New Events Offered at the 2024 Meijer State Games of Michigan
With the 2024 Summer Games quickly approaching, we want to shine a light on the new sports being offered this year! We are excited to announce and give Michiganders the opportunity to participate in beach wrestling, 5v5 adult soccer, and shooting sports - pistol events. Each of these sports are being brought to the Summer Games with the intent to increase the list of sports available for participants of any age and ability!
5V5 ADULT SOCCER
In the past, we have offered different variations of soccer to our participants. This year we are introducing a 5v5 adult soccer tournament. On June 9th, 2024, this tournament will take place at the new Grand Rapids Soccer Society facility. It is structured so each team is guaranteed to play three games. Offering both a men’s division and a co-ed division. This is a great way for adult players to relive their younger days and go for gold in the tournament. We would also like to extend a big thanks to the event sponsor, Bier Distillery and Brewery, for their continual support of our games and this event
We asked Sam Chappell, sport director of the 5v5 Adult Soccer tournament the following questions that we thought would be most beneficial to our participants.
First, we asked him, “What type of player typically plays in an event like this?” As the owner of the new Grand Rapids Soccer Society facility, he is extremely knowledgeable of the game and stated, “The majority of our players are people that have played before - we rarely have people that are completely new to soccer. With that said, it can feel like soccer is a brand-new sport if you haven’t played it in 15 years, so we try to provide opportunities that are a good fit for everybody. Since it is 5v5, people have a much easier time getting back into the groove of playing.”
Sam has been in the soccer world for a while, so we asked, “What do you enjoy most about hosting adult soccer tournaments like this?” He explained, “The best part about hosting adult tournaments is seeing people remember how much they love the beautiful game.” There is something super special about watching former athletes lace up their cleats again for a fun, exciting tournament!
Next, we asked, “How competitive do tournaments like this get?” Everyone knows any soccer game can get lively, but Sam explained, “Competitive as in close, high-scoring games? All the time. Competitive as in people acting out-of-control and not being held accountable for bad behavior? Never. We don’t tolerate that.”
If you’re signed up, or planning to sign up, get your game face ready and come excited to play! These short games will be fast-paced and competitive matchups that will test your footwork and soccer skills.
Beach Wrestling
Beach Wrestling is back in the Summer Games lineup after being held last in 2019. This event will take place on June 8th, 2024. This event is open to all wrestlers and styles. Participants will be divided into divisions based on age and weight, and have a chance to go for gold, silver, and bronze medals. Best of all, this event is taking place at the Grand Haven beach right on Lake Michigan!
We asked Raiden Macleod, the sports director of Beach Wrestling, some of the most asked questions about the event.
The first thing we asked was, “Is there an age limit for this event?” he stated, “There is no age limit for the event. In the past we have had wrestlers in their 60's competing, all ages are welcomed and encouraged!” Everyone is welcome to participate no matter your age or ability.
Next, we were curious as to how Beach Wrestling differs from traditional, so we asked, “Do the techniques vary when wrestling on the floor vs. on the beach?” He explained, “Other than scoring working a little differently, beach wrestling usually requires more balance and strength in the lower body, with the adjustment from a mat to the sand. Matches tend to be very exciting as the adjustment in rules allows for athletes to hit more explosive high reward moves.” Focusing on your footwork and knowing unique moves seems to be the key to beach wrestling rather than traditional.
We then asked, “Why do people love to compete in beach wrestling vs. traditional wrestling?” From personal experience, Raiden said, “Beach Wrestling is very high paced, and you see a lot of explosive moves. Matches go very quickly, and athletes tend to go for more big moves in these events versus traditional wrestling.” If you are looking to sign up for this event, be prepared to think fast on your feet. The key to success is perfecting your explosive moves before your match!
Lastly, Raiden has wrestled in the Beach Wrestling event many times before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Until this year, beach wrestling hasn’t been offered at the games since. Raiden was eager to reintroduce this event, so we asked him, “What made you want to bring beach wrestling back to the summer games?” He explained, “Beach Wrestling is something very near and dear to my heart. I competed in this event the last five years it was ran. After COVID-19 derailed the event, we felt that now was the right time to bring it back! Beach wrestling combines all the best parts of a wrestling tournament plus a day at the beach. It truly is fun for the whole family, whether you are spectating or competing!”
Take it from Raiden Macleod, Beach Wrestling is a fun, competitive event that is inclusive to people of all ages and abilities. Whether you are there to participate in the event, or there to watch a loved one or friend, there is plenty to do at Grand Haven State Park to entertain everyone.
sHOOTING SPORTS-PISTOL
Welcoming a sport from our winter games, the Shooting Sports-Pistol event will be joining the 2024 summer line-up! This event will take place on June 24th, 2024, at Grand Rapids Rifle and Pistol Club. As we offer nine different shooting events, participants are encouraged to participate in more than one event. Shooting sports events are extremely inclusive and allow all to compete, whether you are a seasoned veteran or entering your first competition. This event offers participants a fun way to test their shooting accuracy while also creating a competitive environment to “aim” for the gold medal at the end!
The sport director for this Pistol Event, Cameron Zwart, answered a few questions for us about what this event has to offer.
To start, we asked him, “How is this event set up, and what are the different types of pistols participants can use in this event?” He responded, “The course of fire tests the competitor’s ability to shoot slow (two 10 shot strings, each in seven minutes), timed (four 5-shot strings, each in 20 seconds), and rapid fire (four 5-shot strings, each in 10 seconds). Competitors are allowed to enter multiple events. The competitor can register to shoot a .22 caliber pistol and/or centerfire pistol. The competitor can also choose to shoot with one hand and/or two hands. Additionally, the competitor can choose to shoot with iron (open) sights and/or any (telescopic) sights.” With this, the pistol event offers ample opportunity to test your shooting skills.
Next, we were curious why Cameron thought the pistol event would suit the summer games as it is usually only offered in the winter games. We asked, “Why did you decide to add this event to the Summer Games lineup?” He explained, “During the 2023 Winter Games, these events saw 85 unique entries (out of a possible 96 spots). Given how successful this event has become in the winter, it seemed prudent to offer this opportunity for the summer games as well.” Due to the high number of participants in the past competition, we are hoping to fill every spot available this year!
Lastly, to understand the differences between the pistol events offered, we asked, “Are any events seen as harder or easier than others?” Cameron stated, “Generally, one handed shooting is more difficult that two handed shooting. Shooting with iron sights often requires more skill than shooting with any sights. .22 caliber pistols are often easier to handle when compared to centerfire pistols.” Prior to the event, research which pistol, and sights would best fit your skill range!
We are so excited to bring the Shooting Sports-Pistol event to the summer games this year. This event is going to be competitive, exciting, and one you won’t want to miss!
SIGN UP FOR THE SUMMER GAMES!
We could not be more excited to announce these new sports and hope they are events that interest you! If that is not the case, make sure to check out our website to see if any of the 36 other sports offered this summer do. There is something for everyone at the Summer Games to get out, stay active, and have fun.
The Meijer State Games of Michigan is a multi-sport, Olympic-style event(s) that welcome athletes regardless of age or ability level. The Games embody the values of participation, sportsmanship and healthy living.
Interested in our Summer Games?
www.StateGamesofMichigan.com/summergames
Interested in our Winter Games?
www.StateGamesofMichigan.com/wintergames