Byron Center Savoring Every Day as Program-Best Playoff Run Grows

By Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com

October 23, 2024

BYRON CENTER – Almost every day during the last few weeks, Byron Center boys soccer coach Chad Bays has been asking his players the same thing in an attempt to inspire them.

West Michigan“The postseason is a new experience, and every time after we survive a game I say, ‘Boys, guess what we get to do that other teams don’t?’” Bays said. “And they yell, ‘Practice!’ Because we don’t want this to be our last practice. We try to build that excitement.”

It’s likely that the question was repeated Tuesday night following a thrilling 2-1 win over Grand Haven in a Division 1 Regional Semifinal. A penalty shootout was needed to decide the winner.

This is the farthest a Byron Center boys soccer team has advanced in MHSAA Tournament, and it’s come on the heels of the program’s first Ottawa-Kent Conference Green championship.

“We’re trying to make history, but taking it one game at a time,” Bulldogs senior keeper Luke Philo said before the Regional Semifinal. “We want to go as far as we can with this group. I’m not ready to be done playing soccer with this group of boys.”

A number of factors contributed to this year’s success.

The program made strides last fall under Bays in his first season at the helm after a stint as the junior varsity coach.

Byron Center finished third in the conference in 2023 – its highest finish in league play – and with a young team. 

As this year began, Bays noticed something early on that gave him hope for continued improvement. 

“We had tryouts, and for the first time ever, I had a complete team all make the fitness test requirements,” he said. “They came in fit and they came in ready, which was very exciting because we could just hit the ground running.

“I've just really been happy with the amount of growth I've seen in the guys and the amount of work they’ve put in in the offseason, individually.”

The Bulldogs take a team photo in front of their net.Philo said the team was determined to be in the best condition possible before the season started.

“We were always on the field in the offseason running,” he said. “While travel teams practiced, we were on the outside running. Trying to get to that next level. A lot of the guys were in the gym lifting weights and putting on pounds. Just always running trying to get in shape for the season.”

Byron Center has a strength and conditioning program, Bulldog Power. It has become instrumental in the team’s development.

“A lot of guys got bigger and stronger,” Bays said. “Bulldog Power does a great job, and the guys were really committed. We were young last year with a lot of sophomores, and we were getting pushed off the ball. They committed themselves to not letting that happen this year. Their offseason work has really shown.”

Junior midfielder Kaleb Smith, the team’s leading scorer, said there also were high expectations for this season. And the team delivered with an outright title, losing only one O-K Green game and tying another in back-to-back early-October games.

“We always looked at it as if we treat each game like the state championship, then we will continue our season,” Smith said. “And our goals were set pretty high because we knew that we were good enough, and we wanted it. Everyone puts the effort in on and off the field and just works well together.

“Winning the conference was really fun, and this has been a blast. I love all my teammates because they play their hearts out, and it's awesome to be around that.” 

Team chemistry has been another important aspect. It’s a tight-knit group that has formed a brotherhood. 

“This has been the most fun I've had with soccer in my life for sure,” said Philo, who also was on Byron Center’s Division 2 championship hockey team last winter.

“It’s been a riot, and I love my team. It’s like a family to me, just hanging out with a bunch of my brothers all the time. We love being around each other and it’s so much fun, but we still get results and get the job done.”

Byron Center improved to 17-4-1 on Tuesday and already has established a school record for wins in a season.

Last week, the Bulldogs won a District crown for only the second time in school history.

“We were all hoping we could have this type of success, and I was confident in our coaching staff,” Philo said. “I felt like we had the pieces the last two years but just couldn't figure everything out.  

“I had a feeling that we had something special, but we just had to figure out how we were going to play with each other.” 

The bond among them has translated to the field, according to Bays.

“They play so well together,” he said. “We defend well and build from the back well. That allows (us) opportunities. We do a pretty darn good job in all three phases of the game.”

Dean HolzwarthDean Holzwarth has covered primarily high school sports for Grand Rapids-based WOOD-TV for five years after serving at the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years along with shorter stints at the Ionia Sentinel and WZZM. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties. 

PHOTOS (Top) Byron Center players raise their District trophy in celebration last week. (Middle) The Bulldogs take a team photo in front of their net. (Photos courtesy of the Byron Center athletic department.)

Rochester Adams Holds Off Rockford Rush for 1st Finals Title since 1999

By Tim Robinson
Special for MHSAA.com

November 5, 2022

COMSTOCK PARK -- Rochester Adams goalkeeper John Coon wasn't sure how to feel after his team held off Rockford 2-0 in Saturday's Division 1 championship game at Comstock Park High School. 

Was it elation at winning a title or relief that the game was over?

"Both," he said after the Highlanders clinched their first Finals championship since 1999. "I'm relieved that it's over and happy we were on the winning side of things."

The Highlanders (17-1-6) handed the Rams (22-1-1) their only loss of the season. It also was only the second time this season Rockford allowed two goals in a game. 

The Adams goals came toward the end of each half despite Rockford's ability to control play for stretches. 

The first came with 3:25 to go in the first half. Jackson Craft took a pass from Colton James to notch his team-leading 24th goal of the season 

"It was a beautiful ball from Colton," Craft said. "It couldn't have been any better. I got the touch and was able to put it in. It gave us a big boost."

That also was a familiar sight to coach Josh Hickey.

Jackson Croft (2) makes a run at the Rockford goal for the Highlanders."Jackson has done that all year," Hickey said. "He gets behind you and makes you pay, and he just finishes."

It stayed that way until late in the second half, during which Adams withstood a furious Rockford offensive push that kept the pressure on.

"Their mentality in the second half was way more 'Let's get after this team,'" Coon said. 

Which the Rams did, but a stalwart Highlanders defense and a couple of shots that hit goalposts prevented Rockford from getting on the board.

Adams put it out of reach when Matt Vostriakov scored on an assist from Craft with 4:12 remaining, 

"I just heard screaming," Vostriakov said of his reaction to the goal, "I heard screaming, and I ran to the bench to celebrate with my team."

It was a disappointing end to a storybook season for the Rams, who won their first Regional title last week. 

"Adams played a really good game," Rockford coach Tim Boleman said. "Credit to them. They've got a really good team. We didn't do what we should have done, and we didn't defend as well as we should have.

"We had a great season," he continued. "We had an incredible ride. We accomplished great things. We didn't think we would be here. We were unbeaten until today, the only team in the state to do that."

Instead, on a warm, overcast November afternoon it was the Highlanders' moment in the sun, so to speak.

"They worked so hard to do this, and they wanted this so badly," Hickey said.

"We had tough battles all through the playoffs. We had injuries. These kids are banged up, sick, they just gave everything. They deserve it."

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS (Top) Rochester Adams celebrates its Division 1 championship Saturday at Comstock Park High School. (Middle) Jackson Croft (2) makes a run at the Rockford goal for the Highlanders.