Haley Hoogenraad (left) and Brittany Westra (right) hold their plaques signifying their induction into the Zeeland Athletic Hall of Fame last Friday.
Photo by Sarah Wilson for Zeeland West Athletics
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The two newest members of the Zeeland Athletic Hall of Fame were inducted last Friday.
Brittany Westra (maiden name Casey), a 2014 East graduate and Haley Hoogenraad, a 2016 West graduate, were honored in between games of the basketball doubleheader between East and West on West’s home court.
Westra was a three-time All-State performer in track and field athlete at East, competing in the shot put and discus. In her sophomore year in 2012, she finished runnerup at the Division 2 state finals in the shot put with a toss of 39 feet,
7-1/2 inches. The next year, she won the D2 title in the shotput with a heave of 41 feet, 9-3/4 inches and took fourth in the discus with a throw of 128 feet, 1 inch.
Then in her senior year in 2014, Westra took first place in every meet she entered in both the shot put and discus. She capped off her season by winning both events at the Division 2 state finals. She had a toss of 43 feet, 1-1/4 inches in the shot put and 138 feet, 10 inches in the discus, with both coming on her final throws of each event. She was named the Holland Sentinel Track and Field Athlete of the Year and invited to the Midwest Meet of Champions.
Westra went on to compete at Western Michigan University, where she qualified for the Mid-American Conference indoor and outdoor track and field championships as a freshman. She was awarded WMU’s Most Improved Athlete Award following the 2016-17 season and her hammer throw still ranks fifth all-time in school history with a throw of 184 feet, 4 inches.
Following graduation from WMU, Brittany married her high school sweetheart, Corey Westra. They now live in the area with their two kids, Cade and Wyatt.
“(Competing in athletics) has shaped my work ethic, taught me the power of teamwork and instilled a drive in me that continues to guide my life today,” Westra said of her athletic experience.
Westra also thanked her coach at East, the recently-retired Ralph Neal, “for seeing something in me before I saw it myself. None of this would have happened without his belief in me and the way he pushed me to get better every single day.”
Hoogenraad was a standout multi-sport athlete at West, competing in softball, basketball, track and field, and cross country. She earned 12 varsity letters for the Dux – four each in softball and basketball and two each in track and cross and country.
Hoogenraad was a dominating player on the softball field, finishing with a career batting average of over .500. She was a four-time O-K Green All-Conference selection and was named All-State three times. She helped lead the Dux to conference and district championships her junior year. In her senior year in 2016, she hit .559 with eight home runs, 19 doubles and 49 runs scored as she was named Michigan’s Miss Softball and the Division 2 Player of the Year.
On the basketball court, Hoogenraad scored more than 1,000 career points, was a three-time O-K Green All-Conference selection and was twice named honorable mention All-State.
In track and field and cross country, Hoogenraad was a two-time All-Conference performer and earned All-State honors in the 800 meters in 2016.
Following graduation from West, Hoogenraad attended the University of Michigan, joining the Wolverines softball program as a preferred walk-on in 2017. Through her dedication and perseverance, she earned a scholarship and became a four-year starter from 2018 through 2021.
Hoogenraad played in 208 games over five years at Michigan, finishing with 109 hits, nine home runs and 74 RBIs for her career. Her best season was as a sophomore, when she hit .289 with four homers and 23 RBIs. Defensively as an outfielder, she committed just five errors in 166 fielding chances for her career. She was part of four Big Ten championship teams, earned four Academic All-Big Ten honors and two Academic All-America selections.
Hoogenraad now lives in Grayling with her two dogs and her fiance. She works in Traverse City as a winemaker and enjoys spending her free time fishing, hunting, and caring for their small farm of chickens and ducks.
“My time participating in sports will always be one of the most special things I have been blessed enough to do,” Hoogenraad said. “There is no better way to learn the importance of hard work, discipline, and resilience through failure. I genuinely credit my time as an athlete in helping make me into the person I am today.”
Hoogenraad also expressed gratitude for the coaches who shaped her athletic experience at West.
“I was very lucky to have coaches who were willing to put their time and effort into helping me become the best version of myself,” she said.
Zeeland Record
The two newest members of the Zeeland Athletic Hall of Fame were inducted last Friday.
Brittany Westra (maiden name Casey), a 2014 East graduate and Haley Hoogenraad, a 2016 West graduate, were honored in between games of the basketball doubleheader between East and West on West’s home court.
Westra was a three-time All-State performer in track and field athlete at East, competing in the shot put and discus. In her sophomore year in 2012, she finished runnerup at the Division 2 state finals in the shot put with a toss of 39 feet,
7-1/2 inches. The next year, she won the D2 title in the shotput with a heave of 41 feet, 9-3/4 inches and took fourth in the discus with a throw of 128 feet, 1 inch.
Then in her senior year in 2014, Westra took first place in every meet she entered in both the shot put and discus. She capped off her season by winning both events at the Division 2 state finals. She had a toss of 43 feet, 1-1/4 inches in the shot put and 138 feet, 10 inches in the discus, with both coming on her final throws of each event. She was named the Holland Sentinel Track and Field Athlete of the Year and invited to the Midwest Meet of Champions.
Westra went on to compete at Western Michigan University, where she qualified for the Mid-American Conference indoor and outdoor track and field championships as a freshman. She was awarded WMU’s Most Improved Athlete Award following the 2016-17 season and her hammer throw still ranks fifth all-time in school history with a throw of 184 feet, 4 inches.
Following graduation from WMU, Brittany married her high school sweetheart, Corey Westra. They now live in the area with their two kids, Cade and Wyatt.
“(Competing in athletics) has shaped my work ethic, taught me the power of teamwork and instilled a drive in me that continues to guide my life today,” Westra said of her athletic experience.
Westra also thanked her coach at East, the recently-retired Ralph Neal, “for seeing something in me before I saw it myself. None of this would have happened without his belief in me and the way he pushed me to get better every single day.”
Hoogenraad was a standout multi-sport athlete at West, competing in softball, basketball, track and field, and cross country. She earned 12 varsity letters for the Dux – four each in softball and basketball and two each in track and cross and country.
Hoogenraad was a dominating player on the softball field, finishing with a career batting average of over .500. She was a four-time O-K Green All-Conference selection and was named All-State three times. She helped lead the Dux to conference and district championships her junior year. In her senior year in 2016, she hit .559 with eight home runs, 19 doubles and 49 runs scored as she was named Michigan’s Miss Softball and the Division 2 Player of the Year.
On the basketball court, Hoogenraad scored more than 1,000 career points, was a three-time O-K Green All-Conference selection and was twice named honorable mention All-State.
In track and field and cross country, Hoogenraad was a two-time All-Conference performer and earned All-State honors in the 800 meters in 2016.
Following graduation from West, Hoogenraad attended the University of Michigan, joining the Wolverines softball program as a preferred walk-on in 2017. Through her dedication and perseverance, she earned a scholarship and became a four-year starter from 2018 through 2021.
Hoogenraad played in 208 games over five years at Michigan, finishing with 109 hits, nine home runs and 74 RBIs for her career. Her best season was as a sophomore, when she hit .289 with four homers and 23 RBIs. Defensively as an outfielder, she committed just five errors in 166 fielding chances for her career. She was part of four Big Ten championship teams, earned four Academic All-Big Ten honors and two Academic All-America selections.
Hoogenraad now lives in Grayling with her two dogs and her fiance. She works in Traverse City as a winemaker and enjoys spending her free time fishing, hunting, and caring for their small farm of chickens and ducks.
“My time participating in sports will always be one of the most special things I have been blessed enough to do,” Hoogenraad said. “There is no better way to learn the importance of hard work, discipline, and resilience through failure. I genuinely credit my time as an athlete in helping make me into the person I am today.”
Hoogenraad also expressed gratitude for the coaches who shaped her athletic experience at West.
“I was very lucky to have coaches who were willing to put their time and effort into helping me become the best version of myself,” she said.
East Took Third, West Fifth at O-K Black Wrestling Championship
Zeeland East finished third while Zeeland West finished fifth in a tightly-contested O-K Black Conference wrestling tournament Saturday at Unity Christian High School.
The Chix finished with 153 points while the Dux scored 128. Spring Lake edged out Hamilton for the conference championship by a mere 1.5 points, 167.5-166.
East had three individual champions for the meet while West had two. The only weight class where wrestlers from East and West met for the championship was at 138 pounds, where Chix junior Xavier Pheuk defeated Dux senior Austin Ulberg by technical fall, 19-4.
East’s Easton Sizemore won the 106-pound class with an 18-0 technical fall win over Spring Lake’s Tristan Wilson in the championship match. West’s Damien Calderon took third place with a 14-10 decision over Holland’s Adrian English.
West senior Aidan Chavez claimed the championship at 113, needing just 37 seconds to pin Unity Christian’s Easton Meekhof in the semifinals, then taking a 10-1 major decision over Spring Lake’s Trevor Christner in the championship match. Chavez earned his 100th career victory during the meet.
At 215, West sophomore Nolan Overway pinned Holland’s Juan Reyna in 5:19 in the championship match. East junior Zeek Ramadhani pinned Parker Hill of Spring Lake in the third-place match.
East sophomore Maximus Gomez won the heavyweight division, pinning Spring Lake’s Eli Keevan in the semifinals in 2:54, then taking a 4-0 decision over Hamilton’s Brandon Tucker in the title match. West senior Lachlan Thoreson won the third-place match by pinning Keevan.
East senior Eric Segovia-Estupinan finished runnerup at 157 pounds.
At 120 pounds, East freshman Anthony Pablo Diaz took a 16-7 major decision over West sophomore Nathan Chavez in the third-place match. At 132, East freshman Chase Shults took a close 5-4 decision over West senior Sam Taylor to win third place in that weight class.
West junior Kye Chayer finished third at 144, while East senior Tyler Clark placed third at 150. East got fourth-place finishes from Kalob Willis (175) and Jacob Van Sweden (190), while Tyson Touch (126) and Kenny Howe III (165) finished fourth for West.
The Chix finished with 153 points while the Dux scored 128. Spring Lake edged out Hamilton for the conference championship by a mere 1.5 points, 167.5-166.
East had three individual champions for the meet while West had two. The only weight class where wrestlers from East and West met for the championship was at 138 pounds, where Chix junior Xavier Pheuk defeated Dux senior Austin Ulberg by technical fall, 19-4.
East’s Easton Sizemore won the 106-pound class with an 18-0 technical fall win over Spring Lake’s Tristan Wilson in the championship match. West’s Damien Calderon took third place with a 14-10 decision over Holland’s Adrian English.
West senior Aidan Chavez claimed the championship at 113, needing just 37 seconds to pin Unity Christian’s Easton Meekhof in the semifinals, then taking a 10-1 major decision over Spring Lake’s Trevor Christner in the championship match. Chavez earned his 100th career victory during the meet.
At 215, West sophomore Nolan Overway pinned Holland’s Juan Reyna in 5:19 in the championship match. East junior Zeek Ramadhani pinned Parker Hill of Spring Lake in the third-place match.
East sophomore Maximus Gomez won the heavyweight division, pinning Spring Lake’s Eli Keevan in the semifinals in 2:54, then taking a 4-0 decision over Hamilton’s Brandon Tucker in the title match. West senior Lachlan Thoreson won the third-place match by pinning Keevan.
East senior Eric Segovia-Estupinan finished runnerup at 157 pounds.
At 120 pounds, East freshman Anthony Pablo Diaz took a 16-7 major decision over West sophomore Nathan Chavez in the third-place match. At 132, East freshman Chase Shults took a close 5-4 decision over West senior Sam Taylor to win third place in that weight class.
West junior Kye Chayer finished third at 144, while East senior Tyler Clark placed third at 150. East got fourth-place finishes from Kalob Willis (175) and Jacob Van Sweden (190), while Tyson Touch (126) and Kenny Howe III (165) finished fourth for West.
East Boys Defeat West, 74-59
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The second meeting of the season between the Zeeland East and Zeeland West varsity boys basketball teams last Friday produced a lot more offensive fireworks than their first game.
The Chix, who gutted out a 32-31 win over the Dux on their home court Jan. 9, scored more points in the first half (37) than in the entire first game, then matched that number in the second half in taking a 74-59 victory on West’s home court.
The Chix improved to 5-2 in the O-K Black Conference and 12-4 overall with the win. The Dux, who dropped their ninth game in a row, entered the week at 0-8 in the Black and 5-12 overall.
With junior guard Will Drnek scoring nine points in the first quarter, East jumped out to a 22-18 lead. The Chix added to their advantage in the second quarter, and went to the locker room at the half with a 37-28 edge.
East scored the first four points of the third quarter to open up a 13-point lead, but senior Ethan Dalman hit two 3-point baskets and junior Mike Girman another during an 11-3 West run that cut the Chix lead to 44-39. East led 49-43 at the end of the quarter.
However, the Chix would put the game away in the fourth quarter with nearly flawless foul shooting. East made 15 of 16 from the free-throw line over the final eight minutes, and finished the game 25 of 28 from the stripe, compared to 14 of 17 makes for West.
East shot 54 percent from the field (20 of 37), including 9 of 18 from 3-point range. West also made nine 3-point baskets.
Drnek led East with 24 points, including 11 of 12 from the line. Senior Caleb Claerbaut added 17 points, including three 3-pointers, as well as five rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Isaiah Beckum nailed four 3-point baskets as he scored 16 points. Juniors Josiah Norman and Isaiah Boonstra each pulled down five rebounds.
Sophomore Maverick Jipping led West with a season-high 19 points, 12 of them in the fourth quarter. Senior Gabe Bouwens added 12 points while Girman chipped in 10.
Zeeland Record
The second meeting of the season between the Zeeland East and Zeeland West varsity boys basketball teams last Friday produced a lot more offensive fireworks than their first game.
The Chix, who gutted out a 32-31 win over the Dux on their home court Jan. 9, scored more points in the first half (37) than in the entire first game, then matched that number in the second half in taking a 74-59 victory on West’s home court.
The Chix improved to 5-2 in the O-K Black Conference and 12-4 overall with the win. The Dux, who dropped their ninth game in a row, entered the week at 0-8 in the Black and 5-12 overall.
With junior guard Will Drnek scoring nine points in the first quarter, East jumped out to a 22-18 lead. The Chix added to their advantage in the second quarter, and went to the locker room at the half with a 37-28 edge.
East scored the first four points of the third quarter to open up a 13-point lead, but senior Ethan Dalman hit two 3-point baskets and junior Mike Girman another during an 11-3 West run that cut the Chix lead to 44-39. East led 49-43 at the end of the quarter.
However, the Chix would put the game away in the fourth quarter with nearly flawless foul shooting. East made 15 of 16 from the free-throw line over the final eight minutes, and finished the game 25 of 28 from the stripe, compared to 14 of 17 makes for West.
East shot 54 percent from the field (20 of 37), including 9 of 18 from 3-point range. West also made nine 3-point baskets.
Drnek led East with 24 points, including 11 of 12 from the line. Senior Caleb Claerbaut added 17 points, including three 3-pointers, as well as five rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Isaiah Beckum nailed four 3-point baskets as he scored 16 points. Juniors Josiah Norman and Isaiah Boonstra each pulled down five rebounds.
Sophomore Maverick Jipping led West with a season-high 19 points, 12 of them in the fourth quarter. Senior Gabe Bouwens added 12 points while Girman chipped in 10.
Dux Girls Hold Off Chix, 45-41
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland West varsity girls basketball team held off a late rally by Zeeland East last Friday night to defeat the Chix for the second time this season, 45-41.
West raised its record to 12-3 on the season, 6-2 in the O-K Black Conference, with its fifth straight win. East fell to 1-6 in the conference and 4-11 overall.
Both teams struggled offensively in the early going. The teams were tied at 5-5 at the end of the first quarter.
The Dux began to find their footing in the second quarter, outscoring East 10-4 to take a 15-9 halftime lead.
West went on a 11-3 run to open up a 28-16 advantage with less than three minutes left in the third quarter, but East battled back to whittle the lead down to 30-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Chix pulled to within three points on several occasions in the fourth quarter, the last time at 44-41 on a 3-point basket by junior Terra Schuberg with 18 seconds remaining. However, West junior Sadie Kragt made the second of two free throws with 15.6 seconds left to give the Dux enough of a cushion to hang on.
West junior Jenna Hendricks continued her outstanding play of late with a game-high 16 points, 11 of them in the second half. Kragt added nine points.
Senior CC Kuras led East with 16 points before fouling out in the final seconds. Sophomore Lily Huizenga added 12 points, including 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland West varsity girls basketball team held off a late rally by Zeeland East last Friday night to defeat the Chix for the second time this season, 45-41.
West raised its record to 12-3 on the season, 6-2 in the O-K Black Conference, with its fifth straight win. East fell to 1-6 in the conference and 4-11 overall.
Both teams struggled offensively in the early going. The teams were tied at 5-5 at the end of the first quarter.
The Dux began to find their footing in the second quarter, outscoring East 10-4 to take a 15-9 halftime lead.
West went on a 11-3 run to open up a 28-16 advantage with less than three minutes left in the third quarter, but East battled back to whittle the lead down to 30-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Chix pulled to within three points on several occasions in the fourth quarter, the last time at 44-41 on a 3-point basket by junior Terra Schuberg with 18 seconds remaining. However, West junior Sadie Kragt made the second of two free throws with 15.6 seconds left to give the Dux enough of a cushion to hang on.
West junior Jenna Hendricks continued her outstanding play of late with a game-high 16 points, 11 of them in the second half. Kragt added nine points.
Senior CC Kuras led East with 16 points before fouling out in the final seconds. Sophomore Lily Huizenga added 12 points, including 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.
Zeeland Boys Dunk Northview
The Zeeland boys swimming team defeated Grand Rapids Northview 112-68 in a dual meet on Feb. 3.
Individual race winners for Zeeland were senior Jack Cochran (200-yard freestyle, 1:53.63), junior Gibson Meyering (200 individual medley, 2:05.75), junior Hudson Kosten (50 freestyle, 23.37), junior Branton Posthumus (100 butterfly, 1:00.95), sophomore Brady Vroegindewey (100 freestyle, 50.63), junior Andrew Pyle (500 freestyle, 5:13.54) and junior Carson Durham (100 backstroke, 1:00.60).
In the 200-yard medley relay, the team of Meyering, Pyle, Kosten and Vroegindewey finished first in 1:42.50, while in the 200 freestyle relay, the foursome of Meyering, Posthumus, freshman Elliot Wolfe and senior Brayden Terpstra finished first in 1:34.51.
Individual race winners for Zeeland were senior Jack Cochran (200-yard freestyle, 1:53.63), junior Gibson Meyering (200 individual medley, 2:05.75), junior Hudson Kosten (50 freestyle, 23.37), junior Branton Posthumus (100 butterfly, 1:00.95), sophomore Brady Vroegindewey (100 freestyle, 50.63), junior Andrew Pyle (500 freestyle, 5:13.54) and junior Carson Durham (100 backstroke, 1:00.60).
In the 200-yard medley relay, the team of Meyering, Pyle, Kosten and Vroegindewey finished first in 1:42.50, while in the 200 freestyle relay, the foursome of Meyering, Posthumus, freshman Elliot Wolfe and senior Brayden Terpstra finished first in 1:34.51.
