West Michigan Officials Association honors local student athletes

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — On Monday night the West Michigan Officials Association (WMOA) held its 66th annual awards banquet. 

The association honored three local athletes with scholarships for their exemplary work not only in their respective sports but in the community. The athletes' sportsmanship toward their competition and the officials was also a criterion.

Rockford's Ryan Ahern took home the honor for football. Hamilton's Bethany Behnke won it for girl's basketball and Reeths Puffer's Jaxson Whitaker for boy's basketball. 

Ahern and Whitaker will play their respective sports at Ferris State in the Fall, while Behnke will be attending Michigan. 

WMOA also used the banquet to honor the coaches, athletic director and officials of the year.

Coaches of the Year:

Football: Ed Kaman - Coopersville 

Boy's basketball: Bran VanTimmeren - Catholic Central

Girl's basketball: David Klyn - Zeeland West

Athletic Director of the Year:

Tom Bouma - Calvin Christian

Officials of the Year:

Football: Jayson Dibble

Basketball Official of the Year: Alex Briggs 

RELATED: Rockford girl's basketball celebrates Grace Lyons as program's new all-time leading scorer

RELATED: Hamilton High hosts Unified basketball assembly for high school and middle school students

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