Second Half Explosion Carries East Boys Over West
Zeeland East guard Will Ver Steeg looks for a teammate to pass to during Saturday’s game against Zeeland West, as Dux guard Trey Sloothaak defends.
Photo by Greg Chandler
The Zeeland East varsity boys basketball team broke open a close game in the second half against Zeeland West Saturday on the Dux home court, and went on to post a 48-36 victory to remain one game behind Unity Christian in the O-K Black Conference standings.
West opened the scoring on a Khi Anderson basket, but a steal and dunk by East junior Caleb Claerbaut sparked an 11-2 run that gave the Chix a seven-point lead late in the first quarter at 11-4.
West answered with a seven-point run of its own to tie the game at 11-all midway through the second quarter. A pair of baskets by sophomore guard Will Drnek gave East a 15-11 lead, but Jake Lencioni’s 3-point basket for West cut the Chix lead to 15-14 at halftime.
East came out firing from the perimeter to start the second half. Mickey Voss and Claerbaut each hit a 3-pointer in the first minute of the half, and Drnek hit another triple shortly thereafter. Jacob Vera capped the long-range shooting flurry with another 3-point basket to close out a 22-point third quarter, giving the Chix a 37-23 lead. East maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Drnek led the Chix with 13 points and eight rebounds, while senior forward BJ Walker added 12 points and five assists. Claerbaut chipped in nine points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Quincy Thome came off the bench to pull down seven boards. Lencioni led the Dux with seven points, while Keaton Hendricks added six.
East improved to 5-1 in the O-K Black and 10-6 overall heading into a crucial conference game Friday at home against Unity Christian. West fell to 0-6 and 0-12. The Dux were to play East Grand Rapids at home Tuesday and on the road Wednesday at West Ottawa.
West opened the scoring on a Khi Anderson basket, but a steal and dunk by East junior Caleb Claerbaut sparked an 11-2 run that gave the Chix a seven-point lead late in the first quarter at 11-4.
West answered with a seven-point run of its own to tie the game at 11-all midway through the second quarter. A pair of baskets by sophomore guard Will Drnek gave East a 15-11 lead, but Jake Lencioni’s 3-point basket for West cut the Chix lead to 15-14 at halftime.
East came out firing from the perimeter to start the second half. Mickey Voss and Claerbaut each hit a 3-pointer in the first minute of the half, and Drnek hit another triple shortly thereafter. Jacob Vera capped the long-range shooting flurry with another 3-point basket to close out a 22-point third quarter, giving the Chix a 37-23 lead. East maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Drnek led the Chix with 13 points and eight rebounds, while senior forward BJ Walker added 12 points and five assists. Claerbaut chipped in nine points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Quincy Thome came off the bench to pull down seven boards. Lencioni led the Dux with seven points, while Keaton Hendricks added six.
East improved to 5-1 in the O-K Black and 10-6 overall heading into a crucial conference game Friday at home against Unity Christian. West fell to 0-6 and 0-12. The Dux were to play East Grand Rapids at home Tuesday and on the road Wednesday at West Ottawa.
West’s Sloothaak Signs With GVSU
Zeeland West High School senior Trey Sloothaak will continue his football career at the collegiate level next fall at Grand Valley State University.
Sloothaak, who led the Dux to the state Division 3 high school football championship in November of last year at Ford Field in Detroit, announced his commitment to GVSU in a message on his X social media account Jan. 21. Last month, he was named the Michigan Player of the Year for Divisions 3 and 4 by the Associated Press.
“Grand Valley is a great school and will provide a lot of opportunities and resources for me to be successful in both the present and the future,” Sloothaak wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “Also, they have a great football program that will be awesome to be a part of.”
Sloothaak played quarterback and defensive back for the Dux last fall, earning first-team All-State recognition on defense. He led a West offense that scored 30 or more points in 10 of its 14 games on the season, including all five state playoff wins.
Sloothaak rushed for 608 yards on 111 carries, scoring four touchdowns. He also completed 29 of 42 passes for 676 yards – an average of 23 yards per completion – and 13 touchdowns while not throwing a single interception. Three of his touchdown throws came in West’s state championship game win over Detroit Martin Luther King on Nov. 29. He became the first starting quarterback in school history to go through an entire season without throwing an interception.
On defense, Sloothaak made 21 solo tackles and 30 assisted tackles on the season. He also intercepted two passes.
In addition to starring in football, Sloothaak has also lettered in basketball and track during his career at West. He wrote that the experience of being a multi-sport athlete has made him a better overall athlete, “both physically and mentally.”
“Many of the skills learned from other sports can be taken into football to make you a better overall player,” Sloothaak wrote. “I have also been able to take on various roles in each sport, allowing me to better understand my teammates in each sport from multiple perspectives.”
Sloothaak plans to major in sport management at GVSU, and possibly business as well.
Sloothaak, who led the Dux to the state Division 3 high school football championship in November of last year at Ford Field in Detroit, announced his commitment to GVSU in a message on his X social media account Jan. 21. Last month, he was named the Michigan Player of the Year for Divisions 3 and 4 by the Associated Press.
“Grand Valley is a great school and will provide a lot of opportunities and resources for me to be successful in both the present and the future,” Sloothaak wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “Also, they have a great football program that will be awesome to be a part of.”
Sloothaak played quarterback and defensive back for the Dux last fall, earning first-team All-State recognition on defense. He led a West offense that scored 30 or more points in 10 of its 14 games on the season, including all five state playoff wins.
Sloothaak rushed for 608 yards on 111 carries, scoring four touchdowns. He also completed 29 of 42 passes for 676 yards – an average of 23 yards per completion – and 13 touchdowns while not throwing a single interception. Three of his touchdown throws came in West’s state championship game win over Detroit Martin Luther King on Nov. 29. He became the first starting quarterback in school history to go through an entire season without throwing an interception.
On defense, Sloothaak made 21 solo tackles and 30 assisted tackles on the season. He also intercepted two passes.
In addition to starring in football, Sloothaak has also lettered in basketball and track during his career at West. He wrote that the experience of being a multi-sport athlete has made him a better overall athlete, “both physically and mentally.”
“Many of the skills learned from other sports can be taken into football to make you a better overall player,” Sloothaak wrote. “I have also been able to take on various roles in each sport, allowing me to better understand my teammates in each sport from multiple perspectives.”
Sloothaak plans to major in sport management at GVSU, and possibly business as well.
Holland on Ice Snowmelt 5K Set for February 8
Downtown Holland and Holland Parks and Recreation are excited to announce the return of the Holland on Ice Snowmelt 5K race, being held on Saturday, Feb. 8 as part of Downtown Holland’s two-day Holland on Ice event.
The entire 5-kilometer course for this second annual fun run/walk will take advantage of Downtown Holland’s snowmelt system, allowing racers a rare opportunity to compete in a winter race without worrying about snow and ice along their route.
“The Holland on Ice Snowmelt 5K is a great opportunity for local families to get outside and get active this winter,” Holland Parks and Recreation Coordinator Kemri Hilton said. “Racers can take advantage of Downtown Holland’s heated sidewalks, which provide a safe and hazard-free course, while also enjoying the impressive ice carvings along the route, courtesy of the Holland on Ice festival happening the same weekend.”
All Holland on Ice Snowmelt 5K racers will receive a custom Holland on Ice socks, an all-new finisher medal, and refreshments at the end of the race. Participants are encouraged to stay for the Holland on Ice festival following the race, to watch the nation’s best professional ice carvers as they transform over 10,000 blocks of ice into an incredible work of art, and to take advantage of discounts from participating Downtown Holland shops as part of the annual Meltdown Sale.
Registration for the Holland on Ice Snowmelt 5K is now open at www.hollandrecreation.com. The race fee is $35 per person. The race begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Eighth Street Market Place outside of the Holland Civic Center (150 W. 8th St.). Packet pick-up will be held on Friday, Feb. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gazelle Sports in Downtown Holland (24 W. 8th Street) and on Saturday morning beginning at 7 a.m. at the Holland Civic Center.
Children ages 7 and under are invited to participate in the Kids' Mini Melt at 9 a.m. that same morning. The Mini Melt will be a .2-mile non-competitive dash down Eighth Street Market Place and back. Parents and guardians may participate alongside their mini runners if they'd like. Mini Melt participants will receive a finisher ribbon, race bib, and get to partake in after-dash snacks and refreshments.
The entire 5-kilometer course for this second annual fun run/walk will take advantage of Downtown Holland’s snowmelt system, allowing racers a rare opportunity to compete in a winter race without worrying about snow and ice along their route.
“The Holland on Ice Snowmelt 5K is a great opportunity for local families to get outside and get active this winter,” Holland Parks and Recreation Coordinator Kemri Hilton said. “Racers can take advantage of Downtown Holland’s heated sidewalks, which provide a safe and hazard-free course, while also enjoying the impressive ice carvings along the route, courtesy of the Holland on Ice festival happening the same weekend.”
All Holland on Ice Snowmelt 5K racers will receive a custom Holland on Ice socks, an all-new finisher medal, and refreshments at the end of the race. Participants are encouraged to stay for the Holland on Ice festival following the race, to watch the nation’s best professional ice carvers as they transform over 10,000 blocks of ice into an incredible work of art, and to take advantage of discounts from participating Downtown Holland shops as part of the annual Meltdown Sale.
Registration for the Holland on Ice Snowmelt 5K is now open at www.hollandrecreation.com. The race fee is $35 per person. The race begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Eighth Street Market Place outside of the Holland Civic Center (150 W. 8th St.). Packet pick-up will be held on Friday, Feb. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gazelle Sports in Downtown Holland (24 W. 8th Street) and on Saturday morning beginning at 7 a.m. at the Holland Civic Center.
Children ages 7 and under are invited to participate in the Kids' Mini Melt at 9 a.m. that same morning. The Mini Melt will be a .2-mile non-competitive dash down Eighth Street Market Place and back. Parents and guardians may participate alongside their mini runners if they'd like. Mini Melt participants will receive a finisher ribbon, race bib, and get to partake in after-dash snacks and refreshments.
East Wrestlers Fifth at Battle Creek Invitational
The Zeeland East wrestling team finished fifth out of 17 teams Saturday at the McGinnis-Evans Memorial Individual Tournament at Battle Creek Central High School.
The Chix received first-place performances by JJ Ledford at 120 pounds and Gavin Drenten at 150 pounds. Anders Tibbs was the runnerup in the 144-pound weight class, while Maximus Gomez placed third at 215 pounds.
Zach Westrate was fourth at 126 pounds, while Tanner Hofman (106), Xavier Phuek (132) and Jonah Heyboer (175) placed fifth and Caden Arendsen (157) was sixth.
Other East wrestlers competed in the Rocket Invite at Wyoming Kelloggsville. Easton Sizemore (106 pounds) and Tyler Clark (138) finished runnerup in their respective weight classes, Eli Rahm (113) was fifth, Cam Beckman (138) was sixth and Jackson VanderZwaag (190) also placed sixth.
The Chix received first-place performances by JJ Ledford at 120 pounds and Gavin Drenten at 150 pounds. Anders Tibbs was the runnerup in the 144-pound weight class, while Maximus Gomez placed third at 215 pounds.
Zach Westrate was fourth at 126 pounds, while Tanner Hofman (106), Xavier Phuek (132) and Jonah Heyboer (175) placed fifth and Caden Arendsen (157) was sixth.
Other East wrestlers competed in the Rocket Invite at Wyoming Kelloggsville. Easton Sizemore (106 pounds) and Tyler Clark (138) finished runnerup in their respective weight classes, Eli Rahm (113) was fifth, Cam Beckman (138) was sixth and Jackson VanderZwaag (190) also placed sixth.
Press, Hot Shooting Spark West Girls Over East
The Zeeland West varsity girls basketball team used a relentless full-court press and hot shooting from 3-point range on Saturday in rolling to a 56-32 home win over Zeeland East.
The Dux jumped on the Chix from the get-go in this one, forcing numerous turnovers with their press and nailing four 3-point baskets in the first quarter – two by senior Jordyn Klaasen and one each by junior Brooklyn Haight and sophomore Samantha Koppenol. West led 20-6 after the first eight minutes.
The Dux extended their lead to 32-12 at the half, then scored the first 16 points of the third quarter to take their largest lead at 48-12.
West hit 10 3-point baskets in the contest, with five different players hitting at least one shot from behind the arc. Klaasen sank three 3-pointers as she led the Dux with 15 points, while Haight scored all nine of her points
on three 3-point baskets. Senior center Hannah Stroebe added 11 points for the Dux.
Senior guard Mirra Fenlon led East with 14 points.
West improved to 3-3 in the O-K Black Conference and 8-4 overall with the win, while the loss dropped East two games behind conference leader Holland Christian at 4-2 in conference play and 10-4 overall.
West played Grand Rapids Northview Tuesday and will host Holland Christian Friday, while East returns to action Friday at home against Unity Christian.
The Dux jumped on the Chix from the get-go in this one, forcing numerous turnovers with their press and nailing four 3-point baskets in the first quarter – two by senior Jordyn Klaasen and one each by junior Brooklyn Haight and sophomore Samantha Koppenol. West led 20-6 after the first eight minutes.
The Dux extended their lead to 32-12 at the half, then scored the first 16 points of the third quarter to take their largest lead at 48-12.
West hit 10 3-point baskets in the contest, with five different players hitting at least one shot from behind the arc. Klaasen sank three 3-pointers as she led the Dux with 15 points, while Haight scored all nine of her points
on three 3-point baskets. Senior center Hannah Stroebe added 11 points for the Dux.
Senior guard Mirra Fenlon led East with 14 points.
West improved to 3-3 in the O-K Black Conference and 8-4 overall with the win, while the loss dropped East two games behind conference leader Holland Christian at 4-2 in conference play and 10-4 overall.
West played Grand Rapids Northview Tuesday and will host Holland Christian Friday, while East returns to action Friday at home against Unity Christian.
Zeeland Swimmers Dunk Northview
The Zeeland boys swimming team defeated Grand Rapids Northview last Thursday, 104-81.
Owen Stevens won two individual events for Zeeland, taking the 200-yard freestyle in 1:43.97 and the 100-yard breaststroke in :59.62. He also swam the leadoff leg on the winning 200 medley relay team, joined by Andrew Skaggs, Gibson Meyering and Eli Elders, which posted a time of 1:40.14.
Skaggs led a sweep of the first four places in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:12.27. Elders won the 50 freestyle in 23 seconds flat. Andrew Pyle took the 100 butterfly with a personal-best time of 1:00.21. Hudson Kosten was first in the 100 freestyle with a time of :52.24. Branton Posthumus had a personal best in the 100 backstroke, taking that race in :59.22.
Zeeland closed out the meet by winning the 400 freestyle relay, with the team of Meyering, Kosten, Elders and Max Plaggemars posting a time of 3:28.04, nearly 13 seconds ahead of Northview.
Owen Stevens won two individual events for Zeeland, taking the 200-yard freestyle in 1:43.97 and the 100-yard breaststroke in :59.62. He also swam the leadoff leg on the winning 200 medley relay team, joined by Andrew Skaggs, Gibson Meyering and Eli Elders, which posted a time of 1:40.14.
Skaggs led a sweep of the first four places in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:12.27. Elders won the 50 freestyle in 23 seconds flat. Andrew Pyle took the 100 butterfly with a personal-best time of 1:00.21. Hudson Kosten was first in the 100 freestyle with a time of :52.24. Branton Posthumus had a personal best in the 100 backstroke, taking that race in :59.22.
Zeeland closed out the meet by winning the 400 freestyle relay, with the team of Meyering, Kosten, Elders and Max Plaggemars posting a time of 3:28.04, nearly 13 seconds ahead of Northview.
