Natalie Nichols (11) of Zeeland East heads the ball away from a Unity Christian player during last Friday’s girls soccer district final.
Photo by Kathy Hoffman for Geskus Photo
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland East varsity girls soccer team went toe-to-toe with one of the state’s most dominant teams last Friday in the Division 2 district final at Zeeland’s new Janssen Soccer and Lacrosse Complex.
The Chix faced a Unity Christian team that was seeking its fourth consecutive state championship, its second since moving up to Division 2. The Crusaders had gone 47-0-3 in its last 50 games dating back to May 2024, and had outscored its opposition 88-1 on the season, including 6-0 and 5-0 wins in the regular season over East.
And yet, for more than 65 minutes, the Chix scrapped and battled, turning away scoring threat after scoring threat, contesting headers, and keeping Unity off the scoreboard.
It took a header by Ava Steen off a perfectly-placed corner kick with 14:33 remaining that gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead, and that goal held up the rest of the way as the Chix season came to an end. It was only the second time all season that Unity had been
held to a single goal in a game.
East ended its season at 12-5-3, and first-year head coach Emily Slagter could not be prouder of how well her team played.
“Honestly, we decided to play our own game,” Slagter said. “We didn’t want to attempt to sit back and have five (defenders) in the back. We went with our four in the back and wanted to play our game, knowing that if each person steps up and takes care of their one person, that ultimately, we could hold them.”
East junior goalkeeper Sophie Reese was sensational in goal, making several diving saves, leaping high to tip away another potential scoring opportunity and diving fearlessly to cover up a loose ball in the penalty area midway through the second half with a Unity forward bearing down on her.
Reese also had help from her backline, as defenders Meg Weeldreyer, Tenley DeWitt and Madison Bailey blocked shots from reaching the goal and headed the ball out of danger countless times.
“We decided to touch tight (defensively), which meant you are marking up on your mark, you are on them, touching them, and knowing exactly where they are all the time, so they had no space on the ball, or if they did and they tried to shoot it, we’d be in their way,” Slagter said. “I feel like the girls executed that flawlessly tonight. I couldn’t have asked for a better effort.”
Offensive opportunities were few for the Chix, but they had a great scoring chance in the second half with the game still scoreless. Vanessa Putnam slipped a beautiful through ball to Sophie Koleszar, whose right-footed blast from about 20 yards away was on target, but sailed just inches above the crossbar.
The Chix advanced to the district final on May 27 with a 2-1 semifinal victory over Hamilton. Koleszar scored the winning goal, and Madison Bailey also scored for East. Unity Christian, meanwhile, blanked Holland Christian 5-0.
Zeeland West’s varsity season ended May 22 with a 2-0 district loss to Holland Christian. The Dux finished their season at 5-12.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland East varsity girls soccer team went toe-to-toe with one of the state’s most dominant teams last Friday in the Division 2 district final at Zeeland’s new Janssen Soccer and Lacrosse Complex.
The Chix faced a Unity Christian team that was seeking its fourth consecutive state championship, its second since moving up to Division 2. The Crusaders had gone 47-0-3 in its last 50 games dating back to May 2024, and had outscored its opposition 88-1 on the season, including 6-0 and 5-0 wins in the regular season over East.
And yet, for more than 65 minutes, the Chix scrapped and battled, turning away scoring threat after scoring threat, contesting headers, and keeping Unity off the scoreboard.
It took a header by Ava Steen off a perfectly-placed corner kick with 14:33 remaining that gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead, and that goal held up the rest of the way as the Chix season came to an end. It was only the second time all season that Unity had been
held to a single goal in a game.
East ended its season at 12-5-3, and first-year head coach Emily Slagter could not be prouder of how well her team played.
“Honestly, we decided to play our own game,” Slagter said. “We didn’t want to attempt to sit back and have five (defenders) in the back. We went with our four in the back and wanted to play our game, knowing that if each person steps up and takes care of their one person, that ultimately, we could hold them.”
East junior goalkeeper Sophie Reese was sensational in goal, making several diving saves, leaping high to tip away another potential scoring opportunity and diving fearlessly to cover up a loose ball in the penalty area midway through the second half with a Unity forward bearing down on her.
Reese also had help from her backline, as defenders Meg Weeldreyer, Tenley DeWitt and Madison Bailey blocked shots from reaching the goal and headed the ball out of danger countless times.
“We decided to touch tight (defensively), which meant you are marking up on your mark, you are on them, touching them, and knowing exactly where they are all the time, so they had no space on the ball, or if they did and they tried to shoot it, we’d be in their way,” Slagter said. “I feel like the girls executed that flawlessly tonight. I couldn’t have asked for a better effort.”
Offensive opportunities were few for the Chix, but they had a great scoring chance in the second half with the game still scoreless. Vanessa Putnam slipped a beautiful through ball to Sophie Koleszar, whose right-footed blast from about 20 yards away was on target, but sailed just inches above the crossbar.
The Chix advanced to the district final on May 27 with a 2-1 semifinal victory over Hamilton. Koleszar scored the winning goal, and Madison Bailey also scored for East. Unity Christian, meanwhile, blanked Holland Christian 5-0.
Zeeland West’s varsity season ended May 22 with a 2-0 district loss to Holland Christian. The Dux finished their season at 5-12.
Dux Softball Rally Falls Short Against Top-Ranked Hudsonville
An upset bid by the Zeeland West varsity softball team against the No. 1-ranked team in Division 1 came up just short last Saturday, as Hudsonville held off the Dux, 6-4, in a district semifinal game at Grandville.
The loss ended West’s season at 18-12.
The Eagles scored two runs in each of the first two innings off West starter Karissa Oetman, and added another run in the third to build a 5-0 lead.
But West battled back in the fourth inning, scoring all four of its runs with two out. With a runner on second, Jenna Hendricks singled to center to score Maggie Brower, who had walked to lead off the inning. Singles by Sadie Kragt and Bri Kamer loaded the bases.
Hendricks scored on a wild pitch, then Megan Strabbing delivered a two-run single to center, and all of a sudden, West was very much in the game, trailing 5-4.
Hudsonville picked up an insurance run in the fifth, and Eagles pitchers Paige Visser and Sophia Van Kempen slammed the door on the Dux comeback bid from there, setting down the last 10 batters in order, six on strikeouts.
Kamer led the West offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Strabbing added two hits and two RBIs. Kragt scattered six hits over four innings of relief in the circle to keep her team in the game.
Hudsonville went on to win the district with a 9-4 win over Grandville to move on to the Division 1 regional at Rockford, which will be played this Saturday.
The loss ended West’s season at 18-12.
The Eagles scored two runs in each of the first two innings off West starter Karissa Oetman, and added another run in the third to build a 5-0 lead.
But West battled back in the fourth inning, scoring all four of its runs with two out. With a runner on second, Jenna Hendricks singled to center to score Maggie Brower, who had walked to lead off the inning. Singles by Sadie Kragt and Bri Kamer loaded the bases.
Hendricks scored on a wild pitch, then Megan Strabbing delivered a two-run single to center, and all of a sudden, West was very much in the game, trailing 5-4.
Hudsonville picked up an insurance run in the fifth, and Eagles pitchers Paige Visser and Sophia Van Kempen slammed the door on the Dux comeback bid from there, setting down the last 10 batters in order, six on strikeouts.
Kamer led the West offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Strabbing added two hits and two RBIs. Kragt scattered six hits over four innings of relief in the circle to keep her team in the game.
Hudsonville went on to win the district with a 9-4 win over Grandville to move on to the Division 1 regional at Rockford, which will be played this Saturday.
Szetela Named East Volleyball Coach
Jake Szetala
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland East High School has named Jake Szetala its new varsity girls volleyball coach.
Szetala will take over for Sara Mulder, who stepped down at the end of last season after 11 years as the Chix head coach.
Szetala brings coaching experience in both high school and club volleyball to his new role at East. He has been a junior varsity coach at Wyoming Potter’s House, Kenowa Hills and Forest Hills Eastern, and has also coached with the FarOut Volleyball club program.
“As we went through our coaching search, it was apparent that Coach Szetela has the knowledge and skills to invest into the volleyball program and the development of our student-athletes. We are excited to see what the future holds under his leadership,” East Athletic Director Josh Glerum said.
The Chix are coming off a 31-5 season last winter that saw them finish second in the O-K Black Conference and advance to the district final, falling to a Byron Center team that reached the Division 1 semifinals. They are expected to bring back a talented roster led by rising senior Lizzie Risdon.
Szetela says he’s excited about being part of the Zeeland community and building on the work of his predecessor.
“I am excited to get to work building upon the strong tradition of integrity, excellence, commitment and teamwork that Coach Mulder cultivated during the last 11 years as Zeeland East's next varsity volleyball coach,” he said. “My three sons are all future Chix and my family loves being a part of the Zeeland East community. I look forward to serving our community, showcasing Zeeland East volleyball as a first-class program and seeing you all.”
Szetala will be directing the East volleyball camp for girls from 5 years old to eighth grade through Zeeland Recreation this summer.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland East High School has named Jake Szetala its new varsity girls volleyball coach.
Szetala will take over for Sara Mulder, who stepped down at the end of last season after 11 years as the Chix head coach.
Szetala brings coaching experience in both high school and club volleyball to his new role at East. He has been a junior varsity coach at Wyoming Potter’s House, Kenowa Hills and Forest Hills Eastern, and has also coached with the FarOut Volleyball club program.
“As we went through our coaching search, it was apparent that Coach Szetela has the knowledge and skills to invest into the volleyball program and the development of our student-athletes. We are excited to see what the future holds under his leadership,” East Athletic Director Josh Glerum said.
The Chix are coming off a 31-5 season last winter that saw them finish second in the O-K Black Conference and advance to the district final, falling to a Byron Center team that reached the Division 1 semifinals. They are expected to bring back a talented roster led by rising senior Lizzie Risdon.
Szetela says he’s excited about being part of the Zeeland community and building on the work of his predecessor.
“I am excited to get to work building upon the strong tradition of integrity, excellence, commitment and teamwork that Coach Mulder cultivated during the last 11 years as Zeeland East's next varsity volleyball coach,” he said. “My three sons are all future Chix and my family loves being a part of the Zeeland East community. I look forward to serving our community, showcasing Zeeland East volleyball as a first-class program and seeing you all.”
Szetala will be directing the East volleyball camp for girls from 5 years old to eighth grade through Zeeland Recreation this summer.
Dux and Chix Wrap Up Boys Golf Season
Zeeland West finished seventh and Zeeland East placed 14th among 19 teams at the Division 2 boys golf regional tournament at Clearbrook Golf Club in Saugatuck May 27.
The Dux finished with an 18-hole team score of 326 while the Chix posted a score of 340. Grand Rapids Christian won the regional with a score of 303, while Grand Rapids South Christian (309) and Holland (315) also qualified for state. Holland Christian was ninth (331).
Junior Mikey Girman led West with a 79, finishing 16th among all golfers and falling two shots shy of qualifying as an individual. Jackson Zeedyk shot an 81 for the Dux, followed by Max Zeedyk (82) and Owen TenBroeke (84).
East was led by senior Kolter Rotman with an 80, followed by Cole Lopshire with an 85, Reid Blondin with an 86 and Caleb Claerbaut with an 89.
The Dux finished with an 18-hole team score of 326 while the Chix posted a score of 340. Grand Rapids Christian won the regional with a score of 303, while Grand Rapids South Christian (309) and Holland (315) also qualified for state. Holland Christian was ninth (331).
Junior Mikey Girman led West with a 79, finishing 16th among all golfers and falling two shots shy of qualifying as an individual. Jackson Zeedyk shot an 81 for the Dux, followed by Max Zeedyk (82) and Owen TenBroeke (84).
East was led by senior Kolter Rotman with an 80, followed by Cole Lopshire with an 85, Reid Blondin with an 86 and Caleb Claerbaut with an 89.
East Softball Season Ends in Pre-District
A 13-run second inning was too much for the Zeeland East varsity softball team to overcome as the Chix season ended with a 16-1 Division 1 pre-district loss to Jenison May 26.
East took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Cora Ter Haar reached on a two-base error, took third on a Bella Urivez sacrifice bunt and scored on another sacrifice bunt by Jerzee Selby.
But the Wildcats responded with an offensive explosion in the bottom of the inning, combining six hits, four errors and five walks to put up their 13 runs. Jenison added a run in the third and two in the fourth to win by the run rule.
East ended its season with a record of 10-20.
East took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Cora Ter Haar reached on a two-base error, took third on a Bella Urivez sacrifice bunt and scored on another sacrifice bunt by Jerzee Selby.
But the Wildcats responded with an offensive explosion in the bottom of the inning, combining six hits, four errors and five walks to put up their 13 runs. Jenison added a run in the third and two in the fourth to win by the run rule.
East ended its season with a record of 10-20.
East Baseball Ends with Extra-Inning Loss
The Zeeland East varsity baseball team saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion May 26, dropping a 2-1 eight-inning decision to Jenison in a Division 1 pre-district contest at East.
The Chix finished the season with a record of 25-11, tying for second in the highly competitive O-K Black Conference, one game out of first.
The game was a pitchers’ duel between lefthanders Ethan Campbell of East and Pierce Ginzer of Jenison. Their pitching lines were nearly identical – both allowed one run on three hits over six innings. Campbell struck out six and walked three while Ginzer fanned seven Chix and walked two.
East drew first blood in the bottom of the first. Campbell reached base on a bunt single. Ryan Kuzma then doubled, scoring courtesy runner Joseph Mireles. East would manage just one hit the rest of the game.
The Wildcats tied the game in the fourth on an error, single, walk and a wild pitch. The teams remained tied through the regulation seven innings.
Jenison scored the game-winning run in the eighth. With two out and no one on, Nick Potter doubled off East’s Caden Hunderman, then scored on a dropped popup. The Chix went down in order in the bottom of the inning as the Wildcats advanced to play in last Saturday’s district at Grandville.
The Chix finished the season with a record of 25-11, tying for second in the highly competitive O-K Black Conference, one game out of first.
The game was a pitchers’ duel between lefthanders Ethan Campbell of East and Pierce Ginzer of Jenison. Their pitching lines were nearly identical – both allowed one run on three hits over six innings. Campbell struck out six and walked three while Ginzer fanned seven Chix and walked two.
East drew first blood in the bottom of the first. Campbell reached base on a bunt single. Ryan Kuzma then doubled, scoring courtesy runner Joseph Mireles. East would manage just one hit the rest of the game.
The Wildcats tied the game in the fourth on an error, single, walk and a wild pitch. The teams remained tied through the regulation seven innings.
Jenison scored the game-winning run in the eighth. With two out and no one on, Nick Potter doubled off East’s Caden Hunderman, then scored on a dropped popup. The Chix went down in order in the bottom of the inning as the Wildcats advanced to play in last Saturday’s district at Grandville.
Zeeland Athletes Achieve All-State at Track Finals
Several Zeeland athletes earned All-State honors at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 track and field finals last Saturday in Rockford.
East had two medalists in the girls shot put – sophomore Lily Huizenga, who finished fourth with a toss of 42 feet (12.8 meters), and senior Laura Maartense, who grabbed the last spot on the medal stand, finishing eighth with a throw of 37 feet, 5-1/2 inches (11.42 meters). Sophomore Adalyn Raab finished fifth in the girls 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:58.63.
On the boys side, East junior Austin Lee finished seventh in the pole vault with a vault of 14 feet, 9 inches, while senior Sam Sietsema placed eighth in the shot put (152-3) and freshman Lewis Miller placed third in the adaptive 100-meter dash (21.05). West senior Clayton Ramsdell tied for eighth in the high jump with a leap of 6-5.
In addition, East senior Kate Murphy broke her own school record in the girls pole vault as she finished 13th with a vault of 11-3.
East had two medalists in the girls shot put – sophomore Lily Huizenga, who finished fourth with a toss of 42 feet (12.8 meters), and senior Laura Maartense, who grabbed the last spot on the medal stand, finishing eighth with a throw of 37 feet, 5-1/2 inches (11.42 meters). Sophomore Adalyn Raab finished fifth in the girls 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:58.63.
On the boys side, East junior Austin Lee finished seventh in the pole vault with a vault of 14 feet, 9 inches, while senior Sam Sietsema placed eighth in the shot put (152-3) and freshman Lewis Miller placed third in the adaptive 100-meter dash (21.05). West senior Clayton Ramsdell tied for eighth in the high jump with a leap of 6-5.
In addition, East senior Kate Murphy broke her own school record in the girls pole vault as she finished 13th with a vault of 11-3.
McKinney Named 2026 Regional Coach of the Year
Zeeland West girls tennis coach Lance McKinney has been named the Region 9 Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association.
The regional honor makes McKinney eligible to be named the state Coach of the Year by MHSTeCA.
McKinney led the Dux to a second-place finish in the O-K Black Conference and the school’s first-ever regional championship this season. The Dux tied for the Division 2 regional title with Mattawan on May 13 at Portage Northern to qualify for the state tournament for the first time in program history.
West began play at the Division 2 state finals on Wednesday at the Midland Tennis Center. The finals will conclude today.
The regional honor makes McKinney eligible to be named the state Coach of the Year by MHSTeCA.
McKinney led the Dux to a second-place finish in the O-K Black Conference and the school’s first-ever regional championship this season. The Dux tied for the Division 2 regional title with Mattawan on May 13 at Portage Northern to qualify for the state tournament for the first time in program history.
West began play at the Division 2 state finals on Wednesday at the Midland Tennis Center. The finals will conclude today.
