Zeeland West All-State softball player Madison Wyckoff (right), seen here with Dux coach Kayla Smart, played in the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division 1 All-Star Game last week at Davenport University. Wyckoff went 1-for-2 at the plate in the game, narrowly missing a home run in the first inning when she doubled off the left-field wall.
Zeeland West all-state softball player Madison Wyckoff played in the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division 1 All-Star Game July 15 at Davenport University in Caledonia.
Wyckoff, who led the Dux to a runnerup finish in the O-K Green Conference this past spring, narrowly missed a home run in her first plate appearance, launching a long fly off the left-field wall for a standup double. She grounded out to shortstop in her second at-bat.
Wyckoff played shortstop and third base in the contest, effortlessly handling several chances in the field. Her Red Team defeated the White Team, 6-0.
Wyckoff hit .475 at the plate during West’s season, scoring 49 runs and driving in 29, and also posted a 12-3 record with 160 strikeouts in 97 innings as a pitcher. She will continue her softball career next spring at Saginaw Valley State University, an NCAA Division II school who won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championship this past season.
Zeeland West all-state softball player Madison Wyckoff played in the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Division 1 All-Star Game July 15 at Davenport University in Caledonia.
Wyckoff, who led the Dux to a runnerup finish in the O-K Green Conference this past spring, narrowly missed a home run in her first plate appearance, launching a long fly off the left-field wall for a standup double. She grounded out to shortstop in her second at-bat.
Wyckoff played shortstop and third base in the contest, effortlessly handling several chances in the field. Her Red Team defeated the White Team, 6-0.
Wyckoff hit .475 at the plate during West’s season, scoring 49 runs and driving in 29, and also posted a 12-3 record with 160 strikeouts in 97 innings as a pitcher. She will continue her softball career next spring at Saginaw Valley State University, an NCAA Division II school who won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championship this past season.
MHSAA Reports Highest Participation in Athletics Since 2018-19
By Geoff Kimmerly
Michigan High School Athletic Association
Michigan High School Athletic Association member high schools reported a combined participation of 275,684 athletes in MHSAA-sponsored tournament sports during the 2024-25 school year – the highest number of participants in those activities since 2018-19 and despite another decrease in combined enrollment across those 754 schools.
This past year’s participation total was 5,020 students – or 1.9 percent – higher than in 2023-24, while enrollment at member schools fell by 1.3 percent. Boys participation was up 1.9 percent to 161,329 – also its highest since 2018-19 – and girls participation was up 1.8 percent to 114,355, its highest count since 2019-20.
MHSAA participation totals count students once for each sport in which they participate, meaning students who are multiple-sport athletes are counted more than once.
Two sports set participation records during 2024-25. Boys track & field counted 24,759 participants – a 3.7 percent increase from a year ago in breaking its previous record from 2005-06. Girls lacrosse participation was up 0.9 percent from last year to 3,970 participants in setting a record for the second-straight season.
Another 15 sports saw participation increases this past school year. Girls tennis saw an increase of 6.4 percent to 9,485 athletes, followed by boys and girls wrestling’s combined increase of 5.2 percent to 12,422 participants – with boys wrestling participation up 3 percent and girls up an incredible 24 percent to 1,505 athletes. Girls track & field (18,108 athletes) and boys cross country (8,209) also saw some of the largest jumps at 4.5 and 4.1 percent, respectively.
Also reporting increased participation during 2024-25 were boys tennis (3.7 percent, 6,163 total athletes), football (3 percent, 36,210), girls volleyball (2.9 percent, 19,679), boys golf (2.7 percent, 7,416), girls competitive cheer (2.4 percent, 6,319), boys basketball (1.7 percent, 20,541), girls cross country (1.4 percent, 6,826), boys soccer (1.1 percent, 14,112), boys bowling (1 percent, 4,333), boys swimming & diving (0.9 percent, 4,073), and girls soccer (0.7 percent, 11,090).
Although 11 sports saw participation decreases during 2024-25 from the previous school year, those for girls basketball (-0.4 percent) and boys ice hockey (-0.7 percent) were lower than the 1.3-percent enrollment decline at MHSAA member schools.
Football remains the most popular sport in terms of participation at MHSAA member high schools, with that total of 36,210 athletes its highest since 2017-18. Girls volleyball remained the most popular girls sport in 2024-25, with its 19,679 athletes the highest total since 2012-13.
The participation figures are gathered annually from MHSAA member schools to submit to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for compiling of its national participation survey.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.
Michigan High School Athletic Association
Michigan High School Athletic Association member high schools reported a combined participation of 275,684 athletes in MHSAA-sponsored tournament sports during the 2024-25 school year – the highest number of participants in those activities since 2018-19 and despite another decrease in combined enrollment across those 754 schools.
This past year’s participation total was 5,020 students – or 1.9 percent – higher than in 2023-24, while enrollment at member schools fell by 1.3 percent. Boys participation was up 1.9 percent to 161,329 – also its highest since 2018-19 – and girls participation was up 1.8 percent to 114,355, its highest count since 2019-20.
MHSAA participation totals count students once for each sport in which they participate, meaning students who are multiple-sport athletes are counted more than once.
Two sports set participation records during 2024-25. Boys track & field counted 24,759 participants – a 3.7 percent increase from a year ago in breaking its previous record from 2005-06. Girls lacrosse participation was up 0.9 percent from last year to 3,970 participants in setting a record for the second-straight season.
Another 15 sports saw participation increases this past school year. Girls tennis saw an increase of 6.4 percent to 9,485 athletes, followed by boys and girls wrestling’s combined increase of 5.2 percent to 12,422 participants – with boys wrestling participation up 3 percent and girls up an incredible 24 percent to 1,505 athletes. Girls track & field (18,108 athletes) and boys cross country (8,209) also saw some of the largest jumps at 4.5 and 4.1 percent, respectively.
Also reporting increased participation during 2024-25 were boys tennis (3.7 percent, 6,163 total athletes), football (3 percent, 36,210), girls volleyball (2.9 percent, 19,679), boys golf (2.7 percent, 7,416), girls competitive cheer (2.4 percent, 6,319), boys basketball (1.7 percent, 20,541), girls cross country (1.4 percent, 6,826), boys soccer (1.1 percent, 14,112), boys bowling (1 percent, 4,333), boys swimming & diving (0.9 percent, 4,073), and girls soccer (0.7 percent, 11,090).
Although 11 sports saw participation decreases during 2024-25 from the previous school year, those for girls basketball (-0.4 percent) and boys ice hockey (-0.7 percent) were lower than the 1.3-percent enrollment decline at MHSAA member schools.
Football remains the most popular sport in terms of participation at MHSAA member high schools, with that total of 36,210 athletes its highest since 2017-18. Girls volleyball remained the most popular girls sport in 2024-25, with its 19,679 athletes the highest total since 2012-13.
The participation figures are gathered annually from MHSAA member schools to submit to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for compiling of its national participation survey.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.
Hope Sprinter Named 2024-25 Academic All-American
By Alan Babbitt
Hope College
Hope College sprinter Sara Schermerhorn continues to excel both on the track and in the classroom.
The exercise science major has been named to the 2024-25 Academic All-America® Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country Teams, as selected by College Sports Communicators.
A native of Traverse City, Michigan, Schermerhorn is one of 16 third-team selections and one of 45 total honorees at the NCAA Division III level this year.
Schermerhorn joins Ana Tucker (2022-23), Chelsea Miskelley (2020), Sheri McCormick (2014), Nora Kuiper (2009), and Tauna Jecmen (1988-89) as Hope women’s track and field student-athletes to earn Academic All-America® honors.
This season, Schermerhorn was a four-time All-American, earning honors in the 200- and 400-meter events at both the NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Championships. She also received seven all-region honors: indoor 60 meters, outdoor 100 meters, indoor and outdoor 200 meters, indoor 400 meters, and indoor and outdoor 4x400 relays.
A graduate of Traverse City West High School, Schermerhorn captured seven MIAA titles this year — including five individual championships.
The 2025 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete became the first MIAA women’s runner to win the 60-, 200- and 400-meter titles in the same indoor season.
Schermerhorn is Hope’s fifth Academic All-America® selections during the 2024-25 academic year, joining Colin Kalkman (men’s swimming and diving), Lauren Lee (women’s volleyball), Addie VanderWeide (women’s volleyball), and Laurel Wasiniak (women’s swimming and diving).
College Sports Communicators is a 4,400-plus member national association for strategic, creative and digital communicators in intercollegiate athletics across the United States and Canada. The organization was known as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) from its founding in 1957 until a name change in 2022.
The Division III Academic All-America® program is financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure to assist CSC with awards fulfillment for the 2024-25 cycle.
Hope College
Hope College sprinter Sara Schermerhorn continues to excel both on the track and in the classroom.
The exercise science major has been named to the 2024-25 Academic All-America® Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country Teams, as selected by College Sports Communicators.
A native of Traverse City, Michigan, Schermerhorn is one of 16 third-team selections and one of 45 total honorees at the NCAA Division III level this year.
Schermerhorn joins Ana Tucker (2022-23), Chelsea Miskelley (2020), Sheri McCormick (2014), Nora Kuiper (2009), and Tauna Jecmen (1988-89) as Hope women’s track and field student-athletes to earn Academic All-America® honors.
This season, Schermerhorn was a four-time All-American, earning honors in the 200- and 400-meter events at both the NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Championships. She also received seven all-region honors: indoor 60 meters, outdoor 100 meters, indoor and outdoor 200 meters, indoor 400 meters, and indoor and outdoor 4x400 relays.
A graduate of Traverse City West High School, Schermerhorn captured seven MIAA titles this year — including five individual championships.
The 2025 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete became the first MIAA women’s runner to win the 60-, 200- and 400-meter titles in the same indoor season.
Schermerhorn is Hope’s fifth Academic All-America® selections during the 2024-25 academic year, joining Colin Kalkman (men’s swimming and diving), Lauren Lee (women’s volleyball), Addie VanderWeide (women’s volleyball), and Laurel Wasiniak (women’s swimming and diving).
College Sports Communicators is a 4,400-plus member national association for strategic, creative and digital communicators in intercollegiate athletics across the United States and Canada. The organization was known as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) from its founding in 1957 until a name change in 2022.
The Division III Academic All-America® program is financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure to assist CSC with awards fulfillment for the 2024-25 cycle.
Hope Leads NCAA Division III in Basketball, Volleyball Attendance – Again
By Alan Babbitt
Hope College
Hope College fans supported the Flying Dutchmen and Flying Dutch at an elite level during the 2024-25 academic year, ranking first in home attendance in three sports and the top three in two more.
Hope led the nation in home attendance in men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball, tied for second in men’s soccer and placed fourth in women’s soccer.
In men’s basketball, Hope topped Division III in both average attendance at 1,622 and total attendance at 19,462 over 12 games. Illinois Wesleyan University finished second in average attendance at 1,409.
It is the 26th time the Flying Dutchmen have led the nation in home basketball attendance. Hope also led Division III in home men’s basketball attendance in 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14, 2012-13, 2011-12, 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05, 2003-04, 2002-03, 1998-99, 1995-96, 1990-91 and 1983-84.
In women’s basketball, Hope ranked first in Division III in average attendance at 1,183 and second in total attendance at 15,377 over 13 games. Illinois Wesleyan University was runner-up in average attendance at 1,086.
The Flying Dutch topped Division III in home attendance for the 18th time overall. They joined national attendance-leading Hope teams from 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14, 2012-13, 2011-12, 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09, 2005-06 and 1989-90.
In volleyball, Hope topped the nation in average and total attendance for the second consecutive season, averaging 793 and totaling 13,477 fans over 17 games. Anna Maria College (Massachusetts) was second in average attendance at 684.
It is the fourth time the Flying Dutch have led Division III in home attendance, following 2023-24, 2014-15 and 2013-14.
In men’s soccer, Hope tied for second in Division III in average attendance at 596 and ranked fourth in total attendance at 5,367. Calvin University finished first in average attendance at 623.
In women’s soccer, Hope ranked third in Division III in average attendance at 370 and 14th in total attendance at 3,330. Messiah University (Pennsylvania) was first in average attendance at 459.
Hope College
Hope College fans supported the Flying Dutchmen and Flying Dutch at an elite level during the 2024-25 academic year, ranking first in home attendance in three sports and the top three in two more.
Hope led the nation in home attendance in men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball, tied for second in men’s soccer and placed fourth in women’s soccer.
In men’s basketball, Hope topped Division III in both average attendance at 1,622 and total attendance at 19,462 over 12 games. Illinois Wesleyan University finished second in average attendance at 1,409.
It is the 26th time the Flying Dutchmen have led the nation in home basketball attendance. Hope also led Division III in home men’s basketball attendance in 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14, 2012-13, 2011-12, 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05, 2003-04, 2002-03, 1998-99, 1995-96, 1990-91 and 1983-84.
In women’s basketball, Hope ranked first in Division III in average attendance at 1,183 and second in total attendance at 15,377 over 13 games. Illinois Wesleyan University was runner-up in average attendance at 1,086.
The Flying Dutch topped Division III in home attendance for the 18th time overall. They joined national attendance-leading Hope teams from 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14, 2012-13, 2011-12, 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09, 2005-06 and 1989-90.
In volleyball, Hope topped the nation in average and total attendance for the second consecutive season, averaging 793 and totaling 13,477 fans over 17 games. Anna Maria College (Massachusetts) was second in average attendance at 684.
It is the fourth time the Flying Dutch have led Division III in home attendance, following 2023-24, 2014-15 and 2013-14.
In men’s soccer, Hope tied for second in Division III in average attendance at 596 and ranked fourth in total attendance at 5,367. Calvin University finished first in average attendance at 623.
In women’s soccer, Hope ranked third in Division III in average attendance at 370 and 14th in total attendance at 3,330. Messiah University (Pennsylvania) was first in average attendance at 459.
First Hope Women’s Golf Coach Passes Away
By Alan Babbitt
Hope College
Mary Jane Holman, Hope College’s first women’s golf coach and a four-time MIAA champion, passed away July 16 at the age of 91.
On the links, Holman coached the Flying Dutch for seven seasons, beginning in 1991. The Flying Dutch won the first three women’s golf championships in league history and claimed a fourth crown under her direction in 1996.
Holman coached the first All-American in program history and 26 All-MIAA golfers, including four MIAA Most Valuable Golfers: Lisa Stover (1991-1993) and Ellen Colenbrander (1996). Stover earned All-America honors at the 1994 NCAA Division III Championships by tying for fifth in a field of 29 golfers.
Holman also served the college in numerous other roles.
In 1973, Holman joined the staff as the secretary for the department of kinesiology. The native of Hastings subsequently became the athletic ticket manager. When the Dow Center opened in 1978, Holman became the building’s office manager and facilities coordinator and held that role for 25 years.
In 1988, Holman succeeded faculty member Dr. George Kraft as the Dow Center director when he assumed additional responsibilities as chair of the department of kinesiology. In 1994, she became the director of the DeWitt Tennis Center when it opened.
“Jane has just had a tremendous capacity to do work, to do a volume of work and to do it well,” Kraft said in a 1998 Hope College story about Holman’s retirement. “She just is an incredibly able person. She’s doing so many things that it’s just unbelievable. In a sense, it’s taking five people to replace her.”
Holman was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Jim Petersen, and is survived by her husband, Paul Holman; sons, Frank (Liz) Petersen and Carl (Patti) Petersen; grandchildren, Stephanie (Jamey) Forkins, Courtney (Ben) Glaze, Mitchell Petersen and Jayden (Rebecca) Petersen.
In accordance with Holman’s wishes, no formal services were held. In Holman’s memory, contributions can be made to Barry Community Hospice in Hastings, Hospice of Michigan, or Serenity Village in Hastings.
Hope College
Mary Jane Holman, Hope College’s first women’s golf coach and a four-time MIAA champion, passed away July 16 at the age of 91.
On the links, Holman coached the Flying Dutch for seven seasons, beginning in 1991. The Flying Dutch won the first three women’s golf championships in league history and claimed a fourth crown under her direction in 1996.
Holman coached the first All-American in program history and 26 All-MIAA golfers, including four MIAA Most Valuable Golfers: Lisa Stover (1991-1993) and Ellen Colenbrander (1996). Stover earned All-America honors at the 1994 NCAA Division III Championships by tying for fifth in a field of 29 golfers.
Holman also served the college in numerous other roles.
In 1973, Holman joined the staff as the secretary for the department of kinesiology. The native of Hastings subsequently became the athletic ticket manager. When the Dow Center opened in 1978, Holman became the building’s office manager and facilities coordinator and held that role for 25 years.
In 1988, Holman succeeded faculty member Dr. George Kraft as the Dow Center director when he assumed additional responsibilities as chair of the department of kinesiology. In 1994, she became the director of the DeWitt Tennis Center when it opened.
“Jane has just had a tremendous capacity to do work, to do a volume of work and to do it well,” Kraft said in a 1998 Hope College story about Holman’s retirement. “She just is an incredibly able person. She’s doing so many things that it’s just unbelievable. In a sense, it’s taking five people to replace her.”
Holman was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Jim Petersen, and is survived by her husband, Paul Holman; sons, Frank (Liz) Petersen and Carl (Patti) Petersen; grandchildren, Stephanie (Jamey) Forkins, Courtney (Ben) Glaze, Mitchell Petersen and Jayden (Rebecca) Petersen.
In accordance with Holman’s wishes, no formal services were held. In Holman’s memory, contributions can be made to Barry Community Hospice in Hastings, Hospice of Michigan, or Serenity Village in Hastings.
