Zeeland East junior defensive lineman Zeek Ramadhani (99) puts pressure on Alpena quarterback Andrew Szymoniak (23) during Saturday’s game at Zeeland Stadium, as senior linebacker Derek Baxter (42) comes to assist.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland East varsity football team closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule last Saturday with an impressive 35-0 victory over Alpena at Zeeland Stadium.
The Chix will take a 3-0 record into its O-K Gold Conference opener on the road Friday night at Unity Christian. Kickoff from Hudsonville is 7 p.m.
“Our offense was a lot better this week than it was last week (in a one-point win over Flushing). We’re taking steps forward. That was a good thing,” East coach Joe Woodruff said after the game.
“We cleaned up a bunch of stuff, which was good. It was a testament to our kids. We’re getting better.”
East asserted its dominance from the start. The Chix took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 12 plays to open the scoring.
A 15-yard pass from junior quarterback Will Drnek to senior running back Bradyn Smith on a fourth-and-7 put the ball at the Wildcats’ 4-yard-line, and Smith went up the middle into the end zone on the next play. Junior Carter Dyk kicked the first of his five extra points on the night and the Chix led 7-0.
Alpena put together a methodical drive on its first possession, taking up nearly seven minutes of the clock and driving to the East 34. But the Chix forced a fourth-down incompletion and took over on downs.
Moments later, the Chix faced a fourth-and-11 in Alpena territory. But then junior wide receiver Isaiah Boonstra got behind the Wildcats’ secondary, and Drnek lofted a pass to Boonstra for a 34-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Shortly before halftime, the Drnek-to-Boonstra combination struck again. Drnek hit Boonstra in stride on a crossing pattern, and Boonstra outran the defense for a 38-yard touchdown. East led 21-0 at halftime.
After the Chix forced a three-and-out to start the second half, East came back with another quick-strike drive. A 36-yard catch-and-run of a Drnek pass by junior Coby Miller put the ball at the Alpena 6, and Drnek scooted into the end zone on the next play.
The East defense got into the scoring act on the next series. Junior defensive lineman Zeek Ramadhani put a hit on Alpena quarterback Andrew Szymoniak, forcing a pass that hung up in the air. Senior linebacker Bryce Tien picked off the errant pass and returned the pick 35 yards for a touchdown, making it 35-0 East and activating the running clock.
Drnek led the East offense, completing 7-of-10 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Boonstra caught four passes for 109 yards and two TDs, while Miller had two receptions for 68 yards. Junior running back Payton Sackett led the ground game with 58 yards on seven carries.
“The coaches made great play calls all game long, and the offensive line gave me enough time to drop back and throw the ball,” Drnek said. “Our receiving corps just made a heck of a play on the ball. Isaiah Boonstra – two touchdowns – those were all him.”
Ramadhani led the East defense with seven tackles, three quarterback pressures and 1.5 tackles for loss. Smith added six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Unity Christian, which went 10-1 a year ago, brings a 3-0 record into Friday’s contest, having outscored its opponents 130-40 so far.
“Unity’s going to be very tough. We understand that,” Woodruff said. “That’s a very, very tough team to play. It is what it is. We’re going to have a lot of work to do.”
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland East varsity football team closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule last Saturday with an impressive 35-0 victory over Alpena at Zeeland Stadium.
The Chix will take a 3-0 record into its O-K Gold Conference opener on the road Friday night at Unity Christian. Kickoff from Hudsonville is 7 p.m.
“Our offense was a lot better this week than it was last week (in a one-point win over Flushing). We’re taking steps forward. That was a good thing,” East coach Joe Woodruff said after the game.
“We cleaned up a bunch of stuff, which was good. It was a testament to our kids. We’re getting better.”
East asserted its dominance from the start. The Chix took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 12 plays to open the scoring.
A 15-yard pass from junior quarterback Will Drnek to senior running back Bradyn Smith on a fourth-and-7 put the ball at the Wildcats’ 4-yard-line, and Smith went up the middle into the end zone on the next play. Junior Carter Dyk kicked the first of his five extra points on the night and the Chix led 7-0.
Alpena put together a methodical drive on its first possession, taking up nearly seven minutes of the clock and driving to the East 34. But the Chix forced a fourth-down incompletion and took over on downs.
Moments later, the Chix faced a fourth-and-11 in Alpena territory. But then junior wide receiver Isaiah Boonstra got behind the Wildcats’ secondary, and Drnek lofted a pass to Boonstra for a 34-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Shortly before halftime, the Drnek-to-Boonstra combination struck again. Drnek hit Boonstra in stride on a crossing pattern, and Boonstra outran the defense for a 38-yard touchdown. East led 21-0 at halftime.
After the Chix forced a three-and-out to start the second half, East came back with another quick-strike drive. A 36-yard catch-and-run of a Drnek pass by junior Coby Miller put the ball at the Alpena 6, and Drnek scooted into the end zone on the next play.
The East defense got into the scoring act on the next series. Junior defensive lineman Zeek Ramadhani put a hit on Alpena quarterback Andrew Szymoniak, forcing a pass that hung up in the air. Senior linebacker Bryce Tien picked off the errant pass and returned the pick 35 yards for a touchdown, making it 35-0 East and activating the running clock.
Drnek led the East offense, completing 7-of-10 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Boonstra caught four passes for 109 yards and two TDs, while Miller had two receptions for 68 yards. Junior running back Payton Sackett led the ground game with 58 yards on seven carries.
“The coaches made great play calls all game long, and the offensive line gave me enough time to drop back and throw the ball,” Drnek said. “Our receiving corps just made a heck of a play on the ball. Isaiah Boonstra – two touchdowns – those were all him.”
Ramadhani led the East defense with seven tackles, three quarterback pressures and 1.5 tackles for loss. Smith added six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Unity Christian, which went 10-1 a year ago, brings a 3-0 record into Friday’s contest, having outscored its opponents 130-40 so far.
“Unity’s going to be very tough. We understand that,” Woodruff said. “That’s a very, very tough team to play. It is what it is. We’re going to have a lot of work to do.”
On the Record
Chix Volleyball Sweeps Hawkeyes
The Zeeland East varsity volleyball team kept on rolling last Thursday, sweeping Hamilton in an O-K Black Conference match, 25-22, 25-15, 25-11.
Senior middle hitter Savannah Byker led the way for the Chix, slamming 14 kills. Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon added 12 kills and led East in digs with 15. Senior setter Elyse Smith distributed 29 assists. Senior defensive specialist Kiersten Kuiper had 11 digs and served up three aces. Senior defensive specialist Jordan Inosencio recorded 13 digs.
East finished second in the Gold bracket at a tournament in Grand Haven Saturday, posting a 4-2 record.
The Chix swept Hart 25-13, 25-19; Greenville 25-8, 25-21 and Adrian 25-19, 25-13. They lost to the host Buccaneers 25-11, 25-20, but bounced back to defeat Holland Christian in three sets, 22-25, 25-17, 25-10. Grand Haven defeated East in three sets in the final, 21-25, 27-25, 15-5.
Risdon led the Chix with 52 kills for the tournament and added 62 digs and 11 aces. Ava Geerlings had 25 kills, while Byker had 23 kills and six blocks. Smith distributed 117 assists. Kuiper had seven aces and 41 digs while Inosencio had six aces and 53 digs.
East hosted rival Zeeland West Tuesday. Details of that match will be in the Sept. 25 edition of the Zeeland Record.
It’s not often when a high school golfer scores an eagle.
But Zeeland East junior golfer Taylor Bouws accomplished that feat in a Sept. 8 dual meet against Calvin Christian at the Ironwood Golf Course in Byron Center.
Playing on the par-4 10th hole, Bouws hit her tee shot onto the green within five feet of the cup. She then made the putt for her eagle. Later, she birdied the par-4 15th hole, and finished with a round of 43.
East won the match 189-201, recording its best score of the season. Junior Ashleigh Pomeroy, playing her first match of the season after undergoing surgery for a broken ankle over the summer, shot a 41 to lead the Chix.
East took second, while Zeeland West finished sixth at the O-K Black Conference Jamboree last Thursday at Pigeon Creek Golf Course. The Chix tied with Holland Christian with a team score of 199, but won the tiebreaker because their fifth golfer had a lower score.
Taya Schanski led the Chix with a 46, followed by Ximena Knittel with a 49. Allison Purtee led the Dux with a 52, while Brynlee DeYoung shot a 55.
The Zeeland West varsity volleyball team defeated Holland in four sets last Thursday, 25-18, 25-12, 23-25, 25-15, in O-K Black Conference action on the Dutch’s home court.
West improved to 2-1 in conference play and 7-6 overall with the win.
Brielle Carlson led the Dux with 12 kills and 5 aces. Sadie Kragt and Hannah VanderZwaag each had nine kills. Elle Creevy dished out 18 assists while Kylie Glass added 16 assists.
“We didn’t play great tonight, but we overcame some adversity, and that’s fantastic. I think good teams overcome adversity,” West coach Chris Mack said.
The Dux took on Zeeland East Tuesday night on the Chix home court. Details of that match will be in the Sept. 25 issue of the Zeeland Record.
The Zeeland East varsity volleyball team kept on rolling last Thursday, sweeping Hamilton in an O-K Black Conference match, 25-22, 25-15, 25-11.
Senior middle hitter Savannah Byker led the way for the Chix, slamming 14 kills. Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon added 12 kills and led East in digs with 15. Senior setter Elyse Smith distributed 29 assists. Senior defensive specialist Kiersten Kuiper had 11 digs and served up three aces. Senior defensive specialist Jordan Inosencio recorded 13 digs.
East finished second in the Gold bracket at a tournament in Grand Haven Saturday, posting a 4-2 record.
The Chix swept Hart 25-13, 25-19; Greenville 25-8, 25-21 and Adrian 25-19, 25-13. They lost to the host Buccaneers 25-11, 25-20, but bounced back to defeat Holland Christian in three sets, 22-25, 25-17, 25-10. Grand Haven defeated East in three sets in the final, 21-25, 27-25, 15-5.
Risdon led the Chix with 52 kills for the tournament and added 62 digs and 11 aces. Ava Geerlings had 25 kills, while Byker had 23 kills and six blocks. Smith distributed 117 assists. Kuiper had seven aces and 41 digs while Inosencio had six aces and 53 digs.
East hosted rival Zeeland West Tuesday. Details of that match will be in the Sept. 25 edition of the Zeeland Record.
East’s Bouws Records Eagle
It’s not often when a high school golfer scores an eagle.
But Zeeland East junior golfer Taylor Bouws accomplished that feat in a Sept. 8 dual meet against Calvin Christian at the Ironwood Golf Course in Byron Center.
Playing on the par-4 10th hole, Bouws hit her tee shot onto the green within five feet of the cup. She then made the putt for her eagle. Later, she birdied the par-4 15th hole, and finished with a round of 43.
East won the match 189-201, recording its best score of the season. Junior Ashleigh Pomeroy, playing her first match of the season after undergoing surgery for a broken ankle over the summer, shot a 41 to lead the Chix.
East took second, while Zeeland West finished sixth at the O-K Black Conference Jamboree last Thursday at Pigeon Creek Golf Course. The Chix tied with Holland Christian with a team score of 199, but won the tiebreaker because their fifth golfer had a lower score.
Taya Schanski led the Chix with a 46, followed by Ximena Knittel with a 49. Allison Purtee led the Dux with a 52, while Brynlee DeYoung shot a 55.
West Downs Dutch in Four Sets
The Zeeland West varsity volleyball team defeated Holland in four sets last Thursday, 25-18, 25-12, 23-25, 25-15, in O-K Black Conference action on the Dutch’s home court.
West improved to 2-1 in conference play and 7-6 overall with the win.
Brielle Carlson led the Dux with 12 kills and 5 aces. Sadie Kragt and Hannah VanderZwaag each had nine kills. Elle Creevy dished out 18 assists while Kylie Glass added 16 assists.
“We didn’t play great tonight, but we overcame some adversity, and that’s fantastic. I think good teams overcome adversity,” West coach Chris Mack said.
The Dux took on Zeeland East Tuesday night on the Chix home court. Details of that match will be in the Sept. 25 issue of the Zeeland Record.
Late Whitehall TD Sinks Zeeland West
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland West varsity football team rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit last Friday to tie the game late against Whitehall.
However, the Vikings came up with the big play in the final seconds to pull out the win. Cole Essebaggers threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Mendoza with 23 seconds remaining, and Whitehall left Zeeland Stadium with a 35-28 victory.
The loss dropped the Dux to 2-1 on the season heading into the start of O-K Gold Conference play Friday night at Zeeland Stadium against Grand Rapids South Christian. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
The Whitehall rushing attack ran wild against West in the first half, as Liam Leeke consistently ripped off big chunks of yardage. Leeke ran 33 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and four yards for a score in the second as the Vikings took a 14-0 lead.
Then on the final play of the first half, Essebaggers scored on a 4-yard run, and Whitehall went to the locker room at halftime with a 21-0 lead.
West needed a big play to get back in the game, and got one on the second-half kickoff. Junior Brandon Holman fielded the kick and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown. Junior quarterback Drew Albrecht ran in the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 21-8.
Later in the third quarter, the Dux drove 59 yards in 11 plays to pull even closer. Junior running back Niko Moungkhoun capped the drive with a 27-yard touchdown run, and West was back in the game at 21-16 heading into the fourth quarter.
Whitehall responded with a 71-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock, and Essebaggers scored for the second time on a 5-yard run to give the Vikings a 28-16 lead with 6:52 to play.
But just 18 seconds later, Moungkhoun broke loose for his second touchdown, a 70-yard gallop. The two-point try failed, and West trailed 28-22.
The Dux then got the ball back with about four minutes remaining at the Whitehall 44. Four plays later, Albrecht connected with Holman on a 40-yard touchdown pass, tying the score at 28-28 with 2:33 left. The Vikings held on the two-point conversion run to keep the game tied.
Whitehall then drove 59 yards in seven plays for the winning score.
Whitehall outgained the Dux 380-292 for the contest. The Vikings piled up 334 yards on the ground, led by Leeke with 239 yards on 34 carries. The Dux had 192 yards on the ground and 100 through the air.
Moungkhoun led the West rushing attack with 129 yards on seven carries. Holman had 84 receiving yards on two catches, and added six tackles, an interception and the kickoff return for a touchdown.
Moungkhoun led the West defense with eight solo tackles and five assisted tackles, while Albercht had seven solo stops and five assisted tackles.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland West varsity football team rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit last Friday to tie the game late against Whitehall.
However, the Vikings came up with the big play in the final seconds to pull out the win. Cole Essebaggers threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Mendoza with 23 seconds remaining, and Whitehall left Zeeland Stadium with a 35-28 victory.
The loss dropped the Dux to 2-1 on the season heading into the start of O-K Gold Conference play Friday night at Zeeland Stadium against Grand Rapids South Christian. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
The Whitehall rushing attack ran wild against West in the first half, as Liam Leeke consistently ripped off big chunks of yardage. Leeke ran 33 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and four yards for a score in the second as the Vikings took a 14-0 lead.
Then on the final play of the first half, Essebaggers scored on a 4-yard run, and Whitehall went to the locker room at halftime with a 21-0 lead.
West needed a big play to get back in the game, and got one on the second-half kickoff. Junior Brandon Holman fielded the kick and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown. Junior quarterback Drew Albrecht ran in the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 21-8.
Later in the third quarter, the Dux drove 59 yards in 11 plays to pull even closer. Junior running back Niko Moungkhoun capped the drive with a 27-yard touchdown run, and West was back in the game at 21-16 heading into the fourth quarter.
Whitehall responded with a 71-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock, and Essebaggers scored for the second time on a 5-yard run to give the Vikings a 28-16 lead with 6:52 to play.
But just 18 seconds later, Moungkhoun broke loose for his second touchdown, a 70-yard gallop. The two-point try failed, and West trailed 28-22.
The Dux then got the ball back with about four minutes remaining at the Whitehall 44. Four plays later, Albrecht connected with Holman on a 40-yard touchdown pass, tying the score at 28-28 with 2:33 left. The Vikings held on the two-point conversion run to keep the game tied.
Whitehall then drove 59 yards in seven plays for the winning score.
Whitehall outgained the Dux 380-292 for the contest. The Vikings piled up 334 yards on the ground, led by Leeke with 239 yards on 34 carries. The Dux had 192 yards on the ground and 100 through the air.
Moungkhoun led the West rushing attack with 129 yards on seven carries. Holman had 84 receiving yards on two catches, and added six tackles, an interception and the kickoff return for a touchdown.
Moungkhoun led the West defense with eight solo tackles and five assisted tackles, while Albercht had seven solo stops and five assisted tackles.
Zeeland Swimmers Dunk FHC, West Ottawa
The Zeeland girls swimming team won two home dual meets last week, defeating Forest Hills Central 108-72 and West Ottawa 102-73.
In the Sept. 11 meet at the Zeeland West natatorium against West Ottawa, Madison Ensing and Natalie Lauritzen each won two individual events. Ensing won the 200-yard freestyle by more than 15 seconds in a time of 1 minute, 54.41 seconds, then later took the 100-yard butterfly in :58.55. Lauritzen led a 1-2-3 sweep for Zeeland in both the 200 individual medley (2:11.43) and 500 freestyle (5:19.11).
Mallory Ensing won the 50-yard freestyle in :26.49, leading a Zeeland sweep of the first three places in that event. Mariam Norman won the 100 freestyle in :59.73.
In the 200-yard medley relay, the Zeeland foursome of Norman, Mallory Ensing, Elise Linn and Elsie Kapenga took first in 2:01.50, while the 200 freestyle relay team of Madison Ensing, Peyton Weenum, Norman and Addison Mishler won their race in 1:45.51.
Against Forest Hills Central on Sept. 9, Madison Ensing and Lauritzen each won two individual events. Ensing took the 200 IM (2:06.68) and the 100 freestyle (:52.65), while Lauritzen was first in the 200 freestyle (1:55.65) and 100 butterfly (1:00.41).
Anna VanDyken won the 500 freestyle (5:36.80) while Paige Davis took the 100 backstroke (1:04.79).
In the 200 medley relay, Davis, Ariyah Gettings, Madison Ensing and Mishler finished first in 1:53.94, while the foursome of the Ensing sisters, Lauritzen and Mishler won the 200 free relay in 1:42.28.
In the Sept. 11 meet at the Zeeland West natatorium against West Ottawa, Madison Ensing and Natalie Lauritzen each won two individual events. Ensing won the 200-yard freestyle by more than 15 seconds in a time of 1 minute, 54.41 seconds, then later took the 100-yard butterfly in :58.55. Lauritzen led a 1-2-3 sweep for Zeeland in both the 200 individual medley (2:11.43) and 500 freestyle (5:19.11).
Mallory Ensing won the 50-yard freestyle in :26.49, leading a Zeeland sweep of the first three places in that event. Mariam Norman won the 100 freestyle in :59.73.
In the 200-yard medley relay, the Zeeland foursome of Norman, Mallory Ensing, Elise Linn and Elsie Kapenga took first in 2:01.50, while the 200 freestyle relay team of Madison Ensing, Peyton Weenum, Norman and Addison Mishler won their race in 1:45.51.
Against Forest Hills Central on Sept. 9, Madison Ensing and Lauritzen each won two individual events. Ensing took the 200 IM (2:06.68) and the 100 freestyle (:52.65), while Lauritzen was first in the 200 freestyle (1:55.65) and 100 butterfly (1:00.41).
Anna VanDyken won the 500 freestyle (5:36.80) while Paige Davis took the 100 backstroke (1:04.79).
In the 200 medley relay, Davis, Ariyah Gettings, Madison Ensing and Mishler finished first in 1:53.94, while the foursome of the Ensing sisters, Lauritzen and Mishler won the 200 free relay in 1:42.28.
