Madison Ensing returns for the Zeeland High girls swimming team for her senior year after winning the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle at last fall’s Division 1 state finals. Ensing has committed to continuing her swimming career next year at the University of Arizona.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland High girls swimming team has seen steady improvements over the last four years.
In 2021, Zeeland finished 21st at the state Division 1 finals. Since then, the team has improved to 14th in 2022, 10th in 2023 and fifth place at last year’s meet at the Holland Aquatic Center.
This year, coach Drew Scheerhorn and his team has their sights set on gaining a team trophy for finishing in the top four at the Division 1 finals. Scheerhorn likes the work ethic he has seen so far.
“We talk (the kids about) actions matching their goals a lot,” Scheerhorn said. “We talk a lot about ‘this is your team. I can help lead you guys as much as I can, but you guys are the ones to pick yourselves up, you guys are the ones that provide support for your team. This is your deal. How good of a team do you want to be? That’s up to you.’”
Zeeland hasn’t finished in the top four at state since a fourth-place finish in 2012. But there’s every reason in the world for optimism. Every swimmer that scored for Zeeland at last year’s state final is back, led by senior Madison Ensing, the defending state champion in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.
“We have a stacked senior class, but then we have some really good underclassmen that are going to contribute as well,” Scheerhorn said.
Ensing, who is headed to the University of Arizona to swim for the Wildcats next season, will be moved around to different events during the course of this season, with no firm decision on what events she might compete in at the state finals, Scheerhorn said.
“With her, it’s a little bit more (of) where can she have the best opportunity to win again and then, who’s going to step up outside of our top people, to be in relays, to where maybe she shouldn’t be in this relay, we should move her to the other relay,” Scheerhorn said.
“She swims club, she did a distance event, she’s good at (individual medley), she’s good at (butterfly), she done the 500 (freestyle), her time from swimming club is faster than our school record in the 500.”
Also returning is junior Ariyah Gettings, who finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke a year ago, and sophomore Natalie Lauritzen, who finished ninth at state in the 100-yard backstroke.
Sophomore Mallory Ensing, Madison’s sister, is a potential state qualifier in the breaststroke, as is sophomore Lucy Boes.
Senior Anna VanDyken is expected to swim distance events and the butterfly. Fellow senior Peyton Weenum will also swim distance, while junior Paige Davis will swim the fly. Junior Molly Meyering and seniors Addison Mishler and Jossalyn Wolters will compete in the sprints.
Zeeland opened its season last Saturday with a strong finish at the Hudsonville Relays, finishing third among 14 teams with 156 points, just two points behind second-place Rockford. East Grand Rapids won the meet with 192 points.
Zeeland had three second-place finishes during the Hudsonville meet. In the 400 medley relay, the team of Lauritzen, Mallory Ensing, Davis and Madison Ensing posted a time of 4:05.69. In the 800 freestyle relay, the foursome of VanDyken, Weenum, Maddie Vanden Heuvel and Madison Ensing took the runnerup spot in 8:30.66. Then in the 200 freestyle relay, the team of Lauritzen, Gettings, Mishler and Wolters took second in 1:56.60.
Zeeland swam a home meet on Tuesday against Forest Hills Central, and will host West Ottawa tonight at the Zeeland West natatorium. Meet time is 6 p.m.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland High girls swimming team has seen steady improvements over the last four years.
In 2021, Zeeland finished 21st at the state Division 1 finals. Since then, the team has improved to 14th in 2022, 10th in 2023 and fifth place at last year’s meet at the Holland Aquatic Center.
This year, coach Drew Scheerhorn and his team has their sights set on gaining a team trophy for finishing in the top four at the Division 1 finals. Scheerhorn likes the work ethic he has seen so far.
“We talk (the kids about) actions matching their goals a lot,” Scheerhorn said. “We talk a lot about ‘this is your team. I can help lead you guys as much as I can, but you guys are the ones to pick yourselves up, you guys are the ones that provide support for your team. This is your deal. How good of a team do you want to be? That’s up to you.’”
Zeeland hasn’t finished in the top four at state since a fourth-place finish in 2012. But there’s every reason in the world for optimism. Every swimmer that scored for Zeeland at last year’s state final is back, led by senior Madison Ensing, the defending state champion in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.
“We have a stacked senior class, but then we have some really good underclassmen that are going to contribute as well,” Scheerhorn said.
Ensing, who is headed to the University of Arizona to swim for the Wildcats next season, will be moved around to different events during the course of this season, with no firm decision on what events she might compete in at the state finals, Scheerhorn said.
“With her, it’s a little bit more (of) where can she have the best opportunity to win again and then, who’s going to step up outside of our top people, to be in relays, to where maybe she shouldn’t be in this relay, we should move her to the other relay,” Scheerhorn said.
“She swims club, she did a distance event, she’s good at (individual medley), she’s good at (butterfly), she done the 500 (freestyle), her time from swimming club is faster than our school record in the 500.”
Also returning is junior Ariyah Gettings, who finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke a year ago, and sophomore Natalie Lauritzen, who finished ninth at state in the 100-yard backstroke.
Sophomore Mallory Ensing, Madison’s sister, is a potential state qualifier in the breaststroke, as is sophomore Lucy Boes.
Senior Anna VanDyken is expected to swim distance events and the butterfly. Fellow senior Peyton Weenum will also swim distance, while junior Paige Davis will swim the fly. Junior Molly Meyering and seniors Addison Mishler and Jossalyn Wolters will compete in the sprints.
Zeeland opened its season last Saturday with a strong finish at the Hudsonville Relays, finishing third among 14 teams with 156 points, just two points behind second-place Rockford. East Grand Rapids won the meet with 192 points.
Zeeland had three second-place finishes during the Hudsonville meet. In the 400 medley relay, the team of Lauritzen, Mallory Ensing, Davis and Madison Ensing posted a time of 4:05.69. In the 800 freestyle relay, the foursome of VanDyken, Weenum, Maddie Vanden Heuvel and Madison Ensing took the runnerup spot in 8:30.66. Then in the 200 freestyle relay, the team of Lauritzen, Gettings, Mishler and Wolters took second in 1:56.60.
Zeeland swam a home meet on Tuesday against Forest Hills Central, and will host West Ottawa tonight at the Zeeland West natatorium. Meet time is 6 p.m.
Blocked Kick Preserves Chix Win
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A year ago, Zeeland East dropped a heartbreaking contest to Flushing at Zeeland Stadium on a long touchdown pass in the final minute of play.
This time, the Chix overcame numerous penalties and made the key plays when they needed to, and it was a happy bus ride back from the east side of the state last Friday.
East held on fourth down at the Chix 5-yard-line midway through the fourth quarter, then blocked a game-tying extra point in the final seconds to come away with a 14-13 victory over the Raiders to go to 2-0 on the season.
Flushing took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards down the field to open the scoring. Drew Fisher finished the drive off with a 5-yard touchdown run and the Raiders had the early lead at 7-0.
“The defense adjusted (and) played well from there,” East coach Joe Woodruff said.
In the second quarter, the Chix drove to the Flushing 7-yard-line. An apparent tying touchdown was nullified by a penalty, and the drive stalled out. Junior Carter Dyk put East on the board with a 25-yard field goal, cutting the Flushing lead to 7-3.
Early in the third quarter, a 50-yard catch and run by junior wide receiver Isaiah Boonstra of a pass from junior quarterback Will Drnek put the Chix inside the Flushing 10 with a chance to take their first lead. But again, penalties kept East out of the end zone. Dyk booted his second field goal of the night, a 30-yarder, pulling the Chix within one at 7-6.
After a stop by the East defense on Flushing’s next possession, the Chix drove 65 yards to take the lead. A 35-yard pass from Drnek to Coby Miller and a 15-yard completion from Drnek to Caleb Claerbaut on fourth down highlighted the march.
Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, senior running Bradyn Smith found the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run. Drnek then hit Miller with a two-point conversion pass, and East led 14-7.
Flushing drove back down the field in an effort to answer the East score. But the Chix held at their 5-yard-line with 6:41 to go, and took possession on downs.
East picked up one first down on the ensuing possession but was forced to punt from its own 24. Flushing came back down the field, aided by three defensive penalties on the Chix.
With 16 seconds remaining, Ethan LeCureux threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Madix Kinzie, cutting the East lead to 14-13.
However, East blocked the extra point to preserve the lead. The Chix then recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran the clock for the win.
Drnek led the Chix with 168 yards passing on 11 completions in 17 attempts. Boonstra caught four passes for 71 yards while Miller had three receptions for 58 yards. Smith rushed for 26 yards on 11 carries while junior Payton Sackett had 25 yards on 10 attempts.
Senior linebacker Ben DeLost led the East defense with 10 tackles and recovered a fumble, while junior linebacker Kalob Willis made eight tackles. Junior defensive end Zeek Ramadhani, bouncing back from an injury a week ago, had a sack among his five tackles.
East hosts Alpena High School in a rare Saturday regular season game this weekend at Zeeland Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Zeeland Record
A year ago, Zeeland East dropped a heartbreaking contest to Flushing at Zeeland Stadium on a long touchdown pass in the final minute of play.
This time, the Chix overcame numerous penalties and made the key plays when they needed to, and it was a happy bus ride back from the east side of the state last Friday.
East held on fourth down at the Chix 5-yard-line midway through the fourth quarter, then blocked a game-tying extra point in the final seconds to come away with a 14-13 victory over the Raiders to go to 2-0 on the season.
Flushing took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards down the field to open the scoring. Drew Fisher finished the drive off with a 5-yard touchdown run and the Raiders had the early lead at 7-0.
“The defense adjusted (and) played well from there,” East coach Joe Woodruff said.
In the second quarter, the Chix drove to the Flushing 7-yard-line. An apparent tying touchdown was nullified by a penalty, and the drive stalled out. Junior Carter Dyk put East on the board with a 25-yard field goal, cutting the Flushing lead to 7-3.
Early in the third quarter, a 50-yard catch and run by junior wide receiver Isaiah Boonstra of a pass from junior quarterback Will Drnek put the Chix inside the Flushing 10 with a chance to take their first lead. But again, penalties kept East out of the end zone. Dyk booted his second field goal of the night, a 30-yarder, pulling the Chix within one at 7-6.
After a stop by the East defense on Flushing’s next possession, the Chix drove 65 yards to take the lead. A 35-yard pass from Drnek to Coby Miller and a 15-yard completion from Drnek to Caleb Claerbaut on fourth down highlighted the march.
Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, senior running Bradyn Smith found the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run. Drnek then hit Miller with a two-point conversion pass, and East led 14-7.
Flushing drove back down the field in an effort to answer the East score. But the Chix held at their 5-yard-line with 6:41 to go, and took possession on downs.
East picked up one first down on the ensuing possession but was forced to punt from its own 24. Flushing came back down the field, aided by three defensive penalties on the Chix.
With 16 seconds remaining, Ethan LeCureux threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Madix Kinzie, cutting the East lead to 14-13.
However, East blocked the extra point to preserve the lead. The Chix then recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran the clock for the win.
Drnek led the Chix with 168 yards passing on 11 completions in 17 attempts. Boonstra caught four passes for 71 yards while Miller had three receptions for 58 yards. Smith rushed for 26 yards on 11 carries while junior Payton Sackett had 25 yards on 10 attempts.
Senior linebacker Ben DeLost led the East defense with 10 tackles and recovered a fumble, while junior linebacker Kalob Willis made eight tackles. Junior defensive end Zeek Ramadhani, bouncing back from an injury a week ago, had a sack among his five tackles.
East hosts Alpena High School in a rare Saturday regular season game this weekend at Zeeland Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Dux Stun WO With Miracle Finish
Zeeland West defenders celebrate after a goal-line stand in the third quarter of last Friday’s game against West Ottawa. Pictured from left are Mason Myers (50), Logan Nash (22), Brandon Holman (6) and Jace Henry (68).
Photo by Angela Howe Creations
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
One second remained on the clock in last Friday’s varsity football game between Zeeland West and West Ottawa at Zeeland Stadium.
The Dux had the ball at the Panther 37-yard-line, trailing 24-22 after West Ottawa’s Conner Valk had kicked a 31-yard field goal with 48 seconds remaining to give his team the lead.
West needed a miracle.
Junior quarterback Drew Albrecht took the snap and rolled to his left, then wound up and fired the ball as far as he could as a West Ottawa lineman was closing in on him.
Four Panther defensive backs were gathered inside the West Ottawa 10, waiting for the ball to come down. Surely, the ball would be intercepted or knocked down.
But inexplicably, two West Ottawa defenders collided and the ball was tipped up in the air – into the waiting arms of junior halfback Brandon Holman inside the 5. Holman took the deflection into the end zone for an improbable game-winning touchdown as the Dux stunned the Panthers, 28-24, to improve to 2-0 under new coach Jeff Bolhouse.
“We kind of drew (the play) up in the dirt, and Drew made a big throw,” Bolhouse said after the game. “At one point … we thought there might be a chance here. We just talked to our guys about playing to the end, and luckily, we made a play. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
Bolhouse said the Dux had prepared for a situation like this while getting ready for the season.
“It’s something that we’ve run in the summer at 7-on-7 (scrimmages). We decided to try it here, and (tight end) Grady Patrick (said), ‘I don’t know what that was.’ We called it a different play during the summer, we just talk different verbiage. Our guys just made a play.”
West opened the scoring early in the second quarter, as senior halfback Jonah Leslie capped a 63-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. Holman ran in the two-point conversion and the Dux led 8-0.
The Panthers stormed back with a pair of touchdowns to take a 15-8 halftime lead – first a 53-yard pass from Abel Anaya to Ronnie Ferguson and then a 2-yard plunge by Caleb Montgomery.
The Dux took the second-half kickoff, driving 65 yards in five plays. Albrecht fooled the West Ottawa defense with a perfect play-action fake, and found Holman wide open for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The two-point try failed, leaving West behind 15-14.
The Dux defense came up big late in the third quarter. West Ottawa had the ball second and goal at the 1-yard-line, but the Dux stuffed the Panthers on three straight running plays, including an attempted “tush push,” and took possession on downs.
West started the ensuing drive inside its own 1. A 33-yard pass from Albrecht to Patrick got the Dux out from the shadow of their own goal posts.
Albrecht used his legs to finish off the 99-yard drive, breaking loose for a 43-yard touchdown run. He then found Patrick for the two-point conversion for a 22-15 West lead heading into the fourth quarter.
West Ottawa pulled to within one at 22-21 when Anaya hit J.T. Gill with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 3:44 remaining. However, Holman blocked the extra-point kick to temporarily preserve the lead.
West turned the ball over on downs at its own 44 on its next possession after an apparent fourth-down completion was nullified because the receiver was out of bounds. A pair of Anaya completions moved the ball inside the Dux 15, setting up Valk’s go-ahead field goal – and setting the stage for the dramatic ending.
The Dux finished the game with 361 yards total offense, including 262 on the ground. Holman rushed for 86 yards on 19 carries and Niko Moungkhoun added 75 yards on nine attempts. Albrecht completed 4-of-6 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and added 55 rushing yards.
Holman also led the defense with seven tackles, while senior Marshall Johnson added six.
West hosts Whitehall this Friday at Zeeland Stadium, with kickoff at 7 p.m.
Zeeland Record
One second remained on the clock in last Friday’s varsity football game between Zeeland West and West Ottawa at Zeeland Stadium.
The Dux had the ball at the Panther 37-yard-line, trailing 24-22 after West Ottawa’s Conner Valk had kicked a 31-yard field goal with 48 seconds remaining to give his team the lead.
West needed a miracle.
Junior quarterback Drew Albrecht took the snap and rolled to his left, then wound up and fired the ball as far as he could as a West Ottawa lineman was closing in on him.
Four Panther defensive backs were gathered inside the West Ottawa 10, waiting for the ball to come down. Surely, the ball would be intercepted or knocked down.
But inexplicably, two West Ottawa defenders collided and the ball was tipped up in the air – into the waiting arms of junior halfback Brandon Holman inside the 5. Holman took the deflection into the end zone for an improbable game-winning touchdown as the Dux stunned the Panthers, 28-24, to improve to 2-0 under new coach Jeff Bolhouse.
“We kind of drew (the play) up in the dirt, and Drew made a big throw,” Bolhouse said after the game. “At one point … we thought there might be a chance here. We just talked to our guys about playing to the end, and luckily, we made a play. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
Bolhouse said the Dux had prepared for a situation like this while getting ready for the season.
“It’s something that we’ve run in the summer at 7-on-7 (scrimmages). We decided to try it here, and (tight end) Grady Patrick (said), ‘I don’t know what that was.’ We called it a different play during the summer, we just talk different verbiage. Our guys just made a play.”
West opened the scoring early in the second quarter, as senior halfback Jonah Leslie capped a 63-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. Holman ran in the two-point conversion and the Dux led 8-0.
The Panthers stormed back with a pair of touchdowns to take a 15-8 halftime lead – first a 53-yard pass from Abel Anaya to Ronnie Ferguson and then a 2-yard plunge by Caleb Montgomery.
The Dux took the second-half kickoff, driving 65 yards in five plays. Albrecht fooled the West Ottawa defense with a perfect play-action fake, and found Holman wide open for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The two-point try failed, leaving West behind 15-14.
The Dux defense came up big late in the third quarter. West Ottawa had the ball second and goal at the 1-yard-line, but the Dux stuffed the Panthers on three straight running plays, including an attempted “tush push,” and took possession on downs.
West started the ensuing drive inside its own 1. A 33-yard pass from Albrecht to Patrick got the Dux out from the shadow of their own goal posts.
Albrecht used his legs to finish off the 99-yard drive, breaking loose for a 43-yard touchdown run. He then found Patrick for the two-point conversion for a 22-15 West lead heading into the fourth quarter.
West Ottawa pulled to within one at 22-21 when Anaya hit J.T. Gill with a 14-yard touchdown pass with 3:44 remaining. However, Holman blocked the extra-point kick to temporarily preserve the lead.
West turned the ball over on downs at its own 44 on its next possession after an apparent fourth-down completion was nullified because the receiver was out of bounds. A pair of Anaya completions moved the ball inside the Dux 15, setting up Valk’s go-ahead field goal – and setting the stage for the dramatic ending.
The Dux finished the game with 361 yards total offense, including 262 on the ground. Holman rushed for 86 yards on 19 carries and Niko Moungkhoun added 75 yards on nine attempts. Albrecht completed 4-of-6 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and added 55 rushing yards.
Holman also led the defense with seven tackles, while senior Marshall Johnson added six.
West hosts Whitehall this Friday at Zeeland Stadium, with kickoff at 7 p.m.
Chix, Dux Tie in Boys Soccer Matchup
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The first meeting of the season between the Zeeland East and Zeeland West varsity boys soccer teams last Thursday ended in a 2-2 tie on the Dux home pitch.
The standoff left both teams at 0-3-1 in conference play. West’s record after the game was 3-4-1 while East was at 1-5-1.
The Chix carried the play in the game’s early stages, and got on the board first when senior Levi Bannach scored midway through the first half.
That 1-0 lead held up until late in the first half, when West struck for two goals in the final six minutes of the half.
First, junior Owen Frego took a feed from classmate Dakoda Glennie and found the net with 5:37 remaining to tie the score.
Then, with 35 seconds left in the half, senior Isaac Lambrix blasted a shot through the hands of the East keeper to give the Dux a 2-1 lead.
The Chix would capitalize on a West foul in the penalty area to get the equalizer midway through the second half. Senior Tyson VandenHeuvel’s penalty kick sailed into the net, just under the crossbar, to tie the game at 2-2.
While both teams had opportunities late in the contest, neither team was able to break through with a game-winning goal.
“Our guys never quit,” West coach Andy Hondorp said. “(We played) probably the most complete 80 minutes of soccer we’ve played all season. I’m very proud of our guys. I thought we fought to the end. We had opportunities, we just couldn’t come out with a win.”
“It was a hard-fought game,” East coach James Lunga said. “You never know coming into East vs. West what the outcome (will be), but that’s what makes it fun. Ultimately, that’s their friends, the East and West boys are friends, but ultimately they came here out to represent their team and their school.”
The Chix and Dux will meet again Sept. 29 at East, with game time at 6:45 p.m.
Zeeland Record
The first meeting of the season between the Zeeland East and Zeeland West varsity boys soccer teams last Thursday ended in a 2-2 tie on the Dux home pitch.
The standoff left both teams at 0-3-1 in conference play. West’s record after the game was 3-4-1 while East was at 1-5-1.
The Chix carried the play in the game’s early stages, and got on the board first when senior Levi Bannach scored midway through the first half.
That 1-0 lead held up until late in the first half, when West struck for two goals in the final six minutes of the half.
First, junior Owen Frego took a feed from classmate Dakoda Glennie and found the net with 5:37 remaining to tie the score.
Then, with 35 seconds left in the half, senior Isaac Lambrix blasted a shot through the hands of the East keeper to give the Dux a 2-1 lead.
The Chix would capitalize on a West foul in the penalty area to get the equalizer midway through the second half. Senior Tyson VandenHeuvel’s penalty kick sailed into the net, just under the crossbar, to tie the game at 2-2.
While both teams had opportunities late in the contest, neither team was able to break through with a game-winning goal.
“Our guys never quit,” West coach Andy Hondorp said. “(We played) probably the most complete 80 minutes of soccer we’ve played all season. I’m very proud of our guys. I thought we fought to the end. We had opportunities, we just couldn’t come out with a win.”
“It was a hard-fought game,” East coach James Lunga said. “You never know coming into East vs. West what the outcome (will be), but that’s what makes it fun. Ultimately, that’s their friends, the East and West boys are friends, but ultimately they came here out to represent their team and their school.”
The Chix and Dux will meet again Sept. 29 at East, with game time at 6:45 p.m.
East Downs TK on Links
The Zeeland East varsity girls golf team won a dual match against Middleville Thornapple Kellogg last Thursday by 10 strokes, 210-220, at Yankee Springs Golf Course.
Lucy Ehinger led the Chix with a 9-hole round of 50. Taya Schanski and Natalie Bailey each shot a 53, and Carli Stepka posted a 54.
Lucy Ehinger led the Chix with a 9-hole round of 50. Taya Schanski and Natalie Bailey each shot a 53, and Carli Stepka posted a 54.
East Volleyball Defeats Unity, Stays Unbeaten in O-K Black
The Zeeland East varsity volleyball team made a statement in its O-K Black Conference opener last Thursday, taking down defending conference champion Unity Christian in four sets on the road to remain unbeaten on the season.
The Chix dropped the first set, 25-21, but roared back to dominate the next three sets by scores of 25-10, 25-13 and 25-8. East is now 9-0 heading into a road contest tonight at Hamilton.
East had finished second to Unity in conference play a year ago, losing both of its head-to-head matches to the Crusaders.
Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon led the way for East with 17 kills and 14 digs. Senior middle hitter Savannah Byker added 11 kills and four blocks, while senior setter Elyse Smith dished out 35 assists.
Junior defensive specialist Oli Valenzuela served up four aces, and senior defensive specialist Jordan Inosencio had 13 digs.
The Chix dropped the first set, 25-21, but roared back to dominate the next three sets by scores of 25-10, 25-13 and 25-8. East is now 9-0 heading into a road contest tonight at Hamilton.
East had finished second to Unity in conference play a year ago, losing both of its head-to-head matches to the Crusaders.
Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon led the way for East with 17 kills and 14 digs. Senior middle hitter Savannah Byker added 11 kills and four blocks, while senior setter Elyse Smith dished out 35 assists.
Junior defensive specialist Oli Valenzuela served up four aces, and senior defensive specialist Jordan Inosencio had 13 digs.
West Boys Harriers 3rd, Girls 6th at West Ottawa Meet
The Zeeland West boys cross country team finished third among 18 teams, while the girls cross country team took sixth among 20 teams Saturday at the 43rd annual West Ottawa Bredeweg Invitational meet.
Lowell won the boys meet with 40 points, followed by the host Panthers (77), the Dux (84), Holland Christian (116) and Spring Lake (130). In the girls meet, West Ottawa won with 49 points, edging out Otsego (51). Holland Christian was third with 63, followed by Spring Lake (136), Coopersville (139) and West (148).
In the boys meet, the Dux were led by brothers Keagan and Tanner Smith. Keagan finished fourth with a course and season personal best time of 16 minutes, 30 seconds, while Tanner finished sixth in 16:31, moving into the No. 1 freshman spot in school history.
Rob Dodd finished 14th in 16:53 to join the Smith brothers as medalists for the meet.
Rounding out the varsity scoring were Sam Ashby (29th, 17:27) and Bryson Hassevoort (31st, 17:28), both running course personal bests.
Caralyn Elkins led West in the girls meet, finishing 15th in 19:48.10. Evie Kleinheksel placed 24th in 20:19, followed by Tessa Albrecht in 30th in 20:36.60, Kaila Keeler in 35th in 20:52.90 and Rowan Sloothaak in 45th in 21:28.30.
Lowell won the boys meet with 40 points, followed by the host Panthers (77), the Dux (84), Holland Christian (116) and Spring Lake (130). In the girls meet, West Ottawa won with 49 points, edging out Otsego (51). Holland Christian was third with 63, followed by Spring Lake (136), Coopersville (139) and West (148).
In the boys meet, the Dux were led by brothers Keagan and Tanner Smith. Keagan finished fourth with a course and season personal best time of 16 minutes, 30 seconds, while Tanner finished sixth in 16:31, moving into the No. 1 freshman spot in school history.
Rob Dodd finished 14th in 16:53 to join the Smith brothers as medalists for the meet.
Rounding out the varsity scoring were Sam Ashby (29th, 17:27) and Bryson Hassevoort (31st, 17:28), both running course personal bests.
Caralyn Elkins led West in the girls meet, finishing 15th in 19:48.10. Evie Kleinheksel placed 24th in 20:19, followed by Tessa Albrecht in 30th in 20:36.60, Kaila Keeler in 35th in 20:52.90 and Rowan Sloothaak in 45th in 21:28.30.
West Golfers Defeat Jenison, Unity
The Zeeland West varsity girls golf team defeated Jenison and Unity Christian in a 9-hole match last Thursday at the Meadows of Grand Valley State University.
Allison Purtee shot a 53 to lead the Dux to the win. Gabby Hoekwater added a 56, Brynlee DeYoung shot a 57 and Aaliyah Le carded a 67.
The Dux will compete in the O-K Black Conference Jamboree today at Pigeon Creek golf course, hosted by Unity Christian.
Allison Purtee shot a 53 to lead the Dux to the win. Gabby Hoekwater added a 56, Brynlee DeYoung shot a 57 and Aaliyah Le carded a 67.
The Dux will compete in the O-K Black Conference Jamboree today at Pigeon Creek golf course, hosted by Unity Christian.
