Zeeland East junior lefthander Ethan Campbell is interviewed by Zeeland Sports Network broadcaster Kurt Wilson after his no-hitter April 21 against Holland Christian. Campbell struck out 12 over five innings in the 11-0 win over the Maroons.
Photo courtesy Zeeland East Athletics
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A no-hitter by junior lefthander Ethan Campbell highlighted a 5-1 record for the Zeeland East varsity baseball team last week that included a three-game sweep of conference rival Holland Christian.
Campbell threw a five-inning no-no April 21 in the first game of a doubleheader as the Chix blanked the Maroons, 11-0. East then came back to take the nightcap, 3-1.
Campbell threw just 57 pitchers, 46 of them for strikes, and struck out 12 Maroons. The only runner he allowed on base was the result of an East fielding error.
Mason Raade led the East offense in the opener with three doubles, while Peyton Davis knocked in three runs with a pair of hits. Zeek Ramadhani had two hits and knocked in a run.
In the second game, junior Caden Hunderman allowed just two hits and one unearned run to pick up the win to complete the sweep. Hunderman struck out eight over six innings. Raade came on in the seventh, striking out two batters in earning the save.
Cam Jaworowski, Tyler Chandler and Jack Toner each had two hits for East in the second game while Davis and Campbell each knocked in a run.
The Chix completed the three-game sweep last Thursday with a 9-3 win at Holland Christian.
Raade allowed just one hit over six shutout innings and struck out 10 for the pitching victory. Meanwhile, Davis and Kuzma each had a pair of hits, and Gavin Weighmink ran wild on the basepaths with four steals.
East defeated South Haven last Friday 8-3. The Rams jumped on the Chix for three runs in the top of the first, but East answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame, with Raade supplying the big blow, a three-run homer. Freshman Sawyer Klaasen overcame a rough first inning, striking out seven over six innings for the pitching win.
The Chix split two games last Saturday at the Eagle Invite in Hudsonville. East lost to the host Eagles 11-1, but bounced back to down Grand Rapids South Christian 13-1 in the consolation game.
East’s defense struggled against Hudsonville, committing eight errors. The Eagles put together five-run rallies in the third and fifth innings to win by the run rule.
Against South Christian, Campbell and two relievers combined on a two-hitter. Kuzma drove in three runs while Toner had three hits and two RBIs.
East entered the week 4-1 in conference play and 12-3 overall.
Zeeland Record
A no-hitter by junior lefthander Ethan Campbell highlighted a 5-1 record for the Zeeland East varsity baseball team last week that included a three-game sweep of conference rival Holland Christian.
Campbell threw a five-inning no-no April 21 in the first game of a doubleheader as the Chix blanked the Maroons, 11-0. East then came back to take the nightcap, 3-1.
Campbell threw just 57 pitchers, 46 of them for strikes, and struck out 12 Maroons. The only runner he allowed on base was the result of an East fielding error.
Mason Raade led the East offense in the opener with three doubles, while Peyton Davis knocked in three runs with a pair of hits. Zeek Ramadhani had two hits and knocked in a run.
In the second game, junior Caden Hunderman allowed just two hits and one unearned run to pick up the win to complete the sweep. Hunderman struck out eight over six innings. Raade came on in the seventh, striking out two batters in earning the save.
Cam Jaworowski, Tyler Chandler and Jack Toner each had two hits for East in the second game while Davis and Campbell each knocked in a run.
The Chix completed the three-game sweep last Thursday with a 9-3 win at Holland Christian.
Raade allowed just one hit over six shutout innings and struck out 10 for the pitching victory. Meanwhile, Davis and Kuzma each had a pair of hits, and Gavin Weighmink ran wild on the basepaths with four steals.
East defeated South Haven last Friday 8-3. The Rams jumped on the Chix for three runs in the top of the first, but East answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame, with Raade supplying the big blow, a three-run homer. Freshman Sawyer Klaasen overcame a rough first inning, striking out seven over six innings for the pitching win.
The Chix split two games last Saturday at the Eagle Invite in Hudsonville. East lost to the host Eagles 11-1, but bounced back to down Grand Rapids South Christian 13-1 in the consolation game.
East’s defense struggled against Hudsonville, committing eight errors. The Eagles put together five-run rallies in the third and fifth innings to win by the run rule.
Against South Christian, Campbell and two relievers combined on a two-hitter. Kuzma drove in three runs while Toner had three hits and two RBIs.
East entered the week 4-1 in conference play and 12-3 overall.
East Girls Track Second at GR Elite Meet
The Zeeland East girls track team finished second among 29 teams at the GR Elite Challenge meet last Saturday at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids.
The Chix finished with a team score of 76.5 points, just 4.5 points behind meet champion Grand Haven. Zeeland West had a team score of seven points.
In the boys meet, East finished fifth with 41.33 points while West was 15th with 19 points.
In the girls meet, East junior Adalyn Raab won the 1,600-meter run by more than 2.3 seconds in a time of 4 minutes, 57.28 seconds. Raab also finished second in the girls 3,200-meter run in 11:27.05.
The Chix took two of the top three places in the shot put, as Lily Huizenga finished second with a toss of 36 feet, 7 inches, and Laura Maartense placed third with a throw of 35-5. Huizenga also finished second in the discus with a throw of 113-9.
West got a third-place showing in the 4x800 relay, as the team of Evie Kleinheksel, Rowan Sloothaak, Samantha Koppenol and Avery Towne ran a 10:05.01.
East took two of the top four places in the high jump, as Bri Cole finished third (5-2) and Rogue Kraker took fourth (5-0).
Kate Murphy finished fourth for East in the pole vault with a vault of 10 feet even, just four days after she set a school record in the event during a triangular meet with Hamilton and Spring Lake with a leap of 10-7. The previous school record in the pole vault was 10-6, by Hannah Nienhuis in 2022.
Meredith Cook finished fourth for East in the 800-meter run in 2:18.30, while the 4x100-meter relay team of Terra Schuberg, Kamilla Munoz, Cole and Kraker took fourth in 51.13.
In the boys meet, East’s Sam Sietsema had a pair of top-three finishes in the field events, taking second in the shot put (49 feet, 3-1/2 inches) and third in the discus (164-11).
Zeeland teams took two of the top four places in the 4x200-meter relay, with East finishing second (Kameron Compagner, Levi Bannach, Isaiah Strom, Sam Manning) in 1:30.33, while West finished fourth (Ethan Dalman, Garrett Kapenga, Xane Herrygers, Brandon Holman) in 1:31.77.
West took fourth in the 4x800-meter relay, as the foursome of Jack Gruppen, Zach Anderson, Weston Grewell and Tanner Smith ran an 8:31.31. East finished fifth in the 4x400 relay, with Strom, Compagner, Tristen Hinson and Bannach running a 3:30.43.
Robert Dodd posted a fourth-place finish for the Dux in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:24.93.
East edged out West for fifth place in the 4x100, as the team of Compager, Strom, Isaiah Boonstra and Manning sprinted to a time of 43.69. Diego Valdez, Holman, Herrygers and Kapenga posted a 44.08.
The Chix finished with a team score of 76.5 points, just 4.5 points behind meet champion Grand Haven. Zeeland West had a team score of seven points.
In the boys meet, East finished fifth with 41.33 points while West was 15th with 19 points.
In the girls meet, East junior Adalyn Raab won the 1,600-meter run by more than 2.3 seconds in a time of 4 minutes, 57.28 seconds. Raab also finished second in the girls 3,200-meter run in 11:27.05.
The Chix took two of the top three places in the shot put, as Lily Huizenga finished second with a toss of 36 feet, 7 inches, and Laura Maartense placed third with a throw of 35-5. Huizenga also finished second in the discus with a throw of 113-9.
West got a third-place showing in the 4x800 relay, as the team of Evie Kleinheksel, Rowan Sloothaak, Samantha Koppenol and Avery Towne ran a 10:05.01.
East took two of the top four places in the high jump, as Bri Cole finished third (5-2) and Rogue Kraker took fourth (5-0).
Kate Murphy finished fourth for East in the pole vault with a vault of 10 feet even, just four days after she set a school record in the event during a triangular meet with Hamilton and Spring Lake with a leap of 10-7. The previous school record in the pole vault was 10-6, by Hannah Nienhuis in 2022.
Meredith Cook finished fourth for East in the 800-meter run in 2:18.30, while the 4x100-meter relay team of Terra Schuberg, Kamilla Munoz, Cole and Kraker took fourth in 51.13.
In the boys meet, East’s Sam Sietsema had a pair of top-three finishes in the field events, taking second in the shot put (49 feet, 3-1/2 inches) and third in the discus (164-11).
Zeeland teams took two of the top four places in the 4x200-meter relay, with East finishing second (Kameron Compagner, Levi Bannach, Isaiah Strom, Sam Manning) in 1:30.33, while West finished fourth (Ethan Dalman, Garrett Kapenga, Xane Herrygers, Brandon Holman) in 1:31.77.
West took fourth in the 4x800-meter relay, as the foursome of Jack Gruppen, Zach Anderson, Weston Grewell and Tanner Smith ran an 8:31.31. East finished fifth in the 4x400 relay, with Strom, Compagner, Tristen Hinson and Bannach running a 3:30.43.
Robert Dodd posted a fourth-place finish for the Dux in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:24.93.
East edged out West for fifth place in the 4x100, as the team of Compager, Strom, Isaiah Boonstra and Manning sprinted to a time of 43.69. Diego Valdez, Holman, Herrygers and Kapenga posted a 44.08.
Hope’s Brown, Curnutt Earn MIAA Most Valuable Honors In Women’s Lacrosse
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced its 2026 Women’s Lacrosse All-MIAA award recipients, recognizing the conference’s top performers following an exciting regular season.
Hope College’s Julia Brown has been named the Most Valuable Offensive Player, teammate Caroline Curnutt earned Most Valuable Defensive Player honors, and Trine University’s Erin Fariello was selected as Rookie of the Year.
Brown has been named the MIAA Most Valuable Offensive Player for the second time in her career, adding to her 2024 honor. A co-captain for the Flying Dutch, Brown has been a cornerstone of Hope’s success throughout her career, earning four First Team All-MIAA selections, three IWLCA Great Lakes All-Region honors, and the 2023 MIAA Rookie of the Year award.
This season, Brown became the first player in program history to surpass 200 career goals, further cementing her place among the program’s all-time greats. She helped lead Hope to a share of the regular-season championship with a 6-1 conference record and the top seed in the 2026 MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.
Brown finished the regular season as the league leader with 28 goals, averaging 4.00 per game, and ranked second with 39 points at 5.57 per game. Her scoring ability and leadership have been instrumental in Hope’s success entering the postseason.
Curnutt has been named the MIAA Most Valuable Defensive Player after anchoring one of the conference’s top defensive units. A co-captain alongside Brown, Curnutt is a four-time All-MIAA honoree, including three First Team selections, and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team in 2024.
Curnutt helped guide the Flying Dutch to a share of the regular-season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament, leading a defense that allowed a league-low 57 goals during conference play.
She also contributed 30 draw controls, averaging 4.29 per game, showcasing her impact beyond the defensive end.
Her leadership, consistency, and ability to disrupt opposing offenses were key factors in Hope’s championship-caliber season.
Trine freshman midfielder Erin Fariello has been named the MIAA Rookie of the Year after an impressive debut season. Fariello helped the Thunder to a 3-4 conference record and the No. 5 seed in the MIAA Tournament.
Hope placed five players on the All-MIAA team, with senior midfielder Stella Bottum joining Julia Brown and Curnutt on the first team. Sophomore midfielder Ireland Brown and sophomore defender Jillian Paul were second-team honorees.
Calvin University had seven players named All-MIAA. Attackers Morgan Bethard and Audrey Booher were joined on the first team by midfielder Megan Gibbs, defender Natalie Scott and goalkeeper Hannah Rizzo. Attacker Delaney Johnson and midfielder Corrine Plumb were named to the second team.
Hope College’s Julia Brown has been named the Most Valuable Offensive Player, teammate Caroline Curnutt earned Most Valuable Defensive Player honors, and Trine University’s Erin Fariello was selected as Rookie of the Year.
Brown has been named the MIAA Most Valuable Offensive Player for the second time in her career, adding to her 2024 honor. A co-captain for the Flying Dutch, Brown has been a cornerstone of Hope’s success throughout her career, earning four First Team All-MIAA selections, three IWLCA Great Lakes All-Region honors, and the 2023 MIAA Rookie of the Year award.
This season, Brown became the first player in program history to surpass 200 career goals, further cementing her place among the program’s all-time greats. She helped lead Hope to a share of the regular-season championship with a 6-1 conference record and the top seed in the 2026 MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.
Brown finished the regular season as the league leader with 28 goals, averaging 4.00 per game, and ranked second with 39 points at 5.57 per game. Her scoring ability and leadership have been instrumental in Hope’s success entering the postseason.
Curnutt has been named the MIAA Most Valuable Defensive Player after anchoring one of the conference’s top defensive units. A co-captain alongside Brown, Curnutt is a four-time All-MIAA honoree, including three First Team selections, and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team in 2024.
Curnutt helped guide the Flying Dutch to a share of the regular-season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament, leading a defense that allowed a league-low 57 goals during conference play.
She also contributed 30 draw controls, averaging 4.29 per game, showcasing her impact beyond the defensive end.
Her leadership, consistency, and ability to disrupt opposing offenses were key factors in Hope’s championship-caliber season.
Trine freshman midfielder Erin Fariello has been named the MIAA Rookie of the Year after an impressive debut season. Fariello helped the Thunder to a 3-4 conference record and the No. 5 seed in the MIAA Tournament.
Hope placed five players on the All-MIAA team, with senior midfielder Stella Bottum joining Julia Brown and Curnutt on the first team. Sophomore midfielder Ireland Brown and sophomore defender Jillian Paul were second-team honorees.
Calvin University had seven players named All-MIAA. Attackers Morgan Bethard and Audrey Booher were joined on the first team by midfielder Megan Gibbs, defender Natalie Scott and goalkeeper Hannah Rizzo. Attacker Delaney Johnson and midfielder Corrine Plumb were named to the second team.
Local Graduates Earn All-WHAC Softball Honors
Two players with ties to Zeeland have been named to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) softball all-conference team in a vote of the league’s coaches.
Cornerstone University first baseman Taylor Zwagerman, a Zeeland West High School graduate, was named to the All-WHAC first team, while Aquinas College first baseman Katie Carlson, a Zeeland East High School graduate, was a second team All-WHAC selection.
Zwagerman, a senior, had a team-leading batting average of .405 for the Golden Eagles this season with an on-base percentage of .531 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.112. She drove in 26 runs and scored 32. She also led Cornerstone in doubles with 11 and sacrifice bunts with seven.
Cornerstone’s season ended on Sunday with a 4-3 loss to nationally-ranked Madonna University in the WHAC tournament. The Golden Eagles finished their season at 23-18.
Carlson, a junior, led Aquinas in nearly every major offensive statistical category this season, including batting average (.434), slugging percentage (.705), OPS (1.195), on-base percentage (.490), home runs (4), RBIs (41), hits (56), doubles (15), triples (4), total bases (91) and walks (15). She had a 13-game hitting streak early in the season.
Aquinas finished its season with a record of 26-18, being eliminated from the WHAC tournament last Friday by Cornerstone, 15-5.
Cornerstone University first baseman Taylor Zwagerman, a Zeeland West High School graduate, was named to the All-WHAC first team, while Aquinas College first baseman Katie Carlson, a Zeeland East High School graduate, was a second team All-WHAC selection.
Zwagerman, a senior, had a team-leading batting average of .405 for the Golden Eagles this season with an on-base percentage of .531 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.112. She drove in 26 runs and scored 32. She also led Cornerstone in doubles with 11 and sacrifice bunts with seven.
Cornerstone’s season ended on Sunday with a 4-3 loss to nationally-ranked Madonna University in the WHAC tournament. The Golden Eagles finished their season at 23-18.
Carlson, a junior, led Aquinas in nearly every major offensive statistical category this season, including batting average (.434), slugging percentage (.705), OPS (1.195), on-base percentage (.490), home runs (4), RBIs (41), hits (56), doubles (15), triples (4), total bases (91) and walks (15). She had a 13-game hitting streak early in the season.
Aquinas finished its season with a record of 26-18, being eliminated from the WHAC tournament last Friday by Cornerstone, 15-5.
West’s Girman Sets Crestview Course Record
Zeeland West junior boys golfer Mike Girman set a school home course record last Thursday during the O-K Black Conference Jamboree at Crestview Golf Club in Borculo.
Girman fired a nine-hole round of 33 to lead the Dux in the jamboree. In addition to setting the West home course record, he also tied the overall school record that had been previously set several times on road courses.
West finished fifth at the jamboree with a team score of 158, while Zeeland East was seventh at 171.
Unity Christian came out on top of the jamboree in a close battle with a team score of 145, followed by Spring Lake (147) and Holland Christian (148).
The Dux and Chix are expected to compete Friday in the Ottawa County Invite at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University. Their next conference jamboree will be at Spring Lake Country Club on Monday.
Registration Open For Zeeland Recreation Rocket Football
Zeeland Recreation has announced that registration is underway for Rocket Football coming up in the fall.
This program will teach all aspects of tackle football to better prepare kids for middle school and high school football. 3rd-4th graders play together and 5th-6th graders play together, with both levels competing against other area schools in the West Michigan Junior Football League (WMJFL). This league includes 2-3 practices per week along with games on Saturdays.
After team assignments are finalized and approved, coaches will contact parents directly with team information, practice and game schedules.
Registration is $79 for Zeeland residents and $94 for non-residents. The registration deadline is June 20. For more information and to register, visit zps.org/z-recreation/youth/football.
Volunteer coaches are also being sought for Rocket Football. A volunteer coaches meeting will be held Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at Cityside Middle School.
