Jeff Bolhouse makes his Zeeland West varsity head coaching debut Friday night as the Dux open their season against Detroit Old Redford Academy. Bolhouse coached the West junior varsity team for more than 20 years before being named earlier this year to replace the retired John Shillito as varsity coach.
File photo
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A new era in the history of Zeeland West football kicks off Friday night, as the Dux open defense of their Division 3 state championship from a year ago against Detroit Old Redford Academy at Zeeland Stadium.
Friday marks the varsity head coaching debut of Jeff Bolhouse, who served more than 20 years as the Dux junior varsity coach. Bolhouse was promoted to the varsity job in February after the retirement of John Shillito, who had coached West from the inception of its program in 2005.
In a story that ran in the Zeeland Record Feb. 20 announcing his hiring, Bolhouse said he was “excited and honored” to take over the varsity program.
“Having had three boys go through and experience the success of Zeeland West football, I look forward to continuing to provide positive experiences for our current and future players,” Bolhouse said at that time. “I value the opportunity to continue working alongside the ZW coaching staff, administration, and parents to collaboratively build success for our program.”
Shillito retired in January after leading the Dux to a record of 185-46 in 20 seasons, 18 state playoff appearances and five state championships, including a 42-22 victory over Detroit Martin Luther King for the Division 3 title at Ford Field in Detroit last November.
While the head coach has changed, very little is expected to change with the rest of the Dux program this fall. Nearly all of the assistant coaches who worked under Shillito remain on staff. The offensive philosophy is expected to remain virtually the same, with West continuing its run-heavy Power-T attack.
Junior Drew Albrecht, who played a backup role at quarterback last year, will start under center Friday night. The ground game is expected to be led by senior halfback Jonah Leslie, who rushed for 501 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, including three TDs in a playoff victory over St. Joseph.
Senior Brandon Holman is expected to be a major contributor on both sides of the ball. Holman made 52 tackles, intercepted three passes and broke up 10 passes on defense a year ago, and rushed for three touchdowns and caught a pass for another score on offense.
Senior lineman Mason Myers is coming off a strong junior campaign that saw him record 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He’s also expected to be one of the leaders on the offensive line.
Another senior standout, Marshall Johnson, has switched positions on offense, moving from the interior of the line to tight end. Johnson will play linebacker on defense.
In a scheduling quirk, West will play its first six games at Zeeland Stadium, although its traditional Bird Bowl rivalry game with Zeeland East on Sept. 26 is technically considered a road game.
West is part of what should be a very competitive O-K Gold Conference that will include Forest Hills Central, who advanced to the Division 3 regional final last year before falling to the Dux; Grand Rapids South Christian, who went to the Division 4 semifinals a year ago; Unity Christian, who handed West its only loss last year; and Grand Rapids West Catholic.
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West Schedule (all games 7 p.m.)
Aug. 29 – Detroit Old Redford
Sept. 5 – West Ottawa
Sept. 12 – Whitehall
Sept. 19 – GR South Christian
Sept. 26 – vs. Zeeland East
Oct. 3 – Unity Christian
Oct. 10 – at Forest Hills Central
Oct. 17 – at Wyoming
Oct. 24 – at GR West Catholic
Zeeland Record
A new era in the history of Zeeland West football kicks off Friday night, as the Dux open defense of their Division 3 state championship from a year ago against Detroit Old Redford Academy at Zeeland Stadium.
Friday marks the varsity head coaching debut of Jeff Bolhouse, who served more than 20 years as the Dux junior varsity coach. Bolhouse was promoted to the varsity job in February after the retirement of John Shillito, who had coached West from the inception of its program in 2005.
In a story that ran in the Zeeland Record Feb. 20 announcing his hiring, Bolhouse said he was “excited and honored” to take over the varsity program.
“Having had three boys go through and experience the success of Zeeland West football, I look forward to continuing to provide positive experiences for our current and future players,” Bolhouse said at that time. “I value the opportunity to continue working alongside the ZW coaching staff, administration, and parents to collaboratively build success for our program.”
Shillito retired in January after leading the Dux to a record of 185-46 in 20 seasons, 18 state playoff appearances and five state championships, including a 42-22 victory over Detroit Martin Luther King for the Division 3 title at Ford Field in Detroit last November.
While the head coach has changed, very little is expected to change with the rest of the Dux program this fall. Nearly all of the assistant coaches who worked under Shillito remain on staff. The offensive philosophy is expected to remain virtually the same, with West continuing its run-heavy Power-T attack.
Junior Drew Albrecht, who played a backup role at quarterback last year, will start under center Friday night. The ground game is expected to be led by senior halfback Jonah Leslie, who rushed for 501 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, including three TDs in a playoff victory over St. Joseph.
Senior Brandon Holman is expected to be a major contributor on both sides of the ball. Holman made 52 tackles, intercepted three passes and broke up 10 passes on defense a year ago, and rushed for three touchdowns and caught a pass for another score on offense.
Senior lineman Mason Myers is coming off a strong junior campaign that saw him record 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He’s also expected to be one of the leaders on the offensive line.
Another senior standout, Marshall Johnson, has switched positions on offense, moving from the interior of the line to tight end. Johnson will play linebacker on defense.
In a scheduling quirk, West will play its first six games at Zeeland Stadium, although its traditional Bird Bowl rivalry game with Zeeland East on Sept. 26 is technically considered a road game.
West is part of what should be a very competitive O-K Gold Conference that will include Forest Hills Central, who advanced to the Division 3 regional final last year before falling to the Dux; Grand Rapids South Christian, who went to the Division 4 semifinals a year ago; Unity Christian, who handed West its only loss last year; and Grand Rapids West Catholic.
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West Schedule (all games 7 p.m.)
Aug. 29 – Detroit Old Redford
Sept. 5 – West Ottawa
Sept. 12 – Whitehall
Sept. 19 – GR South Christian
Sept. 26 – vs. Zeeland East
Oct. 3 – Unity Christian
Oct. 10 – at Forest Hills Central
Oct. 17 – at Wyoming
Oct. 24 – at GR West Catholic
East Girls Repeat as Sunrise Invite Champs
The Zeeland East varsity girls golf team successfully defended its championship in the early-season Sunrise Invite Aug. 19 at Winding Creek Golf Club.
The Chix posted a combined team score of 284, followed by West Ottawa with 297, Zeeland West with 313 and Holland with 316.
East overcame rain conditions on the front nine, posting a team score of 203 on the Blue nine course at Winding Creek, led by Lucy Ehinger with a 47 and Carli Stepka with a 49. The event then switched to a two-teammate scramble on the Gold nine course, with East posting scores of 40 and 41.
West was led by Aaliyah Le with a 51 on the front nine. Allison Purtee shot a 52, Gabby Hoekwater a 55 and Brynlee DeYoung a 59.
The Chix posted a combined team score of 284, followed by West Ottawa with 297, Zeeland West with 313 and Holland with 316.
East overcame rain conditions on the front nine, posting a team score of 203 on the Blue nine course at Winding Creek, led by Lucy Ehinger with a 47 and Carli Stepka with a 49. The event then switched to a two-teammate scramble on the Gold nine course, with East posting scores of 40 and 41.
West was led by Aaliyah Le with a 51 on the front nine. Allison Purtee shot a 52, Gabby Hoekwater a 55 and Brynlee DeYoung a 59.
East Football Opens Tonight
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Tonight marks the start of the 2025 varsity football season at Zeeland East, and there’s a great deal of anticipation in the air as the Chix take to the field to face Grand Rapids Union at Zeeland Stadium.
The Chix, who are under the direction of fifth-year head coach Joe Woodruff, are coming off a 5-5 record a year ago and have made the state playoffs the last two years, but losing both times in the opening round to rival Zeeland West.
East brings back a great deal of talent on both sides of the ball from a year ago, starting on offense with junior quarterback Will Drnek.
“That’s one of the advantages of being really young like we were last year,” Woodruff said.
Drnek completed 64 percent of his passes (119 of 186) as a sophomore, throwing for 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns while only being intercepted four times.
“He’s really worked hard over the offseason. He gets better every day,” Woodruff said of Drnek.
Drnek will have two familiar targets returning in the receiving corps in juniors Coby Miller and Isaiah Boonstra. Miller, who made several big plays in the passing game last year, caught 26 passes for 432 yards and five touchdowns. Boonstra hauled in a team-high 28 receptions for 380 yards and five scores while dropping only one pass all season. Seniors Caleb Claerbaut and Kolter Rotman could also contribute in the passing game.
Senior Jack Kamphuis is the leading returning rusher from a year ago. Kamphuis rushed for 312 on 48 carries for a 6.5-yard average in a backup role and scored five touchdowns, including an 87-yard gallop.
The linebacking corps figures to be the strength of the East defense. Senior Derek Baxter had an outstanding season a year ago for the Chix, posting 54 tackles, including five tackles for loss. Fellow senior Peyton Davis was a force on the pass rush, leading the team in both sacks (5.5) and quarterback pressures (10) while making 46 tackles. Davis also led East in tackles for loss with 9.5.
Another senior, Ben DeLost, was also busy in opponents’ backfields, making 47 stops, including nine quarterback pressures and 3.5 sacks. Senior Brayden Smith was in on 40 tackles last year, including 3.5 tackles for loss, and recorded an interception.
Others expected to contribute to the East defense including senior defensive back Cameron Jaworowski, who was second on team in the tackles last season with 66. Also returning are junior lineman Zeek Ramadhani, who made 48 tackles a year ago, including five for loss, plus seven quarterback pressures, and senior defensive back Judah Kalmbacher, who made 28 tackles.
With East competing in the rugged O-K Gold Conference, Woodruff says staying healthy and avoiding turnovers will be key to a successful season. He said when East didn’t turn the ball over a year ago, the Chix were usually successful.
While eight of East’s nine regular season games are on Fridays, the Chix will have a Saturday contest on Sept. 13 at home against Alpena.
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East Schedule (all games 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Aug. 28 – GR Union
Sept. 5 – at Flushing
Sept. 13 – Alpena, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 – at Unity Christian
Sept. 26 – Zeeland West
Oct. 3 – at Wyoming
Oct. 10 – GR South Christian
Oct. 17 – Forest Hills Central
Oct. 24 – at Hamilton
Zeeland Record
Tonight marks the start of the 2025 varsity football season at Zeeland East, and there’s a great deal of anticipation in the air as the Chix take to the field to face Grand Rapids Union at Zeeland Stadium.
The Chix, who are under the direction of fifth-year head coach Joe Woodruff, are coming off a 5-5 record a year ago and have made the state playoffs the last two years, but losing both times in the opening round to rival Zeeland West.
East brings back a great deal of talent on both sides of the ball from a year ago, starting on offense with junior quarterback Will Drnek.
“That’s one of the advantages of being really young like we were last year,” Woodruff said.
Drnek completed 64 percent of his passes (119 of 186) as a sophomore, throwing for 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns while only being intercepted four times.
“He’s really worked hard over the offseason. He gets better every day,” Woodruff said of Drnek.
Drnek will have two familiar targets returning in the receiving corps in juniors Coby Miller and Isaiah Boonstra. Miller, who made several big plays in the passing game last year, caught 26 passes for 432 yards and five touchdowns. Boonstra hauled in a team-high 28 receptions for 380 yards and five scores while dropping only one pass all season. Seniors Caleb Claerbaut and Kolter Rotman could also contribute in the passing game.
Senior Jack Kamphuis is the leading returning rusher from a year ago. Kamphuis rushed for 312 on 48 carries for a 6.5-yard average in a backup role and scored five touchdowns, including an 87-yard gallop.
The linebacking corps figures to be the strength of the East defense. Senior Derek Baxter had an outstanding season a year ago for the Chix, posting 54 tackles, including five tackles for loss. Fellow senior Peyton Davis was a force on the pass rush, leading the team in both sacks (5.5) and quarterback pressures (10) while making 46 tackles. Davis also led East in tackles for loss with 9.5.
Another senior, Ben DeLost, was also busy in opponents’ backfields, making 47 stops, including nine quarterback pressures and 3.5 sacks. Senior Brayden Smith was in on 40 tackles last year, including 3.5 tackles for loss, and recorded an interception.
Others expected to contribute to the East defense including senior defensive back Cameron Jaworowski, who was second on team in the tackles last season with 66. Also returning are junior lineman Zeek Ramadhani, who made 48 tackles a year ago, including five for loss, plus seven quarterback pressures, and senior defensive back Judah Kalmbacher, who made 28 tackles.
With East competing in the rugged O-K Gold Conference, Woodruff says staying healthy and avoiding turnovers will be key to a successful season. He said when East didn’t turn the ball over a year ago, the Chix were usually successful.
While eight of East’s nine regular season games are on Fridays, the Chix will have a Saturday contest on Sept. 13 at home against Alpena.
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East Schedule (all games 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Aug. 28 – GR Union
Sept. 5 – at Flushing
Sept. 13 – Alpena, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 – at Unity Christian
Sept. 26 – Zeeland West
Oct. 3 – at Wyoming
Oct. 10 – GR South Christian
Oct. 17 – Forest Hills Central
Oct. 24 – at Hamilton
East Volleyball Opens With 5-0 Start
The Zeeland East varsity volleyball team got off to a fast start last week, winning five straight matches over a span of two days.
On Aug. 20, the Chix began their season with their home quad. They swept Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in their first match, 25-19, 25-17. They then took a hard-fought three-set win over a West Ottawa team that defeated East twice last year, 25-15, 23-25, 25-22.
East closed out the day with a sweep of Stevensville Lakeshore, 25-11, 25-21.
Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon led the way for the Chix for the day, slamming 37 kills, and adding 26 digs and three aces. Senior middle hitter Savannah Byker had 12 kills and four aces. Senior Jordan Inosencio had a strong performance, both serving and on defense, with eight aces and 28 digs, both team highs.
Senior setter Elise Smith dished out 64 assists and served up three aces. Senior defensive specialist Kiersten Kuiper had 21 digs. Junior Camille Louwerse had three blocks.
Last Thursday, East took both ends of a triangular, sweeping Grandville 25-17, 25-21, and Forest Hills Central, 25-12, 25-19.
Risdon led the Chix with 14 kills, 16 digs and four aces, while Byker added nine kills. Senior Mahalia Vis served up a team-high five aces. Smith handed out 28 assists for the evening, while Inosencio scooped up 12 digs and junior middle hitter Bri Cole had two blocks.
On Aug. 20, the Chix began their season with their home quad. They swept Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in their first match, 25-19, 25-17. They then took a hard-fought three-set win over a West Ottawa team that defeated East twice last year, 25-15, 23-25, 25-22.
East closed out the day with a sweep of Stevensville Lakeshore, 25-11, 25-21.
Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon led the way for the Chix for the day, slamming 37 kills, and adding 26 digs and three aces. Senior middle hitter Savannah Byker had 12 kills and four aces. Senior Jordan Inosencio had a strong performance, both serving and on defense, with eight aces and 28 digs, both team highs.
Senior setter Elise Smith dished out 64 assists and served up three aces. Senior defensive specialist Kiersten Kuiper had 21 digs. Junior Camille Louwerse had three blocks.
Last Thursday, East took both ends of a triangular, sweeping Grandville 25-17, 25-21, and Forest Hills Central, 25-12, 25-19.
Risdon led the Chix with 14 kills, 16 digs and four aces, while Byker added nine kills. Senior Mahalia Vis served up a team-high five aces. Smith handed out 28 assists for the evening, while Inosencio scooped up 12 digs and junior middle hitter Bri Cole had two blocks.
Raab Wins at Under The Lights Run
Zeeland East cross country sophomore Adalyn Raab was the girls individual winner last Friday at South Christian High School’s Under The Lights Run.
Raab cruised through the 5-kilometer course in a time of 18 minutes, 21.7 seconds, more than 17 seconds faster than runnerup Avery Engbers of Holland Christian. Raab’s performance helped the Chix finish third among 14 teams in the Twilight Girls 5k with a score of 114 points.
Zeeland West finished fourth with a score of 126. Holland Christian won the meet with a team score of 52.
Sophomore Caralyn Elkins was West’s top runner, finishing 10th in a time of 19:48.5.
East placed seven runners among the top 50. Besides Raab, senior Taryn DiLaura finished 14th in 19:52.5, senior Megan Kuzma was 26th in 20:47.3, senior Libby Post placed 36th in 21:26.6 and senior Emily Graves ran 39th in 21:34.8 to account for the Chix scoring.
For West, senior Evie Kleinkhesel posted a personal best, placing 17th in 20:04, junior Kaila Keeler finished 28th in 21:04.5, freshman Tessa Albrecht took 29th in 21:04.8 and Rowan Sloothaak was 43rd in 21:47.5. West had six runners in the top 50.
In the Twilight Boys 5k, Zeeland West finished fourth among 15 teams with a team score of 143, placing six runners in the top 50.
Senior Keagan Smith led the way for the Dux, finishing 16th in 16:33. Freshman Tanner Smith posted the second-fastest time ever for a West freshman, finishing 18th in 16:39.8. Senior Rob Dodd placed 22nd in 16:42.9. Senior Sam Taylor finished 41st in 17:00.8, and freshman Bryson Hassevort placed 46th in 17:08.2.
Zeeland East placed 14th in the boys meet with a score of 400. Junior Nate Davis led the Chix, finishing 45th in 17:07.2. Sophomore Nico DiLaura was 94th in 18:20.7 and junior Tristen Hinson was 117th in 19:00.2.
Raab cruised through the 5-kilometer course in a time of 18 minutes, 21.7 seconds, more than 17 seconds faster than runnerup Avery Engbers of Holland Christian. Raab’s performance helped the Chix finish third among 14 teams in the Twilight Girls 5k with a score of 114 points.
Zeeland West finished fourth with a score of 126. Holland Christian won the meet with a team score of 52.
Sophomore Caralyn Elkins was West’s top runner, finishing 10th in a time of 19:48.5.
East placed seven runners among the top 50. Besides Raab, senior Taryn DiLaura finished 14th in 19:52.5, senior Megan Kuzma was 26th in 20:47.3, senior Libby Post placed 36th in 21:26.6 and senior Emily Graves ran 39th in 21:34.8 to account for the Chix scoring.
For West, senior Evie Kleinkhesel posted a personal best, placing 17th in 20:04, junior Kaila Keeler finished 28th in 21:04.5, freshman Tessa Albrecht took 29th in 21:04.8 and Rowan Sloothaak was 43rd in 21:47.5. West had six runners in the top 50.
In the Twilight Boys 5k, Zeeland West finished fourth among 15 teams with a team score of 143, placing six runners in the top 50.
Senior Keagan Smith led the way for the Dux, finishing 16th in 16:33. Freshman Tanner Smith posted the second-fastest time ever for a West freshman, finishing 18th in 16:39.8. Senior Rob Dodd placed 22nd in 16:42.9. Senior Sam Taylor finished 41st in 17:00.8, and freshman Bryson Hassevort placed 46th in 17:08.2.
Zeeland East placed 14th in the boys meet with a score of 400. Junior Nate Davis led the Chix, finishing 45th in 17:07.2. Sophomore Nico DiLaura was 94th in 18:20.7 and junior Tristen Hinson was 117th in 19:00.2.
