Sports

Otsego captures second consecutive regional crown

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor EAST LANSING—Prior to last season, the Otsego girls golf team had never won a regional championship.Now the Bulldogs have captured back-to-back regional titlesParticipating in the Division 3 regional at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers East on…

Paw Paw runners take fourth

Editorial Staff Oct 15, 2025 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — The Paw Paw cross country boys team was third and the girls fourth on October, 9 in the Rock-N-Run invitational at Dowagiac.St. Joseph was first for the boys at 48 while Buchanan was second…

Golf Roundup: TR’s Oestrike qualifies for state finals; TR 11th at regional

Editorial Staff Oct 10, 2025 2 min read

CHARLOTTE — Three Rivers’ Elizabeth Oestrike qualified for the MHSAA Division 3 girls’ golf finals following her shooting a 94 at the Division 3 Region 15 tournament at Forest Akers East Golf Club Wednesday.Oestrike’s 94 placed her 11th overall individually.…

TR-Sturgis soccer match abandoned in second half due to player, fan conduct

Editorial Staff Oct 10, 2025 4 min read

‘Safety concerns’ cited by referee By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — A boys’ soccer game last week between Three Rivers and Sturgis was abandoned in the second half due to behavior of players and fans in attendance. In an…

Clare football picks up fourth win

Editorial Staff Oct 10, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent Clare (4-2) fired out to a 21-9 halftime lead and defeated Standish-Sterling 48-22 in Jack Pine Conference football action on Friday.It was 7-3 after the first quarter and 42-15 after three periods in Clare’s favor.Standish-Sterling kicked a…

Saugatuck volleyball falls to visiting Martin

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorThe Saugatuck volleyball team played host to Martin on Tuesday, Sept. 30, with the Clippers prevailing 25-19, 25-22, 25-15.Martin’s serving played a big role in determining the outcome. The Clippers served up 20 aces, led by Mackenzie…

Hamilton, Otsego, Allegan compete at D3 invitational

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 3 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor HOLLAND—The annual Holland Christian D3 Midseason Invitational took place on Saturday, Oct. 4, and three local teams were among included in the 12-team field.Hamilton had the best showing of that trio, placing fifth with 212 points.…

Otsego girls win at Portage

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PORTAGE—Domination.No, check that. Total, complete and utter domination.Yep. That pretty much sums up Otsego senior cross country standout Emma Hoffman’s performance in the Division 2 race at the Portage Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 4.Crossing the finish…

Paw Paw soccer blanks Buchanan

Editorial Staff Oct 8, 2025 1 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — The Paw Paw Red Wolves soccer team traveled to Buchanan for its final regular season game on Monday and won 6-0.“The boys dominated the game maintaining possession throughout,” Wolves coach Mike Lounsbury said.Scoring for…

Tennis Roundup Sturgis sweeps Three Rivers, swept by East Grand Rapids

Editorial Staff Oct 3, 2025 4 min read

THREE RIVERS — The Sturgis boys tennis team went to Three Rivers last week, and picked up an 8-0 victory over the Wildcats. At No. 1 singles, Simon Phillips beat Alex Nowak, 6-2, 6-1, while at second singles, Carter Oswald…

Volleyball Roundup TR swept by Vicksburg, makes finals at home invite, sweep St. Joe

Editorial Staff Oct 3, 2025 7 min read

THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers’ volleyball team had a down-and-up week, losing in a sweep to Vicksburg Thursday, Sept. 25, making it to the finals of their home invite Saturday, and sweeping St. Joseph at home Monday.Against Vicksburg, the Wildcats…

Clare runners are second

Editorial Staff Oct 3, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Clare’s boys and girls cross country teams wee both second on Wednesday in Jack Pine Conference action at Ogemaw HeightsShepherd won both meets.For the Clare boys:Clayton Peacock was ninth (17:17.42). Connor Schmidt 10th (17:29.18) Sutton…

Saugatuck soccer falls on road to Black River

Editorial Staff Oct 1, 2025 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorHOLLAND—In its showdown with host Holland Black River on Wednesday, Sept. 24, the Saugatuck boys soccer team surrendered a pair of first-half goals to fall behind 2-0 at halftime.And that turned out to be the final score,…

Fennville football falls to New Buffalo

Editorial Staff Oct 1, 2025 1 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor FENNVILLE—Trinity Solis scored a rushing touchdown and Carter Thompson threw for a TD for the Fennville football team in the third quarter of the game with New Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 26.That was the good news…

Allegan swim & dive plays host to Otsego and Wayland

Editorial Staff Oct 1, 2025 2 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Allegan girls swim & dive team hosted Wayland and Otsego on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and it was the Wildcats who had the best showing.Wayland won 10 of the 12 events to post victories over the…

Paw Paw tennis falls to Three Rivers

Editorial Staff Oct 1, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW — After a rainout before the 1st ball was struck the night before, Paw Paw played host to Three Rivers last week indoors at West Hills.Paw Paw took the early lead with a decisive win…

Vicksburg football reclaims Swine Bone with close win over Three Rivers

Vicksburg football reclaims Swine Bone with close win over Three Rivers

Robert Tomlinson Sep 29, 2025 8 min read

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — The Swine Bone rivalry has been hotly contested the last couple of years, with the rivalry trophy trading hands the last three seasons, and Three Rivers owning it following a 14-11 win last…

Tennis Roundup Sturgis defeats Otsego, goes 2-1 in quad, beats Plainwell

Editorial Staff Sep 26, 2025 4 min read

STURGIS — Sturgis defeated Otsego 6-2 in boys tennis, in what coach George Earl called “a very well-played match.” He stated that “the singles were very strong as usual, and gave up very few games.” Earl went on to say…

Soccer Roundup Sturgis defeats Paw Paw, loses close match to Mason

Editorial Staff Sep 26, 2025 1 min read

STURGIS — The Sturgis varsity soccer team hosted Paw Paw this week, and sent the Red Wolves home with a 5-1 loss.Giared Lopez had the hat trick, netting three goals, while teammate Osiel Magana came up with two. Adrian Correa…

Farwell football team bows to St. Louis

Editorial Staff Sep 26, 2025 2 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent FARWELL — Farwell’s football fell to St. Louis 28-12 on Friday in Jack Pine Conference football actionSt. Louis started the game by scoring on a 9 play 55 yard drive to make it 6-0.Farwell would respond on…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.