The Ottawa-Kent Conference is an athletic league located in West Michigan. Its current leader is David VanNoord. It has member schools from Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, and Ottawa Counties. It has 48 member schools that partake in athletics. According to the MHSAA they have the main offices located at Grandville High School.
Members
+ List of member of the Ottawa-Kent Conference School Mascot Affiliation Class Enrollment County Division Belding Black Knights Public B 538 Ionia 1995 Silver Byron Center Bulldogs Public A 1324 Kent 1958# White Caledonia Fighting Scots Public A 1431 Kent 1970 Red Comstock Park Panthers Public B 530 Kent 1970 Silver East Grand Rapids Pioneers Public A 909 Kent 1970 White East Kentwood Falcons Public A 2906 Kent 1961 Red Forest Hills Central Rangers Public A 1049 Kent 1960 White Forest Hills Eastern Hawks Public B 801 Kent 2005 Gold Forest Hills Northern Huskies Public A 1142 Kent 1972 White Fruitport Trojans Public B 794 Muskegon 2016 Blue Godwin Heights Wolverines Public B 662 Kent 1967 Silver Grand Rapids Catholic Central Cougars Private B 584 Kent 2008 Gold Grand Rapids Christian Eagles Private B 754 Kent 2008 White Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills Bengals Public A 1132 Kent 2008 Gold Grand Rapids Union Red Hawks Public A 1924 Kent 2008 Green Grand Rapids West Catholic Falcons Private B 484 Kent 2008 Blue Grand Haven Buccaneers Public A 1882 Ottawa 1985 Red Grandville Bulldogs Public A 1752 Kent 1970 Red Grandville Calvin Christian Squires Private C 261 Kent 1975 Silver Hamilton Hawkeyes Public B 764 Allegan 1970 Blue Holland Dutch Public A 930 Ottawa 1985 Green Holland Christian Maroons Private B 674 Ottawa 2003 Blue Holland West Ottawa Panthers Public A 2170 Ottawa 1965 Red Hopkins Vikings Public B 483 Allegan 1994 Silver Hudsonville Eagles Public A 1972 Ottawa 1958# Red Hudsonville Unity Christian Crusaders Private B 662 Ottawa 1995 Blue Jenison Wildcats Public A 1561 Ottawa 1970 Red Kelloggsville Rockets Public B 621 Kent 1958# Silver Middleville Thornapple Kellogg Trojans Public A 936 Kent 1970 Gold Muskegon Big Reds Public A 1130 Muskegon 2003 Green Norton Shores Mona Shores Sailors Public A 1231 Muskegon 1985 Green Muskegon Reeths-Puffer Rockets Public A 1150 Muskegon 2003 Green Northview Wildcats Public A 1053 Kent 1965 White Rockford Rams Public A 2562 Kent 1970 Red South Christian Sailors Private B 659 Kent 1967 Gold Spring Lake Lakers Public B 784 Ottawa 2016 Blue Wayland Wildcats Public B 801 Allegan 1970 Gold Wyoming Wolves Public A 1224 Kent 2012 Green Zeeland East Chix Public A 988 Ottawa 1965 Green Zeeland West Dux Public A 1016 Ottawa 2005 Green Note: The class and population size are from the 2023-24 MHSAA listings. The # next to the year admitted is for founding members.
Classifications As of the 2006-07 school year the conference has put a requirement in writing for which sports they want all schools to have a varsity level program in. Those include Baseball, Basketball (boys & girls), Football, Softball (girls), Track & Field (boys & girls), Volleyball (girls), and Wrestling
They also listed a second group of sports which they want a minimal of two more sports in varsity level. Those include Bowling (boys & girls), Competitive Cheer (girls), Cross Country (boys & girls), Golf (boys & girls), Gymnastics (girls), Ice Hockey, Soccer (boys & girls), Swimming (boys & girls), Tennis (boys & girls), and Water Polo (boys & girls)
Furthermore, for expansion purposes they must have a JV program in the mandatory programs along with adding freshman programs. This has been a change when in 2004 they wanted freshman programs in all of the required programs instead they want to see improvement in the schools to have them form one when participation is high enough to warrant it.
Sports not listed as ones they will offer varsity status for include Lacrosse (boys & girls) and Skiing (boys & girls).
2024-25 Alignment
OK-Gold
South Christian Thornapple Kellogg Holland Wayland Forest Hills Eastern Hamilton Holland Christian Unity Christian OK-Red
East Kentwood Rockford Holland West Ottawa Grand Haven Hudsonville Grandville Caledonia Jenison
OK-Black Kenowa Hills Grand Rapids Northview Muskegon Mona Shores Muskegon Reeths-Puffer Lowell Muskegon Greenville Cedar Springs OK-White
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern Zeeland East Byron Center Zeeland West Wyoming East Grand Rapids Grand Rapids Christian
OK-Blue
Grand Rapids Union Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills Coopersville Fruitport Spring Lake Allendale Grand Rapids Catholic Central West Catholic
OK-Silver
Sparta Hopkins Godwin Heights Kelloggsville Calvin Christian Belding Comstock Park NorthPointe Christian
Past realignments
Every two years, the conference realigns itself due to changes in school sizes as some school districts increase at a large rate while others may stay constant or decline. Along with the changes in school populations, they also hear requests to join the conference. The process is a lengthy one and requires a 75% majority of the member schools to allow any new school in the conference.
The Grand Rapids City League joined the conference for the 2008–2009 season. According to the Grand Rapids Press, the principals approved with a 43 to 1 vote. The league aligned with seven seven divisions and passed by the committee of athletic directors 34 to 10.
The executive board is made up of at least one principal from each division. After that the Executive Council made up all of the principals would ratify changes. The thought process is only do minor alignment change in two years followed by a possible major realignment in fours depending on different factors. The difference would be actual schools added to the conference or change in the number of divisions versus just flip flopping schools around.
According to the GR Press, seven schools voted no on the City League proposal for several different reasons. Two schools, Lowell and Zeeland West did not show up for the meeting and as such no votes were given to them. The other schools include Lee, East Kentwood, Hudsonville, Jenison, and Middleville. The reasons given for their no votes were because of concerns about the possibility that the four Grand Rapids Public Schools might drop their athletic programs, because of the enrollment differential in some divisions and because of the size of some of the divisions. According to past policies of those schools and previous article quotes from those schools it is assumed what schools felt which way. For Jenison, Hudsonville, and Lee it was the enrollment differences along with the size of their division. East Kentwood and probably Middleville were upset with the Athletic Director of the Grand Rapids Public Schools discussing saving money by eliminating two high school ADs after the first two votes of the conference to let them into the conference.
All seven City League schools officially became full members of the OK Conference beginning with the 2008–09 school year.
The Swimming Conferences were realigned for the 2011–2012 school year and consist of only four levels.
In 2019, a new alignment was enacted that took effect with the 2020–2021 school year. The OK Black division was abolished. The proposal was passed by a vote of 35 to 14 (33 votes or higher to pass).
Notable alumni Notable Alumni who have participated athletically in the OK Conference Robert Jackson, former NFL Player Ray Bentley, former NFL Player Kirk Cousins, current NFL Player Mike Dumas, former NFL Player Paul Grasmanis, former NFL Player Kevin Haverdink, former NFL Player Gary Hogeboom, former NFL Player Mike Knuble, NHL Player Mitch Lyons, former NFL Player Jay Riemersma, former NFL Player Steve Scheffler, former NBA Player Joel Smeenge, former NFL Player Joe Staley, former NFL player Matt Steigenga, former NBA Player John Vander Wal, former MLB Player Brent Gates, former MLB Player Loy Vaught, former NBA Player Dathan Ritzenhein, Two Time Olympian in Track and Field Brian Diemer, Bronze Medalist - 1984 Olympics in Track and Field, three time Olympian Luke Jensen, Former professional tennis player who reached a #6 world ranking in doubles. Ron Essink, Former NFL Player Drafted 1980 - Grand Valley wrestling All American. Ryan McDonald, Former NFL Player - All American and Rose Bowl starter with University of Illinois Justin Abdelkader, former NHL player.
State championships Schools that have won MHSAA (unless otherwise noted) state championships while being members of OK Conference.
Baseball Year School Division/Class 2016 Holland Christian 2 2013 Grand Rapids Christian 2 2012 Hudsonville 1 2012 Grand Rapids Christian 2 2011 Rockford 1 2009 East Grand Rapids 2 2003 Holland West Ottawa 1 1996 Calvin Christian B 1994 Calvin Christian C 1976 Wyoming Park B
Boys Basketball Year School Division/Class 2021 Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2 2019 Hudsonville Unity Christian 2 2015 Godwin Heights B 2014 Muskegon A 2005 South Christian B 2003 Rockford A 2003 South Christian B 1994 Calvin Christian C 1988 South Christian B 1984 Hamilton C
Boys Bowling Year School Class/Division 2024 Grandville 1 2017 Lowell 2 2004 Hudsonville A 2004 Hudsonville Unity Christian B
Boys Cross Country Year School Class/Division 2015 Rockford 1 2014 Rockford 1 2014 Grand Rapids Christian 2 2011 Calvin Christian 3 2010 Forest Hills Northern 2 2010 Calvin Christian 3 2002 Rockford 1 2000 Rockford 1 1999 Allendale C 1996 Caledonia B 1978 Godfrey-Lee C 1972 Godfrey-Lee C-D 1971 Godfrey-Lee C-D 1967 Northview B 1961 Wyoming B
Football Year School Division/Class 2012 Grand Rapids Christian 3 2012 Grand Rapids South Christian 4 2010 Grand Rapids West Catholic 5 2010 Grand Rapids Catholic Central 4 2010 East Grand Rapids 3 2009 Lowell 2 2009 East Grand Rapids 3 2008 Rockford 1 2008 Muskegon 2 2008 East Grand Rapids 3 2008 Holland Christian 4 2007 East Grand Rapids 3 2006 Muskegon 2 2006 East Grand Rapids 3 2006 Zeeland West 4 2005 Rockford 1 2005 Caledonia 3 2004 Rockford 1 2004 Muskegon 2 2004 Lowell 3 2003 East Grand Rapids 3 2002 Lowell 2 2002 East Grand Rapids 3 2002 South Christian 4 1997 Belding B 1996 Grandville A 1995 East Grand Rapids BB 1994 Belding B 1993 East Grand Rapids BB 1992 Muskegon Reeths-Puffer A 1984 Wyoming Park B 1983 East Grand Rapids B 1978 Forest Hills Northern C 1976 East Grand Rapids B
Boys Golf Year School Division/Class 2005 Muskegon Mona Shores 1 2005 East Grand Rapids 2 2001 East Kentwood 1 2000 Muskegon Mona Shores 1 1991 Muskegon Mona Shores A 1989 Muskegon Mona Shores A 1989 Calvin Christian C 1988 Grandville A 1988 Comstock Park C 1987 Comstock Park C 1983 Forest Hills Northern C 1976 Grandville A
Ice Hockey Year School Division/Class 2011 Grand Rapids Catholic Central 3 2000 Muskegon Mona Shores 2 1990 East Kentwood A
Boys Lacrosse Year School Class/Division 1999 East Grand Rapids B 2007 East Grand Rapids 2 2020 East Grand Rapids 2
Boys Soccer Year School Division/Class 2011 Northview A 2010 East Kentwood 1 2008 East Kentwood 1 2007 East Kentwood 1 2007 Hudsonville Unity Christian 2 2004 Forest Hills Central 2 2003 Holland Christian 2 1986 Holland Christian B/C
Boys Skiing Year School Class 1999 East Grand Rapids B-C-D 1997 East Grand Rapids B-C-D 1996 Forest Hills Central A
Boys Swimming & Diving Year School Division 2018 Holland Christian 3 2008 East Grand Rapids 3 2007 Holland 2 2004 Holland 1 2001 Rockford 1 1991 Zeeland 2 1990 Zeeland 2 1989 Holland Christian 2 1988 Holland Christian 2 1989 East Kentwood 1 1983 East Kentwood 1 1982 East Grand Rapids 2 1981 East Grand Rapids 2 1980 East Grand Rapids 2 1979 East Grand Rapids 2 1978 East Grand Rapids 2 1977 East Grand Rapids 2 1976 East Grand Rapids 2 1971 Holland West Ottawa 2 1970 Holland West Ottawa 2 1969 Holland West Ottawa 2