Vicksburg Community Schools Board of Education members at a June 10 were given a construction update from Maintenance Director Dewey Waterman on work taking place over the summer at the middle school and high school.
Waterman said work started moments after the 2022-23 academic year concluded June 9.
“The kids had a half day of school; literally, the kids are getting on the bus and Two Men and a Truck are pulling in … I’m not even exaggerating, it was that fast,” he said. “They grabbed boxes, threw bar codes on them, beeped them, so that when they come to put them back in the classrooms … it’s going to be (a very efficient process).”
Within the first week of summer break, high school classroom materials and furniture were moved to hallways, and ceilings tiles were taken down. Waterman explained much of the work at the high school is mechanical and infrastructure.
By the end of the second week, work areas were gutted, he said. He joked that technology wires, at this point, were “strung like spaghetti.” Within three weeks, work on the high school roof started and by the fourth week, new lighting was being installed.
At Vicksburg Middle School, Waterman said 10 pallets of protection were laid to cover floor surfaces. Within the first week, the school library and a number of classrooms were gutted in advance of improvements, he said.
Also within the first week, a 61-year-old boiler was removed and replaced with four modular boilers. Waterman said the modern boiler system will greatly improve energy efficiency at the school.
Waterman showed a series of still photos, including an exterior shot of where a new transformer will be placed.
“We’re going from a single phase to a three-phase transformer because of all the load with the extra air conditioning,” he said. “Where two five-inch conduits came up to where the transformer feeds the school, we have nine now. So, there’s more load going into this building with this air conditioning (addition).”
Waterman said he is pleased with the pace at which the work is unfolding. He said work is being done over the course of two summers, with the balance to be completed in 2024.
Waterman said in the end, the two schools will have updated infrastructure, including LED lighting, full air conditioning and more-efficient heating systems.
In a separate matter, board president Skip Knowles acknowledged the passing of former superintendent Larry Cole. Cole served as Vicksburg’s superintendent twice: 1975-1979 and 1984-1994. He was Schoolcraft superintendent 1969-1975.
Knowles said Cole was largely responsible for creation of the high school’s performing arts center.
The Vicksburg varsity girls’ tennis team wrapped up its season with a trip to the state meet after finishing second in Conference and Regionals, closing what had ended up being an excellent season for the Bulldogs.
Vicksburg finished second to Otsego in the Conference meet. Grace Breitenbach made it all the way to the championship round in the number one singles. In the two singles, Scarlett Hosner won her round-one matchup before being eliminated in the semifinal to Edwardsburg. Sadie Grossman also made it to the championship round but ran into a tough matchup against her Otsego opponent. Maya Grossman was the highlight of the day for the Bulldogs in singles action as she became the four singles champion. She started her day with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Edwardsburg before facing Three Rivers in the semifinal, winning 6-3, 6-4. Maya faced Sturgis in the championship round, coming away with a hard-earned 4-6, 7-5, 3-0 victory.
In doubles action, Natalie Balkema and Avery Sands were eliminated in round one of the number one doubles. Clara Centofanti and Sydney Glerum faced tough competition against Sturgis in round one of two doubles, falling 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Olivia Penney and Emma Vallier made it to the championship round of three doubles. But once again, the Bulldogs fell to another tough Otsego team. In the four doubles, Isabelle Hahn and Stella Reitenour made it to the semifinal round before being eliminated by Edwardsburg.
At their Regional meet, Breitenbach finished as runner-up in the number one singles after a first-round bye and round and three wins over Niles and Marshall respectively. She ultimately fell to a Parma Western opponent. Hosner had a first-round bye before winning over Three Rivers and Edwardsburg to get to the championship round. She ultimately won there 6-1, 6-0 over her Battle Creek Pennfield opponent. Sadie Grossman made it to the semifinal round in three singles but fell to Battle Creek Pennfield after she won against Niles. Maya Grossman was Regional Champion after a 6-3, 6-2 win over Parma Western. She defeated opponents from Edwardsburg and Three Rivers on her way to the win.
In the doubles portion of the tournament, Sands and Balkema had a first round one doubles bye but were eliminated in round two by Harper Creek. It was a similar situation for Centofanti and Glerum in two doubles as they drew a tough matchup against Harper Creek where they lost in round two. Vallier and Penney had a good run three doubles but had to settle for runner-up to Parma Western. Reitenour and Hahn also finished as runner-up against Parma Western in four doubles.
The runner-up finish at Regionals earned the team a trip to the state meet, which was the fulfillment of one of Head Coach Warner Offord’s major goals of the season.
“It was nice to have the girls go to state,” Offord said. “We’ve got everyone coming back next year, so we hope to do it again.”
At the state meet, Breitenbach faced a tough opponent from Grosse Ile in round one, ultimately falling 6-0, 6-1. Hosner had a round one bye in two singles before she fell 6-2, 6-4 in round two. Sadie Grossman faced off against Otsego again in number three singles after her first-round bye. She was eliminated in round two 6-2, 6-3. Maya Grossman won her round one matchup 6-3, 6-0 before being eliminated by the eventual state runner-up.
Balkema and Sands had a first-round bye in one doubles before being eliminated in round two. Glerum and Centofanti had a first-round bye before getting eliminated by Otsego 6-2, 6-3 in round two. Vallier and Penney were also eliminated in round two of three doubles. Hahn and Reitenour lost their first round matchup against Grosse Ile 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Offord said the girls really enjoyed the experience of competing at the state meet. He’s already looking forward to next season since the Bulldogs will return everyone. But this was one of the most memorable seasons of his coaching career.
“It was a fantastic season,” Offord said. “Our girls came to play.”
Vicksburg Athlete Director Mike Roy couldn’t be prouder of the 2023 spring season. Roy is pleased with the coaches he has in place and their emphasis on not just athleticism, but also in regard to the students’ citizenship and academic achievements.
Head coach Brian Deal’s varsity baseball team was conference champion for the second year in a row, with a 10-4 record. The players were also were back-to-back district champions, beating Three Rivers in the final game. Coach Deal is equally proud of his team’s performance in the classroom. When the team members’ grade point averages were totaled, they were one of the top five academic teams in the state, earning all-state academic. Jackson Bowles was an individual all-state academic.
Caden Bowling, Cole Gebben, Drew Habel, Connor DeVries were 1st team all-conference. Carter Brown and Jackson Bowles were 2nd team all-conference. Mitchell Beyer and Logan Cohrs were all-conference honorable mention. Coach Deal was named Wolverine Conference Coach of the Year.
At the district level, Cole Gebben, Logan Cohrs, Connor DeVries and Mitchell Beyer were selected 1st team all-district. Coach Deal was selected as district coach of the year.
Drew Habel was named most valuable player by his teammates and Liam Cohrs was named most improved.
Coach Deal says, “I am really thankful that our coaching staff had an opportunity to work with such great student athletes. They gave great effort every day and that paid off. We accomplished those goals that we set out to achieve early in the season.
I’d like to thank all the parents of our players for their support. I would also like to thank our coaches, Dave Malito, Kevin Wilson and Andy DeVries. They gave a lot of time to help these athletes improve on the field.”
Vicksburg’s season ended with a dramatic 1-0 loss to Harper Creek in the district game. The team had a great year, finishing second in the conference with 6 wins and one loss.
Several players received awards in the conference and the district in the 2022-2023 season. The team selected Hannah Devries as Most Valuable Player and Emelyn Germay as Most Improved.
Ella Rohrstaff and Hannah DeVries were selected first team all-conference. Bella Hillard, Rylee Crabtree, and Eleanor Lincoln were selected to the second team. Madison Ames and Kendra Cooley made honorable mention, all-conference.
Ella Rohrstaff, Bella Hillard, Hannah DeVries, and Eleanor Lincoln were selected to the All-District Team. Coach Lahou Boulnemour says this season was “a great improvement over the last season, and despite several injuries, we managed to have a great and successful season.”
Coach Peter Schinkai is pleased with the lacrosse team’s record, going 8-10-1, which is a new high-water mark for wins in the team’s post-COVID era. During the season opener against Lansing Catholic, senior attackman T.J. Murphy had 9 goals and senior attackman Adam Phelps had nine assists, helping the team secure a 15-10 win. Senior midfielder and FOGO Carter Mann was named team MVP and also won the SWMLC Sportsmanship Award. Senor goalie Travis Newton was named the team’s Most Improved Player.
Five players were named all-conference: Carter Mann (1st Team), senior midfielder Chase Willcutt (1st Team), T.J. Murphy (2nd Team), junior defenseman Brendan Kelly (2nd team), and long-stick midfielder Dillyn VanHeukelum (All-Rookie Team)
