Zeeland West junior guard Jenna Hendricks (1) gets ready to launch a 3-point shot during last Friday’s district final, as Grand Haven’s Georgia Reinecke (23) defends.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Planning Commission has set an April 16 public hearing on a request by Mead Johnson Nutrition to vacate the portion of North Division Street, north of Main Avenue, as part of the company’s plant modernization project.
Commissioners last Thursday voted to set the hearing to get input from the public on whether the portion of North Division should be vacated. Mead Johnson owns all the surrounding property around the portion of the street north of Main Avenue. Approval of the vacation of North Division would give Mead Johnson contiguous property along Main, allowing for the expansion of its plant.
“We believe that vacating (North) Division Street would support both our continued investment in Zeeland and the city’s long-term development goals,” Mead Johnson senior engineering manager Allan Barron wrote in a letter to the city last month.
“This street vacation will allow Mead Johnson to eliminate all curb cuts (driveways, entryways) along (East) Main Avenue, covering the stretch of (East) Main Avenue between the existing entry, just west of the Mead Johnson office at 725 E. Main Avenue, and Carlton Street. This stretch of (East) Main Avenue will then have contiguous sidewalk and landscaping for this entire length.”
Mead Johnson purchased several properties along Main last year, including Bethel Christian Reformed Church and the Cityside Townhouses, and had them rezoned for industrial use as part of the company’s planned $836 million plant modernization. The Zeeland plant has been in operation since 1924.
In setting the public hearing, planning commissioners did not require a traffic study be done for vacating North Division. The city’s street vacation process allows for such a study to be done if commissioners deem it necessary, but in this case, they chose not to ask for one because Mead Johnson already owns all the surrounding property.
The Planning Commission will have to recommend approval of vacating North Division, with final action coming from the City Council, Community Development Director Tim Maday said.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Planning Commission has set an April 16 public hearing on a request by Mead Johnson Nutrition to vacate the portion of North Division Street, north of Main Avenue, as part of the company’s plant modernization project.
Commissioners last Thursday voted to set the hearing to get input from the public on whether the portion of North Division should be vacated. Mead Johnson owns all the surrounding property around the portion of the street north of Main Avenue. Approval of the vacation of North Division would give Mead Johnson contiguous property along Main, allowing for the expansion of its plant.
“We believe that vacating (North) Division Street would support both our continued investment in Zeeland and the city’s long-term development goals,” Mead Johnson senior engineering manager Allan Barron wrote in a letter to the city last month.
“This street vacation will allow Mead Johnson to eliminate all curb cuts (driveways, entryways) along (East) Main Avenue, covering the stretch of (East) Main Avenue between the existing entry, just west of the Mead Johnson office at 725 E. Main Avenue, and Carlton Street. This stretch of (East) Main Avenue will then have contiguous sidewalk and landscaping for this entire length.”
Mead Johnson purchased several properties along Main last year, including Bethel Christian Reformed Church and the Cityside Townhouses, and had them rezoned for industrial use as part of the company’s planned $836 million plant modernization. The Zeeland plant has been in operation since 1924.
In setting the public hearing, planning commissioners did not require a traffic study be done for vacating North Division. The city’s street vacation process allows for such a study to be done if commissioners deem it necessary, but in this case, they chose not to ask for one because Mead Johnson already owns all the surrounding property.
The Planning Commission will have to recommend approval of vacating North Division, with final action coming from the City Council, Community Development Director Tim Maday said.
Wrestlers Ledford, Kouw Earn All-State
Zeeland East junior JJ Ledford and Zeeland West junior Emmaline Kouw earned All-State honors at the Michigan Division 2 high school individual wrestling finals last weekend at Ford Field in Detroit.
Ledford, who missed most of the season with an injury, finished fourth in the boys 132-pound weight class to earn All-State honors for the third straight year, while Kouw finished eighth in the girls 120-pound division to become the first Zeeland female wrestler ever to earn All-State honors.
Ledford, who finished third at state last year at 120 pounds and third at 113 as a freshman two years ago, won his first two matches by decision, defeating Freeland’s Michael Wilson 6-0 and edging Vincent Finn of Algonac 5-4.
Ledford lost his semifinal match by major decision to Harper Creek’s Devan Garcia, but came back to take a 4-1 decision over Mason’s Darius Ambs in the blood round to assure himself of a top-four finish.
Kouw won her opening-round match by technical fall, 19-3, over Howard City Tri-County’s Roni Rivard. After being pinned in her second-round match, she came from behind in the blood round to take a 10-7 decision over Bay City John Glenn’s Vivian Arnold to clinch All-State honors.
Kouw finished the season with a record of 43-10, including 33 pins and an O-K Black Conference championship.
West senior Austin Ulberg also competed at the state finals over the weekend, but lost both his matches in the boys 138-pound weight class. Ulberg posted a 45-13 record this season.
Ledford, who missed most of the season with an injury, finished fourth in the boys 132-pound weight class to earn All-State honors for the third straight year, while Kouw finished eighth in the girls 120-pound division to become the first Zeeland female wrestler ever to earn All-State honors.
Ledford, who finished third at state last year at 120 pounds and third at 113 as a freshman two years ago, won his first two matches by decision, defeating Freeland’s Michael Wilson 6-0 and edging Vincent Finn of Algonac 5-4.
Ledford lost his semifinal match by major decision to Harper Creek’s Devan Garcia, but came back to take a 4-1 decision over Mason’s Darius Ambs in the blood round to assure himself of a top-four finish.
Kouw won her opening-round match by technical fall, 19-3, over Howard City Tri-County’s Roni Rivard. After being pinned in her second-round match, she came from behind in the blood round to take a 10-7 decision over Bay City John Glenn’s Vivian Arnold to clinch All-State honors.
Kouw finished the season with a record of 43-10, including 33 pins and an O-K Black Conference championship.
West senior Austin Ulberg also competed at the state finals over the weekend, but lost both his matches in the boys 138-pound weight class. Ulberg posted a 45-13 record this season.
West Finishes Eighth at Competitive Cheer State Championship
The Zeeland West competitive cheer team finished eighth on Saturday at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 finals at Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena.
It was the second straight year that the Dux competed in the state finals. West finished sixth at the Division 2 finals one year ago.
West finished with a team score of 733.44 points. The Dux scored 225.00 points in the first round, 219.34 in the second and 289.10 in the third and final round.
Allen Park won the state title by a mere 0.32 points over Gibraltar Carlson, 790.40-790.08. Carleton Airport and Walled Lake Western rounded out the top four teams in the eight-team competition.
The Dux qualified for state by finished third in the Division 2 regional meet Feb. 28 at Forest Hills Northern.
It was the second straight year that the Dux competed in the state finals. West finished sixth at the Division 2 finals one year ago.
West finished with a team score of 733.44 points. The Dux scored 225.00 points in the first round, 219.34 in the second and 289.10 in the third and final round.
Allen Park won the state title by a mere 0.32 points over Gibraltar Carlson, 790.40-790.08. Carleton Airport and Walled Lake Western rounded out the top four teams in the eight-team competition.
The Dux qualified for state by finished third in the Division 2 regional meet Feb. 28 at Forest Hills Northern.
ZE Grad Schipper Named All-MIAA First Team
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
University of Olivet center Conner Schipper has been named to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association all-conference team in a vote of the league’s coaches.
Schipper, a 6-foot-10 junior who graduated from Zeeland East High School in 2022, was one of six players named to the All-MIAA first team. He played a leading role for the Comets as they won their first MIAA regular season championship in 54 years, averaging 10.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game. He also blocked 73 shots on the season, giving him a school-record 168 blocks for his career.
“Skip’s very deserving of this recognition,” Olivet coach Sam Hargraves said. “So much of what we do on both ends of the floor involves him. We would be a very different team without Skip. So much of what he does doesn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. I’m most excited that we have another year with him to watch him continue to grow.”
Calvin University center Jalen Overway, a Holland Christian High School graduate, was named MIAA Most Valuable Player. The 6-foot-10 redshirt junior led the conference in scoring, averaging 23.1 points on the season overall and 24.7 points per contest in league play. He also averaged 10.7 rebounds per game and shot 61.7 percent from the field in winning his third MVP award. He was also the league MVP in 2023 and 2024.
Hope College placed two players on the All-MIAA team – junior forward Parker Hovey, who was named to the first team, and freshman guard Brendan Cargill, who was a second-team selection. Hovey averaged 16.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for the Flying Dutchmen, who reached the NCAA Division III tournament, while Cargill averaged 12.8 points per contest.
Zeeland Record
University of Olivet center Conner Schipper has been named to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association all-conference team in a vote of the league’s coaches.
Schipper, a 6-foot-10 junior who graduated from Zeeland East High School in 2022, was one of six players named to the All-MIAA first team. He played a leading role for the Comets as they won their first MIAA regular season championship in 54 years, averaging 10.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game. He also blocked 73 shots on the season, giving him a school-record 168 blocks for his career.
“Skip’s very deserving of this recognition,” Olivet coach Sam Hargraves said. “So much of what we do on both ends of the floor involves him. We would be a very different team without Skip. So much of what he does doesn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. I’m most excited that we have another year with him to watch him continue to grow.”
Calvin University center Jalen Overway, a Holland Christian High School graduate, was named MIAA Most Valuable Player. The 6-foot-10 redshirt junior led the conference in scoring, averaging 23.1 points on the season overall and 24.7 points per contest in league play. He also averaged 10.7 rebounds per game and shot 61.7 percent from the field in winning his third MVP award. He was also the league MVP in 2023 and 2024.
Hope College placed two players on the All-MIAA team – junior forward Parker Hovey, who was named to the first team, and freshman guard Brendan Cargill, who was a second-team selection. Hovey averaged 16.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for the Flying Dutchmen, who reached the NCAA Division III tournament, while Cargill averaged 12.8 points per contest.
Raab Named Boys Varsity Volleyball Coach
David Raab has been named the new Zeeland High varsity boys volleyball coach.
Raab comes to Zeeland with a vast amount of coaching experience, ranging from junior varsity high school competition to the collegiate ranks. He was the head coach of the women’s volleyball program at Grand Rapids Community College from 2000-2005, twice leading the Raiders to the National Junior College Athletic Association regional tournament.
Raab also has been a head coach at the high school varsity level at Otsego, Grand Rapids Christian and Hudsonville Freedom Baptist, as well as at the junior varsity level at Kenowa Hills and Grand Rapids Christian. Last year, he was an assistant coach with the boys volleyball program at Holland High School.
“It is my privilege to lead the Zeeland boys volleyball program,” Raab said. “Volleyball is built on teamwork, communication and trust. Our goal is to compete with integrity and discipline as we strive to represent Zeeland with pride, both on and off the court. I look forward to what the future holds for Zeeland volleyball and the community that supports it.”
Raab will be joined on the Zeeland staff by junior varsity coaches Parker Geers and Parker’s wife, Shayla Geers. Parker plays competitive volleyball throughout West Michigan and works in the field of supply chain planning. Shayla is a teacher and has been the varsity coach at West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science for the last three years after a standout career at Holly High School.
Raab comes to Zeeland with a vast amount of coaching experience, ranging from junior varsity high school competition to the collegiate ranks. He was the head coach of the women’s volleyball program at Grand Rapids Community College from 2000-2005, twice leading the Raiders to the National Junior College Athletic Association regional tournament.
Raab also has been a head coach at the high school varsity level at Otsego, Grand Rapids Christian and Hudsonville Freedom Baptist, as well as at the junior varsity level at Kenowa Hills and Grand Rapids Christian. Last year, he was an assistant coach with the boys volleyball program at Holland High School.
“It is my privilege to lead the Zeeland boys volleyball program,” Raab said. “Volleyball is built on teamwork, communication and trust. Our goal is to compete with integrity and discipline as we strive to represent Zeeland with pride, both on and off the court. I look forward to what the future holds for Zeeland volleyball and the community that supports it.”
Raab will be joined on the Zeeland staff by junior varsity coaches Parker Geers and Parker’s wife, Shayla Geers. Parker plays competitive volleyball throughout West Michigan and works in the field of supply chain planning. Shayla is a teacher and has been the varsity coach at West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science for the last three years after a standout career at Holly High School.
