GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) - Before the lights come on at Houseman Field, the work has already begun. For Ottawa Hills sophomore Kamari Witherspoon, football is woven into nearly every part of his day.
That commitment has been years in the making. Witherspoon has played football his entire life, starting with flag football before moving through youth programs and eventually reaching the Bengals. Now, as a sophomore slot receiver, he is learning what it takes to balance being a student, an athlete, and a leader.
That balance requires preparation long before he steps onto the field. Every afternoon, Witherspoon watches film to develop his game, gets his homework done, and then heads to practice. During the season, his weekends are also spent on the football field, while the offseason is dedicated to mobility work and lower-body strength training.
The Bengals are also using practice as a chance to learn from the past and establish a different identity.
“We want to be a phoenix, bringing a different culture to the field and the school,” Witherspoon said.
That responsibility is something he takes seriously. He says being a student-athlete means being a leader and spending time with the right people, even when it can be difficult to stay focused.
“You’ve gotta be a leader. It’s challenging, but it’s doable,” he said.
One message from his new coach, James Jones, has stuck with him too: “If you want to be the best man for yourself, you have to show everybody on the field.”
This year, that is Witherspoon’s goal.
For sophomore quarterback Jamal Butler, the student-athlete routine is just as demanding. His school day begins at 7:35 a.m., and through the Early Middle College program, he plans to earn an associate degree by the time he graduates from high school.
Butler tries to finish his schoolwork at school, so he doesn’t have to worry about it after practice. When he needs extra help or more time to finish an assignment, he also takes advantage of an after-school academic support program. Then, at 5:00 p.m., he heads to Houseman Field, where practices can include individual training, full-team work, or 7-on-7.
It’s Butler’s first year of high school football, but he has already earned plenty of opportunities on the field. He credits his height, ability to read defenses, and arm strength as some of his biggest assets.
After practice, his routine is straightforward: ice his body, shower, eat, and sleep.
For both Bengals, the hours are long and the sacrifices are real, but they both know the lessons they’re learning now extend beyond the football field. The discipline, choices, and habits they’re building today will help prepare them for what comes after high school.