The Vicksburg varsity boys’ soccer team looked like they had everything in control until the last 50 seconds of a recent home matchup against rival Paw Paw.
The Bulldogs found themselves in a back-and-forth defensive battle all night against the Red Wolves as both defenses bent but just wouldn’t break for much of the first half. Vicksburg’s defenders did an excellent job blocking a couple prime shot opportunities Paw Paw had right in front of the net.
Eventually, Senior Landan Johnson received a pass out in front of the last defender and sent a shot into the back of the Paw Paw net for a 1-0 lead. After that, the two teams engaged in a defensive stalemate until the last minute of the game. That’s when a Paw Paw attacker was able to score after a net-front scrum. It turned what was looking like a win into a tie.
The Bulldogs have had an up-and-down season this year as their current record stands at 6-6-2. Vicksburg started the season with four straight losses, although two of those came on the same day in the Justin Bailey Memorial Shootout.
Vicksburg got its first win over Niles Brandywine 9-1. After the Paw Paw game, the team lost 2-0 against Parma Western before starting a three-game winning streak. The Bulldogs have taken down Harper Creek 2-0, Three Rivers 8-2, and Dowagiac 10-2 so far. The team still has Sturgis, Edwardsburg, Plainwell, and St. Joseph on its schedule.
Bulldog boys’ tennis is having another solid season. Vicksburg started off strong after a long road trip for the Cadillac Invitational. But the extra miles on the road ended up being worthwhile as the Bulldogs took first place over Cadillac, Harbor Springs, and Mount Pleasant.
In total, six players went 3-0 on the day. Jordan Diekman took the number one singles. Gabriel Ryder took two singles, Colin Schramer took the four singles, and Maddox Rosalin won the four singles. Luke Wilson and Sawyer Kite went undefeated in the two doubles.
The rest of the doubles teams went 2-1 on the day, starting with Nathaniel Klimek and Caden Town in the one doubles. Their only loss was to Cadillac. It was the same with three doubles Thomas Christiansen and Gagie Patnoude. In four doubles, Reese Brush and Wes Post also lost only to Cadillac.
After that tournament, the boys traveled to Berrien Springs and won that tournament, defeating Niles Brandywine, Buchanan, Loy Norrix, Kalamazoo Christian, and their rivals, Edwardsburg. The boys then won single meets against Battle Creek Pennfield and Otsego before they went north again for the Big Rapids tournament. Unfortunately, that tournament ended up being their toughest test yet.
The Bulldogs fell to Big Rapids, Traverse City, Maple City Glen Lake, and Zeeland West. Head Coach Warner Offord noted that Big Rapids in particular was one of the toughest teams they’ve faced all year.
However, since that tournament, Vicksburg has mostly been rolling.
The team won 8-0 against rival Three Rivers, and then 7-1 against Niles. The Bulldogs dropped a meet against perennially tough Sturgis 6-2. Their most recent matchup was a 7-1 win over Edwardsburg. In the matchup, Diekman, Ryder, Schramer, and Rosalin swept singles action. The teams of Klimek and Town, Kite and Wilson, and Bush and Post all went home victorious over the Eddies. Patnoude and Christiansen lost the number three doubles 6-2, 6-4.
Still, the Bulldogs find themselves in a good position going into the last part of the season. While Offord and the team have a larger goal in mind, they’re also taking things one meet at a time.
“We’re just going to keep trying to push ourselves. We’ve got that goal to win a Wolverine Conference Championship,” Offord said.
Front Row: Chase Willmont, Alexander VanSweden, Jaykeb Goodall, Nathan Schnepp
Second Row: Lucas Johnson, Logan Cohrs, William Hull, Reed Tassell, Trey Willmont, Lauro Hernandez, Travis Hostetler
Third Row: Anthony Marchese, Hunter Bell, Cohen Balle, Aidan Woosley, Conner Tessin, Nathan Hess, Storm Schrader, Lucas Brown, Landon Troyer
Fourth Row: Landon Daniels, Zachary Kline, Michael Johnson, James Jones, Landon Cox, Cory Hogue, Keegan Searles, Grant Daniels, Brayden Dugray, Luke Deal, Zachary Post, Jonathan Hess, Wyatt Glenn
Back Row: Assistant Coach Mark Blaesser, Assistant Coach Cody Caswell, Head Coach Tom Marchese, Assistant Coach Kurt Phelps, Assistant Coach Tim Kirby, Natalie McClish, MS, ATC Athletic Trainer
Back Row: Assistant Travis Van, Assistant Coach Roger Van, Head Coach Kyle Owen, Hunter Moore, Graham Kubiak, Brett Hess, Bo Vallier, Assistant Coach Evan Anderson, Assistant Coach Ryan Vallier, Assistant Coach Brian Johnson
Varsity Volleyball
Front Row: Ava Deryke, Ella Mann, Atlas Scoffin, Jenna Schramer, Hannah Moyer
Back Row: Head Coach Jennifer Buikema, Scarlett Hosner, Hannah DeVries, Addison Naplin, Emma Vallier, Kayla Chisholm, Karlie Klinger, Natalie Hoagg, Assistant Coach Shelby Phelps
JV Volleyball
Front Row: Hailey Havera, Izabella Beilby, Kylynn Schroeder, Lainey Wilson, Madison Kanouse, Mackenzie Rose
Back Row: Aubrie Chatham, Livia Kline, Makenna Burr, Natalie Sertic, Harper Roy, Ava Olney, Head Coach Zoie Appleberry.
Freshman Volleyball
Front Row: Paula Cervera, Emma Stratemeier, Heidi Homrich, Elise Howard, Camryn Rosier, Allison Truckey
Back Row: Trinity Northup, Haley Hubin, Madison Cooley, Victoria Hillard, Emma Boudrie, Head Coach Kennedy Pilger
Varsity Sideline Cheer
Front Row: Adalia Zoeller, Hannah Sparks, Anna Bartholomew, Lauren Zahnow, Abigail Soderquist, Head Coach Stacy Childs,
Back Row: Assistant Coach Kasey Tassell, Jordyn Clarey, Emma Smith, Mackenzie Schiedel, Ava Kimble
Front Row: Braeden Kay, Dante Halstead, Daymon Witters, Ben Culver, Ian Triemstra, Isaac Byrne, Caleb Jastifer, Dylan Johnson, Riley Shears
Back Row: Assistant Coach Josh Cardosa, Bryton Payne, Colton Zuidema, Landan Johnson, Jake VanDoren, Avery Snook, Billy Hull, Malachi McClelland, Will Mottl, Luke Malocha, Alex Geiger, Léo Carrera, Coach Lahou Boulnemour
Varsity Tennis
Front Row: Maddox Rosalin, Luke Wilson, Nathan Klimek, Caden Town, Reese Brush, Collin Schramer
Back Row: Coach Nick Foley, Gaige Patnoude, Sawyer Kite, Thomas Christiansen, Wesley Post, Jordan Diekman, Gabe Ryder, Coach Warner Offord.
JV Tennis
Front Row: Giovanni Gangloff, Bauer Gregart, Drake Reitenour, Braedan Akans, Skyler Reitenour.
Back Row: Coach Nick Foley, Nate Laham, Harper Akans, Michael Anthony, Ethan Knedgen, Kayden Seymour, Grant VanWoert,
Not Pictured: Jaime Vincente
Varsity Golf
Coach Jared Meyer, Maddie Diekman, Val Hamilton, Sydney Jones, Sydney Taylor, Brooklyn Ringler, Olivia Penning, Audrie Dugan, Peyton Smith, Sydney Hambright, Hailey Zagar
The first season of ‘Burg Days of Summer has been hailed as a success by Vicksburg Village Council members.
Village Manager Jim Mallery at the council’s Sept. 18 meeting assessed the nine-week program, staged downtown Wednesdays from June through August.
Mallery said his main takeaway from each weekly event was the number of families that participated.
“The smiles and feelings of goodwill happening on the streets of Vicksburg,” Mallery said. “We’re very confident that in excess of 30,000 people visited downtown Vicksburg during the nine days. Our social media interactions on the village of Vicksburg were in excess of 200,000 as it related to ‘Burg Days. I think it was a home run. It was a good summer.”
Mallery said in all his years in local government, he has never received more phone calls from peers and representatives from other communities than he did this summer regarding ‘Burg Days.
Mallery presented each of the village council members a 72-page book containing photos from each of the nine ‘Burg Days. The photos were taken by Randall Hartman Photography. Copies were also given to Vicksburg Community Foundation members as a thank you for their financial support of ‘Burg Days 2023.
Village President Tim Frisbie said ‘Burg Days exceeded his expectations. He said he also fielded a number of comments and an excess of positive feedback.
In other business, the council approved an allocation of $58,000 for the purchase and installation of a digital sign to be placed outside the new village office. Mallery said the digital display will measure 3 feet by 6 feet.
Also, Mallery announced discussions are ongoing for a Biggby Coffee, which would like to build a drive-through business at the northwest corner of North Richardson and East Prairie streets. Mallery said entry and exit points into and out of the business will be subject to especially close scrutiny. Richardson and Prairie has been identified as the highest traffic point in the village.
In addition, village council members agreed to purchase of a 2009 dump/plow truck from the city of Kalamazoo for $20,000.
In a separate matter, Mallery said the owner of a residence on Prairie Street who had been given until Sept. 15 to bring his residence up to code, has asked for an extension. Mallery said he was waiting to respond based on direction from the village’s attorney.
Another high-density housing development proposed in Vicksburg’s northwest quadrant prompted discussion by village council members last month.
During its Sept. 18 meeting, the council delved into a look at the state of housing in Vicksburg after Village Manager Jim Mallery mentioned the proposed development of the Homestead at Centennial community, between Trillium Plat and the original Centennial neighborhoods on the west side of South 22nd Street.
Mallery said developer Allen Edwin is behind the proposed 122-unit, single-family development. It is slated to appear before the village council by the end of the year and will likely face some level of scrutiny by municipal officials, including Village President Tom Frisbie.
An exasperated Frisbie broached the topic of the project’s density, questioning why Allen Edwin seems to build only smaller, beginner homes in the village.
“Has there been any conversation with Allen Edwin about building an Applegate, putting in 40 homes versus 122? They’re going to make the same amount of money on it that they would if they stick in 40 homes, not 122 homes,” Frisbie said. “It’s great to see people investing in the village but it concerns me (they are) building these tiny, little pop-up homes in our community.”
Frisbie’s reference to Applegate is a neighborhood featuring a lower-density development west of Portage. Applegate’s homes are larger and lots are bigger compared to Allen Edwin developments in Vicksburg.
Mallery said the proposed development and its higher density helps address a general need for affordable housing. His comment prompted council member Gail Reisterer to ask about the level of turnover in Vicksburg’s lower-priced, smaller homes.
Mallery said data he has looked at shows Vicksburg homes under $300,000 were on the market for about three days.
“So, whatever the turnover is, I think we need to be focused on (the fact that the village is) very fortunate that people want to move to Vicksburg,” he said. “Our homes from $400,000 to $700,000 was something like 14 days (on the market).”
Meanwhile, Mallery said he is aware of two homes in the core part of the village that sold well in excess of asking price.
Council member Ryan Wagner said he lives on the south end of Centennial, adjacent to what is currently a farm field but is targeted for the Homestead neighborhood.
He said no matter what it takes, he supports any plan that brings more families to Vicksburg.
“It’s about people actually wanting to live in our village … those are folks that will be a part of our community hopefully for generations,” Wagner said. “I think it’s a great thing that we’re going to have an opportunity to add more residents and welcome more folks to our community.”
Council member Rick Holmes then raised an issue he had long refrained from bringing up. Holmes, a lifelong Vicksburg resident, said the village is a working-class community no longer affordable to working-class people.
“When you look at the houses and what they’re going for nowadays in this community, it’s insane,” Holmes said. “So, for 145 years, housing prices were relatively consistent and all of a sudden in the last four years, we have these dramatic increases.”
Holmes said he feels it’s time for the village council to take a deep look at the number of rental units in the community.
“We have profiteering going on in this community. We have people coming in, they’re buying what they think is low and they’re hoping to sell high,” Holmes said. “I think what would be very helpful is to know in our community, how many rentals do we have? Do we have families buying these homes or do we have people that are building a portfolio of rental homes, whether it’s a corporation or someone that I know … that owns 85 or 90 rental homes?”
Council member Denny Olson said he remembers when Centennial was built and how the homes were built on exceptionally small lots.
“You could stand there and touch your neighbors … I’m sorry, that’s just a little bit too close,” Olson said. “I think we need to take a serious look at this … and I want a lot more information before this thing comes before this council for a vote.”
Olson said some people he has talked to have expressed concern about Vicksburg losing its small-town feel. He also questioned the strain more families will put on Sunset Lake Elementary, and Vicksburg’s middle and high schools. Olson also lamented the additional traffic a high-density development will add to 22nd Street.
“This is all stuff that’s got to be considered, not just by the Planning Commission but by all of us and this entire community,” he said. “One-hundred and twenty-two homes? No, I can’t see it. That’s cramming too many.”
Mallery said change causes different reactions from people. He assured the council that when presentations for the Homestead development come forward, “you’ll have a team of experts in front of you to ask pointed questions and clarify direction of what you want, as well as receive overall guidance.
“We’ll have McKenna representatives on zoning, we’ll have our legal representation, we’ll have our engineers.”
Mallery did not indicate when the proposed development might appear before the village’s Planning Commission.
Holly Fryling enjoys riding her bike to the Farmers Market. Right photo: A trio of 2022 Fall Bike Celebration participants.
By Paul Selden
The 5th annual Fall Bike Celebration Weekend offers a Farmers Market Cycle-In event on Friday, September 15, a kid’s Bike Rodeo on Saturday and a route cycling event on Sunday.
On Friday, the first 30 shoppers riding in by bike to the Vicksburg Farmers Market can receive a $5 coupon good for purchases at the Farmers Market. The adjacent Vicksburg Historic Village is also offering guided 45-minute tours to anyone wishing to learn more about this re-creation of life in southwest Michigan at the turn of the 1900’s.
A free Bike Rodeo for children from the entire area is planned for the morning of Saturday, organized by Safe Kids of Kalamazoo County. This event, which aims to encourage kids to ride bikes safely, will be on a closed course set up with fun and realistic educational challenges. The Rodeo will include a helmet check, a bike mechanical check, and a chance to have fun and exercise while learning rules of the road. Saturday also features a tour of the Vicksburg Mill Project that is open to the public, additional guided tours of the Vicksburg Historic Village, a bicycle mural exhibit, and an Ice Cream Social at Apple Knockers Ice Cream Parlor for pre-registered riders.
On Sunday Sept. 17 the Fall Bike Celebration Bike Tour will offer routes that take cyclists back in time, starting and ending at the Historic Village while featuring views of the Vicksburg Quilt Trail paintings. Cyclists can pick from scenic destinations all the way to Shipshewana, with views of Michigan’s longest covered bridge, take in highlights of the Vicksburg Quilt Trail, visit Scotts Mill Park, ride through the village of Climax, as well as more bite-sized family-friendly routes. New for this year is a so-called gravel ride featuring a rest stop at the beautiful Rawson’s King Mill Park in Leonidas.
The weekend long event is organized by civic leaders, local charities and bike-related organizations, presenting dozens of reasons to ride, spotlighting local amenities while reminding the public to bike and drive safely.
Some activities are free, some require waivers and some require children to be accompanied by an adult. Bill Adams, former Vicksburg village president, is enthusiastic. “Vicksburg welcomes bicyclists and encourages everyone from the region to enjoy the Fall Bike Celebration. We are grateful for the support of the generous sponsors and wonderful in-kind supporters who make this fantastic fall bicycle festival possible.” For updates, see http://www.fallbikecelebration.org/schedule.
