Dave Schlump (left), of Cedar Springs, receiving the 2016 BCAM Men’s Junior College Coach of the Year award.

The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) recently named Dave Schlump, of Cedar Springs, as the 2016 BCAM Men’s Junior College Coach of the Year. The prestigious award comes after the Muskegon Community College (MCC) men’s basketball team, where Schlump serves as head coach, ended their 2015-16 season, with an overall record of 24-7 and a 2^nd place finish in the MCC Athletic Association Western Conference.

The MCC Jayhawks were ranked 8^th in the nation in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJAA) DII final poll, after starting the season unranked. They were the Region 12 District 9 tournament runner-up, losing a hard fought battle 87-90 to Lansing Community College in the finals. Four of Coach Schlump’s players earned All-Conference honors, with another being named to the All-Defensive Team.

According to MCC, Schlump started his coaching career at Evart High School and Kent City High School. In 1991, he accepted the position of Varsity Basketball Coach at Cedar Springs High School (CSHS). Cedar Springs had suffered through a 30 game losing streak spanning over the two previous seasons. During his first season he, along with his coaching staff and the athletes, were immediately able to halt the losing streak. From there he began to build the foundation for a successful high school basketball program.

“Throughout my 14 seasons at Cedar Springs, I was fortunate to coach many outstanding basketball players, and more importantly, outstanding young men,” remarked Coach Schlump. “I have been pleased to send many of these players to the college level to continue their educational and playing careers.”

At the conclusion of the 2003-2004 season, Schlump felt he was ready for the next challenge in his coaching career. He pursued an Assistant Coach position at Ferris State University (FSU), where he had previously earned his Bachelor’s Degree. While at FSU he helped the program achieve success in the GLIAC. During his time there, the Bulldogs won a Conference Championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 nationally. While at Ferris he gained valuable experience with the overall operation of a college basketball program. This experience includes recruiting and prospective player evaluations, along with day-to-day practice organization and individual skill development.

Coach Schlump retired from Cedar Springs Public Schools, but still lives in the community with his wife of 30 years, Teresea. They have three children: Josh, Elyse, who is an assistant women’s basketball coach at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, and Dan.

MCC Athletic Director Marty McDermott was quick to congratulate Schlump and said, “Dave has been a tremendous advocate for basketball at all levels throughout his career and continues to help student-athletes reach their basketball and career goals.”

When asked what this award means to Schlump, he humbly replied, “This means a lot coming from fellow coaches. It all stems from having great players and assistant coaches.” Currently, Jimmy Booth, a 2004 CSHS graduate, serves as both Schlump’s Assistant Coach and an Assistant Athletic Director.

Gary Bailey, of Cedar Springs, and head coach of the Grace Bible College Tigers mens basketball team, was named Regional Coach of the Year.

The Grace Bible Tigers won their regional championship and will play in the national tournament this week. They are coached by Cedar Springs resident Gary Bailey, (second from left.) CTA principal Dan George (second from right) is an assistant coach at Grace.

Gary Bailey, Cedar Springs resident and head coach of the Grace Bible College Tigers men’s basketball team, was awarded his second consecutive NCCAA DII Midwest Regional Coach of the Year honor last weekend.

This is the sixth time Coach Bailey has received the award in his 10-year collegiate coaching career. He has led the Tigers to a 19-13 record so far this season, including a Regional Championship Title and an appearance to the upcoming NCCAA National Tournament on March 12-14.

The Tigers clinched their regional championship last weekend, when they defeated Maranatha Baptist University 80-65. The win earned the Tigers a guaranteed bid to the NCCAA DII National Tournament held in Circleville, OH at Ohio Christian University.

Cedar Springs Varsity Football Coach August (Gus) Kapolka was recently named Coach of the Year in Region 6 by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.

Coach August (Gus) Kapolka with his Coach of the year award.

He received the award in Lansing on January 16.

“It is my privilege to announce that your Head Football Coach, August (Gus) Kapolka, was named 2014 Regional Coach of the year (Region 6) by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA),” wrote Kelly Luplow, president of the MHSFCA, in a news release. “The efforts of your coach, his staff, and team have brought a great amount of pride to your school and community. We know that to reach this level of excellence requires numerous hours of work throughout the year.”

Region 6 covers all the teams in the Ottawa-Kent Conference.

This is the first time Coach Kapolka has been named Regional Coach of the year, and he was humbled by the honor. “I’m very appreciative to the members of my coaching staff and our players for allowing me to receive this recognition. It’s always gratifying to receive recognition individually, but the award is due to the hard work of everyone involved in our program. Hopefully we can continue the success we had on the field this year, and bring more accolades to Red Hawk Football.”

IN 2014, Kapolka led the Red Hawks to their first conference championship since 1978, when they shared it with Sparta. This year the Red Hawks went 9-2, winning their first playoff game at Red Hawk Stadium, and finally losing to the Muskegon Big Reds, who went on to the state final championship. Kapolka was named Coach of the Week early in the season by the Detroit Lions.

Kapolka came to Cedar Springs in 2013, after being head Varsity coach in Manistee from 2004 to 2012. In his first season there, he coached the Chippewas to a 4-5 record, breaking their 32-game losing streak, and was also named 2004 Class B Associated Press Special Mention Coach of the Year. In 2007 he coached the Chippewas to their second MHSAA state play-off appearance in school history with a 6-4 record. He continued to make school history in 2011 & 2012 when the Chippewas qualified for the MHSAA playoffs in back-to-back seasons. He also spent four years as an assistant at Boyne City and four years as an assistant at Warren Lincoln. 

Congratulations Coach Kapolka!

Ingles named Coach of the Year

The Cedar Springs Competitive Cheer team hosted the MHSAA’s Division 2 District Competition last Saturday, February 18, where they walked away as the District Champs. The Lady Red Hawks faced fierce competition, as all teams came prepared to win. However, it was the Red Hawks that rose above the rest.

After Round 1, in which precision is key and jumps are crucial, the Cedar Springs Red Hawks, Byron Center Bull Dogs, Grand Rapids Christian Eagles and Kenowa Hills Knights were all one point from each other, with Byron Center in first, Grand Rapids Christian second, Kenowa Hills in third and Cedar Springs fourth.  The Lady Red Hawks came out in the second round with determination and focus, pulling ahead of the rest of the competition with an 8-point lead, while also achieving their best round 2 score of the year with 227.4 for a subtotal of 450.3, landing them in first place going into round 3.

In Round 3, the stunting and gymnastics round, the competition was tough, anticipation rising, and it was too close to call from the view of the parents and spectators. It was suspenseful, with everyone wondering who would finish on top.

Fenessa Cotten, a senior on the team for The Red Hawks said, “I believe that during this past week, the team really pulled together and was extra excited about districts because we were hosting it. During the week, coach had us watch some inspirational videos at practice. Once we were on the mat for round one, I was thinking that I didn’t want it to be the last time to be performing our rounds together as a team. So I put my heart and soul into every round and gave it everything I could. I kept thinking to myself, ‘if I want to succeed, I need to want it more than I can breathe’ (it’s from one of the videos coach had us watch). Also, everyone was helping to get each other pumped up! Which helped a bunch!”

The Lady Red Hawks hit all their marks and now all they could do was wait for the scores. Senior Kelli Markosky, was excited to say, “Winning the title of district champs was something I didn’t even think about going into that competition, but after our round three, I knew we had given it our very best, and to hear our name called as District Champs my senior year is a memory I will cherish the rest of my life.”

The Lady Red Hawks’ score of 316.3 for the third round was a new school record for the Lady Red Hawks for round 3 and they scored 766.6 to take first place overall. The Kenowa Hills Knights took second with a final score of 746.6, Byron Center Bull Dogs placed third and the Grand Rapids Christian Eagles took fourth. All four move on to regionals, which will be held on February 25 at Grand Rapids Christian High School.

Coach Pam Ingles commented, “I’m so proud of all of the girls pulling together and working as a team. Their talent and drive came shining through at a pivotal point in our season. I can’t wait to see what we will continue to do this week at regionals on Saturday.”

Congratulations also go out to Coach Pam Ingles for being awarded Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan’s “Coach of the Year for 2012” for our district.