could do relative to offseason workouts. Their individual prep, individual skill level, wasn’t there. There was a very limited preseason, they didn’t scrimmage anybody. It was almost like an AAU season — you jump right into the season and start playing.”
“In terms of the carryover to this year, we had a different preparation process. We had a summer program. We had a fall league we played in. There really wasn’t much of a carryover. … It maybe is impacting our younger players, they missed about a year in their development.”
And with only three games on the schedule before the end of the year, and the beginning of OK Conference Red play on Jan. 7, early on Roelofs is looking as much for improvement as wins.
“We don’t say we want to win X amount of games, that comes as a byproduct of maturation, of good luck sometimes,” he said. “We are just going to try to put a good group of kids together. Make sure they play hard, to play together. … That’s what we are looking for. If you do all those things, you win your fair share of games.”
WKTV Featured Game coverage of local Kentwood and Wyoming area high school basketball — and an occasional prep hockey game — will kick into a full-court press in January 2022 when conference play starts.
But the crew will be out and about for a few pre-holiday-wbreak games beginning this week with girls basketball when Godwin Heights High School visits Wyoming Lee on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., then boys basketball when West Michigan Aviation Academy hosts Grand River Prep on Friday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.
Two other December games are on the WKTV Feature Game schedule, including the Wyoming high girls hosting South Christian on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and a boys and girls basketball doubleheader on Friday, Dec. 17, at South Christian when Unity Christian visits.
Complete local basketball schedules as well as up-to-date scores of previous night’s games are also available at wktvjournal.org/sports-schedules-scores. (You can also just just bookmark WKTVjournal.org on your phone or other device and click on the blue banner at the bottom of the screen.)
The tentative January and February WKTV Feature Game schedule is as follows:
Always looking for volunteers in front of and behind the cameras, WKTV Featured Game sports crew includes volunteer announcers, from a 2020 game at East Kentwood, Ron Schultz and Mark Bergsma. (WKTV)
Friday, Jan. 7 , Boys and girls basketball, NorthPointe Christian at Kelloggsville
Tuesday, Jan. 11, Girls basketball, Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Jan. 14, Boys and girls basketball, Calvin Christian at Godwin Heights.
Friday, Jan. 21, Boys basketball, Zeeland East at Wyoming
Tuesday, Jan. 25, Boys basketball, Ottawa Hills at South Christian
Friday, Jan. 28, Boys and girls basketball, Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights
Wednesday, Feb. 2, Boys hockey, Manistee at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 4, Boys and girls basketball, Grand River prep at Potter’s House
Tuesday, Feb. 8, Boys basketball, Holland at Wyoming
Friday, Feb. 11, Boys hockey, Petoskey at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 18, Boys and girls basketball, Zion Christian at Wyo. Lee (HOF night)
Tuesday, Feb. 22, Boys basketball, Caledonia at East Kentwood
Friday, Feb. 25, Boys and Girls Basketball, Tri-unity Christian at Potter’s House
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of basketball and other winter prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
WKTV’s sports coverage crew was back at work big-time this fall, following a shortened season in 2020 due to the pandemic, as our high school football Featured Game coverage was all over Wyoming and Kentwood — and even make a road trip to Hastings for a playoff game.
And as they can every year, high school sports fans can get their Turkey Day football fix this year as we broadcast 15 hours of football on our cable Channel 25.
The special day of games start at 9 a.m., and highlights the best of our high school football games from the season. The schedule of games (with link to the games on WKTV’s On-Demand video internet channel, at WKTVLive.org ) is as follows:
9 a.m. — Forest Hills Northern at Wyoming High. On-demand
11:15 a.m. — Middleville at South Christian. On-demand
1:25 p.m. — West Ottawa at East Kentwood. On-demand
4:10 p.m. — Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights. On-demand
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government cChannel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are give the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26).
FIRST Tech Challenge Kentwood qualifier middle school robotics competition was hosted by Kentwood Public Schools’ Red Storm Robotics program on Nov. 6. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Red Storm Robotics middle school program’s Green team, getting some coaching. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Red Storm Robotics middle school program included the Green team, awaiting the beginning of competition. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Red Storm Robotics middle school program’s Green team, awaiting the start of competition. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Red Storm Robotics middle school program’s Green team’s robot, in action. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics program has long been known as having a model high school program at East Kentwood High School, both its students and the robots they build.
The Gunter family are Red Storm Robotics from head to toe: Timothy Gunter III with parents Tim and Cui. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
And after a 2020 of virtual events due the pandemic, the East Kentwood team will be back before crowds this school year as it hosts the Kentwood FIRST Robotics competition, scheduled for April 1-2, 2022, with a many as 40 teams expected to compete in a “Rapid React” game challenge that will be announced in January.
But the success of the high school program begins with the steady stream of talent moving up from the its middle school ranks, talent already on display before a large crowd as Kentwood Public School’s middle school robotics program sent five teams against others schools at the FIRST Tech Challenge Kentwood qualifier, hosted by Red Storm Robotics, on Nov. 6.
Getting back to live competition “means everything to these kids, we haven’t been able to do this for two years … we are just so excited for this event today,” Trista VanderVoord, who works with the Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics program, said to WKTV at the event.
And for the students, the event was not only a chance to see and be seen by their family and friends, it was a chance to match up their robotic creations up against others schools and other robots inventions.
Kentwood middle schooler Giselle Triggs is part of the Red Storm Robotics middle school program’s Green team. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“It is really exciting to be able to see a bunch of these other robots,” said Giselle Triggs, a member of Kentwood’s Green Team and who is in her first year of being part of the Red Storm Robotics program.
“Everybody is really cool, and everybody is giving complements,” Christian Posthumus, a member if the Grey team, said. “The only problem is that there are so many people watching you … It’s just scary. If you mess up, everybody will see you mess up.”
The Kentwood teams did not “mess up” much at the FIRST Tech Challenge, however, as two of the five teams qualified for a state competition in December.
Two teams move on to state competition
In results of the competition, as detailed on the Red Storm Robotics Facebook page after the challenge, Red Storm Red team qualified for the state competition and earned the 2nd place Control Award, the 3rd place Think Award, and the 3rd place Inspire Award (Inspire is the highest award in FIRST Tech Challenge). Red Storm White team will be joining the Red Team, as the “Bot Tart” crew won the 2nd place Motivate Award and the Connect Award.
Kentwood student Christian Posthumus is part of the Red Storm Robotics middle school program. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Additionally, the Red Storm Green team “had a fun first competition” as the all-rookie 6th and 7th grade team were decked out in magician capes, top hats and magic wands.
Red Storm Gray was another all-rookie 6th and 7th grade team, members of which shared their team spirit by distributing a dozen handmade shark awards to other teams throughout our competition.
The Red Storm Blue placed 12th in the qualifier and also received the Promote Award for their video submission on “If I could tell my younger self one thing about FIRST Robotics, it would be…” as well as winning the Motivate Award.
Goals of FIRST Tech Challenge
The FIRST Tech Challenge is a national program of FIRST Inspires where “students learn to think like engineers,” according to program material. Teams design, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.
This year’s tech challenge, Freight Frenzy, is presented by Raytheon Technologies and had students race against time to transport “essential goods and explore the future of transportation,” according to supplied material.
When it comes to getting young students engaged with robotics as part of their STEM technology education — including Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics program — it can’t wait for high school.
So Kentwood Public School’s middle school robotics program will send its teams, five of them, against others schools when it hosts the FIRST Tech Challenge Kentwood qualifier, hosted by Red Storm Robotics, on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The challenge will take place at the East Kentwood Freshman Campus, 6170 Valley Lane Dr. SE, and the public is invited to the free event. (There was no in-person challenge in 2020 due to the pandemic. There was a virtual challenge.)
“I’ve been impressed with the FIRST robotics programs,” Wendy Ljungren, Chief Operating Officer for Anzen Unmanned and one of the adult leader of Red Storm Robotics, said to WKTV. “The students that go through FIRST have the STEM and teamwork skills needed for our country to continue to advance.”
The FIRST Tech Challenge is a national program of FIRST Inspires where “students learn to think like engineers,” according to program material. Teams design, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.
This year’s tech challenge, Freight Frenzy, is presented by Raytheon Technologies and will have students race against time to transport “essential goods and explore the future of transportation,” according to supplied material.
The City of Kentwood’s Trunk or Treat community event invited trick-or-treaters to don their costumes and come to the city’s Department of Public Works building Saturday, Oct. 23, where there were long lines of families and lots of kids in search of candy.
The free event went on for hours with hundreds of families waiting to take a stroll by city police, fire and public works vehicles, as well the of community groups — all with their vehicle’s trunks decorated and stationed inside the building handing out candy and other items.
WKTV was there, to capture some of the spooky happenings and cute costumes, and we asked a few of the trick-or-treaters “What’s their favorite candy?”
In addition to collecting candy, participants had the opportunity to vote for their favorite trunk. Children were encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and face coverings — and the kids did not disappoint, nor did many of their parents.
The City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department offered plenty of fun — and a few scares — for the community kids at the city’s Trunk or Treat event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The City of Kentwood offered dress-up opportunity for all ages at the city’s Trunk or Treat event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The City of Kentwood offered opportunity for dress-up for adults too at the city’s Trunk or Treat event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Kentwood Public Schools’ robotics program had a display at the City of Kentwood’s Trunk or Treat event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
Even people in the know about the state of the State of Michigan high school girls golf might have overlooked East Kentwood High School sophomore Elise Fennell last year — until she finished her freshman season a solid fourth in the Division 1 individual finals.
And following her consistent, quality play this season, and with her dominating the field at a very tough Division 1 Regional 1 last week — shooting a 73 at Thompsonville’s Betsie Valley course, six stokes ahead of the second place individual finisher — she may well be the golfer to beat this week at the 2-day state Division 1 finals at Grand Valley State University.
East Kentwood High School sophomore Elise Fennell will be seeking a state title Oct. 15-16. (Supplied)
While the 15-year old speaks softly and humbly when asked about her approach to the state finals, to be held Oct. 15-16 at The Meadows, she sounds quietly confident in her game. And her Falcon coach, Mike Ketelaar, says the same thing, a little more loudly.
“Just trying to get ready, mentally, more than anything,” Fennell said to WKTV this week, as she prepared for a practice round at Stonewater Country Club in Caledonia. “Physically is not as important as your mental game. I’m just trying to prepare for what I am going to do. Course management decisions. Everything like that.”
Ketelaar, too, says his prize young player is “hungry” to prove herself to be among the best in the state while she is already establishing herself on the national stage in youth golf by playing in “a lot of serious tournaments in the summertime with some of the best players in the country.”
“Playing in the state finals last year … I got to watch every shot and she was very composed. She enjoyed herself,” Ketelaar said to WKTV. “At the state tournament last year, there was a little bit of nerves but there was nothing she wasn’t used to. I think this year she is very excited for this state tournament coming up, because it is 36 holes, its at Grand Valley, where we’ve had a lot of events.
“I think she is hungry. Fourth place (last year) was really good for her but I think she has higher aspirations this year.”
Growing into her game, individual and team
Fennell has been playing since age six, and competing since she was about 10. And like a lot of young players, when she started there as a parent and a Tiger involved.
East Kentwood High School sophomore Elise Fennell is all smiles … until there is a club in her hands. (Supplied)
“I was like six, and my dad and I would watch Tiger (Woods) on TV, all those guys on TV, and he introduced me to the game,” Fennell said. Her first lesson, however, was later — “I was nine and it was here, (at Stonewater) from Jimmy (Wisinski).”
It was right about that time that she knew she could — and should — compete with the best in her age group, and higher.
“When I was 10, I was winning a lot of stuff in my age group, just because it was small, there was not a lot of girls in my age group,” Fennell said. “My scores were similar to the older girls, so I started moving up. And every time I moved up, all my scores were right there with them. … When I was like 12, I ended up playing with high schoolers and I said ‘Okay, this is where I am meant to be.’”
And that is about the time Falcon coach Ketelaar started hearing about the talent that would he would have the “privilege” and “responsibility” to be working with.
“I’ve had the privilege to work with Elise for the last two years, as her coach at East Kentwood High School,” he said. “But, prior to that, I knew about her pedigree and her ability. … Hearing about her name around the country club here and seeing her scores in different newspapers and stuff, I knew I had a huge responsibility as a coach to make sure I took care of that talent and help develop it to the best of my abilities.”
And despite her growth, physically, it is her mental game where she and her coach continue working to improve.
Her game changed, physically, she said as she grew from 10 to her current 15 years old “because I kept growing, so I needed new clubs, and my yardages changed, and but the same mentality stayed where I just wanted to focus on each shot, stay in the moment and not get too far ahead of myself. Otherwise it would be downhill from there.”
She has also grown both in her individual game and her team game, her coach said.
“I’ve noticed a huge growth in (her), she wants to do well individually still, she’s very hungry and competitive. But I think she is seeing the larger picture of the importance of helping team members,” Ketelaar said. “She obviously has more golf experience than a lot of girls on the team. She has really taken it upon herself to pass on that knowledge and teach them about course management. How to remain calm. Just to enjoy the moment.
“I know she knows high school golf is four years. I think the first year she was really concerned about learning about it and having success herself. It is very apparent now that it is not so much about her as it is about the whole team.”
Falcon team making improvements
While the East Kentwood girls golf team did not advance past the regionals, Fennell’s coach said her impact on the team this year and in the future is certain. Not only on the courses but at practice.
East Kentwood High School head girls golf coach Mike Ketelaar. (WKTV)
“I text and call Elise a lot to get a vibe on what’s the team thinking,” Ketelaar said. “Obviously I’m not a high school girl and I try my best to figure out the climate of the team is. But a lot of time I bank on her relationships, her friendships, with them all to say ‘Hey, are they enjoying themselves? Is there a practice we are doing, is it worthwhile?’ She comes back with really good advice of how she thinks we can improve our program.”
Looking at this year’s team, outride of Fennell, coach starts with his senior leader, Chandler Baillie — “She was a really a consistent player for us,” and then goes from there.
“Morgan Lee is a sophomore, she played our Number 2 this year — I know she is really excited to work in the off season, to improve. So, I’m looking forward to seeing what Morgan can bring to the table next year.
“And Aish (Aishwarya Kasaju) is a junior this year, she had huge improvements, she’ll be a senior leader. And Cam (Camryn) Kolzow came out as a freshman and never played school golf before and now has a real itch. So I think we have a great squad coming in for next year.”
East Kentwood High School sophomore Elise Fennell at practice. (Supplied)
With only two more weeks of the regular season remaining in the 2021 high school football season, results of Week 7 involving local teams found Grand Rapids South Christian High School (5-2 overall) all but assured a state playoff berth at the end of the month, and Wyoming Godwin Heights (3-3) kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating Kelloggsville.
The Sailors’ scored a 37-13 home win (at East Kentwood) over Ada Forest Hills Eastern. The Wolverines scored a 53-13 win in its annual rivalry game against the Rockets on a rainy night that was WKTV’s Featured Game of the week, with Wyoming and Kentwood cable television and on-demand replays available.
And talking about featured games, WKTV will be at Wyoming high this week as the Wolves host Grand Rapids Union and also a special celebration for the school’s new stadium being named in honor of Jack VerDuin, who rolled up a 243-118-6 record with the Wyoming Park Vikings before the school merged with Wyoming Rogers to become Wyoming high in 2012.
Then, in the final week of the regular season, on Friday, Oct. 22, WKTV will be at East Kentwood for South Christian’s season ending OK Conference Gold clash with current conference co-leader Cedar Springs.
Past WKTV Featured Games from this season available on-demand include the Aug. 26 Forest HIlls Northern at Wyoming High game, the Sept. 1 NorthPointe at Lee 8-man game, the Sept. 10 Middleville T-K at South Christian game (played at East Kentwood), and East Kentwood’s home win over West Otttawa on Sept. 24, South Christian’s win over Kenowa Hills on Oct. 1, and the annual Godwin vs. Kelloggsville rivalry game on Oct. 8.
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
Team-by-team update
East Kentwood
The East Kentwood Falcons (1-6, 1-4 in OK Conference Red) lost 6-44 on the road at Grandville (4-3, 3-2) on Oct. 8. Remaining on the Falcon’s schedule are a home game against Grand Haven (3-4, 2-3) on Oct. 15, then closing out the regular season at Jension (currently 2-5, 1-4) on Oct. 22.
After last week’s action, Rockford (7-0) sits alone in OK Red standings at 5-0 after defeating Caledonia (6-1, 4-1) with Hudsonville (4-3) also at 4-1 in conference.
Wyoming high
The Wyoming Wolves (0-7, 0-5 in OK Conference Green) were on the road again last week and lost 34-65 at Zeeland East (5-2, 4-1) on Oct. 8. This week’s game, on Oct. 15, is a home game against Grand Rapids Union (3-4, 1-4), and then the Wolves close out the season on the road at Mona Shores (currently 5-2, 4-1) on Oct. 22.
After last week’s action, Muskegon (6-1) is 5-0 and alone atop the OK Green after defeating Muskegon Mona Shores.
Grand Rapids South Christian
The South Christian Sailors (5-2, 4-1 in OK Conference Gold) will be the road for Week 8 with an OK Gold game against Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (2-5, 1-4) on Oct. 15.
After last week’s action, Grand Rapids Central Catholic (7-0) and Cedar Springs (6-1) are both 5-0 in OK Gold action, with the Sailors one game behind. South Christian played and lost to Catholic Central on Sept. 17, but still have a home game against Cedar Springs to be played to close the regular season Oct. 22.
Godwin Heights
The Godwin Heights Wolverines (3-3, 1-2 in OK Conference Silver action), after last week’s win over Kelloggsville (2-5, 1-3), could still make the playoffs by winning out in their road game at Belding (5-2, 2-2) on Oct. 15, and then winning at home to close out the season against Grandville Calvin Christian (currently 1-6, 0-4) on Oct. 22.
After last week’s action, OK Silver standings have Comstock Park (7-0) undefeated in OK Silver action at 5-0, with Sparta (5-2) at 3-1 in conference.
Kelloggsville
The Kelloggsville Rockets (2-5, 1-3 in OK Conference Silver action) saw their 2-game winning streak come to an end on a rainy night at Godwin Heights last week, and now have two tough games to end the season: at OK Silver leader Comstock Park (7-0, 5-0) on Oct. 15, and then at home to face Sparta (5-2, 3-1) on Oct. 22.
Lee (8-man football)
The Lee Legends are playing a non-conference 8-man schedule which includes both 8-man varsity and junior varsity games.
Last week, in Week 5 of the 2021 high school football season, East Kentwood High School broke into the win column in a big way with a 37-20 home win over Holland West Ottawa. And WKTV’s Feature Game coverage team was there, with Wyoming and Kentwood cable television and on-demand replays available.
In other local action, South Christian stayed in the OK Gold title hunt with a 62-20 conference win at Wayland, and Kelloggsville also broke in the win column with a 70-22 win at Granville Calvin Christian.
The Week 6 schedule of local teams will find WKTV at East Kentwood this week for a WKTV Featured Game, but this time for a “home” game for South Christian as they host Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills on Oct. 1.
Jack VerDuin. (Supplied)
Upcoming games on the WKTV Featured Game schedule include the Friday, Oct. 8, Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights traditional cross-town rivalry game; and the Friday, Oct. 15, Union at Wyoming high game — which is scheduled to be a special celebration as the high school’s new stadium is named in honor of Jack VerDuin, who rolled up a 243-118-6 record with the Wyoming Park Vikings before the school merged with Wyoming Rogers to become Wyoming high in 2012.
The final week of the regular season, on Friday, Oct. 22, WKTV will select a game of more importance to local fans.
Other WKTV Featured Games available on-demand include the Aug. 26 Forest HIlls Northern at Wyoming High game, the Sept. 1 NorthPointe at Lee 8-man game, and the Sept. 10 Middleville T-K at South Christian game (played at East Kentwood).
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
Team-by-team update
East Kentwood
The East Kentwood Falcons —1-4, 1-2 in OK Conference Red action after the win over West Ottawa (0-5, 0-3) — will be on the road this week, playing at Hudsonville (2-3, 2-1).
After last week’s action, Caledonia (5-0 overall) and Rockford (5-0) are both 3-0 in OK Red standings, with Hudsonville and Grand Haven (3-2) at 2-1.
Remaining on the Eagle’s schedule after Hudsonville is Grandville (2-3, 1-2) away on Oct. 8, at home hosting Grand Haven on Oct. 15, then closing out the regular season at Jension (0-3, 1-4) on Oct. 22.
Wyoming high
The Wyoming Wolves (0-5) last week hosted OK Conference Green co-leader, and always tough, Muskegon (4-1) and lost 0-62.
After last week’s action, Muskegon (4-1) and Muskegon Mona Shores (4-1) are each 3-0 in OK Green action. The Wolves are 0-3 in conference, with a road game this week at Zeeland West (2-2, 1-2) on Oct. 1.
After this week’s game, Wyoming will be on the road at Zeeland East (3-2, 2-1) on Oct. 8, at home for the final time this season facing Grand Rapids Union (3-2, 1-2) on Oct. 15, and then close out the season at Mona Shores on Oct. 22.
Grand Rapids South Christian
The South Christian Sailors (3-2, 2-1 in OK Conference Gold) will be at home (at East Kentwood) in Week 6 hosting Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (2-3, 1-2) in OK Gold action.
After last week’s action, Grand Rapids Central Catholic (5-0) and Cedar Springs (4-1) are both 3-0 in OK Gold action, with the Sailors one game behind. South Christian played and lost to Catholic Central on Sept. 17, but still have a home game against Cedar Springs to be played.
After this week’s game against Kenowa Hills, South Christian will host Ada Forest Hills Eastern (2-3, 1-2) on Oct. 8, travel to Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (2-3, 1-2) on Oct. 15, then finish the regular season against Cedar Springs on Oct. 22.
Godwin Heights
The Godwin Heights Wolverines (2-2) had a week off from action last week but will return to the field and OK Conference Silver acton this week with a road game at Sparta (3-2) on Oct. 1.
After last week’s action, Comstock Park (5-0) is the only undefeated in OK Silver action at 3-0, while Belding (4-1) and Hopkins (2-3) are each 2-1 in conference. Godwin remained at 0-2 in conference while Sparta is 1-1.
After this week’s game at Sparta, the Wolverines will host cross-town and conference rival Kelloggsville (1-4, 1-2) on Oct. 8, then travel to Belding on Oct.15, before finishing the season at home against Grandville Calvin Christian (1-4, 0-2) on Oct. 22.
Kelloggsville
The Kelloggsville Rockets (1-4) saw their offense in high gear two weeks in a row last week as they followed up a 38-point effort Sept. 17 in a 38-42 loss to Hopkins with the 70-22 road win at Calvin Christian in OK Conference Silver action.
After last week’s action, Comstock Park (5-0) is the only undefeated in OK Silver action at 3-0, while Belding (4-1) and Hopkins (2-3) are all 2-1 in conference. Kelloggsville is 1-2 in conference.
Kelloggsville will be at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (2-3, 2-0 in Catholic High School League Intersectional #1) in a non-conference game this week, Oct. 1, before finishing the season with conference games at Godwin Heights (2-2, 0-2) on Oct. 8, at Comstock Park on Oct. 15, and then at home to face Sparta (3-2, 1-1) on Oct. 22.
Lee (8-man football)
The Lee Legends are playing a non-conference 8-man schedule which includes both 8-man varsity and junior varsity games.
East Kentwood High School head coach Anthony Kimbrough, shown at practice with his Falcons team, talks about the good and bad of a tough early-season schedule. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The 2021 high school football season did not start the way East Kentwood High School head coach Anthony Kimbrough and his Falcons team expected — going 0-4 as the team prepared this week to host Holland West Ottawa in a OK Conference Red game.
The Falcons did have a brutal early season schedule, by choice and by chance, with a home loss to state power Muskegon followed by road losses at another state power in Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice and then at Rockford (4-0), before falling to Caledonia (4-0) on Sept. 17, the last two in OK Conference Red action.
Rockford is No. 1 in Division 1 the first AP state football rankings. Caledonia is #3 in Division 2, Brother Rice No. 1 in Division 3, and Muskegon (3-1) is— everyone knows — always ranked by year’s end.
“We are just trying to improve every day: basic fundamentals, little things,” Coach Kimbrough said to WKTV this week. “We went into the season knowing our first three opponents were big-time programs … but we are tying to stay positive … just getting the kids to believe in themselves. We are working hard and hopefully it will pay off this Friday.”
And about that brutal season-opening schedule?
East Kentwood football senior Jakeilon Heard (33) awaits his turn at a Falcons practice. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“It is a combination of some people just don’t want to play us, so you are stuck playing the Muskegons and the Brother Rices of the world,” Kimbrough said. “But I do want our kids to understand that if you are going to win a state championship, you are going to have to beat those types of programs.
“It was a challenge going in. … (But) I never imagined us going 0-4. It’s been tough. But I have to give credit to our players and our coaches, they’ve stayed positive. We have a long season ahead and we have five games to get better.”
This week’s game, starting at 7 p.m., is not only this week’s WKTV Featured Game of the Week, with cable television and on-demand replays available, but will also be East Kentwood’s Homecoming Game.
Leaning on senior leaders
Coach Kimbrough said despite the rough beginning to the season, parts of the Falcon machine and several players are performing well on the field.
East Kentwood head football coach Anthony Kimbrough likes the positive attitude of his seniors, despite an 0-4 start to the season, including senior Bobby Durr (68) pumping up teammates as they start a practice. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“I got to start with (senior) Jeffery Perry, our running back. He probably had his best game of the year against Caledonia. He rushed for 93 yards. He ran hard,” Kimbrough said. “And we have offensive linemen that have really played well. Bobby Durr, he’s a senior. He’s stayed positive and he’s a captain on the team.”
“My quarterback (Casey Joppie). He’s a sophomore. He’s taken some licks and got back up. He’s very coachable … very proud of him. And there has been guys on the defensive side who have played well — I could name a bunch.”
And coach also credits many of his seniors, playing or not, as helping to keep the team focused on the past and future winning ways of East Kentwood.
“Jalon Fuller, one of our safeties, he’s played well. Brian Dinh, possibly an all-conference kid, cornerback. He’s played well,” he said. “Those guys just lead by example. Play hard in practice. Staying positive. … I think our underclassman are appreciative of what out seniors bring.”
Along the other seniors are Joe Stille, Reginald Brown, Carlo Russel-Dumani, Dakota Stephens, Felice Messina, Devontae Savage, Shawn White, Jakeilon Heard, Jack Izenbart, Mehki Baker, Anthony Nelson, Alonte’ Brandon, Shawn Dumani, Levi Robinson, Bryson Woods, Patrick MacDonald, Jake Tate and Zachary Vanoverloop.
Where, when to catch WKTV’s feature games
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
The 2021 high school football season, and WKTV’s Feature Game coverage of local teams, are about at the halfway point of the season — and, after a week off for the WKTV crew, we will be catching up with the East Kentwood High School Falcons this week.
With most Kentwood and Wyoming area high school football team having played their fourth game of the season last week and prepping this week for the halfway point in their schedule, WKTV brings you a look at where the teams are standing.
And speaking of Week 5 schedules, WKTV will be at East Kentwood this week for a WKTV Featured Game with the Falcons hosting Holland West Ottawa.
WKTV Featured Games available on-demand include the Aug. 26 Forest HIlls Northern at Wyoming High game, the Sept. 1 NorthPointe at Lee 8-man game, and the Sept. 10 Middleville T-K at South Christian game (played at East Kentwood).
Upcoming games on the WKTV Featured Game schedule include the Friday, Oct. 1, Kenowa Hills at South Christian game (also at East Kentwood); the Friday, Oct. 8, Kelloggsville at Godwin Heights game; and the Friday, Oct. 15, Union at Wyoming High game.
The final week of the regular season, on Friday, Oct. 22, WKTV will select a game of more importance to local fans.
WKTV featured games will on cable television in Wyoming and Kentwood on Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99 Community Channel, rebroadcast on the night of the game and various days and times the week after. See the programming schedule at wktv.org. For more information on WKTV coverage of football and other fall prep sports, follow us at wktvjournal.org/sports.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV’s video coverage team, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.com.
East Kentwood
The East Kentwood Falcons (0-4) lost at home last week, 9-35, to Caledonia (4-0) on Sept. 17 in OK Conference Red action.
After starting off a brutal early season schedule with a home loss to state power Muskegon (7-47) on Aug. 27, followed by two road losses: at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (0-33) — another state power — on Sept. 3, and then falling to open OK Red play at Rockford (0-48) on Sept. 10.
After last week’s action, Caledonia and Rockford are both 2-0 in OK Red standings, with East Kentwood at 0-2. The Falcons (0-2) host Holland West Ottawa (0-2 OK Red; 0-4 overall) this week.
Wyoming high
The Wyoming Wolves (0-4) saw their offense kick into high gear but could not break into the win column at home last week during a 49-52 loss to Holland (1-3) on Sept. 17 in OK Conference Green action.
The Wolves started the season with a 13-37 loss at home to Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern on Aug. 27, then lost a road game at Grand Rapids Northview, 0-24, on Sept. 3. Last week, on Sept. 10, Wyoming was also on the road to open OK Green action with a 12-48 loss at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.
After last week’s action, Muskegon, Muskegon Mona Shores, and Zeeland East are all 2-0 in OK Green action (and all 3-1 on the season). The Wolves are 0-2, with a home game this week against Muskegon.
Grand Rapids South Christian
The South Christian Sailors (2-2) saw their up-and-down season continue last week with a 6-28 road loss at OK Conference Gold leader Grand Rapids Catholic Central (4-0) on Sept. 17 in OK Gold action.
The Sailors started the season, in non-conference action, with a 27-7 win on the road at Grand Rapids Christian Aug. 27, then lost 21-30 at home to East Grand Rapids on Sept. 3. South Christian then got back into the win column Sept. 10 with a 35-14 home win over Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg.
After last week’s action, Central Catholic and Cedar Springs (3-1) are both 2-0 in OK Gold action. The Sailors are 1-1 in conference with a road game at Wayland (0-2; 0-4) coming this week.
Godwin Heights
The Godwin Heights Wolverines (2-2) saw their season record fall to .500 last week with a 18-59 road loss at OK Conference Silver leader Comstock Park (4-0) on Sept. 17 in OK Silver action.
The Wolverines started the season, in non-conference action, with a 34-7 win at home over Manistee on Aug. 27, then followed that up with a 27-21 overtime win on the road at Fowler on Sept. 2. Godwin opened its OK Silver slate with a 28-40 loss at home to Hopkins on Sept. 10.
After last week’s action, Belding (4-0), Comstock Park, and Hopkins (2-2) are all 2-0 in OK Silver action. Due to an open week in the Wolverines schedule, Godwin will next play on Oct. 1 at Sparta (0-1; 2-2).
Kelloggsville
The Kelloggsville Rockets (0-4) also saw their offense crank it up last week but lost at home 38-42 to Hopkins (2-2) on Sept. 17 in OK Conference Silver action.
The Rockets started the season, in non-conference action, with a 28-49 home loss to Owosso on Aug. 26, a 8-55 road loss at Ionia on on Sept. 2, and then opened its OK Silver schedule with a 26-67 loss at conference co-leader Belding on Sept. 10.
After last week’s action, Belding (4-0), Comstock Park, and Hopkins (2-2) are all 2-0 in OK Silver action. Kelloggsville, this week, will be at Calvin Christian (0-1; 1-3).
Lee (8-man football)
The Lee Legends are playing a non-conference 8-man schedule which includes both 8-man varsity and junior varsity games.
The first national coaches poll came out early this month and the Grand Rapids Community College men’s cross country team was ranked #3 in the country for National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division 2 schools.
And as the team prepares to host its annual GRCC Raider Invitational Saturday, Sept. 18, at Calvin University’s course, three runners with local ties will be on the course for the Raiders.
GRCC cross country runner Coleman Clark. (GRCC)
While the most watched of a large and talented squad of first-year GRCC runners, according to head mens coach Garrett Lacy, is Coleman Clark — the 2020 MHSAA Division 4 cross-country state champion from Carson City-Crystal High School — two freshman from Kentwood, Christian Martinez-Ramos and Lucas Schneider, are expected to also be top runners.
And sophomore returner Lance Jourdan, of Wyoming, can challenge for a top spot “on any give day,” Lacy said to WKTV.
GRCC cross country runner Joshua Kipkoech. (GRCC)
The top GRCC returner — and the team’s No. 1 runner — is Joshua Kipkoech (Kenya/Kipsoen Secondary). Kipkoech was the Michigan Community College Athletic Association and NJCAA Region XII champion last year, and went on to finish 5th at NJCAA D2 cross-country national championships. He also holds the school record at GRCC in an 8k time of 25:22.
Martinez-Ramos, who attended Wyoming Kelloggsville High School, and Schneider, who attended East Kentwood High School, both finished within the top 7 runners in the Raiders first action at Calvin University Sept. 4. Martinez-Ramos finished as the 5th GRCC runner in a time of 28:16 over the 8-kilometer distance, and Schneider was the 7th man in 29:17. Jourdan attended Calvin Christian.
Raider men’s team deep and fast
“This year’s squad is probably the deepest it has ever been with 15 guys on the roster,” Lacy said. “When I came to GRCC just two years ago we had just three men on the roster, so to grow the program over the last two years into a team of 15 is really quite rewarding.
“Beyond that, we are coming off a season in 2020 that was one of the best in school history where the team captured it’s first MCCAA and Region XII championships for the first time since the reboot of the program took place in 2014.”
The team then went on to finish in 9th place at the NJCAA D2 National Championships last year in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
“For this season’s outlook we look to build upon the success that we had least season and defend our conference and regional championships and attempt to go back-to-back. We also are aiming for a top three podium finish at our national competition this year and to bring home some hardware for the college and the Grand Rapids community.”
This year’s squad is highlighted by 10 newcomers to the team, Lacy said, including Clark as well as transfers Brian Frazee (Kellogg Community College) who was NJCAA D3 All-American last season, and Jaydon Moleski (Rochester University, and a graduate of Cedar Springs High School.
And Lacy also sees good things coming from both Martinez-Ramos and Schneider.
GRCC cross country runner Lucas Schneider. (GRCC)
GRCC cross country runner Christian Martinez-Ramos. (GRCC)
“I think both runners have a ton of potential for growth, and will continue to improve throughout the season,” Lacy said. “Lucas is a very hard worker who put in a ton of summer miles to get ready for this season, but had a two week setback with an ankle injury that sidelined him for two weeks right before the start of the season or he would likely be even further up on the squad than he is now.”
“Christian has a desire to be great matched by few that I have ever coached before, he just needs to work on being patient and trust the process and I have no doubt he will achieve the goals he has set for himself.”
GRCC cross country runner Lance Jourdan. (GRCC)
Jourdan, coach Lacy said, is “not inside our top 7 right now, but could be on any given day. He is also a great sophomore leader on the team and brings a ton of value in practices and on meet days that goes beyond just being in the top 7 runners.”
Another “key” returner is Andrew Periard of East Grand Rapids.
For a full schedule of the GRCC cross country team, visit grccraiders.com.
Continuing WKTV Journal’s series “WKTV Voices: 9/11 at 20 — Our Islamic neighbors 20 years later”, a modern American family working hard to attain the American Dream — who just happen to be Muslim.
Aamir and Halima Ismail are residents of Kentwood and members of Islamic Center of West Michigan. Aamir works as manager of financial systems for Amway and Halima works as a school improvement administrator for Grand Rapids Public Schools. The couple have two children, teenage boys Ibrahim and Da’ud , both of whom attend Kentwood Public Schools.
This special WKTV Voices project presents video interviews, and online/print stories, covering a range of personal stories of the 9/11 attacks and their impact over the following two decades. Following previous background interviews dealing with American Islamic history, global politics, and the current Islamic world, we present the voices of Muslim community leaders and, most importantly, local Muslim American citizens, especially young people who grew up in the age of 9/11. (If you have a story to tell us, contact Ken@wktv.org.)
The Ismails — she was born in the United States while he emigrated from Pakistan — have worked hard and prospered in West Michigan. They love the diversity of students in Kentwood Public Schools and live here partially due to that diversity.
But it does not mean they haven’t had to have “that talk” with their sons, a talk to prepare them in case they face any discrimination or other forms of bias.
“I think we have had to explain to them that there are matters of the faith and what they do represents the faith, and so I think we have used that to our benefit to help them see what they do is a representation of the faith, ” Halima Ismail said in the interview. “They haven’t necessarily come to us with instances of hostility but they have been encouraged to explain their faith, have been interested in sharing that information with their school and in their classes.
“But we do feel that, as parents, we have had to sit down (with them) and say ‘If you feel bullied, if this happens, if you are in the hostile environment, to walk away and speak to an adult.’ That is something, we have had those conversations.”
WKTV Journal’s “Voices: 9/11 at 20 — Our Islamic neighbors 20 years later” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos. Online/print stories are available by searching “9/11 at 20” on WKTVJournal.org. You can also search Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the Hashtag #voices9/11at20.
Aamir and Halima Ismail on the set of WKTV Journal In Focus June 2021. (WKTV)
WKTV Journal In Focus recently welcomed Kentwood Public Schools Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff in to talk about his years of service to the school system and its students. (WKTV)
Michael Zoerhoff has held many titles in the Kentwood Public Schools community over the last three decades, the latest of which has been Superintendent of Schools since 2013. He started as a teacher and, people will tell you, never quite got that out of this system. At the end of this unusually trying school year, he will be retiring.
Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff, Kentwood Public schools. (Supplied/KPS)
WKTV Journal In Focus recently welcomed Superintendent Zoerhoff in to talk about his years of service to the school system and its students, about ending his tenure during an unprecedented, unpredictable time for education, and — of course — we’ll find out what’s next on his journey.
Recently, when the KPS Board of Education announced its selection to become the district’s next superintendent, board president Mimi Madden said about about Zoerhoff that he “has nurtured and developed strong leaders on his administrative team.” Talking to WKTV, we go in-depth about his accomplishments, including always being teacher to students and a mentor to younger educators.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the background, at a press conference when the formation of the Student Recovery Advisory Council of Michigan was announced early this year. (State of Michigan)
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office, today, released the MI Blueprint for Comprehensive Student Recovery plan, which offers “guidance to help districts and schools create recovery plans that provide every Michigan student with the resources they need to thrive post-pandemic.”
The recovery plan is the work of the Student Recovery Advisory Council of Michigan, formed early this year and chaired by Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston, which was tasked to “provide guidance and recommendations to ensure Michigan students have the tools and resources they need to get back on track.”
The council included dozens of school leaders, educators, public health practitioners, pediatricians, school board members, community and philanthropic leaders, legislators, parents, and students.
The Blueprint, according to the May 19 statement from the Governor’s office, “provides evidence-based recommendations to address challenges across wellness, academics, school culture and climate, family and community engagement and postsecondary education” across the state.
“Every recommendation is supported by leading research and designed to support Michigan students by those that know them best, leaders in education, health care, and child services from right here in Michigan,” Superintendent Polston said in the statement.
The plan also, according to Superintendent Polston, provides not just a return to normal but the path forward to a new normal for the state’s students.
“We believe recovery does not mean return, we believe recovery means let’s rebuild and redesign toward the reality that we want our children to experience in our schools,’ Polston said about the advisory council in a recent WKTV Journal In Focus interview. “The tremendous infusion of federal funds to support recovery efforts gives us the opportunity to make sure that each and every child has the resources necessary to thrive in our schools.
“We know the some students were not engaged with schools in the past year — some estimates were that 63,000 students were not coming to school or participating in remote learning. … So the guidance that we are providing for school leaders is how to provide this compressive recovery plan, in an equitable way, that the community can trust.”
Gov. Whitmer and state legislative leaders — several of which were on the council — will now work to push the recommendations forward.
“The most pressing challenges schools face aren’t new, but they have been exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting economic hardship, and social divisions,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “That is why I am so proud of the MI Blueprint for Comprehensive Student Recovery that the Advisory Council has created. It will not only help local education leaders comprehensively address immediate challenges, but it will also move us towards an education system that works better for all of our children.”
The Kentwood Place Department’s Traffic Services Bureau launched a safety campaign during the 2019-20 school year partially focused on Kentwood, Kelloggsville, and Forest Hills school buses when students were boarding and departing. (City of Kentwood)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood announced last week that the Kentwood Police Department has received the 2020 Outstanding Traffic Achievement Award from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission in recognition of its school safety campaign.
The GTSAC honors organizations, programs and individuals for outstanding contributions to traffic safety, according to supplied material. The virtual awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 27.
“We are grateful to the state for this high honor, which is a reflection of our department’s ongoing commitment to increasing traffic safety and our Traffic Services Bureau’s hard work to help make school zones safer for students and drivers,” Kentwood Police Chief Richard Roberts said in supplied material.
The Traffic Services Bureau includes one sergeant, three traffic specialists and one police cadet. The team’s primary responsibility is to enforce traffic laws. Other services include abandoned vehicle follow-ups, salvaged vehicle inspections, traffic engineering studies, speed monitoring and accident investigations.
The police department’s Traffic Services Bureau launched a safety campaign during the 2019-20 school year that provided dedicated personnel to monitor and enforce residential speed limits near schools on 60th Street SE and whether drivers stopped for Kentwood, Kelloggsville, and Forest Hills school buses when students were boarding and departing.
The police department had received complaints about drivers speeding in properly posted school zones and not stopping for buses when their red flashers were on, according to supplied material.
The initiative started in October 2019 and ended early in March 2020 due to school closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 184 personnel hours were dedicated to the five-month campaign, which yielded 428 school speed zone violations and 31 school bus violations.
This enforcement resulted in an 800 percent increase for school speed zone violations and a 300 percent jump in school bus violations from the previous school year. Fifty-one school speed zone violations and 10 school bus violations were issued in 2018-19.
During the first month of the campaign, 93 school speed zone violations were issued. That number peaked at 104 in February 2020 before dropping to 31 in the final month.
“This was a successful effort that changed behaviors and garnered positive feedback from our community, with many parents stopping to thank our officers,” Chief Roberts said.
The safety campaign encompassed Kentwood, Kelloggsville and Forest Hills schools. It resumed in October 2020 and went through December, resulting in four school speed violations and eight school bus violations.
More information about the Kentwood Police Department is available at kentwood.us/police.
If contract negotiations conclude as anticipated, Kevin Polston will have the same title in local education cycles — Superintendent — it is just that his office will be at Kentwood Public Schools rather than at Godfrey-Lee Public Schools.
Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education announced today that Polston has been selected to become the district’s next superintendent and that it is “engaging in contract negotiations” to finalize the selection. Current KPS superintendent Michael Zoerhoff will be retiring at the completion of this current school year.
“Our candidate pool was exceptionally strong and our internal leadership team is outstanding,” KPS board president Mimi Madden said in supplied material. “The unanimous vote to offer the position to Superintendent Polston will continue the tradition of leadership excellence that our community has come to expect.”
Madden, in the KPS statement, said the board’s expectation is of a seamless transition.
Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff, Kentwood Public schools. (Supplied/KPS)
“Superintendent Zoerhoff has nurtured and developed strong leaders on his administrative team,” Madden said. “These individuals have led their respective areas competently and capably before and during this global pandemic. We are confident that this commitment to the Kentwood mission will continue in the years to come.”
Prior to becoming a superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, in 2017, Polston spent 15 years in the Grand Haven Area Public Schools, first as a teacher and then moving into administrative leadership as an assistant principal, curriculum specialist and finally principal, according to his Linked In page.
As superintendent at Godfrey-Lee, Polston led the largely minority-student district though a difficult transition of educational technology and school community image — including the high school’s sports teams becoming known as “The Legends” — as well as handling a 2019 partial building collapse at a middle and high school complex with some portions nearly 100 years old.
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston speaks at State Board of Education meeting in 2017. (State Board of Education)
He also, last year, led a community and educational leadership effort to pass a $17.8 million school district bond measure that will modernize the district’s building and infrastructure in nearly every aspect.
He and his team have also worked to make Godfrey-Lee’s heavily Spanish-speaking population an asset to the district and its students.
In the KPS announcement, it as noted that “his experience as the son of a Palestinian immigrant, and first generation college student, is a story that mirrors many Kentwood families. Mr. Polston’s work in West Michigan reflects his passion for the power of education and the importance of strong partnerships between school systems and the communities they serve.”
“I am humbled and honored to serve as the next superintendent of Kentwood Public Schools,” Polston said in supplied material. “My personal vision of ‘changing the world through opportunities for students’ is one Kentwood has carried out through the vision of ‘Excellence and Equity in Education’.
“I look forward to building positive relationships with staff, students, families, and the community of Kentwood as we collaboratively continue the longstanding tradition of excellence.”
Polston holds degrees from Grand Valley State University and from Michigan State University. He was also named by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer early this year to the lead the COVID-19 Return to School Advisory Council, a statewide body of educators and others.
With few items on Kent County’s May 4 ballot, and the corresponding low voter turnout, local voters backed property tax funded financial requests from both Kentwood Public Schools and Kelloggsville Public Schools.
With unofficial final results from the Kent County Elections office, Kentwood district voters approved a bond measure, by a margin of 3,739 to 1,776, the will allow the Kentwood school district to be able to borrow up to about $192 million and issue general obligation tax bonds to repay it.
The turnout was about 11 percent of the almost 50,000 registered voters in the district, according to the county elections office.
Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff, Kentwood Public schools. (Supplied/KPS)
“The outcome of this election demonstrates the strong partnership between the Kentwood community and Kentwood Public Schools,” Kentwood Public Schools Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff said to WKTV. “Together with our staff, parents, partners and volunteers, we remain committed to providing an education of equity and excellence to every student in a Kentwood school.”
In addition, “we are pleased that our facilities are utilized by all ages within our community. From the pools to the tracks, from seniors to toddlers, Kentwood Public Schools is a resource for the entire community. This vote demonstrates that our community recognizes the district as a center point of engagement for all ages and backgrounds.”
In the Kelloggsville school district, with unofficial final results from the Kent County Elections office, voters approved an extension of an existing non-residential, non ”homestead”, property millage, as well as an additional temporary 2-year 0.5 mill increase, by a margin of 486-240.
The turnout was about 8 percent of the about 9,200 registered voters in the district, according to the county elections office.
“Thank you (to the voters) for your continued support of Kelloggsville Public Schools,” Eric Alcorn, Kelloggsville Public Schools director of human resources, said to WKTV. “We are grateful for the trust you have in us to make sound educational decisions for the district and our students.”
Kentwood bond measure details
Nearly every building in the Kentwood Public Schools system will see improvements paid for by the bond proposal — yet the proposal will lower the net millage from the prior year of a school system already the lowest in Kent County, according to district information.
Kentwood Public Schools serves about 9,000 students. (Supplied/KPS)
Overall, the bond proposal would fund 10-plus years of improvements to district infrastructure and educational technology, that “would provide programs, technology, and facilities for current and future needs,” according to a district statement prior to the vote.
Kentwood Public Schools serves more than 9,000 students, includes about 1,200 staff, and is responsible for 22 buildings, including 17 schools, totaling over one million square feet of structures on over 450 acres of sites.
“This bond referendum will allow us to enhance health and safety features within our facilities,” Superintendent Zoerhoff said. “For instance, our child nutrition food service teams are excited about having full service kitchens in each of our schools. The fresh food that will be provided for our students, in every building, will empower them to learn and succeed.
“In addition, while we cannot predict the next pandemic or problem that our society will face, we can predict that technology will continue to play a critical role in the lives of our students.”
Kelloggsville millage extension details
The Kelloggsville Public Schools district received voter support of a millage two years ago, and the current and approved extension would allow that millage to “be renewed by 18.0181 mills ($18.0181 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2022 and 2023, and also be increased by 0.5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2022 and 2023,” according to the official Kent County elections ballot proposal information.
According to information supplied by the district, the proposal “is a renewal to be levied against non-homestead property. Resident properties are exempt from being taxed by this proposal (no cost to the homeowner). This is a renewal on business properties and not homes. The renewal will notcost the homeowner any additional taxes.”
East Kentwood High School girls track coach Stephanie Stephenson visits the set of WKTV Journal Sports Connection to catch us up on the past and present of the Falcons girls team and program. (WKTV)
On this episode of WKTV Journal Sports Connection, we talk East Kentwood girls track and field, and why last year’s “season the wasn’t” was so hard on the team and its coach, Falcons head coach Stephanie Stephenson.
Coach Stephenson talks about fielding teams in this time of pandemic protocols, what impact last year’s lost season has had on her program — while still praising her 2020 seniors for how they handled it — and we find out which Falcons are poised to have big seasons this year.
WKTV Journal Sports Connection is a WKTV produced program dedicated to bringing you interviews and stories focused on local Wyoming and Kentwood area high schools sports. You can catch up on all our local sports coverage by visiting WKTVJournal.org/sports. But we also have a volunteer sports crew, both in studio and with our coverage truck. For more information email ken@WKTV.org.
This WKTV Journal Sports Connection is available on-demand, along with WKTV coverage of high school athletic events and other sports, at WKTVlive.org. It also airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule). Individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal Sports Connection are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
