OK White
Caledonia
Nickname: Fighting Scots
Coach: Steve Uyl
2012 Record: 9-4
Players lost: Ryan Zoet, Isaac Andrusiak, Garrett Hubbell, Heath Hoogerhyde, Tanner Ellens
Players returning: Matt Delaney, Zach Zoet, Tagg Huver, Jake Vanderveen, Eddie Kelly, Landon Tompkins, Kobe Wilson, Jon Hubbell, Michael Andrusiak, Logan Soule
Notes: The Fighting Scots reached the state semifinals last season as they flew under the radar after turning in a 6-3 regular-season mark. The Fighting Scots may not be the biggestteam around but they are rugged and well coached.
East Grand Rapids
Nickname: Pioneers
Coach: Pete Stuursma
2012 Record: 4-5
Players lost: Gunner Elder, Jahaan Brown, Marcus Hall, Chris Dickow
Players returning: Carter Masek, Conor Conaboy, Troy Gotch, James Eerdmans, Stephen Gillispie, Mikey Roth, Tre Fields, Colin Grogan
Notes: The Pioneers suffered their firsrt losing season since 2000 and also failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2000. With a number of key returnees back East is poised for a bounce-back year, but playing in the rugged OK White will not make things easy.
Forest Hills Central
Nickname: Rangers
Coach: Tim Rogers
2012 Record: 5-4
Players lost: Justin Chopp, Spencer Nehls, Collin Schlosser, Nick Lamica, Chris Bosscher, Hunter Folkertsma
Players returning: Zach Walker, Patrick Donovan, Alex VanVossen, John Nutter, Brett Miller, Parker Tillman, Josh Lamica
Notes: The Rangers missed out on the playoffs for the first time in three years last fall. This year’s team returns a good core led by running back Zach Walker but six wins will be hard to find playing in the OK Red.
Grand Rapids Christian
Nickname: Eagles
Coach: Don Fellows
2012 Record: 13-1
Players lost: Alex VanDeVusse, Christian VanDeBerg, Davaris Collier, Zach Crouch, Alex Korhorn, Matt Hall
Players returning: Drake Harris, Tommy Doles, Dwayne Barfield, Sammy Kuiper, Jack Bates, Qi’Ante Ewing, Mitch Damstra, Juwan Jarnegan
Notes: The Eagles won the D3 state title last season and are poised to make it two in a row. Wide receiver Drake Harris is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete. The Eagles also picked up a huge transfer in Jenison quarterback Kyle Sigler who has a world of tools to work with.
Lowell
Nickname: Red Arrows
Coach: Noel Dean
2012 Record: 8-3
Players lost: Dan Dyer, Pierce Watkins, Ryan Schaffer, Shannon Massey
Players returning: Kyler Shurlow, Alex Kaminski, Jeff Houston, Zach Kaywood, Josiah Buys, Matt Ritsma, Ben Bigham, Kyle Blough, Josh Colegrove, Jake Stephens, Dillon Brower
Notes: The Red Arrows suffered heavy graduation losses but that is nothing new for a program that reloads instead of rebuilds. The Red Arrows have a solid core of players back and plenty of depth and are poised for another big season.
Jenison
Nickname: Wildcats
Coach: Todd Kolster
2012 Record: 0-9
Players lost: Collin Nyboer, Connor Blanch, Alec Withrow, Austin Duval, Kyle Chestnut, Logan Johnson, Ian Koziateck
Players returning: Darian Dismukes, Ben Deritter, Timmy Jirtle, Luke Diekevers, Jake Bailey, CJ VanTimmeren, Brett Bethke
Coach’s comment: “We are a work in progress. We are doing things differently than the way they were done in the past.”