Best Returners & Biggest Shoes to Fill for every OK-Blue team
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The 2021 season is long over and with that, we can start looking at the upcoming 2022 season. Every team in the OK-Blue had great seniors who played a major role in the team’s success, while they all have athletes…
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Continue ReadingThe 2021 season is long over and with that, we can start looking at the upcoming 2022 season. Every team in the OK-Blue had great seniors who played a major role in the team’s success, while they all have athletes who will step up this coming season. Now, I’ll go over each team’s biggest shoes to fill, as well as their best returners.
Unity Christian
Biggest Shoes – Everyone
Best Returner – DE Mitchell Sparpana Mitchell Sparpana 6'2" | 175 lbs | LB Unity Christian | 2024 MI
The Crusaders are coming off a season where many MHSAA single-season records were broken, including most points scored in a single season. This dominance came with a starting 11 full of seniors on both sides of the ball. Unity Christian had a dynamic duo at QB and RB with Cameron Chandler and Drew Chandler, with a great offensive line, and receivers. Defensively, this unit was amazing. Led by MLB Ryan Shinabery, the Unity Christian defense was incredible. With all that being said, anyone looking on the surface would assume Unity Chrisitan would take a huge step back this coming season, though, from their recent success and amazing coaching, I still expect them to win the OK-Blue until other teams can prove themselves. As for their best returner, Michell Sparpana played mostly JV snaps last season, though he’s got some buzz about being a great defensive player who can do big things for Unity Chrisitan.
West Catholic
Biggest Shoes – Offensive Tackle ( Kyle Kloska Kyle Kloska 6'2" | 295 lbs | OL Grand Rapids West Catholic | 2022 MI )
Best Returner – RB Timmy Kloska Timmy Kloska 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Grand Rapids West Catholic | 2023 State MI
West Catholic has been good, but not incredible in recent seasons. What used to be a yearly state-championship contender has seemed to hit a bit of a cold spell, and 2022 will be very telling as for where West Catholic is headed in the future. Kyle Kloska Kyle Kloska 6'2" | 295 lbs | OL Grand Rapids West Catholic | 2022 MI , a Saginaw Valley commit, will be sorely missed on that offensive line, as he was easily the best lineman in the OK-Blue. Of course, Tim Kloksa broke records with a ton of help from his brother Kyle, so I am very interested to see If Timmy can repeat his incredible success (though I KNOW he’s been putting in the offseason work). All in all, West Catholic has some big areas to reload such as Tackle and Quarterback, but they have some great talent in Timmy Kloska Timmy Kloska 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Grand Rapids West Catholic | 2023 State MI , Chaz Vida Chaz Vida 5'11" | 150 lbs | WR West Catholic | 2024 MI , Joseph Debski, and others.
Spring Lake
Biggest Shoes – Linebacker (Ty French)
Best Returner – RB Alex Lee
Spring Lake is one of those teams that seems to improve every single year. They’ve been on the up and up seemingly ever since the hire of Head Coach Dan Start. It was a bit of an up-and-down year for this program, but they had a knack for playing extremely well in the first half then falling apart in the 2nd half. They’ve demonstrated the capability of competing against teams like West Catholic and Unity Christian, but they just need to finish. Ty French was a huge piece of the defense last season and he will be sorely missed. Alex Lee played very well and he played with emotion whenever I saw him, and he’s going to be a key piece for that Spring Lake offense. I am very interested to see how his team progresses into 2022.
Coopersville
Biggest Shoes – Defensive End (Tim Allen)
Best Returner – QB Beau Harris
Coopersville was a very intriguing team in 2021. They began the season red-hot at 5-0 then went on to lose huge league games against West Catholic (28-24), Spring Lake (27-20), and Unity Christian (69-7), while still sliding into the playoffs where they were defeated by Cedar Springs 45-6. I watched their week 5 matchup against Allendale, and this was where Coopersville was at its definite peak. Tim Allen (Ferris St. Commit) was incredible, as Allendale absolutely refused to run anything to his side, while Beau Harris played a very solid game and impressed me. Nobody will be able to play up to what Tim Allen was able to do, so I’m interested to see how that defense is going to change.
Fruitport
Biggest Shoes – QB ( Gavin Reames Gavin Reames 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Fruitport | 2022 MI )
Best Returner – G Richard Wiggins IV Richard Wiggins IV 5'8" | 225 lbs | DL Fruitport | 2024 State MI
The most fun I had all season was when I watched Fruitport face Cadillac during week 2. It was an exciting game, an energetic student section, a great small-town feel, Cadillac’s coaches screaming, with some friendly, very outgoing people on the sidelines ready to chat. This game was one where both Reames and Wiggins really stood out to me. Reames has a cannon of an arm and is a real gunslinger who earned All-state honors his junior season, while Wiggins will be one of the best linemen in the OK-Blue during 2022. I hope that Wiggins can lead an offensive line that was as a whole lackluster in 2021 and really protect whoever is under center.
Allendale
Biggest Shoes – DT (Domenico Tejeda)
Best Returner – DE/TE Jace Walker Jace Walker 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH Allendale | 2024 MI
Allendale is in an interesting spot with lots of 2024 talent in addition to a good amount of graduating seniors. Domenico Tejeda on the defensive line was a big bright spot on the otherwise lackluster Allendale defense, while Jacke Walker provides a similar spark to the team that I feel they need.
Holland Christian
Biggest Shoes – WR (Julius Dykhuis)
Best Returner – QB Reeves Taylor Reeves Taylor 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Dexter | 2023 MI
I don’t know why Holland Chrisitan isn’t able to get it together. With one of the best quarterbacks in the state alongside a ton of offensive talent with some defensive potential, Holland Christian is bound to have a few great games. Dykhuis was a great versatile weapon, while Reeves Taylor Reeves Taylor 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Dexter | 2023 MI is able to make some incredible throws. I’m really hoping for an encore season for Reeves Taylor Reeves Taylor 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Dexter | 2023 MI as Holland Christian attempts to turn it around in 2022.
Hamilton
Biggest Shoes – WR (Isiah Emerson)
Best Returner – QB/WR Brant Goodpaster
At the bottom of the OK-Blue standings in 2021 was Hamilton. This team was unable to get much going as they finished 3-6. They lose a great slot player in Isiah Emerson, and they retain a player with lots of potential in Brant Goodpaster. I am looking forward to seeing what Goodpaster is able to accomplish in 2022 as he’s already a great basketball player.