By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
ALLEGAN
Coach: Mike Chalupa
Top returning athletes: Sylar Bush, sr. (pole vault, sprints); Jacob Cranmer, sr. (sprints); Colby Bishop, soph. (sprints/jumps); Oliver Burnett, soph. (distance); Kellen Chalupa, soph. (distance); Hunter McKee, soph. (distance); Cooper Prentice, soph. (distance); Ezra Smith, soph. (pole vault, sprints)
Season Outlook: There’s a song called “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” that appeared in the 1944 movie “Here Come the Waves” and features the following lyrics: “You’ve got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive—E-lim-i-nate the negative.”
That’s exactly what Allegan coach Mike Chalupa is doing as it pertains to his team heading into the 2025 season.
Because while the Tigers have low participation numbers this year, Chalupa believes Allegan still has the opportunity to put together a solid showing this season.
“We’re looking for depth and competitive performances where our strengths lie,” Chalupa said. “Small numbers hinder us, but we have some standout performers in multiple individual events. We are looking to build on those strengths and have success individually, in relays and as a team.
An area of strength for Allegan should be the distance events, led by the likes of sophomores Kellen Chalupa, Oliver Burnett, Cooper Prentice and Hunter McKee.
“We’re looking to see where some of our newcomers fit in and hoping to build on our depth in the distance events,” Mike Chalupa said.
Allegan finished 2-3 in the SAC duals last season and placed 16th at the league meet.
“We are looking to fight hard, maximize points where we should be scoring and stay competitive within the conference overall standings,” Mike Chalupa said.
FENNVILLE
Coach: Josh Sliter
Top returning athletes: Quinn Rosema, sr. (long jump, sprints); Erick Morales, sr. (throws); Trinity Solis, jr. (sprints); Jorge Espino, jr. (sprints); Carter Thompson, jr. (mid-distance, sprints); Ashton Holcom, jr. (sprints, throws); Atticus Boeve, soph. (mid-distance, distance); Calvin Giles, soph. (throws); Jaciel Ruiz, jr. (mid-distance, distance); Isreal Arrendondo, soph. (throws); Hugo Sanchez, jr. (mid-distance).
Season Outlook: As he heads into his first season as head coach for Fennville, Josh Sliter like what he sees.
“We have a strong team in most areas and look to compete well in the conference,” he said. “Our throwers are working hard every day and have also shown a willingness to jump onto the track as part of a sprint relay.
“Open races at all distances will have a lot of positives and while our jumps crew is small, they are getting better each day.”
Senior Quinn Rosema will lead the charge in the long jump and sprints, while juniors Carter Thompson and Hugo Sanchez are poised for strong seasons in the 400.
“Our sprint relay teams are also going to contend this season,” Sliter said. “And Atticus Boeve and Jaciel Ruiz are already making gains in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200 and look to have success this season.
“Overall, I expect this to be a positive season of growth and success with an excited freshman group and strong leadership at all events,” Sliter said. “As the new head of the program I am working with our coaches to set goals and elevate the expectations of Fennville track and field.”
The primary goal, according to Sliter, is to help each and every member of the team reach their full potential.
“This should be a fun season full of new personal records and positive competition as our student-athletes work toward their team and personal goals,” Sliter said.
HAMILTON
Coach: Matthew Field
Top returning athletes: Abatu Dykstra, sr. (distance, mid-distance); AJ Friedriechsen, sr. (hurdles); Brett Schrotenboer, sr. (sprints); Jeren Bronkhorst, sr. (sprints); Lincoln Phillips, sr. (hurdles, jumps), Logan Eding, sr. (throws); Noah Hernandez, sr. (distance, mid-distance); Hudsen Hulst, jr. (hurdles).
Season Outlook: With the retirement of longtime coach Kevin Spotts, assistant coach Matthew Field as taken on the head-coaching duties in Hamilton.
He inherits a team that won the OK Blue championship, placed second at regionals and was third at the MITCA Team State meet.
And with a senior-laden team that includes the likes senior distance runners Abatu Dykstra, Noah Hernandez and Ben Dykstra, Field sees no reason why this season won’t also be a success.
And while winning a title in the new OK Black and performing well at regionals would both be nice, Field as the main focus for the Hawkeyes is the MITCA Team State Meet.
“We’re excited to compete in the OK Black, and to compete at some competitive weekend invitationals,” Field said. “But our team is senior heavy and we’re most looking forward to Team State.
“We’ve been third place Team State the past two years, and we’d like to try and be somewhere in the top half again this season.”
In addition to the strong distance crew, another area of strength is the hurdles with Hudsen Hulst, Lincoln Phillips and AJ Friedriechsen leading the way.
“We also have a continuously improving throws crew led by Logan Eding,” Field said.
In the OK Black, Field expects the Zeelands—East and West—to be the teams to beat.
“We’ll be very competitive in the new OK Black,” he said. “We’ll see how we stack up against Zeeland East and West.
I’d expect we’ll place somewhere in the top three, but every team in the OK Black is good and will challenge us.”
HOPKINS
Coach: Jamie Kiss
Top returning athletes: Isaac Aalderink, soph. (throws); Alex Chavez, sr. (sprints); Vijay DeZeeuw, jr. (high jump); Jack Estelle, jr. (distance); Matt Guzman, soph. (sprints); Brayden Harnish, jr. (sprints); Jacob Helder, sr. (mid-distance); Kenyon Katje, sr. (distance); Clayton Kerber, jr. (hurdles); Ezra Koperski, soph. (throws); Gage Martin, soph. (sprints); Joshua Maule, sr. (throws); Isaiah Robinson, soph. (mid-distance); Gavin Schans, soph. (distance); Bryce Stevens, soph. (distance); Isaiah Tuinstra, jr. (hurdles); Cole VerStrate, jr. (distance); Brennan Vilella, jr. (mid-distance); Parker Warners, soph. (jumps); Zac Wierenga, sr. (jumps); Ryan Williams, sr. (mid-distance).
Season Outlook: Last year, Hopkins placed second in the final OK Silver standings.
And with several key performers back this year coupled with a group of promising newcomers, longtime Hopkins coach Jamie Kiss believes his team had the potential to be near the top of the standings once again.
“We are a pretty young team, but I see real growth potential with this group,” Kiss said. “We finished runner-up in the OK-Silver last year, and this year we are expecting to be contending for the title.”
As he looks at his roster, Kiss believes the Vikings will be able to competently cover each event.
“A strength of our team is that we have some talent potential in each event this year, which is why I think we could compete well in the conference,” he said. “I see a possible scenario where we could score in each event, so I like that our talents are spread out.”
When it comes to the other teams who could vie for the top of the league standings, Kiss expects newcomer Fruitport along with Belding, Calvin Christian and NorthPointe Christian to be in the conversation.
“I think it could come down to a battle between ourselves and Belding at the end of the day,” Kiss said.
MARTIN
Coaches: Damon and Caryn Blackburn
Top returning athletes: Kyle Fennema, soph. (sprints); Nick Jager, sr. (hurdles, throws, relays); Gavin Meyers, sr. (hurdles, relays); Alex Morin, sr. (distance, mid-distance).
Season Outlook: As a junior last season, Gavin Meyers missed out on qualifying for the Division 4 State Finals in the 300-meter hurdles by a fraction of a second.
He doesn’t want to let that happen again.
“Gavin is hungry to prove himself this year,” said Caryn Blackburn, who coaches the team alongside husband Damon Blackburn.
