Because seven schools opted to leave the O-K Conference and form a new league, realignment for the remaining schools has become necessary.
Wayland now will be in a seven-member O-K Gold division with South Christian, Grand Rapids Union, Wyoming, Northview, Thornapple Kellogg, and Grand Rapids West Caholic. A separate White Division for football only will include Wayland, Spring Lake, Hamilton, Forest Hills Eastern, Grand Rapids Christian and West Catholic.
The moves are the result of the secession of Sparta, Coopersville, Kenowa Hills, Lowell, Cedar Springs, Allendale who made an early exit after this 2023-24 season, leaving 41 schools remaining. The seven runaway schools will form the River Cities Alliance, citing long travel distances in the O-K Conference as the reason.
Wayland last spring was told its realignment for the O-K Gold Division would include itself, South Christian, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg and Forest Hills Eastern. Three O-K Blue schools were to to the O-K Gold, including Hamilton, Holland Christian and Unity Christian. Holland High also was to join the new Gold Division.
Hopkins has only one runaway school, Sparta, currently competing in the O-K Silver Division, but things changed nonethelessl.
With Sparta among the seven that seceded, the O-K Silver now will include Hopkins, Fruitport, Comstock Park, Godwin Heights, Belding, NorthPointe Christian, Calvin Christian and Kelloggsville. In the football only Silver Division, it’ll be Hopkins, Belding, Comstock Park, Godwin, Kelloggsville, Fruitport and Holland. Calvin Christian and NorthPointe Christian won’t make that change.
This will be the first year Wayland has not been skin the same division with South Christian since the Gold Division was launched 40 years ago.
The O-K Conference is touted to be 65 years old. It made a major move in 1971 when it was split into three divisions, the Red, White and Blue, the latter of which Wayland was a member.
Hopkins was without any league affiliation until the O-K Silver Conference was created more than 30 years ago.