Zeeland West senior halfback Jonah Leslie (1) follows the lead block of senior guard Mason Myers (50) for a significant gain in last Friday’s Bird Bowl against Zeeland East. Giving chase for the Chix are senior linebacker Ashton Jachim (6) and junior lineman Zeek Ramadhani (60). Leslie rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns for West in its 38-14 victory.
(Photo by Angela Howe Creations)
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
In getting his team ready for last Friday’s Bird Bowl showdown with Zeeland East, Zeeland West varsity football coach Jeff Bolhouse hammered home the message to his players of being physical against their opponent.
The Dux took that message to heart, pounding away at the Chix defense all night long, scoring on their first five possessions in going on to a 38-14 victory – the 10th straight win for West in the Bird Bowl rivalry. The Dux now lead the all-time series, 20-7.
“Our guys just like to play,” Bolhouse said. “Obviously, they’re amped up for a game like this with all the community here and all the excitement, all that kind of stuff. I thought we were ready to play. We had four good days of practice this week, and that’s what we’ve been talking about the last two weeks – we can’t have bad days of practice. It doesn’t work.”
West is now 2-0 in the O-K Gold Conference and 4-1 overall heading into its biggest test of the season Friday night at Zeeland Stadium against unbeaten Unity Christian. East is now 0-2 in the conference and 3-2 overall heading into a road game Friday at Wyoming.
The Dux set the tone for the game early. After forcing a three-and-out on East’s first possession, West drove 77 yards in four plays to open the scoring. Junior halfback Brandon Holman took the direct snap from a single-wing formation, went to his right and broke free for a 55-yard touchdown dash. Senior quarterback Drew Albrecht hit senior halfback Jonah Leslie with a two-point conversion pass to give the Dux an 8-0 lead.
On East’s next possession, pressure from the West defense forced Chix quarterback Will Drnek to overthrow his intended receiver, and Holman made a diving interception at the Dux 28. That led to a 72-yard, nine-play drive that Holman finished off with a 25-yard touchdown run. West led 16-0 after one quarter.
The Dux added to their lead in the second quarter when Leslie scored on a 2-yard plunge to cap a 64-yard, 11-play march, then ran in the two-point try for a 24-0 lead.
East got on the board with 1:10 left in the first half when Drnek hooked up with junior wide receiver Isaiah Boonstra on a 40-yard touchdown pass, cutting the West lead to 24-6.
But West stormed back a 70-yard, four-play drive just before the end of the half. With an East defender wrapped around his legs, Albrecht somehow found Holman out of the backfield for a 23-yard touchdown pass with six seconds remaining. Leslie’s two-point run made it 32-6 Dux at the half.
West then took the second half kickoff and quickly drove down the field for its final score. Leslie finished off the 54-yard drive with his second touchdown, a 1-yard run.
The Chix found the end zone one last time in the fourth quarter when Drnek connected with freshman H-back Caleb Martin on a 2-yard touchdown pass, followed by a two-point conversion.
West pounded out 345 yards on the ground on 43 rushing attempts, and added 28 yards through the air for 373 yards of total offense. The Dux limited East to 195 yards total offense, 74 on the ground and 121 through the air.
“We stressed being physical. We struggled a little bit the last couple of weeks,” Bolhouse said. “We challenged a couple of our guys, and they really stepped up. I thought Lach (Thoreson) and Grady (Patrick) did a really good job of co-opting (double-teaming a defensive lineman) and knocking them off the ball and getting them going backwards, so we were able to run the ball. Defensively, we were flying around.”
Holman finished the game with 163 yards rushing on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Leslie added 75 yards on 13 carries and junior Niko Moungkhoun chipped in with 66 yards on six carries. Defensively, junior linebacker Westen Headley led West with eight tackles, including four solo stops, while sophomore lineman Luke Walters had two sacks.
Drnek completed 14-of-22 passes for East for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Boonstra caught six passes for 67 yards, while junior wide receiver Coby Miller hauled in six receptions for 45 yards. Senior linebacker Ben DeLost and junior defensive end Zeek Ramadhani each made seven tackles, with DeLost recording six solo tackles.
“We obviously didn’t play as well as we wanted to,” East coach Joe Woodruff said. “We didn’t match up well with their size.”
West Bests East in Boys Tennis
The Zeeland West varsity boys tennis won three three-set matches on its Senior Night Sept. 24 as the Dux defeated the Chix, 6-2.
West improved to 4-2 in O-K Black Conference dual meets while East dropped to 3-3 in conference play.
The Dux and Chix will compete in the O-K Black Conference tournament Friday. The tournament will be hosted jointly by Holland High and Holland Christian.
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Meet Summary:
No. 1 singles – Mikey Fuller (ZW) def. Seth VanTimmeren (ZE) 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 singles – Xander Engelsman (ZW) def. Daniel Steenwyk (ZE) 7-5, 6-4
No. 3 singles – Dom Szczerowski (ZW) def. Payton Ott (ZE) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 singles – Andrew Colasanti (ZE) def. Levi Kaynor (ZW) 6-3, 6-4
No. 1 doubles – Trey Meeuwsen/Carter Meeuwsen (ZW) def. Cam Volkers/Luke Hathaway (ZE) 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 doubles – Caleb Levandoski/Jackson Zeedyk (ZW) def. Jace Velderman/Jacob Guerriero (ZE) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 doubles – Liam DeHaan/ Roman Lundsford (ZW) def. Gavin Sullivan/Pierson Kolean (ZE) 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (3)
No. 4 doubles – Tanner Reynolds/Lukas Hafeman (ZE) def. Chet Stevens/Andrew Stewart (ZW) 6-1, 7-5
West improved to 4-2 in O-K Black Conference dual meets while East dropped to 3-3 in conference play.
The Dux and Chix will compete in the O-K Black Conference tournament Friday. The tournament will be hosted jointly by Holland High and Holland Christian.
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Meet Summary:
No. 1 singles – Mikey Fuller (ZW) def. Seth VanTimmeren (ZE) 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 singles – Xander Engelsman (ZW) def. Daniel Steenwyk (ZE) 7-5, 6-4
No. 3 singles – Dom Szczerowski (ZW) def. Payton Ott (ZE) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 singles – Andrew Colasanti (ZE) def. Levi Kaynor (ZW) 6-3, 6-4
No. 1 doubles – Trey Meeuwsen/Carter Meeuwsen (ZW) def. Cam Volkers/Luke Hathaway (ZE) 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 doubles – Caleb Levandoski/Jackson Zeedyk (ZW) def. Jace Velderman/Jacob Guerriero (ZE) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 doubles – Liam DeHaan/ Roman Lundsford (ZW) def. Gavin Sullivan/Pierson Kolean (ZE) 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (3)
No. 4 doubles – Tanner Reynolds/Lukas Hafeman (ZE) def. Chet Stevens/Andrew Stewart (ZW) 6-1, 7-5
Maroons Rally to Defeat Chix
in Volleyball Showdown
The Zeeland East varsity volleyball team suffered its first conference loss Sept. 23, falling to Holland Christian in five sets, 23-25, 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 15-6, in a battle for first place in the O-K Black Conference.
The Chix had beaten the Maroons in a three-set battle at the Grand Haven Invitational on Sept. 13.
Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon led East with 21 kills and 16 digs. Senior defensive specialist Jordan Inosencio led the Chix in digs with 22. Senior setter Elyse Smith dished out 33 assists and added eight digs. Senior middle hitter Savannah Byker recorded five blocks.
East fell to 4-1 in the O-K Black and 14-3 overall with the loss, while Holland Christian is now 5-0 in the conference and 17-4 overall. The Chix host Unity Christian tonight at 6 p.m. in the East gymnasium.
The Chix had beaten the Maroons in a three-set battle at the Grand Haven Invitational on Sept. 13.
Junior outside hitter Lizzie Risdon led East with 21 kills and 16 digs. Senior defensive specialist Jordan Inosencio led the Chix in digs with 22. Senior setter Elyse Smith dished out 33 assists and added eight digs. Senior middle hitter Savannah Byker recorded five blocks.
East fell to 4-1 in the O-K Black and 14-3 overall with the loss, while Holland Christian is now 5-0 in the conference and 17-4 overall. The Chix host Unity Christian tonight at 6 p.m. in the East gymnasium.
On the Record
East Golfers Edge Lakers to Win Jamboree
The Zeeland East varsity girls golf team recorded its lowest score of the season and won its first O-K Black Conference Jamboree Sept. 22 at Winding Creek Golf Club.
The Chix posted a 9-hole total of 179, nosing out Spring Lake by one stroke and Holland Christian by three. It was the second-lowest score in program history. Zeeland West finished sixth with a team score of 230.
Junior Ximena Knittel led East with a 42. Senior Taya Schanski shot a 44, junior Ashleigh Pomeroy carded a 46 and junior Lucy Ehinger shot a 47.
East and West are competing today at the O-K Black Conference meet at The Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck.
Zeeland Swimmers Fall to EGR
The Zeeland girls swimming team suffered its first dual meet loss of the season last week, falling to defending Division 3 state champion East Grand Rapids 116-69.
Sophomore Natalie Lauritzen won two events for Zeeland in a losing cause, taking the 100-yard backstroke in 59.26 seconds and the 200-yard individual medley in 2:09.80.
Senior Madison Ensing won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.05, and teamed up with freshman Mariam Norman, Lauritzen and senior Anna VanDyken to win the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:44.92.
The meet featured several close races. In the 200 medley relay, the team of Lauritzen, Ariyah Gettings, Madison Ensing and Paige Davis swam a 1:48.84, and was nipped by EGR’s relay team by .26 seconds. Gettings swam season bests in the 50 freestyle (:26.49) and the 100 breaststroke (1:08.14), while Ensing swam a season-best :57.05 in the 100 butterfly.
West Boys 2nd at Allendale Cross Country Meet
The Zeeland West boys cross country team finished second among 14 teams at the Allendale Falcon Invite last Saturday, placing six runners among the top 31 finishers.
Jenison won the meet with 67 points, followed by the Dux with 87, Grand Haven with 129 and the host Falcons with 129.
Senior Keagan Smith led West with a ninth-place finish in 16:20.66, while his brother Tanner, a freshman, came in 11th in 16:24.79. Senior Rob Dodd took 14th in 16:28.43, senior Samuel Ashby placed 26th in 17:00.49, freshman Bryson Harsevoort was 27th in 17:01.46 and senior Ethan Dalman was 31st in 17:05.38.
West placed seventh in the girls meet at the Falcon Invite with a team score of 172. Jenison won the meet with 53 points, followed by Rockford with 71.
Sophomore Caralyn Elkins led the Dux with a 18th-place finish in 19:28.79. Junior Kaila Keeler finished in 30th place in 20:04.98. Other West runners finishing in the top 50 were senior Evie Kleinheksel (36th, 20:17.66) and freshman Tessa Albrecht (37th, 20:17.73).
East Girls Cross Country 4th at Otsego
The Zeeland East girls cross country team came in fourth place among 13 teams last Saturday at the Bulldog Invitational, hosted by Otsego High School.
The Chix finished with a team score of 135 points. Ann Arbor Pioneer took four of the top five places to win the meet with 26 points, followed by West Ottawa (64) and Hudsonville (74).
Sophomore Adalyn Raab led East with a personal-best time of 17:48.90 as she took seventh place. Four other Chix finished in the top 50 – senior Taryn DiLaura (26th, 19:30.94), senior Megan Kuzma (27th, 19:32.89), senior Libby Post (37th, 19:58.42) and freshman Tenley DeWitt (38th, 19:58.64).
The East boys finished 13th at the Otsego meet. Junior Nate Davis led the Chix with a 24th-place finish in a personal-best time of 16:24.22.
Bolhouse Making an Impact for Hope Football
Hope College sophomore safety Trenten Bolhouse, a Zeeland West graduate, has seen action in the secondary for the Flying Dutchmen football team this season.
Bolhouse made a key defensive play in Hope’s Week 3 victory over the University of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) on Sept. 20, intercepting a Lions’ pass in the red zone for his first career pick. That intersection led to a late Hope touchdown that proved to be critical, as the Flying Dutchmen held off a second-half rally for a 31-28 victory.
Bolhouse is one of four former Zeeland players on the Hope roster this season, joining fellow West graduates Skye VanderKuyl, a senior tight end and Keaton Hendricks, a freshman defensive back. East graduate Ethan Rosenberg, a sophomore wide receiver, is also on the Hope roster.
The Zeeland East varsity girls golf team recorded its lowest score of the season and won its first O-K Black Conference Jamboree Sept. 22 at Winding Creek Golf Club.
The Chix posted a 9-hole total of 179, nosing out Spring Lake by one stroke and Holland Christian by three. It was the second-lowest score in program history. Zeeland West finished sixth with a team score of 230.
Junior Ximena Knittel led East with a 42. Senior Taya Schanski shot a 44, junior Ashleigh Pomeroy carded a 46 and junior Lucy Ehinger shot a 47.
East and West are competing today at the O-K Black Conference meet at The Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck.
Zeeland Swimmers Fall to EGR
The Zeeland girls swimming team suffered its first dual meet loss of the season last week, falling to defending Division 3 state champion East Grand Rapids 116-69.
Sophomore Natalie Lauritzen won two events for Zeeland in a losing cause, taking the 100-yard backstroke in 59.26 seconds and the 200-yard individual medley in 2:09.80.
Senior Madison Ensing won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.05, and teamed up with freshman Mariam Norman, Lauritzen and senior Anna VanDyken to win the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:44.92.
The meet featured several close races. In the 200 medley relay, the team of Lauritzen, Ariyah Gettings, Madison Ensing and Paige Davis swam a 1:48.84, and was nipped by EGR’s relay team by .26 seconds. Gettings swam season bests in the 50 freestyle (:26.49) and the 100 breaststroke (1:08.14), while Ensing swam a season-best :57.05 in the 100 butterfly.
West Boys 2nd at Allendale Cross Country Meet
The Zeeland West boys cross country team finished second among 14 teams at the Allendale Falcon Invite last Saturday, placing six runners among the top 31 finishers.
Jenison won the meet with 67 points, followed by the Dux with 87, Grand Haven with 129 and the host Falcons with 129.
Senior Keagan Smith led West with a ninth-place finish in 16:20.66, while his brother Tanner, a freshman, came in 11th in 16:24.79. Senior Rob Dodd took 14th in 16:28.43, senior Samuel Ashby placed 26th in 17:00.49, freshman Bryson Harsevoort was 27th in 17:01.46 and senior Ethan Dalman was 31st in 17:05.38.
West placed seventh in the girls meet at the Falcon Invite with a team score of 172. Jenison won the meet with 53 points, followed by Rockford with 71.
Sophomore Caralyn Elkins led the Dux with a 18th-place finish in 19:28.79. Junior Kaila Keeler finished in 30th place in 20:04.98. Other West runners finishing in the top 50 were senior Evie Kleinheksel (36th, 20:17.66) and freshman Tessa Albrecht (37th, 20:17.73).
East Girls Cross Country 4th at Otsego
The Zeeland East girls cross country team came in fourth place among 13 teams last Saturday at the Bulldog Invitational, hosted by Otsego High School.
The Chix finished with a team score of 135 points. Ann Arbor Pioneer took four of the top five places to win the meet with 26 points, followed by West Ottawa (64) and Hudsonville (74).
Sophomore Adalyn Raab led East with a personal-best time of 17:48.90 as she took seventh place. Four other Chix finished in the top 50 – senior Taryn DiLaura (26th, 19:30.94), senior Megan Kuzma (27th, 19:32.89), senior Libby Post (37th, 19:58.42) and freshman Tenley DeWitt (38th, 19:58.64).
The East boys finished 13th at the Otsego meet. Junior Nate Davis led the Chix with a 24th-place finish in a personal-best time of 16:24.22.
Bolhouse Making an Impact for Hope Football
Hope College sophomore safety Trenten Bolhouse, a Zeeland West graduate, has seen action in the secondary for the Flying Dutchmen football team this season.
Bolhouse made a key defensive play in Hope’s Week 3 victory over the University of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) on Sept. 20, intercepting a Lions’ pass in the red zone for his first career pick. That intersection led to a late Hope touchdown that proved to be critical, as the Flying Dutchmen held off a second-half rally for a 31-28 victory.
Bolhouse is one of four former Zeeland players on the Hope roster this season, joining fellow West graduates Skye VanderKuyl, a senior tight end and Keaton Hendricks, a freshman defensive back. East graduate Ethan Rosenberg, a sophomore wide receiver, is also on the Hope roster.
