Tag Archives: Soccer

Back-to-back titles for South Christian soccer this fall?

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The South Christian boys soccer team captured the Division 3 state championship last year with a 3-1 win over Grosse Ile. (Courtesy)

By Cris Greer, WKTV Managing Editor

It has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions for South Christian incoming senior Sam Bos and his soccer teammates the past few years.

In 2019, the Sailors lost to Grosse Ile 2-1 in a shootout in the Division 3 state championship game and then lost 1-0 in the 2020 finals to Grosse Ile as well.

“One of the worst feelings”

“Watching my brother Reese lose in the state finals and then losing myself was one of the worst feelings,” said Bos, who was a freshman when South Christian lost 2-1 in the finals. “Getting so close to winning a state championship and then losing in a pk shootout 1-0 was heartbreaking.”

And then, “A dream come true”

All that heartbreak quickly faded after the Sailors knocked off Grosse Ile 3-1 last fall in the state final, making it four titles since 2010, and finishing undefeated at 22-0-3 for the season.

“I personally was full of joy to finally win a state championship and couldn’t stop smiling for the next couple of days,” said Bos, who calls cheeseburgers and Oreo ice cream his favorite foods. “It was definitely a top moment of my high school memories so far.

“As a team, to score three goals was huge for us. With a new coaching staff, we had a blank slate and nothing to lose which gave us the courage to finally defeat Gross Ile.” 

That new coach, Joel Vande Kopple, said he knew it was a special moment for the guys that lost to Grosse Ile the previous two years. 

“Having lost the previous two years the mental expectations could be heavy,” said Vande Kopple, who previously coached at Lansing Christian for 15 years. “They needed to know that this year was a different year and the result would be different. Getting them to believe in themselves and one another was vital.

South Christian incoming senior Sam Bos holds his team’s D-3 state champion soccer trophy. (Courtesy)

“Team-wise, my favorite part was that the group bought into the idea that the collective was more important than the individual. We had a lot of talented players who were very deserving of individual awards, but rather than making that their focus, they decided to put the team first.”

Vande Kopple said Bos is a great disruptive force in the middle of the field.

“He plays a holding mid position and really shields our defensive line well by breaking up attacks, winning 50/50 balls, winning air balls and distributing well to start an attack,” Vande Kopple explained. “In addition, he scored some very important goals for us, most notably in our district final win and our first round of regionals, both of which were game winners against very talented teams.”

His interest in soccer all began at a young age.

“I have played it since I was born,” said Bos, who played AYSO growing up and then moved to club soccer around third grade. “Watching my older brother play soccer helped fuel my interest. Since then, I have always wanted to be the best in my family and that grew to me wanting to be the best on the field.

“Growing up with two brothers (Jerad and Reese) made me very competitive and I wanted to always win.”

Bos said Vande Kopple was a great addition to South Christian and brought amazing energy.

South Christian graduate Alex Leenstra helping his Sailors win the D-3 state championship last year. (Courtesy)

“We couldn’t have asked for a better coach,” said Bos, who also plays varsity basketball. “His passion for coaching soccer is outstanding and you can tell he truly loves the game and wants to win.

“I am looking forward to this upcoming season as we are returning a lot of seniors, but will also have a lot of young talent to hopefully help us go back to back.”

Training center helping more athletes through Midwest United Football Club

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By Philip Janowski

WKTV Contributing Writer

Local husband and wife business owners Daimond Dixon and Regina Russell-Dixon have landed a big win with their training company.


Alpha Human Performance, located at 3233 Eastern Ave., has been named the official Preferred Sport Performance Training Partner for the Midwest United Football Club. That’s the football that’s commonly known as soccer.

Alpha Human Performance co-owner Daimond Dixon stands alongside portraits of visiting athletes. (Philip Janowski)

Alpha Human Performance (Alpha for short) trains athletes from a variety of sports, including American football, basketball, softball, swimming and volleyball. 

“We are excited to get the opportunity to help so many soccer players reach their potential,” said Daimond, who was a walk-on member of the University of Miami 1991 national championship football team. “Our programs use various methods of training along with cutting edge technology while focusing on our Four Pillars: Mindset, Training, Performance and Recovery.” 

As Director of Operations, Daimond is responsible for training and Alpha’s fitness programs. Regina, a GVSU grad with a business degree, runs the administrative and business side of the company. The couple met in Michigan and has been together for nearly 20 years.

“Going into business with my wife was great; she’s very smart,” said Daimond, who played more than a decade of minor league football for several Midwest teams. “She set up the entire business side. I know training, I know performance. I’ve done it for two-and-a-half decades.

“So, we came together and crafted out an ideal formula for how we can take the training and actually make it into a business.”

Daimond began his training career in 1995, and since then has worked with teams and individuals at every level from high school to the professionals. Today, Alpha collaborates with local businesses such as Athleta, Clean Juice and Xtreme Cryo.

Becoming a Preferred Sport Performance Training Partner means offering direct training to Midwest United Football Club members. Alpha has become the standard for how Midwest United trains its athletes, and Midwest’s teams will be coming to Alpha to train.

Athletes train in Alpha Human Performance’s open turf area. (Philip Janowski)

Midwest United, which began in 1990 under the moniker GRASA (Grand Rapids Area Soccer Association), was the first youth select soccer club in Grand Rapids. The initial registration was 60 players from around the area and it was from these humble beginnings that it has evolved into one of the Midwest’s top clubs.

Alpha’s 6,500 square foot facility includes several options and opportunities for training. A Full Strength area includes up-to-date strength training and conditioning equipment. The open turf area is dedicated to movement-based training and sports performance. Upstairs is the recovery lounge, providing the latest tools for rest from the rigors of training and performance. 

Motivation and mindset are key parts of Alpha’s training. Alpha works with a journaling program called Win the Mental Game, a journal for athletes. Mindset involves building a competitive mindset, and being aware moment-by-moment during a game.

“It’s all about intrinsic motivation,” Daimond summarized. Alpha isn’t about traditional training where athletes are constantly given orders on what to do next. Athletes should be motivated to pursue better and better personal performance by their own energy.

Alpha Human Performance co-owner Daimond Dixon (lower right) trains athletes at his facility on 3233 Eastern Ave. (Philip Janowski)

Notable local athletes that Alpha has trained include NBA players Xavier Tillman of Michigan State and the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as Duane Washington Jr. of Ohio State and the Indiana Pacers. American Football player Mike Brown of the Minnesota Vikings has worked with Alpha, and in volleyball Aubrey O’Gorman of Michigan State.

Alpha offers programs for non-athletes as well, in Adult Performance Programs. Classes are similar to those that the pros follow, with an easier start, of course.

“It’s about human performance,” Daimond said. “Push, pull, rotate, squat, lunge. We train in things which every single person needs. Before you’re an athlete, you’re a human. We all do the same things.”

Daimond noted that he trained a lot of area trainers when they were kids.

“My wife says I should get a shirt that says ‘I trained your trainers’.”


For more information on Alpha, log on to alpha-hp.com

Summer brochure now available at the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department

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Soccer coaches still needed for the spring youth soccer program.

Although spring has just arrived, the Wyoming Parks & Recreation Department is already thinking about summer.

With the release of the summer brochure, registration for summer programs has begun. To see what opportunities are available, take a look at the summer brochure online or pick one up at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. There are summer concerts, participate in a fitness class (or two), or sign your child up for one of the camps. There are many more offerings. Don’t forget, registration is also open for fall soccer and football programs.

 

Register for any of these programs online or by phone at 616-530-3164.

Also, for the spring season, the Wyoming Parks and Recreation is still in need of a few volunteer coaches, head and assistant, for the spring youth soccer program. If you or someone you know would be interested, please contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department ASAP at parks_info@wyomingmi.gov or 616-530-3164.

 

Do you like what you see? Do you have an idea for a new program? The Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department invites residents to send feedback to parks_info@wyomingmi.gov.

Local Soccer Star Lands a ‘Homegrown’ Dream Tryout

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Life can have this fascinating way of coming full circle. A way of bringing us back to our roots on pathways that don’t become clear until a glance is taken in the rear-view mirror – which only happens once we’re at a place to truly call home. It is that sense of settlement that makes us feel secure enough to take a look back, and while the vision isn’t completely clear, it’s no longer a muddled mess; it’s an exciting and enthralling chance to see the events of the past lead to an optimistic future.

It’s a journey towards a new position in life to call home.

For Jesse Flores, 18, life is shaping a path to venture back to a home he’s never visited, it’s a dream scenario with love and passion at the core, and soccer as the catalyst.

Jesse Flores“I started playing soccer when I was 4, but I didn’t start to take it seriously until freshman year of high school,” describes Jesse with the tone and tenor of someone fondly remembering the moment they first fell in love.

For Jesse, soccer has always had that relationship. Sports are a bond that can bring generations, especially a father and son, together in ways that transcend the playing field.

“I remember growing up and watching Atlas games on TV with my dad. They’ve always been my favorite team.”

While Jesse is from Wyoming, MI, his parents Jose and Icela both hail from Guadalajara, Mexico, where Jose played soccer for the youth team Atlas Fútbol Club. That bond to Atlas, and Mexican soccer, was passed down to Jesse.

With a new focus on the game as a freshman at Wyoming High School, Jesse’s game started to flourish. As a three-year varsity goalie, Jesse became a leader on the team and utilized his 6’3″ frame and long wingspan to defend the cage. His size and leadership allowed Jesse to lead the state in saves his senior season and earned him post-season honors.

Even with all the success, it was hard to imagine playing soccer at the next level.

“I didn’t consider it a real possibility until my high school coach, Romer Carrasco, told me that he thought I could play at the next level. Once I realized an opportunity after high school was possible, more doors opened up.”

Jesse and high school coach Romer Carrasco
Jesse and high school coach Romer Carrasco

Jesse wound up earning a scholarship to play soccer at the University of Saint Francis in Indiana. While the team struggled this past season, Jesse played well and compiled a highlight film to send out to professional teams in Mexico.

A professional opportunity was still nothing more than a dream.

“I connected with an agent in California who works with young players. He gets your info and film in front of Mexican teams,” recounts Jesse as he racks his brain, still marveling at the details of his incredible journey and opportunities awaiting on the path before him. “I’ve always dreamed of playing professionally, but I didn’t know if I’d have a chance.”

Since that time, two teams have reached out to Jesse to schedule tryouts: Chiapas Fútbol Club and hometown favorite Atlas Fútbol Club of Guadalajara. The tryout with Chiapas is already in the books, and the Atlas tryout will happen this summer. Chiapas didn’t offer a contract, but Jesse took some positives from the experience to build on before the tryout with Atlas.

“I didn’t end up getting the contract with Chiapas, but I was able to get a feel for how a professional tryout works. I was nervous and didn’t play loose. That won’t happen next time.” The club also gave Jesse some feedback on his play. “They told me to work on my conditioning, but also that they saw my potential. That was great to hear because it gives me more confidence knowing that I have the tools and the skill. I can always work on my conditioning!”

In the meantime, before the tryout with Atlas, Jesse will continue his education and playing career at Davenport University after transferring from Saint Francis to be closer to home. The newfound possibilities of becoming a professional soccer player mean more to Jesse than just personal achievement; he sees it as an opportunity to inspire.

Jesse Flores“I want to inspire others as I go along. I was once that young kid who wanted to be professional, and now I have that opportunity. I want to do my best and achieve what I can so I can give back to the community of Wyoming and my high school. They’ve been so supportive of me up until this point. I want to give it back.”

This summer, Jesse will travel down to Guadalajara for an opportunity of a lifetime. Not only will he be trying out for his childhood team, but Jesse will visit his parents’ birthplace and meet family for the first time. He will see the city that his favorite soccer team calls home and immerse himself with the Club he hopes to call his own.

Jesse’s story is more than just an inspirational tale; it is a journey of family and sport coming full circle because of the bond created by a father, a son, their team, and a ball.