Zeeland West halfback Brandon Holman (6) heads for the end zone during a
Division 3 playoff game against St. Joseph last season. Preseason
practice for the Dux and all other high school athletic programs in the
state began this week.
File photo/Angela Howe Creations
By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
An earlier start to competition for fall golf and tennis teams and new format for early-round playoff seeding in 11-player football are among the most notable changes as more than 100,000 high school athletes from Michigan High School Athletic Association member high schools began practices this week.
Girls golf and boys tennis teams in the Lower Peninsula and girls tennis teams in the Upper Peninsula this fall may begin play Friday after three separate days of practice, which is a day sooner than past seasons. Cross country, field hockey, boys soccer, girls volleyball and Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving teams may begin competing Aug. 19, and the first varsity football games may be played Aug. 27.
The 11-Player Football Playoffs will begin Oct. 30 and 31 with a new seeding system. Beginning this season, the playoff field in each of eight 11-player divisions will first be organized into eight-team regionals. The eight teams in each regional will then be seeded based on playoff-point average, with seeds 1, 4, 5 and 8 comprising one district and seeds 2, 3, 6 and 7 comprising the other. The winners of those districts will play in the regional final.
Another golf change also relates to postseason play, as golfers must now play in at least eight dates of a school team’s competition schedule to be eligible for the MHSAA Tournament. If a school’s varsity team plays fewer than 16 regular-season dates of competition, a student must instead participate in at least 50 percent of the varsity’s regular-season dates to be eligible for the postseason.
Field hockey will begin its second season of MHSAA sponsorship with the addition of a 10-minute reduced-player overtime for all regular-season varsity games. Unless part of a regular-season bracketed tournament, a game still tied at the end of the 10-minute overtime will be declared a tie.
A few game-action rules changes also will be quickly noticeable to participants and spectators.
High school volleyball teams now are permitted to designate up to two liberos prior to each set, although only one libero can be in the game at a time.
Also in volleyball, players on the serving team are forbidden to raise their hands above their heads during service until the ball has passed beyond the net.
In football, a rule formerly applied to defensive players prohibiting them from using their hands to slap an opponent’s head has been expanded to penalize players on both sides of the ball for slapping an opponent’s head.
In soccer, goalkeepers will be allowed eight seconds instead of the previously-permitted six before releasing the ball. A corner kick will be awarded if the goalkeeper holds the ball past eight seconds.
Also in soccer, a change on penalty kicks states encroachment will be penalized only if the offense has a clear impact on the penalty kick.
The 2026 fall campaign culminates with postseason tournaments beginning with the Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals during the week of Sept. 28 and wrapping up with the 11-Player Football Finals on Nov. 27 and 28. Here is a complete list of fall tournament dates:
Cross Country
U.P. Finals – Oct. 24
L.P. Regionals – Oct. 30-31
L.P. Finals – Nov. 7
—————
Field Hockey
Regionals – Oct. 14-26
Semifinals – Oct. 28
Final – Oct. 31
—————
11-Player Football
Selection Sunday – Oct. 25
District Semifinals – Oct. 30-31
District Finals – Nov. 6-7
Regional Finals – Nov. 13-14
Semifinals – Nov. 21
Finals – Nov. 27-28
—————
8-Player Football
Selection Sunday – Oct. 25
Regional Semifinals – Oct. 30-31
Regional Finals – Nov. 6-7
Semifinals – Nov. 14
Finals – Nov. 21
—————
L.P. Girls Golf
Regionals – Oct. 5-10
Finals – Oct. 16-17
—————
Boys Soccer
Districts – Oct. 14-24
Regionals – Oct. 27-31
Semifinals – Nov. 4
Finals – Nov. 7
—————
L.P. Girls Swimming & Diving
Diving Regionals – Nov. 12
Swimming/Diving Finals – Nov. 20-21
—————
Tennis
U.P. Girls Finals – Sept. 30-Oct. 3
L.P. Boys Regionals – Oct. 7-10
L.P. Boys Finals – Oct. 14-15 (Division 1), Oct. 16-17 (Division 3), Oct 21-22 (Division 4), and Oct. 23-24 (Division 2)
—————
Girls Volleyball
Districts – Nov. 2-7
Regionals – Nov. 10 & 12
Quarterfinals – Nov. 17
Semifinals – Nov. 19-20
Finals – Nov. 21
MHSAA.com senior editor
An earlier start to competition for fall golf and tennis teams and new format for early-round playoff seeding in 11-player football are among the most notable changes as more than 100,000 high school athletes from Michigan High School Athletic Association member high schools began practices this week.
Girls golf and boys tennis teams in the Lower Peninsula and girls tennis teams in the Upper Peninsula this fall may begin play Friday after three separate days of practice, which is a day sooner than past seasons. Cross country, field hockey, boys soccer, girls volleyball and Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving teams may begin competing Aug. 19, and the first varsity football games may be played Aug. 27.
The 11-Player Football Playoffs will begin Oct. 30 and 31 with a new seeding system. Beginning this season, the playoff field in each of eight 11-player divisions will first be organized into eight-team regionals. The eight teams in each regional will then be seeded based on playoff-point average, with seeds 1, 4, 5 and 8 comprising one district and seeds 2, 3, 6 and 7 comprising the other. The winners of those districts will play in the regional final.
Another golf change also relates to postseason play, as golfers must now play in at least eight dates of a school team’s competition schedule to be eligible for the MHSAA Tournament. If a school’s varsity team plays fewer than 16 regular-season dates of competition, a student must instead participate in at least 50 percent of the varsity’s regular-season dates to be eligible for the postseason.
Field hockey will begin its second season of MHSAA sponsorship with the addition of a 10-minute reduced-player overtime for all regular-season varsity games. Unless part of a regular-season bracketed tournament, a game still tied at the end of the 10-minute overtime will be declared a tie.
A few game-action rules changes also will be quickly noticeable to participants and spectators.
High school volleyball teams now are permitted to designate up to two liberos prior to each set, although only one libero can be in the game at a time.
Also in volleyball, players on the serving team are forbidden to raise their hands above their heads during service until the ball has passed beyond the net.
In football, a rule formerly applied to defensive players prohibiting them from using their hands to slap an opponent’s head has been expanded to penalize players on both sides of the ball for slapping an opponent’s head.
In soccer, goalkeepers will be allowed eight seconds instead of the previously-permitted six before releasing the ball. A corner kick will be awarded if the goalkeeper holds the ball past eight seconds.
Also in soccer, a change on penalty kicks states encroachment will be penalized only if the offense has a clear impact on the penalty kick.
The 2026 fall campaign culminates with postseason tournaments beginning with the Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals during the week of Sept. 28 and wrapping up with the 11-Player Football Finals on Nov. 27 and 28. Here is a complete list of fall tournament dates:
Cross Country
U.P. Finals – Oct. 24
L.P. Regionals – Oct. 30-31
L.P. Finals – Nov. 7
—————
Field Hockey
Regionals – Oct. 14-26
Semifinals – Oct. 28
Final – Oct. 31
—————
11-Player Football
Selection Sunday – Oct. 25
District Semifinals – Oct. 30-31
District Finals – Nov. 6-7
Regional Finals – Nov. 13-14
Semifinals – Nov. 21
Finals – Nov. 27-28
—————
8-Player Football
Selection Sunday – Oct. 25
Regional Semifinals – Oct. 30-31
Regional Finals – Nov. 6-7
Semifinals – Nov. 14
Finals – Nov. 21
—————
L.P. Girls Golf
Regionals – Oct. 5-10
Finals – Oct. 16-17
—————
Boys Soccer
Districts – Oct. 14-24
Regionals – Oct. 27-31
Semifinals – Nov. 4
Finals – Nov. 7
—————
L.P. Girls Swimming & Diving
Diving Regionals – Nov. 12
Swimming/Diving Finals – Nov. 20-21
—————
Tennis
U.P. Girls Finals – Sept. 30-Oct. 3
L.P. Boys Regionals – Oct. 7-10
L.P. Boys Finals – Oct. 14-15 (Division 1), Oct. 16-17 (Division 3), Oct 21-22 (Division 4), and Oct. 23-24 (Division 2)
—————
Girls Volleyball
Districts – Nov. 2-7
Regionals – Nov. 10 & 12
Quarterfinals – Nov. 17
Semifinals – Nov. 19-20
Finals – Nov. 21
Spokes Fighting Strokes Event Saturday
TerraTrike will celebrate its 30th anniversary by partnering with Spokes Fighting Strokes for a day of adaptive cycling, community, and outdoor recreation on Saturday at Connor Bayou County Park near Grand Haven.
The free event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is open to the public and will feature adaptive cycling clinics, recumbent trike demonstrations, a food truck, and group rides with route options for riders of all abilities and experience levels.
Proceeds and donations from the event will support Spokes Fighting Strokes and its mission of helping stroke survivors and individuals with disabilities regain strength, confidence, independence, and hope through adaptive cycling.
Spokes Fighting Strokes travels throughout the country with a fleet of adaptive cycles, introducing people to the life-changing benefits of cycling after stroke, brain injury, and other physical challenges. Their mission is to increase awareness of stroke and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) while making adaptive cycling more accessible to communities nationwide.
Founded in 1996 in Hastings, TerraTrike has spent the past 30 years helping people rediscover the joy of riding through comfortable, stable recumbent trikes. Today, parent company WizWheelz, Inc. designs, markets, warehouses, distributes, and services TerraTrike products from its headquarters in Grand Rapids.
“Michigan has invested in one of the nation's best trail systems, and we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy it,” said Mark Crews, chief executive officer of WizWheelz. “Whether someone is looking for a comfortable way to stay active, returning to cycling after years away, or overcoming physical challenges, this event celebrates the freedom that cycling can provide while supporting an organization doing incredible work to change lives.”
The free event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is open to the public and will feature adaptive cycling clinics, recumbent trike demonstrations, a food truck, and group rides with route options for riders of all abilities and experience levels.
Proceeds and donations from the event will support Spokes Fighting Strokes and its mission of helping stroke survivors and individuals with disabilities regain strength, confidence, independence, and hope through adaptive cycling.
Spokes Fighting Strokes travels throughout the country with a fleet of adaptive cycles, introducing people to the life-changing benefits of cycling after stroke, brain injury, and other physical challenges. Their mission is to increase awareness of stroke and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) while making adaptive cycling more accessible to communities nationwide.
Founded in 1996 in Hastings, TerraTrike has spent the past 30 years helping people rediscover the joy of riding through comfortable, stable recumbent trikes. Today, parent company WizWheelz, Inc. designs, markets, warehouses, distributes, and services TerraTrike products from its headquarters in Grand Rapids.
“Michigan has invested in one of the nation's best trail systems, and we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy it,” said Mark Crews, chief executive officer of WizWheelz. “Whether someone is looking for a comfortable way to stay active, returning to cycling after years away, or overcoming physical challenges, this event celebrates the freedom that cycling can provide while supporting an organization doing incredible work to change lives.”
Local Student-Athletes Named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Ten student-athletes from Zeeland were recently named to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll for the 2025-26 season.
The award is presented annually to student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average while lettering in an MIAA-sponsored sport. The Academic Honor Roll program is administered by faculty representatives of the nine MIAA member colleges.
Four of the ten honorees are from Hope College, while three student-athletes are from Calvin University. Adrian College, Albion College and Trine University had one local honoree apiece.
Here are the following honorees:
• Alec Winegar, Adrian, men’s lacrosse, a senior from Zeeland East High School
• Carter Thoreson, Albion, men’s lacrosse, a freshman from Zeeland West High School
• Caden Guffey, Calvin, men’s lacrosse/indoor & outdoor track & field, a freshman from Zeeland East
• Alyssa Gerritsma, Calvin, women’s cross country, a junior from Holland Christian High School
• Aidan Delcalzo, Calvin, men’s lacrosse, a senior from Holland Christian
• Landon Bergsma, Hope, men’s golf, a freshman from Holland Christian
• Brecken Overweg, Hope, men’s lacrosse, a sophomore from Zeeland East
• Ainsley Harris, Hope, women’s soccer, a senior from Holland Christian
• Riley Gruppen, Hope, women’s indoor & outdoor track & field, a senior from Zeeland East
• Rylee Smith, Trine, women’s golf, a junior from Zeeland West
The MIAA recognized a record-breaking 2,079 student-athletes on the 2025-26 Academic Honor Roll, marking the first time in conference history that more than 2,000 student-athletes have earned the distinction.
The total surpasses the previous record of 1,970 honorees set during the 2024-25 academic year and marks the seventh-consecutive year that more than 1,500 MIAA student-athletes have been recognized for their academic achievement.
Zeeland Record
Ten student-athletes from Zeeland were recently named to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll for the 2025-26 season.
The award is presented annually to student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average while lettering in an MIAA-sponsored sport. The Academic Honor Roll program is administered by faculty representatives of the nine MIAA member colleges.
Four of the ten honorees are from Hope College, while three student-athletes are from Calvin University. Adrian College, Albion College and Trine University had one local honoree apiece.
Here are the following honorees:
• Alec Winegar, Adrian, men’s lacrosse, a senior from Zeeland East High School
• Carter Thoreson, Albion, men’s lacrosse, a freshman from Zeeland West High School
• Caden Guffey, Calvin, men’s lacrosse/indoor & outdoor track & field, a freshman from Zeeland East
• Alyssa Gerritsma, Calvin, women’s cross country, a junior from Holland Christian High School
• Aidan Delcalzo, Calvin, men’s lacrosse, a senior from Holland Christian
• Landon Bergsma, Hope, men’s golf, a freshman from Holland Christian
• Brecken Overweg, Hope, men’s lacrosse, a sophomore from Zeeland East
• Ainsley Harris, Hope, women’s soccer, a senior from Holland Christian
• Riley Gruppen, Hope, women’s indoor & outdoor track & field, a senior from Zeeland East
• Rylee Smith, Trine, women’s golf, a junior from Zeeland West
The MIAA recognized a record-breaking 2,079 student-athletes on the 2025-26 Academic Honor Roll, marking the first time in conference history that more than 2,000 student-athletes have earned the distinction.
The total surpasses the previous record of 1,970 honorees set during the 2024-25 academic year and marks the seventh-consecutive year that more than 1,500 MIAA student-athletes have been recognized for their academic achievement.
