By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The first time Zeeland East and Zeeland West met on the volleyball court this season, the Chix fell behind one set and had to overcome a seven-point deficit in the second set before going on to win the match in four sets.
No such comeback was needed for East last Thursday on the Dux home court.
The Chix dominated from the outset in sweeping West, 25-11, 25-11, 25-17, to extend their winning streak to 11 matches.
East improved to 8-1 in the O-K Black Conference and 25-3 overall with the win. West saw its four-match winning streak come to an end. The Dux fell to 4-6 in the conference and 12-15 overall.
Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon had another strong match for East, pounding home 12 kills, adding nine digs and five aces. Senior setter Elyse Smith added seven kills, 15 assists and eight digs. Senior defensive specialist Jordan Inosencio led the Chix in digs with 12. Sophomore setter Kyla Kuiper dished out 15 assists.
Both teams won conference matches on Oct. 14. East needed four sets to defeat Hamilton, 22-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-13, while West swept Holland 25-10, 25-12, 25-21.
Risdon led the Chix with 19 kills and 15 digs in the win over Hamilton. Senior defensive specialist Kiersten Kuiper added 10 digs and served up four aces. Inosencio again led East in digs with 18, while Smith distributed 23 assists. Junior middle hitter Bri Cole had four blocks.
The Dux got a strong performance from senior middle hitter Evie Elenbaas in their sweep of the Dutch. Elenbaas had a team-high 12 kills, while junior outside hitter Brielle Carlson added seven. Sophomore setter Elle Creevy handed out 17 assists.
Zeeland Record
The first time Zeeland East and Zeeland West met on the volleyball court this season, the Chix fell behind one set and had to overcome a seven-point deficit in the second set before going on to win the match in four sets.
No such comeback was needed for East last Thursday on the Dux home court.
The Chix dominated from the outset in sweeping West, 25-11, 25-11, 25-17, to extend their winning streak to 11 matches.
East improved to 8-1 in the O-K Black Conference and 25-3 overall with the win. West saw its four-match winning streak come to an end. The Dux fell to 4-6 in the conference and 12-15 overall.
Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon had another strong match for East, pounding home 12 kills, adding nine digs and five aces. Senior setter Elyse Smith added seven kills, 15 assists and eight digs. Senior defensive specialist Jordan Inosencio led the Chix in digs with 12. Sophomore setter Kyla Kuiper dished out 15 assists.
Both teams won conference matches on Oct. 14. East needed four sets to defeat Hamilton, 22-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-13, while West swept Holland 25-10, 25-12, 25-21.
Risdon led the Chix with 19 kills and 15 digs in the win over Hamilton. Senior defensive specialist Kiersten Kuiper added 10 digs and served up four aces. Inosencio again led East in digs with 18, while Smith distributed 23 assists. Junior middle hitter Bri Cole had four blocks.
The Dux got a strong performance from senior middle hitter Evie Elenbaas in their sweep of the Dutch. Elenbaas had a team-high 12 kills, while junior outside hitter Brielle Carlson added seven. Sophomore setter Elle Creevy handed out 17 assists.
Zeeland East junior middle
hitter Bri Cole (1) attempts a kill during last Thursday’s match with
Zeeland West, as Dux junior middle hitter Hannah VanderZwaag (12) goes
high for a block.
Photo courtesy Geskus Photography
West Wipes Out Wyoming in O-K Gold
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland West varsity football team was unstoppable on both sides of the football last Friday in its O-K Gold Conference finale against Wyoming.
The Dux scored on all eight of their possessions on offense and held the Wolves to just 33 yards on defense in rolling to a 62-6 victory.
West finished second in the O-K Gold with a 4-1 conference record, and is now 6-2 overall. The Dux are currently 18th in the Division 3 playoff points standings, with the top 32 teams in each division making the playoffs.
Seven different players scored touchdowns for West as the Dux piled up 434 yards rushing and 496 yards of total offense. Only one of West’s scoring drives took longer than five plays.
Senior Jonah Leslie opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run a minute and 20 seconds into the game. Junior Brandon Holman ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 Dux lead.
After forcing Wyoming to go three-and-out on first possession, West struck quickly again. Senior Mason Busscher dashed 67 yards for his first touchdown of the season, followed by a two-point conversion pass from Drew Albrecht to Leslie.
Before the first quarter was over, Leslie found the end zone again, this time on a 25-yard touchdown run, his fifth touchdown in the last two weeks. The Dux led 24-0 after the first 12 minutes.
West put three more touchdowns on the board in the second quarter. Holman scored on a 1-yard run, junior Jax Hammond hit paydirt on a 7-yard run and Remo Berendsohn went in from six yards out as the lead grew to 48-0 at halftime. The running clock was in effect the entire second half.
In the third quarter, senior Diego Valdez romped 43 yards for a touchdown. Senior Dre Pham closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 12-yard touchdown run. Wyoming scored its only touchdown on the game’s final play.
Holman led the West offense with 81 yards rushing on six carries and a 42-yard pass reception. Leslie added 75 yards on six carries while Busscher had 74 yards on just two carries. Albrecht completed both of his pass attempts for 62 yards.
Defensively, sophomore Ethan Huyser made four tackles, including a sack, while junior Jovan Compean also made four tackles. Junior Grady Patrick also recorded a sack.
West goes on the road for its final regular season game Friday night at Grand Rapids West Catholic. Game time is 7 p.m.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland West varsity football team was unstoppable on both sides of the football last Friday in its O-K Gold Conference finale against Wyoming.
The Dux scored on all eight of their possessions on offense and held the Wolves to just 33 yards on defense in rolling to a 62-6 victory.
West finished second in the O-K Gold with a 4-1 conference record, and is now 6-2 overall. The Dux are currently 18th in the Division 3 playoff points standings, with the top 32 teams in each division making the playoffs.
Seven different players scored touchdowns for West as the Dux piled up 434 yards rushing and 496 yards of total offense. Only one of West’s scoring drives took longer than five plays.
Senior Jonah Leslie opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run a minute and 20 seconds into the game. Junior Brandon Holman ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 Dux lead.
After forcing Wyoming to go three-and-out on first possession, West struck quickly again. Senior Mason Busscher dashed 67 yards for his first touchdown of the season, followed by a two-point conversion pass from Drew Albrecht to Leslie.
Before the first quarter was over, Leslie found the end zone again, this time on a 25-yard touchdown run, his fifth touchdown in the last two weeks. The Dux led 24-0 after the first 12 minutes.
West put three more touchdowns on the board in the second quarter. Holman scored on a 1-yard run, junior Jax Hammond hit paydirt on a 7-yard run and Remo Berendsohn went in from six yards out as the lead grew to 48-0 at halftime. The running clock was in effect the entire second half.
In the third quarter, senior Diego Valdez romped 43 yards for a touchdown. Senior Dre Pham closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 12-yard touchdown run. Wyoming scored its only touchdown on the game’s final play.
Holman led the West offense with 81 yards rushing on six carries and a 42-yard pass reception. Leslie added 75 yards on six carries while Busscher had 74 yards on just two carries. Albrecht completed both of his pass attempts for 62 yards.
Defensively, sophomore Ethan Huyser made four tackles, including a sack, while junior Jovan Compean also made four tackles. Junior Grady Patrick also recorded a sack.
West goes on the road for its final regular season game Friday night at Grand Rapids West Catholic. Game time is 7 p.m.
Three First-Place Finishes for Zeeland at MISCA Meet in Holland
The Zeeland girls swimming team had three first-place finishes last Saturday at the Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (MISCA) meet at the Holland Aquatic Center.
Senior Madison Ensing won the 500-yard freestyle in dominating fashion, winning the race by more than five seconds over Fenton’s Katie Dunfield in a time of 4 minutes, 58 seconds flat.
Ensing also swam on two winning relays for Zeeland at the MISCA meet. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, she teamed up with sophomore Natalie Lauritzen, sophomore Mallory Ensing and junior Ariyah Gettings to win the race by more than a second in 1:37.11.
Then in the final race of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay, Ensing, Lauritzen, Gettings and senior Anna VanDyken swam to a winning time of 3:33.20, defeating runnerup Jenison by more than a second.
On Oct. 14, Zeeland defeated Grand Rapids Northview in a dual meet, 102-64. Gettings won the 200 freestyle (2:05.63) and 500 freestyle (5:36.96), while Lauritzen took the 50 free (:25.37) and 100 free (:54.21).
Madison Ensing won the 100 butterfly (:59.57), while senior Paige Davis won the 200 individual medley (2:24.91).
Senior Madison Ensing won the 500-yard freestyle in dominating fashion, winning the race by more than five seconds over Fenton’s Katie Dunfield in a time of 4 minutes, 58 seconds flat.
Ensing also swam on two winning relays for Zeeland at the MISCA meet. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, she teamed up with sophomore Natalie Lauritzen, sophomore Mallory Ensing and junior Ariyah Gettings to win the race by more than a second in 1:37.11.
Then in the final race of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay, Ensing, Lauritzen, Gettings and senior Anna VanDyken swam to a winning time of 3:33.20, defeating runnerup Jenison by more than a second.
On Oct. 14, Zeeland defeated Grand Rapids Northview in a dual meet, 102-64. Gettings won the 200 freestyle (2:05.63) and 500 freestyle (5:36.96), while Lauritzen took the 50 free (:25.37) and 100 free (:54.21).
Madison Ensing won the 100 butterfly (:59.57), while senior Paige Davis won the 200 individual medley (2:24.91).
East Rallies to Beat FHC on Senior Night
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland East varsity football team took a giant step toward clinching a state playoff berth last Friday, coming from behind to defeat Forest Hills Central 28-14 on Senior Night at Zeeland Stadium.
The Chix improved to 5-3 on the season, 2-3 in the O-K Gold Conference, and are currently 22nd in the Division 3 state playoff points standings. The top 32 teams in each division qualify for the state tournament that begins next week.
Last Friday’s game was the final regular-season home game for 18 East seniors.
East jumped out in front early, taking the opening kickoff and driving 80 yards in 12 plays. Junior quarterback Will Drnek connected with junior wide receiver Isaiah Boonstra for the game’s first score, a 9-yard touchdown pass. Junior placekicker Andrew Macy booted the conversion for an early 7-0 East lead.
The Rangers drove into the red zone on their first possession, but then the East defense came up big. Sacks by junior defensive end Zeek Ramadhani and senior defensive back Judah Kalmbacher stopped the FHC drive.
The Rangers scored late in the first half to tie the game at 7-7, then took the lead early in the second half with a 58-yard, 12-play drive.
East responded with a quick-strike score to tie the game, as Drnek and Boonstra teamed up once again on a 46-yard catch-and-run to tie the score at 14-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Chix defense came up with a game-changing play early in the final quarter. With the Rangers driving in East territory, junior defensive end Josiah Norman and senior linebacker Peyton Davis forced a fumble, which senior linebacker Ben DeLost recovered.
Quickly, East went to the air again. Drnek connected with junior wide receiver Coby Miller on completions of 36 and 26 yards, then finished the drive by hitting Miller in the end zone with a 5-yard touchdown pass to give the Chix a 21-14 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, East junior defensive back Gerald Neidlinger forced and then recovered a fumble in FHC territory. The Rangers’ defense forced East into a fourth-down situation, but Boonstra made a leaping grab of a Drnek pass for a 22-yard gain to keep the drive alive.
Senior running back Jack Kamphuis put the game out of reach with a 2-yard touchdown run, his first touchdown of the season.
Drnek led the East offense by completing 12 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Boonstra caught six passes for 111 yards and two scores while Miller hauled in six receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. Senior Kolter Rotman led the ground game with 38 yards on nine carries.
DeLost led the East defense with 12 tackles and the critical fumble recovery. Senior linebacker Derek Baxter made seven tackles, while Miller had six stops, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
The Chix finish the regular season on Friday night at Hamilton. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland East varsity football team took a giant step toward clinching a state playoff berth last Friday, coming from behind to defeat Forest Hills Central 28-14 on Senior Night at Zeeland Stadium.
The Chix improved to 5-3 on the season, 2-3 in the O-K Gold Conference, and are currently 22nd in the Division 3 state playoff points standings. The top 32 teams in each division qualify for the state tournament that begins next week.
Last Friday’s game was the final regular-season home game for 18 East seniors.
East jumped out in front early, taking the opening kickoff and driving 80 yards in 12 plays. Junior quarterback Will Drnek connected with junior wide receiver Isaiah Boonstra for the game’s first score, a 9-yard touchdown pass. Junior placekicker Andrew Macy booted the conversion for an early 7-0 East lead.
The Rangers drove into the red zone on their first possession, but then the East defense came up big. Sacks by junior defensive end Zeek Ramadhani and senior defensive back Judah Kalmbacher stopped the FHC drive.
The Rangers scored late in the first half to tie the game at 7-7, then took the lead early in the second half with a 58-yard, 12-play drive.
East responded with a quick-strike score to tie the game, as Drnek and Boonstra teamed up once again on a 46-yard catch-and-run to tie the score at 14-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Chix defense came up with a game-changing play early in the final quarter. With the Rangers driving in East territory, junior defensive end Josiah Norman and senior linebacker Peyton Davis forced a fumble, which senior linebacker Ben DeLost recovered.
Quickly, East went to the air again. Drnek connected with junior wide receiver Coby Miller on completions of 36 and 26 yards, then finished the drive by hitting Miller in the end zone with a 5-yard touchdown pass to give the Chix a 21-14 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, East junior defensive back Gerald Neidlinger forced and then recovered a fumble in FHC territory. The Rangers’ defense forced East into a fourth-down situation, but Boonstra made a leaping grab of a Drnek pass for a 22-yard gain to keep the drive alive.
Senior running back Jack Kamphuis put the game out of reach with a 2-yard touchdown run, his first touchdown of the season.
Drnek led the East offense by completing 12 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Boonstra caught six passes for 111 yards and two scores while Miller hauled in six receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. Senior Kolter Rotman led the ground game with 38 yards on nine carries.
DeLost led the East defense with 12 tackles and the critical fumble recovery. Senior linebacker Derek Baxter made seven tackles, while Miller had six stops, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
The Chix finish the regular season on Friday night at Hamilton. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
West Boys Win O-K Black Cross Country Title; East 2nd in Girls Meet
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland West boys cross country team put on a dominating performance Oct. 15 in capturing the O-K Black Conference championship meet at Diamond Springs Golf Course in Hamilton.
The Dux took four of the top five places and six of the top 11 in winning the meet with a team score of 23 points. Holland Christian finished second with 42 points, followed by Spring Lake (75), Holland (105), Zeeland East (131), Unity Christian (140) and Hamilton (222).
Zeeland East took second in the girls championship meet with 66 points, trailing only Holland Christian (34 points). Holland finished third with 92 points, followed by Zeeland West (100), Unity Christian (112), Spring Lake (114) and Hamilton (212)
Senior Keagan Smith led the West domination in the boys meet, completing the 5-kilometer course in 16 minutes, 5.53 seconds, more than five seconds faster than runnerup Grant Lampen of Holland Christian. East sophomore Adalyn Raab ran away with the girls’ individual title by more than 10 seconds, finishing in a time of 17:39.38.
In the boys meet, Keagan Smith was followed closely by West teammates Rob Dodd (third, 16:15.73), Ethan Dalman (fourth, 16:18.51), and Tanner Smith (fifth, 16:19.15). Bryson Hassevoort finished 10th in 16:38.48 and Sam Taylor 11th in 16:45.61.
Junior Nate Davis led East with a 16th-place finish in 16:54.16. Justin Walters finished 25th in 17:26.39. Rounding out the top five Chix runners were Nico DiLaura (32nd, 18:00.45), Levi Groenhout (34th, 18:12.55) and Tristen Hinson (35th, 18:13.77).
East placed five runners among the 21 finishers. Besides Raab’s winning performance, Taryn DiLaura finished 13th in 19:32.48, followed by Meredith Cook (15th, 19:39.38), Megan Kuzma (16th, 19:41.04) and Libby Post (21st, 20:07.92).
West sophomore Caralyn Elkins finished in eighth place in 18:53.45 to lead the Dux pack. Tessa Albrecht placed 12th in 19:27.71, followed by Kaila Keeler (19th, 19:47.23), Rowan Sloothaak (26th, 20:28.36) and Brooklyn Haight (41st, 21:11.95).
The West and East teams will compete in the Division 1 cross country regional at Portage Central on Saturday.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland West boys cross country team put on a dominating performance Oct. 15 in capturing the O-K Black Conference championship meet at Diamond Springs Golf Course in Hamilton.
The Dux took four of the top five places and six of the top 11 in winning the meet with a team score of 23 points. Holland Christian finished second with 42 points, followed by Spring Lake (75), Holland (105), Zeeland East (131), Unity Christian (140) and Hamilton (222).
Zeeland East took second in the girls championship meet with 66 points, trailing only Holland Christian (34 points). Holland finished third with 92 points, followed by Zeeland West (100), Unity Christian (112), Spring Lake (114) and Hamilton (212)
Senior Keagan Smith led the West domination in the boys meet, completing the 5-kilometer course in 16 minutes, 5.53 seconds, more than five seconds faster than runnerup Grant Lampen of Holland Christian. East sophomore Adalyn Raab ran away with the girls’ individual title by more than 10 seconds, finishing in a time of 17:39.38.
In the boys meet, Keagan Smith was followed closely by West teammates Rob Dodd (third, 16:15.73), Ethan Dalman (fourth, 16:18.51), and Tanner Smith (fifth, 16:19.15). Bryson Hassevoort finished 10th in 16:38.48 and Sam Taylor 11th in 16:45.61.
Junior Nate Davis led East with a 16th-place finish in 16:54.16. Justin Walters finished 25th in 17:26.39. Rounding out the top five Chix runners were Nico DiLaura (32nd, 18:00.45), Levi Groenhout (34th, 18:12.55) and Tristen Hinson (35th, 18:13.77).
East placed five runners among the 21 finishers. Besides Raab’s winning performance, Taryn DiLaura finished 13th in 19:32.48, followed by Meredith Cook (15th, 19:39.38), Megan Kuzma (16th, 19:41.04) and Libby Post (21st, 20:07.92).
West sophomore Caralyn Elkins finished in eighth place in 18:53.45 to lead the Dux pack. Tessa Albrecht placed 12th in 19:27.71, followed by Kaila Keeler (19th, 19:47.23), Rowan Sloothaak (26th, 20:28.36) and Brooklyn Haight (41st, 21:11.95).
The West and East teams will compete in the Division 1 cross country regional at Portage Central on Saturday.
