West Michigan Preps

West Michigan Preps Preserving the legends, rivalries and forgotten stories of West Michigan high school sports.

March 3, 2007The Grand Rapids Press ran two high school basketball photos on the front page of its sports section.One wa...
09/17/2026

March 3, 2007

The Grand Rapids Press ran two high school basketball photos on the front page of its sports section.

One was Cedar Springs Austin Thornton during a game against South Christian where Thornton scored 40 points with 13 rebounds and 6 assists.

FYI: That 40 points will put Thornton on the West Michigan Preps honor roll for 40-or-points in a game.

The other was of East Grand Rapids' Kelvin Grady throwing a pass to teammate Justin Anyijong. Both would be Dream Team selections by the newspapers.

Credit: Newspapers.com

2007Grand Rapids PressDream TeamBoys BasketballJustin Anyijong (East Grand Rapids)Kelvin Grady (East Grand Rapids)Ty Tan...
09/17/2026

2007
Grand Rapids Press
Dream Team
Boys Basketball

Justin Anyijong (East Grand Rapids)
Kelvin Grady (East Grand Rapids)
Ty Tanis (Janison)
Austin Thornton (Cedar Springs)
Wes Trammell (Jenison)

Credit: Newspapers.com

Nov. 29, 1986Top PerformersJessica Horsfall, an all-state girls basketball player from Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.Jessica ha...
09/17/2026

Nov. 29, 1986
Top Performers

Jessica Horsfall, an all-state girls basketball player from Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.
Jessica had 21 points and 28 rebounds in a Class B playoff game.

Willie Wilson, an all-state football player from Muskegon High.
Willie caught the winning TD pass with 1:46 left in the game in a 6-3 win over John Glenn to get the Big Reds to the Class A finals.

Credit: Newspapers.com

1985All ConferenceO-K RedGirls BasketballStephanie Schaffer, West OttawaMolly Garbison, Grand HavenKarol Dodd, East Kent...
09/16/2026

1985
All Conference
O-K Red
Girls Basketball

Stephanie Schaffer, West Ottawa
Molly Garbison, Grand Haven
Karol Dodd, East Kentwood
Karen Beverwyk, Holland West Ottawa
Lissa Nienhuis, Holland
Sara Dyksterhouse, Jenison
Carrie Lorenz, West Ottawa
Casey Zeh, Grand Haven
Kris Speidel, Grandville
Becky Balenger, East Kentwood

Credit: Newspapers.com

Time to update the 200-yard-plus rushing games Honor Roll.Sparta's Tyson Mengel was already on the Honor Roll but I disc...
09/16/2026

Time to update the 200-yard-plus rushing games Honor Roll.

Sparta's Tyson Mengel was already on the Honor Roll but I discovered another 200-plus yard game from him in 2002. He had 208 yards in a 29-13 win over Cedar Springs.

Also debuting on the Honor Roll: Coopersville's Dustin VanDam who rushed for 219 yards and 2 TDs in a 41-6 win over Belding in 2002.

To see the entire honor roll, it's in THREE posts in the comment sections. It's grown that big that there are too many names for a single post. Facebook rejects it.

Credit: Newspapers.com

Press Salutes1989 - Football editionTravis Crittendon, KelloggsvilleGeorge Dillard, UnionRyan Stevens, AllendaleGary Ezi...
09/16/2026

Press Salutes
1989 - Football edition

Travis Crittendon, Kelloggsville

George Dillard, Union

Ryan Stevens, Allendale

Gary Ezinga, Allendale (Note: Gary's salute was for rushing for 201 yards, which makes him a new addition to the 200-plus yards Honor Roll!)

Credit: Newspapers.com

1984All ConferenceO-K Red FootballOFFENSETodd Sprick, West OttawaSteve Brockelbaw, JenisonMatt VanderBeek, West OttawaJi...
09/16/2026

1984
All Conference
O-K Red
Football

OFFENSE
Todd Sprick, West Ottawa
Steve Brockelbaw, Jenison
Matt VanderBeek, West Ottawa
Jim Kelly, Kentwood
Tom Laage, Rockford
Matt DuBois, Kentwood
Joe Kleefish, Rockford
Shawn Sallee, Rockford
Mike Driscoll, West Ottawa
Greg Lankfer, Kentwood
Jesse Heart, Kentwood

DEFENSE
Mark Potter, Jenison
Tom Medendrop, West Ottawa
Matt VanderBeek, West Ottawa
Jim Kelly, Kentwood
Greg Lankfer, Kentwood
Mike Heltman, Kentwood
Janson Baldwin, West Ottawa
Chad OverBeek, West Ottawa
Duayne Salmon, Grandville
Chris Baker, Kentwood
Steve Herring, Jenison

Credit: Newspapers.com

If anyone wants to alert the MHSAA, they track 99-yard TD runs in their official record book and this one is not include...
09/15/2026

If anyone wants to alert the MHSAA, they track 99-yard TD runs in their official record book and this one is not included.
Geoff Kimmerly is the person who handles the record book.

But in 1989, Harry Berrios of Ottawa Hills scored on a 99 yard run against Jenison and Ottawa Hills won 19-13.

Credit: Newspapers.com

Mike Rhanor was the featured running back on a Muskegon Oakridge football team that rushed for 1,666 yards in 1999.Rhano...
09/15/2026

Mike Rhanor was the featured running back on a Muskegon Oakridge football team that rushed for 1,666 yards in 1999.

Rhanor rushed 709 yards with 13 TDs in 1999. Oakridge finished 7-3 in 1999 and made the playoffs.

Credit: Newspapers.com

Press SalutesHigh School Golf edition!Ted Miller, Lowell (1977)Emily Tuuk, Grand Rapids Christian (2006)Angie Payne, Mid...
09/15/2026

Press Salutes
High School Golf edition!

Ted Miller, Lowell (1977)
Emily Tuuk, Grand Rapids Christian (2006)
Angie Payne, Middleville (1993)
Matt Harmon, East Kentwood (2001)
Drew Preston, Forest Hill Central (2006)
Todd Setsma, Grand Rapids Baptist (1989)

Credit: Newspapers.com

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Grand Rapids, MI
49501

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