Grand Rapids City League

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The Grand Rapids City League (GRCL) is a high school athletic league in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1911, the league consists of the four public high schools of the Grand Rapids Public Schools that offer interscholastic sports, plus two parochial private schools and one non-parochial private school.

The current league secretary is Melvin Atkins, Grand Rapids Public Schools Executive Director of Athletics and Activities. This makes the GRCL among the few athletic conferences administered by a public school district that has a significant non-public school membership.

On February 8, 2007 the Ottawa-Kent League voted to invite the City League schools for membership. Due to a lack of parrody and competetiveness within the league because of changing enrollment figures and demographic shifts, the City League had attempted in 2004 to disban and join the larger OK league which the majority of schools in Metro Grand Rapids are members of. The OK league rejected the GR Public Schools while extending an invitation to the three private schools. The league thus remained in tact and reaplied for mrmbership in 2006. Plans are for the 2007-2008 school year to be the last year of competition for the City league.

Contents

[edit] Members

The following high schools, all within the City of Grand Rapids, are members of the Grand Rapids City League:

[edit] Membership History

Grand Rapids South High School, alma mater of former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, was a league member until the school was closed in 1967.

Grand Rapids West Catholic High School was established in 1961, began varsity boys basketball a year later in 1962-63 as an independent, and then joined the City League for the 1963-64 school year. However, West Catholic's varsity football team did not have its first season until 1963-64 and played as an independent for two years before entering league competition in 1965-66.

Also, from 1964-65 through 1971-72, Grand Rapids Christian High School was divided into Grand Rapids Central Christian and Grand Rapids East Christian high schools. Central Christian joined the league in 1964-65 and East Christian became a member in 1965-66. The Central and East Christian football teams played as independents from their first years in 1967-68 through their last seasons in 1971-72. The reunited Christian High "rejoined" the City League in 1972-73, with the Eagles' football team starting league play a year later in 1973-74.

The City League is expected to come to an end after the 2007-2008 school year when the league teams will become part of the Ottawa-Kent Conference[1].

[edit] State Championships

Grand Rapids City League members have won the following state championships (all Michigan High School Athletic Association unless noted):

[edit] Grand Rapids Catholic Central Cougars

  • 1943 football (poll)
  • 1949 football (Detroit Free Press)
  • 1951 football (Detroit Free Press)
  • 1959 football (Associated Press & Detroit Free Press)
  • 1982 boys cross country
  • 1984 boys cross country
  • 1985 baseball
  • 1987 football
  • 1987 girls cross country
  • 1999 competitive cheer

[edit] Grand Rapids Central Rams

  • 1896 football (pre-MHSAA)
  • 1900 boys track and field (pre-MHSAA)
  • 1907 boys track and field (pre-MHSAA)
  • 1913 boys track and field (pre-MHSAA)
  • 1916 boys track and field (pre-MHSAA)
  • 1917 boys track and field (pre-MHSAA)
  • 1931 boys tennis
  • 1932 boys tennis
  • 1933 boys tennis

[edit] Grand Rapids Christian Eagles

  • 1938 boys basketball
  • 1979 girls cross country
  • 1980 girls track and field
  • 1997 girls basketball
  • 1998 boys soccer
  • 2001 girls team track and field (MITCA)
  • 2001 boys soccer
  • 2002 girls team track and field (MITCA)
  • 2003 coed equestrian (MIHA)
  • 2005 girls cross country
  • 2006 girls cross country

[edit] Grand Rapids Creston Polar Bears

  • 1980 girls volleyball

[edit] Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills Indians/Bengals

  • 1932 boys track & field
  • 1934 boys track & field
  • 1934 boys golf
  • 1934 boys tennis
  • 1938 boys tennis
  • 1951 boys track & field
  • 1952 boys golf
  • 1968 boys basketball
  • 1969 boys basketball
  • 1989 girls basketball
  • 1997 boys basketball

[edit] Grand Rapids Union Red Hawks

  • 1925 football (Associated Press)
  • 1932 boys golf
  • 1948 football (Detroit Free Press)
  • 1952 boys cross country
  • 1953 boys cross country

[edit] Grand Rapids West Catholic Falcons

  • 1970 boys cross country
  • 1979 girls basketball
  • 1984 girls gymnastics
  • 1990 girls basketball
  • 2003 boys cross country
  • 2004 boys team track and field (MITCA)

[edit] Grand Rapids Central Christian Eagles (defunct)

  • none

[edit] Grand Rapids East Christian Panthers (defunct)

  • 1966 boys basketball
  • 1966 boys cross country

[edit] Grand Rapids South Trojans (defunct)

  • 1928 boys tennis
  • 1929 boys tennis
  • 1930 boys cross country

[edit] Notable Alumni

Notable alumni who have participated athletically in the Grand Rapids City League (or participated for a school that later joined the City League) include the following:

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