Chix Wrestlers Claim First Team District Crown
The Zeeland East wrestling team claimed its first team district championship in school history on Feb. 5 with victories over Zeeland West and Holland.
The Chix defeated the Dux in their semifinal match 63-12, then took a hard-fought 43-30 win over the Dutch in the championship match.
Leading the way for Zeeland East with double wins on the night were Easton Sizemore (106 pounds), Tanner Hofman (113), JJ Ledford (120), Anders Tibbs (144), Gavin Drenten (150), Caden Arendsen (157) and Maximus Gomez (285).
“This historic achievement is a testament to the team's hard work, resilience, and determination,” East head coach Chris Heald said of his team’s performance.
The Chix defeated the Dux in their semifinal match 63-12, then took a hard-fought 43-30 win over the Dutch in the championship match.
Leading the way for Zeeland East with double wins on the night were Easton Sizemore (106 pounds), Tanner Hofman (113), JJ Ledford (120), Anders Tibbs (144), Gavin Drenten (150), Caden Arendsen (157) and Maximus Gomez (285).
“This historic achievement is a testament to the team's hard work, resilience, and determination,” East head coach Chris Heald said of his team’s performance.
East Boys Outshoot Lakers
The Zeeland East varsity boys basketball team moved into second place in the O-K Black Conference Friday with a 52-40 road victory over Spring Lake.
The Chix jumped out to a 16-5 lead after one quarter and never looked back in improving to 6-3 in conference play and 11-8 overall.
Junior guard Caleb Clearbaut led the Chix with 17 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Will Drnek added 14 points, and senior forward BJ Walker contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Chix hosted Holland Christian Tuesday night.
The Chix jumped out to a 16-5 lead after one quarter and never looked back in improving to 6-3 in conference play and 11-8 overall.
Junior guard Caleb Clearbaut led the Chix with 17 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Will Drnek added 14 points, and senior forward BJ Walker contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Chix hosted Holland Christian Tuesday night.
Zeeland Swimmers Dunk FHC
The Zeeland boys swimming team defeated Forest Hills Central 115-64 in a dual meet on Feb. 4.
Senior Owen Stevens and sophomore Gibson Meyering each won two individual events and swam on a winning relay to lead the Zeeland team. Stevens won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:45.53 and the 100-yard backstroke in :53.82. Meyering took the 50-yard freestyle in :22.73 and the 100-yard butterfly in :57.22.
Stevens swam the anchor leg for the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team, with Keagan Louwerse, Max Plaggemars and Will Posthumus. Their winning time was 3:34.55. Meyering, meanwhile, joined Carson Durham, Eli Elders and Branton Posthumus to take the 200 freestyle relay in 1:33.59.
Hudson Kosten was Zeeland’s other individual event winner, taking the 500-yard freestyle in 5:14.31.
Senior Owen Stevens and sophomore Gibson Meyering each won two individual events and swam on a winning relay to lead the Zeeland team. Stevens won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:45.53 and the 100-yard backstroke in :53.82. Meyering took the 50-yard freestyle in :22.73 and the 100-yard butterfly in :57.22.
Stevens swam the anchor leg for the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team, with Keagan Louwerse, Max Plaggemars and Will Posthumus. Their winning time was 3:34.55. Meyering, meanwhile, joined Carson Durham, Eli Elders and Branton Posthumus to take the 200 freestyle relay in 1:33.59.
Hudson Kosten was Zeeland’s other individual event winner, taking the 500-yard freestyle in 5:14.31.
Dux Win Conference Competitive Cheer Title for the First Time
The Zeeland West competitive cheer team won the O-K Black/White Conference championship last week, the first conference title for the program in its history. The Dux will compete in the district meet this weekend in Middleville, hoping to qualify for regionals for the second straight year.
Photo courtesy Angela Howe Creations
Zeeland West won its first-ever O-K Conference championship in competitive cheer Feb. 3 in its home gymnasium.
The Dux won all three of their O-K Black/White Conference meets on the season, compiling a total team score of 755.32 points for the three meets. That included a final round score in the Feb. 3 meet at West of 312.1 points, which was 3.9 points better than second-place Forest Hills Northern.
FHN finished second in the final team standings with 732.16 points, followed by Forest Hills Eastern (661.44), Hamilton (652.78), Zeeland East (615.70), Grand Rapids Catholic Central (596.98), Spring Lake (588.7) and Forest Hills Central (520.98).
The team, coached by Emillie Gort, consists of five seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and eight freshmen. The Dux qualified for regionals a year ago and will try once again to return to regionals this Saturday when they compete in the district meet at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. The meet begins at 10 a.m. The top four teams at the district meet move on to the regionals, Gort said.
Team members are Kendall Anger, Zoie Bush, Saige Canfield, Grace DeJonge, Cass Duyst, Riley Howe, Charlee Keller, Addysen Miller, Berkley Mosbauer, Julisa Muller, Mikenna Qualman, Mallory Raak, Jordin Robelin, Adrianna Rondeau, Leah Santellan, Emma Schurman, Violet Siffin, Bayla Steinke, Jiaya Steinke, Alliyah Touch, Alyssa Touch and Lauren Walters.
The Dux won all three of their O-K Black/White Conference meets on the season, compiling a total team score of 755.32 points for the three meets. That included a final round score in the Feb. 3 meet at West of 312.1 points, which was 3.9 points better than second-place Forest Hills Northern.
FHN finished second in the final team standings with 732.16 points, followed by Forest Hills Eastern (661.44), Hamilton (652.78), Zeeland East (615.70), Grand Rapids Catholic Central (596.98), Spring Lake (588.7) and Forest Hills Central (520.98).
The team, coached by Emillie Gort, consists of five seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and eight freshmen. The Dux qualified for regionals a year ago and will try once again to return to regionals this Saturday when they compete in the district meet at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. The meet begins at 10 a.m. The top four teams at the district meet move on to the regionals, Gort said.
Team members are Kendall Anger, Zoie Bush, Saige Canfield, Grace DeJonge, Cass Duyst, Riley Howe, Charlee Keller, Addysen Miller, Berkley Mosbauer, Julisa Muller, Mikenna Qualman, Mallory Raak, Jordin Robelin, Adrianna Rondeau, Leah Santellan, Emma Schurman, Violet Siffin, Bayla Steinke, Jiaya Steinke, Alliyah Touch, Alyssa Touch and Lauren Walters.
Six Straight Victories for West Girls
The Zeeland West varsity girls basketball team extended its winning streak to six games with a pair of victories last week.
On Friday, the Dux defeated Hamilton on the road, 52-39, to move into sole possession of second place in the O-K Black Conference.
The game was tied three times in the first four minutes, but then West went on a six-point run to take the lead for good. The Dux led 15-10 after one quarter and extended their lead to 25-15 at halftime.
Hamilton opened the second half with a 9-2 run to cut the West lead to 27-24 midway through the third quarter. However, the Dux came up with an unusual five-point possession to regain control of the game.
First, senior forward Georgia Kuyers stole a Hawkeye pass, drove in for a layup and was fouled. Kuyers missed the free throw, but West got the offensive rebound. Senior center Sydney Bergsma then nailed a 3-point shot from the top of the key, and the Dux went up 32-24.
West opened up its biggest lead at 48-34 with a little more than three minutes remaining.
Senior guard Jordyn Klaasen led the Dux with 13 points, including 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. Sophomore guard Jenna Hendricks provided a spark off the bench with nine points, seven of them in the first half. Senior center Hannah Stroebe chipped in eight points.
Earlier in the week, the Dux defeated Unity Christian 41-31. Sophomore Sadie Kragt led West with 14 points, while Stroebe added 10, all of them coming in the second half. Klaasen added eight points.
The Dux entered this week at 6-3 in the O-K Black and 12-4 overall. They played at Spring Lake Wednesday night and visit Holland on Friday.
On Friday, the Dux defeated Hamilton on the road, 52-39, to move into sole possession of second place in the O-K Black Conference.
The game was tied three times in the first four minutes, but then West went on a six-point run to take the lead for good. The Dux led 15-10 after one quarter and extended their lead to 25-15 at halftime.
Hamilton opened the second half with a 9-2 run to cut the West lead to 27-24 midway through the third quarter. However, the Dux came up with an unusual five-point possession to regain control of the game.
First, senior forward Georgia Kuyers stole a Hawkeye pass, drove in for a layup and was fouled. Kuyers missed the free throw, but West got the offensive rebound. Senior center Sydney Bergsma then nailed a 3-point shot from the top of the key, and the Dux went up 32-24.
West opened up its biggest lead at 48-34 with a little more than three minutes remaining.
Senior guard Jordyn Klaasen led the Dux with 13 points, including 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. Sophomore guard Jenna Hendricks provided a spark off the bench with nine points, seven of them in the first half. Senior center Hannah Stroebe chipped in eight points.
Earlier in the week, the Dux defeated Unity Christian 41-31. Sophomore Sadie Kragt led West with 14 points, while Stroebe added 10, all of them coming in the second half. Klaasen added eight points.
The Dux entered this week at 6-3 in the O-K Black and 12-4 overall. They played at Spring Lake Wednesday night and visit Holland on Friday.
Last-Second Shot Lifts West Boys to First Win
The Zeeland West varsity boys basketball team used some last-second heroics to pull out its first win of the season on Saturday.
Senior guard Jake Lencioni hit a 3-point basket with eight-tenths of a second remaining in overtime to lift the Dux to a 66-64 victory over Portland High, which had come into the game with a 15-1 record. The game was part of the Bronco Basketball Shootout at Coopersville High School.
After a timeout, the Dux inbounded the ball with 8.6 seconds remaining. Senior guard Gabe Bouwens took the inbounds pass and drove to his right, then pitched the ball back to Lencioni, who hit nothing but net for his fifth 3-pointer of the game.
West held a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Raiders came back with four consecutive 3-point baskets to take the lead. The game featured a shot clock, and the Dux were able to get a late stop as a result. Senior guard Keaton Hendricks tied the score at 58-all with a layup with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation, sending the game into overtime.
West scored the first five points of overtime, but Portland came back with six straight points to take a 64-63 lead. However, a key defensive stop gave the Dux one final chance, and Lencioni delivered the game-winner.
“I am so proud of the resilience these guys have shown all year and the character they have played with,” West coach David Klyn said. “Their care and love for one another has allowed them to keep competing and see their hard work come to fruition.”
Hendricks led the Dux with a season-high 29 points, while Lencioni added 16 and Jakob McLaren contributed a season-high 11.
Senior guard Jake Lencioni hit a 3-point basket with eight-tenths of a second remaining in overtime to lift the Dux to a 66-64 victory over Portland High, which had come into the game with a 15-1 record. The game was part of the Bronco Basketball Shootout at Coopersville High School.
After a timeout, the Dux inbounded the ball with 8.6 seconds remaining. Senior guard Gabe Bouwens took the inbounds pass and drove to his right, then pitched the ball back to Lencioni, who hit nothing but net for his fifth 3-pointer of the game.
West held a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Raiders came back with four consecutive 3-point baskets to take the lead. The game featured a shot clock, and the Dux were able to get a late stop as a result. Senior guard Keaton Hendricks tied the score at 58-all with a layup with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation, sending the game into overtime.
West scored the first five points of overtime, but Portland came back with six straight points to take a 64-63 lead. However, a key defensive stop gave the Dux one final chance, and Lencioni delivered the game-winner.
“I am so proud of the resilience these guys have shown all year and the character they have played with,” West coach David Klyn said. “Their care and love for one another has allowed them to keep competing and see their hard work come to fruition.”
Hendricks led the Dux with a season-high 29 points, while Lencioni added 16 and Jakob McLaren contributed a season-high 11.
ZE Grad Schipper Leads Olivet to Fourth Win
Zeeland East graduate Conner Schipper scored 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds Saturday in helping the University of Olivet men’s basketball team defeat Albion College, 79-73.
The win was the Comets’ fourth straight, improving their record to 6-4 in the MIAA and 8-13 overall.
Olivet trailed by 16 points early in the game at 27-11, but battled back to cut the Albion lead to 35-31 at halftime. The Britons led 61-54 with eight minutes remaining, but Schipper scored five points during a 10-2 run that gave the Comets a 64-63 lead. The lead changed hands multiple times before Olivet closed out the game with eight consecutive points.
Schipper has averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during Olivet’s four-game winning streak, including a 21-point, 14-rebound performance Jan. 29 against Alma College.
The win was the Comets’ fourth straight, improving their record to 6-4 in the MIAA and 8-13 overall.
Olivet trailed by 16 points early in the game at 27-11, but battled back to cut the Albion lead to 35-31 at halftime. The Britons led 61-54 with eight minutes remaining, but Schipper scored five points during a 10-2 run that gave the Comets a 64-63 lead. The lead changed hands multiple times before Olivet closed out the game with eight consecutive points.
Schipper has averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during Olivet’s four-game winning streak, including a 21-point, 14-rebound performance Jan. 29 against Alma College.
