Athletics

The Grand Rapids Public Schools Athletics Department currently manages and supports 40 seasonal athletic programs available for GRPS scholars in kindergarten through 12^th grade.

Our Vision for Athletics

Grand Rapids Public Schools will create educational opportunities and experiences, through athletics, that will enhance scholar achievement, scholar development, and school culture.

Why Participate in Athletics?

As a district, we believe that the participation in athletic programs is essential for scholars to develop teamwork and self-discipline while building self-confidence - skills that help prepare scholars for the real world. We strive to provide an environment where our scholars are encouraged to learn new skills, dedicated to practicing those skills, and rewarded for their hard work. Athletics allows scholars to build positive relationships with their peers by learning sportsmanship in competition.

Athletic Programs

Athletic programs are available to scholars at all of our schools. To learn more about what athletic programs are offered by grade, please review the elementary, middle, and high school athletic pages by clicking the buttons below. You can also contact your school directly for more information about athletic programming at a specific school or throughout the district.

Elementary Athletics Middle School Athletics High School Athletics

District Athletic News & Events

The Road to Regionals: Union Bowling Team Looks to Build Momentum

The Union Redhawks bowling team is gearing up for another competitive season, aiming to make a strong showing as the road to regionals begins.

Get your tickets: Ottawa Hills vs. Union hoops at Van Andel Arena

The crosstown rivalry heats up as the Ottawa Hills and Union High School boys and girls basketball teams face off at Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, December 23.

Ottawa Hills Bengals Boys Swim & Dive: Resilience, Leadership, and Determination

The water at Ottawa Hills High School seems to hold stories—of athletes who grew up in these lanes and of teams built on unity and grit.

From First Strokes to Fast Times: Inside Union Boys Swim & Dive

The boys swim and dive program at Union is starting the season with something stronger than speed: a purpose that stretches far beyond the pool deck.

Ottawa Hills Bengals Girls Basketball: Building “with Purpose, with Heart”

The Bengals girls basketball players enter the season with a growing sense of identity—one shaped by effort, toughness, and an unshakable commitment to each other.

Union Girls Basketball Gears Up for Growth and Competition in the OK Gold

As the Union girls basketball team prepares for the 2025–2026 season, head coach Mamie Hai brings a clear vision rooted in the team’s core values.

Winning the Frame: An Inside Look at the Bengals Bowling Team

At Ottawa Hills, bowling is more than a pastime. It’s a disciplined sport, a mental game, and a lifestyle for bowlers on the team.

Fast and Ferocious: Bengals Basketball Ready to Return to the Court

The Ottawa Hills Bengals approach the 2025-2026 season with fresh determination and a clear sense of what they want to achieve.

New Blueprint, New Culture: Union Boys Basketball redefine who they are

Union boys basketball is entering a new era, and the tone was set long before the first ball even touched the court.

Bengals Take the Mat with Veteran Leader and Rising New Talent

The Ottawa Hills Bengals enter the upcoming wrestling season with a renewed sense of ambition, guided once again by head coach Ryan Davis.

Support Elementary & Middle School Athletics

Through the generous gifts from the Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundation donors, Great Sports, Great Kids provides youth sports programming for elementary and middle school scholars across the district.

Learn more about our Great Sports, Great Kids Program