Cardinal Football Shows Growth at Grand Haven 7-on-7 Tournament

June 24, 2026
The Nest, Inside Orchard View Sports
By: Justin Troyer
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Grand Haven, Mich -- The Orchard View Cardinals took another important step in their summer development Saturday as they competed in the Grand Haven 7-on-7 Tournament, facing a challenging field filled with quality programs from across the state.

Photo by: Scott DeCamp

The Cardinals opened pool play at Gene Rothi Stadium with an impressive victory over Muskegon Catholic Central, showcasing strong execution on both sides of the ball. Orchard View then faced a pair of tough opponents in Grand Haven and DeWitt, falling in both contests. The results placed the Cardinals as the tournament's No. 10 seed heading into bracket play.

The playoff round presented a daunting challenge as Orchard View drew perennial state powerhouse River Rouge in the opening round. The Cardinals rose to the occasion, delivering one of their most impressive performances of the day. Competing with confidence and energy, Orchard View knocked off the Panthers and advanced to the second round.

The victory set up a rematch with DeWitt, a team the Cardinals had previously faced during pool play. Despite showing improvement throughout the day, Orchard View was unable to overcome the Panthers in the second meeting as DeWitt advanced.

Photo By: Scott DeCamp

While the tournament ended in the second round, the experience provided valuable lessons and opportunities for growth as the Cardinals continue preparing for the upcoming season.

Head Coach Aaron James was encouraged by what he saw from his team throughout the day.

"We got better as the day went on," James said. "It was a good day of learning and competing."

The Cardinals demonstrated resilience by bouncing back from pool-play setbacks to earn a bracket victory over one of Michigan's traditionally strong programs. More importantly, the team continued to build chemistry, sharpen execution, and gain experience against high-level competition.

With the summer progressing and the season drawing closer, Orchard View will look to build upon the lessons learned in Grand Haven as the Cardinals continue their pursuit of success this fall.

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