Under the close eye of head varsity coach Paul Gephart, the softball team ended a very successful season, making it all the way in tournament play to the state championship game. The final record for the season was 41-4-1 and is testimony to the importance of depth, players’ commitment, and coaching.
Many players were recognized for their hard work and discipline both on and off the field.
The team achieved Academic All-State, with player Tristin Abnet and Kennedy Davis recognized as individual Academic All-State.
The team finished first in the Wolverine Conference with a conference record of 13-1. Emily Zemitans was voted Most Improved Player and Delaney Monroe was recognized as the team’s Most Valuable Player. Multiple players were selected to the various conference teams: Kayla Chisholm, Kennedy Davis, Delaney Monroe, and Brooklynn Ringler were selected First Team All-Conference;; Maddison Diekman, Audrie Dugan, and Ella Luegge were named Second Team All-Conference: and Tristin Abnet and Peyton Smith earned Honorable Mention.
Honors for the Lady Bulldogs continued after district competition with seven players selected for the All-District Team: catcher Kayla Chisholm, pitcher Kennedy Davis, short stop Maddison Diekman, pitcher Audrie Dugan, 3rd baseman Delaney Monroe, outfielder Brooklynn Ringler, and second baseman Peyton Smith.
The Bulldogs’ success continued at the regional level, assuring the team’s way to the state championship games. Five team members were selected to the All-Region Team: Kennedy Davis, Maddison Diekman, Delaney Monroe, Brooklynn Ringler, and Peyton Smith.
The team lost in the final game for the state championship against Gaylord. Four Lady Bulldogs were selected as all-state players: Maddison Diekman, Delaney Monroe, Brooklynn Ringler, and Peyton Smith.
Paul Gephart received recognition for his hard work and talent: he was named Conference, District, and Regional Coach of the Year by his peers.
Gephart is immensely pleased with the team and its accomplishments. He says the support from parents and community “created a positive atmosphere.” Team members all supported each other which helped “build confidence in every situation.” Gephart stresses the “chemistry” and “cohesiveness” of the team, saying “it wasn’t just about wins vs losses. It was more about team!”
Gephart also attributes the success of the team to the very talented coaching staff of Tim Kirby, Olivia Holmes, Brian Kelley and Amy Lewis.
Coach Cody Caswell says, “We had a hard-working group of athletes.” From the successes of the season, that hard work paid off.
The 2023 men’s track team was Wolverine Conference Champion and placed 2nd in the region. It placed 13th in the state at MITCA while placing 6th in the state at the MHSAA state meet as a team. Caswell was selected Wolverine Conference Coach of the Year.
Michael Wright was Conference Champion in the 100- and 200-meter dash and was part of the conference champion 4×100 and 4×200 meter relays. Alex VanSweden placed 2nd in the 100 and 5th in the 200 and was part of Conference Champion 4×100 and 4×200 meter relays. RJ Vallier was 3rd in the 200-meter dash. Tucker Radgens was 2nd in the 400, and Brycen Town was 6th in the 400. Skye Smith was 8th in the 800 and 6th in the 1600 at Conference.
Avery Snook was 3rd in the 110 hurdles and Conference Champion in the 300 hurdles. Kenny Youngs was 7th in the 110 hurdles and 3rd in the 300 hurdles.
In the field events, Grant Anderson was 7th in the shot put and 3rd in the discus. Nathan Schnepp was 6th in the discus. Colin Ellis was Conference Champion in pole vault.
Vicksburg’s 4×400 relay team was 2nd in the Wolverine Conference with Vallier, Youngs, Radgens, Johnson. Other members of the Conference Champion 4×100 meter relay team were JP Culver and RJ Vallier. Other members of Conference Champion 4×200 meter relay team were RJ Vallier and Lucas Johnson.
The Bulldogs’ success continued at the Regional Meet where several athletes placed in the top 2 of their event or achieved a qualifying time which enables them to compete at the Individual State Meet.
In the running events, Wright was the 100 and 200 meter dash Regional Champion, VanSweden placed 8th in the 100, Vallier placed 8th in the 200, and Radgens placed 2nd in the 400. Snook placed 3rd in the 110 Hurdles and was Regional Champion in the 300 hurdles. Youngs placed 4th in the 300 hurdles and with his time was a state qualifier.
The 4×100 of Vallier, Johnson,VanSweden, and Wright was 2nd in the Region. The 4×200 relay team of Vallier, Town, VanSweden, and Wright was 2nd in the Region.
The 4×400 Relay team of Vallier, Town, Radgens, Johnson were Regional Champions.
In the field events, Colin Ellis placed 3rd in Region.
At the State Meet, Wright placed 2nd in the 100-meter dash and set a new school record of 10:57. He was State Champion in the 200-meter dash. Radgens placed 18th in the 400. Snook was 3rd in the 300 hurdles. The 4×200 relay team of Vallier, Town, VanSweden, and Wright placed 7th, and the 4×400 relay team of Vallier, Town, Radgens, and Johnson placed 19th.
Coach Lucas Wolthuis is pleased with his team’s 3rd place Conference, 6th place Regional, and 22nd place State finishes, and looks forward to working with many of his athletes next year.
At the Wolverine Conference Meet, Emma Steele placed 3rd in the 100, 1st in the 400, and 1st in the 800-meter dashes. Sidney Jones placed 7th in the 100. Megan Zahnow placed 3rd in the 200 and 1st in the 300. Amanda Laughery placed 6th and Zane Sandelin placed 8th in the 3200.
Megan Zahnow placed 1st in the 100 hurdles.
In field events, Jaylyn Taylor placed 6th in the shot put, Anna Bartholomew placed 3rd in the high jump, Lyla Kling placed 4th in the high jump and 8th in the long jump, and Lauren Zahnow placed 6th in the pole vault.
Several athletes were Regional Placers and qualified for the State Meet. Emma Steele placed 2nd in the 400 and 1st in the 800. Megan Zahnow placed 1st in the 100 hurdles and 3rd in the 300 hurdles. The 4×4 relay team of Sidney Jones, Molly Young, Megan Zahnow, and Emma Steele placed 2nd. Lyla Kling placed 6th in the high jump.
At the State Meet, Megan Zahnow was runner up in the 100 hurdles and Emma Steele placed 5th in the 800.
After the season, team awards were presented: Most Valuable Athlete, Megan Zahnow; Most Improved Athlete, Jaylyn Taylor; Captain Award, Molly Young, Amanda Laughery, Emma Steele, Megan Zahnow, and Sidney Jones; Top Freshman, Savannah Ellis; Newcomer, Anna Bartholomew; Bulldog Award, Francesca Loriso and Natalie Hoagg; and Coaches’ Award, Zane Sandelin and Emma Steele.
In addition, 3 school records were broken: Kate Brundige’s 400 record of 1:00.88 was broken by Emma Steele with a time of 1:00.08; Sarah Roberts’ 800 record of 2:22.7 was broken by Emma Steele with a time of 2:17.91; and Michaela Oesterle’s 100 hurdle record of 15.4 was broken by Megan Zahnow with a time of 15.23.
JP Culver wrestling (left) and at Ford Field (middle). Right: JP Culver and his family.
By Kathy Oswalt-Forsythe
2023 VHS graduate JP Culver’s studies and wrestling career will continue at University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh this fall. He’ll carry with him his belief in the importance of hard work and good citizenship.
JP is an active person. It’s just how he’s made. His parents kept him busy and encouraged his involvement in athletics while in elementary school in Charlevoix. His rocket football coach was also a club wrestling coach and father of one of JP’s friends. This coach approached JP and his parents, encouraging JP to consider wrestling. “He looks like a wrestler. Moves like a wrestler.” JP did wrestle during elementary but “didn’t really like it.”
This changed when the Culver family moved to Vicksburg when JP was in 7th grade. Again, he was involved in multiple sports, including basketball and wrestling during the winter. His good friends on the basketball team also wrestled. They convinced JP to join wrestling where JP bonded with Coach Doug Fuller. “I think I enjoyed it and stayed because of Coach Fuller,” says JP. “I really connected with him.”
During JP’s high school years, he faced and overcame some disappointments and challenges. One challenge was the pause in athletics due to COVID during his sophomore year. “Yeah, that was tough,” says JP. “I did stay in contact with my coaches and did work out regularly, so that helped.”
Then during his junior football season, he suffered a spiral fracture of his leg. That meant rest, healing, and no pre-season conditioning for wrestling. “My junior wrestling season had a slow start, and I was really out of shape,” JP says.
JP’s parents, Pastor Greg and Joanne Culver, were always adamant about the importance of academics. They guided him during his elementary and middle school years, but provided him more independence during high school. Those early lessons paid off, attracting college wrestling scouts who were impressed with his conduct on the mat and his consistent performance in the classroom.
JP said that behavior on the mat was something he had to learn with the help and guidance of his parents, and it “developed over time.” The three periods of a wrestling match are grueling and exhausting emotionally and physically. “I had to learn to manage the disappointment, to pull it together after I lost. I learned to take a few minutes to gather myself.”
JP experienced recognition and success during his senior year: he topped 100 wins, was conference champion, and qualified for the state tournament. But his loss at that tournament at Ford Field which kept him from the finals was heart-breaking.
Yes, his record attracted attention from recruiters and scouts from around the nation, but JP’s conduct at that meet impressed “character scouts” who his mom indicates, “attend matches to not only seek talent but also watch how an athlete interacts with teammates and handles adversity.”
Spring was a busy time for JP. He was part of the track and field team and part of the 4 x 4 relay team which broke the school record. And he enjoyed the camaraderie of his classmates during his final days in the classroom.
At the end of June, JP wrestled with Team Michigan Blue, representing Vicksburg and the state of Michigan at the Disney Dules National Wrestling Competition, which JP describes as “the most amazing experience he’s ever had.”
And those amazing experiences will continue. Like many young people leaving home, JP heads for Oshkosh this fall brimming with hopes and dreams and the unwavering support of his family. And as one of his former teachers, it is this reporter’s belief that he will continue to represent his family, school and community well. He will demonstrate what he is known for: good citizenship and hard work.
The fire-damaged Best Street property currently under discussion.
By Jef Rietsma
Vicksburg Village Council members at a July meeting gave the owner of a blighted home on East Prairie 60 days to bring it up to code. The owner of a fire-damaged home on Best Street failed to show up at a hearing.
Scott Graham, who handles dangerous-building matters for the village, said he reached agreement with the owner of the vacant home at 513 East Prairie St.
“The property owner has rights the village doesn’t want to take away unless absolutely appropriate. What typically happens is after a passage of time, it becomes crucial to (set) a drop-dead for trying to give any property owner the right and the time to fix a condition that has risen to dangerousness.”
Owners of the home agreed to a 60-day window to address code issues and fix it to the point that it is no longer considered dangerous and is in compliance with all codes. Graham said an inspection will be conducted by the village’s building inspector within 60 days to confirm the improvements were made.
“If they do not (comply), on the 61st day, the village has the absolute right to remedy the problem, most notably by demolition of any buildings that are non-compliant,” Graham said. “The owners here agreed to post a bond in the amount of $25,000 for the purpose of reimbursing the village … if they get the property and the structures all (up to code), they’re entitled then to seek to use the property like anyone else would because they would be in full compliance with all of the statutes within the building code.”
Graham said the $25,000 bond is important because it serves as potential reimbursement instead of the village putting the parcel on tax rolls if matters are not fully addressed on or before the end of the 60-day period in mid-September.
The second property, heavily damaged by fire, is at 640 Best St. Graham said notice of intent to declare the structure dangerous was served to the property owner. Graham said the owner was advised of the July 17 village council meeting and advised to attend.
“The owner has not appeared … and is (thereby) in default,” he said. “When they don’t appear (in person) to contest, then they’re in default and the village can move forward.”
He said considering the condition of the structure, there’s no way a 60-day window would be enough time to bring it up to code. The building on the property is unoccupied.
Graham said he was willing to negotiate with the owner had they showed up at the meeting. Consequently, Graham said Village Manager Jim Mallery will be given authority for the municipality to decide how to proceed.
Council member Carl Keller said he has lived in the vicinity of the Prairie Street property for more than 30 years. In that time, Keller said he believes the residence has never been occupied.
“This has been an issue, since I got on the council, that I quietly kept in front of staff,” he said. “I’m glad this is coming around because a lot of the residents on my side of the town were getting a little agitated about it.”
In other business, Mallery said the rained-out July 12 ‘Burg Days of Summer weekly downtown event has been rescheduled to Aug. 23. All vendors and musical talent lined up for the July 12 event indicated they will be able to return Aug. 23.
Also, a resident from the 200 block of West Washington Street expressed concerns about dogs, noise and blight. She said two pit bulls owned by her neighbors are allowed to run loose, and are prone to menacingly charge people and other dogs. Mallery said the dogs have since been removed from the property and their owners, who rent the house where they live, have been cited by animal control.
The West Washington Street resident also said another nearby residence has weeds in excess of five feet. Another neighbor has two couches sitting in the driveway, she said. A mattress has dumped on a nearby hill and a recliner has been left near the high school tennis courts.
Dirk Vankrimpen, a 40-year Sunset Lake resident, is worried about the health of the lake and has turned to Vicksburg Village Council members for help.
By Jef Rietsma An officer in the Sunset Lake Association told the Vicksburg Village Council the 144-acre lake suffers from an excessive growth of algae, weeds and other issues. The problems “have turned it into crap,” said association Vice President Dirk Vankrimpen.
He urged council members to consider measures to improve the health of the lake.
The north end of the lake is in Schoolcraft Township. The south end is within the village.
Vankrimpen said the shoreline at Sunset Lake Park features what he estimated to be just 30 feet of beachfront, about 70 feet less than what it should have.
“The rest is all overgrown. That beach needs major attention,” he said. “We need assistance. We need to generate some revenue and we need help desperately. Desperately. I wish I still had my pontoon (because) I’d take you all out there and show you.”
Vankrimpen said high air temperatures tend to exacerbate the unwanted growth. He provided council members photos of the lake after consecutive days of 90-degree weather in late June 2022.
He predicted fishermen, kayakers and canoeists will likely stop frequenting the lake if precautions aren’t taken to address the concerns.
“I’m not a chemist but I know enough to stay out of there,” he said, referencing a standing joke that the lake is informally called “Scumset Lake.”
Vankrimpen, who lives in the 300 block of North Main Street, said the lake association oversaw what he called “an algae spray” in mid-June. The measure, however, was negated when temperatures shortly afterward climbed to 90 degrees.
He said there are about 50 residences on the lake. Each property owner is assessed about $400 annually for weed control and other actions for the good of the lake. He said the condition of the lake could potentially impact the value of abutting properties.
Council President Tim Frisbie acknowledged Vankrimpen’s points, saying the state of the lake is of little surprise to any Vicksburg resident.
“We all live here, we all see it daily. We all have our own concerns. We’ve had other discussions with other (lake) residents,” Frisbie said.
In a separate matter at the June 26 meeting, council members met in executive session for more than 45 minutes to go over an annual performance review regarding Village Manager Jim Mallery.
Frisbie said Mallery exceeds all expectations.
“The things that you have come up with outside and beyond a typical scope for a village manager is just … the successes are numerous,” Frisbie said, citing a lengthy list of municipal accomplishments that can be directly credited to the 55-year-old Mallery. “You started this journey seven years ago (and) put us in a position to succeed. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. I don’t think you could have gotten a better review.”
Later, council members approved the village’s 2023-24 fiscal year budget. The current fiscal year started July 1 and concludes June 30, 2024.
Projected revenue over the 12-month period is more than $10.4 million, while anticipated expenditures are in excess of $8.4 million, Mallery said.
Council members also approved placing special assessments on 2023 property tax bills for delinquency in payment owed to the village. The total owed is $11,022.
Mallery also provided an update on three trees still under warranty from when they were planted downtown last year. A tree in front of Distant Whistle and another by Main Street Pub will be replaced at no cost to the village. A third tree, on the south side of Family Fare, will be removed. It was the second tree in that location to die. Mallery said a planter will be placed in that location instead.
