Retiring Zeeland West football coach John Shillito and former West football parent Patti VanDort share a laugh with wellwishers at an open house honoring Shillito at the West cafeteria March 4.
Photo by Greg Chandler
By Greg Chandler
The Zeeland Record
Former players, coaches and community members streamed through the Zeeland West High School cafeteria March 4 for an open house honoring retiring varsity football coach John Shillito.
Shillito announced his retirement from coaching in January after a 41-year career as a head coach, including the last 20 at West, where he led the Dux to five state championships, including the Division 3 title last November at Ford Field in Detroit.
“It’s great to see all these people,” Shillito said in between handshakes and greetings from wellwishers.
Patti VanDort was among those who interviewed Shillito when West was looking for a coach to launch the Dux varsity program more than two decades ago.
“What impressed me when I interviewed him was (that he said) it was about kids first,” VanDort said. “This wasn’t about why you should hire me as coach. It was about how can I make your kids better. That was the consistent theme (he spoke of).”
Van Dort’s sons, Ryan and Jordan, went on to play on state championship teams under Shillito – Ryan, as a running back on the 2006 team, and Jordan, as a tight end and defensive lineman on the 2011 team. Both later went on to serve as assistant coaches under Shillito.
West senior Jacob McLaren credits Shillito for making him into a football player that will compete at the collegiate level next fall. McLaren, who was a tight end on last fall’s championship team, recently announced that he will be playing at Calvin University.
“He’s really been my mentor the past four years … He finds ways to push you as an athlete and as a person to lengths you never thought you could reach. That’s why he took a bunch of boys who grew up in Zeeland and won a state championship,” McLaren said.
“I never thought that it would be possible (that I would get to play college football). I thought basketball would be my route … He talked to coaches for me, he believed in me, he made me the player I am now, and now I’m ready to go play in college.”
Shelly Hendricks, the mother of West senior Keaton Hendricks, spoke of Shillito’s character, both on and off the field.
“He’s not one to jump up and down and scream and cuss … He led by example. If things didn’t go his way, he’d just kind of shake his head. He did things the right way,” Hendricks said.
“(His teams) weren’t flashy by any means. You score a touchdown, you hand (the ball) to the official, you celebrate with your team, you go back to work. That’s what they were taught to do.”
Zeeland West posted a record of 185-46 during Shillito’s 20 seasons as head coach, reaching the state playoffs all but two times. The Dux compiled a 43-13 record in state playoff games, reaching at least the regional round 10 times and the semifinals eight times.
West won its first state championship in just the program’s second year in 2006, defeating Coopersville 22-0 in the Division 4 title game. He followed with a Division 4 championship in 2011, the Division 3 title in 2013 and the Division 4 crown in 2015.
In Shillito’s final game on the sidelines, the Dux defeated Detroit Martin Luther King 42-22 on Nov. 29, 2024 in the Division 3 championship game, as Keaton Hendricks scored a state finals-record six touchdowns.
Shillito finished his coaching career with 340 wins, seventh most in Michigan high school football history. He also coached at Comstock Park (1982-84), Muskegon Orchard View (1986-99) and East Kentwood (2000-03).
Shillito is being succeeded by Jeff Bolhouse, who was the junior varsity coach at West the past 20 years. Bolhouse’s appointment was announced last month.
The Zeeland Record
Former players, coaches and community members streamed through the Zeeland West High School cafeteria March 4 for an open house honoring retiring varsity football coach John Shillito.
Shillito announced his retirement from coaching in January after a 41-year career as a head coach, including the last 20 at West, where he led the Dux to five state championships, including the Division 3 title last November at Ford Field in Detroit.
“It’s great to see all these people,” Shillito said in between handshakes and greetings from wellwishers.
Patti VanDort was among those who interviewed Shillito when West was looking for a coach to launch the Dux varsity program more than two decades ago.
“What impressed me when I interviewed him was (that he said) it was about kids first,” VanDort said. “This wasn’t about why you should hire me as coach. It was about how can I make your kids better. That was the consistent theme (he spoke of).”
Van Dort’s sons, Ryan and Jordan, went on to play on state championship teams under Shillito – Ryan, as a running back on the 2006 team, and Jordan, as a tight end and defensive lineman on the 2011 team. Both later went on to serve as assistant coaches under Shillito.
West senior Jacob McLaren credits Shillito for making him into a football player that will compete at the collegiate level next fall. McLaren, who was a tight end on last fall’s championship team, recently announced that he will be playing at Calvin University.
“He’s really been my mentor the past four years … He finds ways to push you as an athlete and as a person to lengths you never thought you could reach. That’s why he took a bunch of boys who grew up in Zeeland and won a state championship,” McLaren said.
“I never thought that it would be possible (that I would get to play college football). I thought basketball would be my route … He talked to coaches for me, he believed in me, he made me the player I am now, and now I’m ready to go play in college.”
Shelly Hendricks, the mother of West senior Keaton Hendricks, spoke of Shillito’s character, both on and off the field.
“He’s not one to jump up and down and scream and cuss … He led by example. If things didn’t go his way, he’d just kind of shake his head. He did things the right way,” Hendricks said.
“(His teams) weren’t flashy by any means. You score a touchdown, you hand (the ball) to the official, you celebrate with your team, you go back to work. That’s what they were taught to do.”
Zeeland West posted a record of 185-46 during Shillito’s 20 seasons as head coach, reaching the state playoffs all but two times. The Dux compiled a 43-13 record in state playoff games, reaching at least the regional round 10 times and the semifinals eight times.
West won its first state championship in just the program’s second year in 2006, defeating Coopersville 22-0 in the Division 4 title game. He followed with a Division 4 championship in 2011, the Division 3 title in 2013 and the Division 4 crown in 2015.
In Shillito’s final game on the sidelines, the Dux defeated Detroit Martin Luther King 42-22 on Nov. 29, 2024 in the Division 3 championship game, as Keaton Hendricks scored a state finals-record six touchdowns.
Shillito finished his coaching career with 340 wins, seventh most in Michigan high school football history. He also coached at Comstock Park (1982-84), Muskegon Orchard View (1986-99) and East Kentwood (2000-03).
Shillito is being succeeded by Jeff Bolhouse, who was the junior varsity coach at West the past 20 years. Bolhouse’s appointment was announced last month.
Hope’s All-MIAA Kalkman to Compete at NCAA Swimming Finals
Zeeland native and Hope College senior Colin Kalkman will compete in three events next week at the NCAA Division III men’s swimming and diving championships in Greensboro, N.C.
Kalkman, a graduate of Holland Christian High School, will swim in three relay events for the Flying Dutchmen – the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. A four-time All-American in relays, he is competing at nationals for the second time.
The Hope 200 freestyle relay holds the fifth seed at 1:19.92. The 400 medley relay is seeded 14th at 3:15.62, while the 400 freestyle relay sits 16th at 2:59.71.
Kalkman was recently named to the All-MIAA men’s swimming and diving team for the fourth consecutive year. The biology major finished runner-up at the MIAA championships last month in six events: 100 and 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly, 400 medley relay, and 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Kalkman is one of nine Hope swimmers who will compete at the four-day national championships to be held Wednesday-Saturday, March 19-22, at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Another Holland Christian graduate, sophomore Christian Hoeksema, can swim in the 400 free relay.
Kalkman, a graduate of Holland Christian High School, will swim in three relay events for the Flying Dutchmen – the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. A four-time All-American in relays, he is competing at nationals for the second time.
The Hope 200 freestyle relay holds the fifth seed at 1:19.92. The 400 medley relay is seeded 14th at 3:15.62, while the 400 freestyle relay sits 16th at 2:59.71.
Kalkman was recently named to the All-MIAA men’s swimming and diving team for the fourth consecutive year. The biology major finished runner-up at the MIAA championships last month in six events: 100 and 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly, 400 medley relay, and 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Kalkman is one of nine Hope swimmers who will compete at the four-day national championships to be held Wednesday-Saturday, March 19-22, at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Another Holland Christian graduate, sophomore Christian Hoeksema, can swim in the 400 free relay.
Bartels Tops 1,000 Career Points at LCC
Lansing Community College women’s basketball sophomore center Kara Bartels went over the 1,000-point mark for her career Feb. 25 in a 71-40 victory over Grand Rapids Community College.
The 6-foot-3 Bartels, a graduate of Zeeland West High School, is averaging 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season for the Stars, who won the Western Conference of the Michigan Community College
Athletic Association with a perfect 14-0 conference record and took a 25-5 record into the national junior college tournament.
Bartels’ high game this season was 36 points Feb. 15 in an 85-56 win over Lake Michigan College.
The 6-foot-3 Bartels, a graduate of Zeeland West High School, is averaging 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season for the Stars, who won the Western Conference of the Michigan Community College
Athletic Association with a perfect 14-0 conference record and took a 25-5 record into the national junior college tournament.
Bartels’ high game this season was 36 points Feb. 15 in an 85-56 win over Lake Michigan College.
Dux Fall in Girls Basketball District Championship
Zeeland West sophomore guard Sadie Kragt drives to the basket against Zeeland East sophomore guard Lizzie Risdon during their district semifinal game March 5 at Holland High School. Kragt scored on the play and was fouled. She finished with a game-high 15 points in West’s 52-31 victory.
Photo by Greg Chandler
Photo by Greg Chandler
By Greg Chandler
The Zeeland Record
The varsity girls basketball season at Zeeland’s two high schools came to an end last week in the Division 1 district tournament at Holland High School.
Zeeland West defeated Zeeland East 52-31 in a district semifinal game on March 5, but lost to Grand Haven in the district championship game last Friday 48-24.
The Dux finished their season with a school-record 18 wins against six losses, while the Chix ended their campaign with a 14-9 record.
In the semifinal contest, West took control early, jumping out to a 12-2 lead about six-and-a-half minutes into the game. The Dux led 24-12 at halftime.
East pulled to within 11 points early in the third quarter at 27-16, but back-to-back 3-point baskets by junior forward Brooklyn Haight and sophomore guard Sadie Kragt ignited a 12-2 run that gave the Dux a 39-18 lead late in the quarter. The Chix would get no closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Kragt led West with 15 points, including 8-of-11 from the free throw line. She scored eight of her points in the third quarter. Haight sank three 3-point baskets for nine points, and senior center Hannah Stroebe also contributed nine points.
Senior guard Mirra Fenlon led East with 15 points while senior center Emily Wierenga added nine.
In the championship game, the Dux struggled offensively all night against Grand Haven’s 2-3 zone defense and half-court trap. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers established their inside game, as 6-foot-3 sophomore center Mallory Woiteshek scored three consecutive baskets to help Grand Haven take a 10-0 lead at the six-minute mark.
A 3-point basket by West sophomore guard Jenna Hendricks cut the Grand Haven lead to 12-5 after one quarter.
The Bucs extended their lead to 10 early in the second quarter, but West fought back. Haight hit a 3-point shot and senior guard Jordyn Klaasen followed with an old-fashioned three-point play as the Dux whittled the lead to 16-12 midway through the second quarter.
However, the Bucs shut out West the rest of the first half, scoring the last five points for a 21-12 halftime lead. Grand Haven then ran off eight straight points to start the second half to open up a 29-12 advantage.
It was then that Stroebe came alive. She went on a personal seven-point run in a span of a little more than a minute to cut the Bucs’ lead to 29-19. But that would be as close as the Dux would get the rest of the way.
Georgia Reinecke hit two 3-point baskets during an 11-2 run that closed out the third quarter, and Grand Haven was in command with a 40-21 lead.
“They got off to a really quick start. We battled back and put some pressure on them,” West coach Ryan Lane said. “They had that little spurt at the end (of the first half). They’re just a really talented team, and we really didn’t have an answer for Mallory out there.”
Stroebe, who will be playing collegiately at the College of Wooster in Ohio next season, led the Dux with 10 points in her final game, all of them coming in the second half. Klaasen and Hendricks each added five, with Klaasen finishing her career with 1,018 points.
Woiteshek dominated in the paint for Grand Haven as she finished with a game-high 21 points. Gillian Sorelle added eight.
“We told our girls that we were just so proud of them and what they accomplished this season,” Lane said. “It stinks to go out this way like this, but they have so much to be proud of.”
The Zeeland Record
The varsity girls basketball season at Zeeland’s two high schools came to an end last week in the Division 1 district tournament at Holland High School.
Zeeland West defeated Zeeland East 52-31 in a district semifinal game on March 5, but lost to Grand Haven in the district championship game last Friday 48-24.
The Dux finished their season with a school-record 18 wins against six losses, while the Chix ended their campaign with a 14-9 record.
In the semifinal contest, West took control early, jumping out to a 12-2 lead about six-and-a-half minutes into the game. The Dux led 24-12 at halftime.
East pulled to within 11 points early in the third quarter at 27-16, but back-to-back 3-point baskets by junior forward Brooklyn Haight and sophomore guard Sadie Kragt ignited a 12-2 run that gave the Dux a 39-18 lead late in the quarter. The Chix would get no closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Kragt led West with 15 points, including 8-of-11 from the free throw line. She scored eight of her points in the third quarter. Haight sank three 3-point baskets for nine points, and senior center Hannah Stroebe also contributed nine points.
Senior guard Mirra Fenlon led East with 15 points while senior center Emily Wierenga added nine.
In the championship game, the Dux struggled offensively all night against Grand Haven’s 2-3 zone defense and half-court trap. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers established their inside game, as 6-foot-3 sophomore center Mallory Woiteshek scored three consecutive baskets to help Grand Haven take a 10-0 lead at the six-minute mark.
A 3-point basket by West sophomore guard Jenna Hendricks cut the Grand Haven lead to 12-5 after one quarter.
The Bucs extended their lead to 10 early in the second quarter, but West fought back. Haight hit a 3-point shot and senior guard Jordyn Klaasen followed with an old-fashioned three-point play as the Dux whittled the lead to 16-12 midway through the second quarter.
However, the Bucs shut out West the rest of the first half, scoring the last five points for a 21-12 halftime lead. Grand Haven then ran off eight straight points to start the second half to open up a 29-12 advantage.
It was then that Stroebe came alive. She went on a personal seven-point run in a span of a little more than a minute to cut the Bucs’ lead to 29-19. But that would be as close as the Dux would get the rest of the way.
Georgia Reinecke hit two 3-point baskets during an 11-2 run that closed out the third quarter, and Grand Haven was in command with a 40-21 lead.
“They got off to a really quick start. We battled back and put some pressure on them,” West coach Ryan Lane said. “They had that little spurt at the end (of the first half). They’re just a really talented team, and we really didn’t have an answer for Mallory out there.”
Stroebe, who will be playing collegiately at the College of Wooster in Ohio next season, led the Dux with 10 points in her final game, all of them coming in the second half. Klaasen and Hendricks each added five, with Klaasen finishing her career with 1,018 points.
Woiteshek dominated in the paint for Grand Haven as she finished with a game-high 21 points. Gillian Sorelle added eight.
“We told our girls that we were just so proud of them and what they accomplished this season,” Lane said. “It stinks to go out this way like this, but they have so much to be proud of.”
