The winter sports season will be kicked off Tuesday evening, Nov. 28, when the Martin girls’ basketball team is host to Potter’s House. This Saturday, the Wayland boys’ and girls’ bowling teams will compete in the Wyoming Invitational.

Martin last season had one of the youngest outfits in West Michigan and the Clippers are led in scoring and rebounding by sophomore Faith Guritz. Coach Doug MacVean’s squad also will play Friday at Galesburg-Augusta.

Coaches Sherry Miklusicak and Mike Omness will be guiding a boys’ team that was surprisingly competitive despite rebuilding a year ago and a girls’ team led by two four-year starters, seniors Sydney Urben and Marissa Bruinslot. Urben was Division 2 individual state runner-up in 2016. The Lady Wildcats are the defending O-K Gold-Green Conference champions.

The Wildcat squads will be joined at Eastbrook Lanes in Grand Rapids by 15 other teams in Saturday’s competition, Caledonia, Cedar Springs, Forest Hills eastern, Forest Hills Northern, Grand Rapids Christian, Grandville, Hudsonville, Rockford A and B, Jenison, Lowell, Muskegon Mona Shores, Potter’s House, Sparta and host Wyoming.

The girls’ varsity basketball season for Wayland will open Tuesday evening, Dec. 5, when second-year coach Wes Hudson and his team will be host for Hudsonville. The injury-riddled and youthful ‘Cats this year aren’t so much rebuilding as they are taking the next step under the leadership of seniors Chloe Coughlin and Samantha Nieukoop.

There was no data available on Hopkins winter sports schedules, except that the Hopkins boys, under the guidance of first-year coach Jake Jewitt, will play their season opener Tuesday, Dec. 12, as will Wayland on the same evening at home against Caledonia.

Martin also is under the direction of a newcomer as head varsity boys’ coach, Brad Moelker. The Clippers, led by returning starters Cayden Curry and Carter Hilton, will be at Lawton for their season opener Friday, Dec. 5.