Sports . . .

East Boys Defeat Maroons


The Zeeland East varsity boys basketball team came up with a big road win on Jan. 14, topping Holland Christian 73-62 at the Heeringa Holland Civic Center Place.

The win was the third straight O-K Black Conference win for the Chix, who raised their conference record to 3-1 and their overall mark to 7-6. The Maroons fell to 2-1 in conference play and 7-4 overall.

The Chix started out slowly in the game, falling behind the Maroons 13-5 before East coach Jeff Carlson called a timeout. Out of the timeout, East stormed back with a 12-4 run to close out the first quarter, pulling even at 17-all.

The second quarter was just about even, as the Chix outscored the Maroons by one point to take a 34-33 halftime lead.

East asserted its will in the second half to pull away for the win. The Chix put 21 points on the scoreboard in the third quarter to take a 55-48 lead, and tacked on 18 more points in the final eight minutes to secure the victory.

Four players scored in double figures for the Chix, with sophomore guard Will Drnek stepping up with another big performance. Drnek scored a career-high 24 points, and also had three steals and three assists. Junior forward Caleb Claerbaut also had a career night with 23 points, six rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals.

Senior forward BJ Walker contributed 10 points, and fellow senior Quincy Thome came off the bench to score 10 points and grab five rebounds. Titus Spencer led the Maroons with 23 points.


West Boys Fall to Spring Lake


The Zeeland West varsity boys basketball team had a late rally fall short on Jan. 14 as the Dux dropped a 50-46 decision on the road at Spring Lake.

The Dux got off to a strong start in the game, taking a 15-8 lead after one quarter. But the Lakers came back to dominate the next two quarters, outscoring West 14-5 in the second quarter and 15-9 in the third to take a 37-29 lead.

West fought back in the fourth quarter, but Spring Lake was able to hold on for the win.

West Girls Edged by Lakers


The Zeeland West varsity girls basketball team lost a defensive struggle against O-K Black Conference rival Spring Lake on Jan. 14, falling to the Lakers 27-25.

Senior center Hannah Stroebe led the Dux with eight points.

The loss dropped West to 1-3 in the O-K Black and 6-4 overall. The Dux have lost four of their last five games after starting the season 5-0.

Zeeland Boys Swimmers Defeated by Byron Center in Dual Meet


The Zeeland boys swimming team was defeated by Byron Center in a Jan. 14 dual meet, 109-76.

Senior Owen Stevens won two individual events, taking the 200 individual medley in 1:56.12 and the 500 freestyle in 4:40.25. Stevens also swam the lead leg on Zeeland’s first-place team in the 400 freestyle relay, joined by Gibson Meyering, Eli Elders and Hudson Kosten, which posted a time of 3:22.12.

Elders was the other individual winner for Zeeland, taking the 100 freestyle in :50.70.

Meijer Sports Complex Expansion


A focal point of 2025 will be constructing the $13.5 million expansion of the Meijer Sports Complex, which broke ground in October 2024.

Approximately $500,000 remains to raise to expand the complex, which will generate an estimated additional $1 million in annual visitor spending through 200 more teams that can be accommodated.

 The complex improvement and expansion project includes a new championship softball field for youth, amateur and collegiate softball; two flexible-use diamond fields for youth and amateur baseball and softball plus collegiate softball; 20 pickleball courts (including a championship court); resurfacing of the Miracle Field; a new playground; bleacher canopies; synthetic turf on the championship baseball field; new concession and restrooms; and 350 more parking spaces.

The improvement phase began following the 2024 season with installing synthetic turf to the championship baseball field and resurfacing Nate Hurwitz Miracle Field, providing 10 more years of play for more than 130 children with physical and cognitive disabilities annually. The expansion portion of the project began this month and is estimated to be completed in January 2026.

Owned and operated by the WMSC and opening in 2015 with eight baseball and softball fields (including a championship baseball field), the Meijer Sports Complex has cumulatively attracted 190 events, 8,851 teams and 287,657 visitors for a total economic impact of $69.3 million in visitor spending.

Chix Fall to HC in First-Place Battle