Zeeland schools dominated the competition last Friday at the O-K Black Conference boys track and field championships, as Zeeland West won the competition and Zeeland East took second.
Meanwhile, the Chix took second place in the girls track championships while the Dux finished fourth.
West won the boys meet with 176.5 points while East finished with 146. Unity Christian was a distant third with 89 points, followed by Hamilton (71), Spring Lake (60), Holland Christian (59) and Holland (53).
In the girls meet, Holland Christian took the title with 195.5 points, while East took the runnerup spot with 174. Spring Lake was third (77 points), followed by West (60), Unity Christian (56.5), Holland (47) and Hamilton (43).
West dominated the boys relay events, winning all four relays, with East close behind in all four events. In the 4x100 relay, the team of Brandon Holman, Cam Brouwer, Xane Herrygers and Garrett Kapenga ran a time of 43.41 seconds, while East placed third in 44.28. The Dux team of Holman, Ethan Dalman, Herrygers and Kapenga won the 4x200 relay in 1:29.42, while East’s foursome of Kameron Compagner, Levi Bannach, Isaiah Strom and Sam Manning finished second in 1:30.79.
West and East went 1-2 in the 4x400 relay, as the Dux team of Dalman, Kapenga, Zach Anderson and Robert Dodd broke the tape in 3:27.72, while the Chix team of Strom, Tristen Hinson, Carter Vardon and Bannach took second in 3:28.41.
West won the 4x800 as Keagan Smith, Reid Cousins, Joshua Dodd and Robert Dodd ran an 8:05.86. East finished third in 8:29.39.
East was strong in the field events, led by Sam Sietsema, the meet’s only individual double winner. Sietsema won the shot put with a toss of 47 feet, 8-1/4 inches, while West’s Jonah Leslie took third (44-11). Sietsema led a 1-2 East performance in the discus with a throw of 164-9, while teammate Caven Fisher finished second at 144-3 and West’s Ethan Malec took third at 143-0.
Zeeland athletes took the top three places in the high jump with West’s Clayton Ramsdell winning with a leap of 6-4, while East’s Bennett Bing and Karson Lamer tied for second (6-2). In the pole vault, the Chix got second- and third-place efforts from Austin Lee and Andrew Macy (14-0). Holman finished second in the long jump for the Dux with a jump of 20 9-3/4.
Manning won the 100-meter dash for East in 11.03, while Kapenga won for West in the 200 in 22.61, just ahead of East’s Strom (22.83). Robert Dodd won the 1,600-meter run for the Dux in 4:28.94 and placed second in the 800 (1:58.51).
West took four of the top eight places in the 300-meter hurdles, with Cousins winning in 40.51. Kameron Compagner finished second for East in 41.09. The Dux also took four of the top eight places in 3,200-meter run, led by Tanner Smith’s second-place finish in 9:58.69. Dalman finished second in the 400-meter dash (50.36) while Bannach took third (50.75).
In the girls meet, East had a pair of double individual winners – Terra Schuberg in the sprints and Adalyn Raab in the distance events. Schuberg won the 100-meter (11.77) and 200-meter dashes (25.66), while Raab was first to the finish line in the 800-meter run (2:17.09) and 1,600-meter run (5:04.00). Meredith Cook won the 400-meter dash for East in 58.37.
The Chix won the 4x100-meter relay as the team of Bri Cole, Kamilla Munoz, Skyla Kuras and Schuberg sprinted to a time of 51.49, edging out Holland Christian by 0.11 seconds. CC Kuras posted a pair of top-three finishes in the hurdles, taking second in the 300-meter event (46.97) and third in the 100-meter hurdles (16.07).
Kate Murphy won the pole vault for East at 10 feet even. The Chix took two of the top three spots in the shot put, with Lily Huizenga finishing second (38-9) and Laura Maartense third (37 7-3/4). In the high jump, East’s Rogue Kraker finished second (5-2) while Cole and CC Kuras tied for third (4-10).
Zeeland teams took two of the top three spots in the 4x800-meter relay as the East foursome of Raab, Libby Post, Taryn DiLaura and Cook came in second (9:33.07) while West’s relay team of Avery Towne, Evie Kleinheksel, Samantha Koppenol and Rowan Sloothaak placed third (9:58.21). The Chix finished second in the 4x400 relay (CC Kuras, Cook, Raab and Saniya Shepard, 4:09.37) while the Dux took third in the 4x200 relay (Lucy Budnik, Towne, Koppenol, Amaya Brott, 1:48.32).
Meanwhile, the Chix took second place in the girls track championships while the Dux finished fourth.
West won the boys meet with 176.5 points while East finished with 146. Unity Christian was a distant third with 89 points, followed by Hamilton (71), Spring Lake (60), Holland Christian (59) and Holland (53).
In the girls meet, Holland Christian took the title with 195.5 points, while East took the runnerup spot with 174. Spring Lake was third (77 points), followed by West (60), Unity Christian (56.5), Holland (47) and Hamilton (43).
West dominated the boys relay events, winning all four relays, with East close behind in all four events. In the 4x100 relay, the team of Brandon Holman, Cam Brouwer, Xane Herrygers and Garrett Kapenga ran a time of 43.41 seconds, while East placed third in 44.28. The Dux team of Holman, Ethan Dalman, Herrygers and Kapenga won the 4x200 relay in 1:29.42, while East’s foursome of Kameron Compagner, Levi Bannach, Isaiah Strom and Sam Manning finished second in 1:30.79.
West and East went 1-2 in the 4x400 relay, as the Dux team of Dalman, Kapenga, Zach Anderson and Robert Dodd broke the tape in 3:27.72, while the Chix team of Strom, Tristen Hinson, Carter Vardon and Bannach took second in 3:28.41.
West won the 4x800 as Keagan Smith, Reid Cousins, Joshua Dodd and Robert Dodd ran an 8:05.86. East finished third in 8:29.39.
East was strong in the field events, led by Sam Sietsema, the meet’s only individual double winner. Sietsema won the shot put with a toss of 47 feet, 8-1/4 inches, while West’s Jonah Leslie took third (44-11). Sietsema led a 1-2 East performance in the discus with a throw of 164-9, while teammate Caven Fisher finished second at 144-3 and West’s Ethan Malec took third at 143-0.
Zeeland athletes took the top three places in the high jump with West’s Clayton Ramsdell winning with a leap of 6-4, while East’s Bennett Bing and Karson Lamer tied for second (6-2). In the pole vault, the Chix got second- and third-place efforts from Austin Lee and Andrew Macy (14-0). Holman finished second in the long jump for the Dux with a jump of 20 9-3/4.
Manning won the 100-meter dash for East in 11.03, while Kapenga won for West in the 200 in 22.61, just ahead of East’s Strom (22.83). Robert Dodd won the 1,600-meter run for the Dux in 4:28.94 and placed second in the 800 (1:58.51).
West took four of the top eight places in the 300-meter hurdles, with Cousins winning in 40.51. Kameron Compagner finished second for East in 41.09. The Dux also took four of the top eight places in 3,200-meter run, led by Tanner Smith’s second-place finish in 9:58.69. Dalman finished second in the 400-meter dash (50.36) while Bannach took third (50.75).
In the girls meet, East had a pair of double individual winners – Terra Schuberg in the sprints and Adalyn Raab in the distance events. Schuberg won the 100-meter (11.77) and 200-meter dashes (25.66), while Raab was first to the finish line in the 800-meter run (2:17.09) and 1,600-meter run (5:04.00). Meredith Cook won the 400-meter dash for East in 58.37.
The Chix won the 4x100-meter relay as the team of Bri Cole, Kamilla Munoz, Skyla Kuras and Schuberg sprinted to a time of 51.49, edging out Holland Christian by 0.11 seconds. CC Kuras posted a pair of top-three finishes in the hurdles, taking second in the 300-meter event (46.97) and third in the 100-meter hurdles (16.07).
Kate Murphy won the pole vault for East at 10 feet even. The Chix took two of the top three spots in the shot put, with Lily Huizenga finishing second (38-9) and Laura Maartense third (37 7-3/4). In the high jump, East’s Rogue Kraker finished second (5-2) while Cole and CC Kuras tied for third (4-10).
Zeeland teams took two of the top three spots in the 4x800-meter relay as the East foursome of Raab, Libby Post, Taryn DiLaura and Cook came in second (9:33.07) while West’s relay team of Avery Towne, Evie Kleinheksel, Samantha Koppenol and Rowan Sloothaak placed third (9:58.21). The Chix finished second in the 4x400 relay (CC Kuras, Cook, Raab and Saniya Shepard, 4:09.37) while the Dux took third in the 4x200 relay (Lucy Budnik, Towne, Koppenol, Amaya Brott, 1:48.32).
Dux to Play at LMCU Ballpark
The Zeeland West varsity baseball team will play this Friday at the home of the West Michigan Whitecaps.
The Dux will face Grand Rapids West Catholic in a single game at 6 p.m. at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. Admission is free. A junior varsity game will take place before the varsity contest at 4 p.m.
“(We’re) very excited for the opportunity to play there – and takes me back a lil' bit to my playing days – all due to a few relationships, a couple supporters of each team, and the West Catholic coach and I texting last October – we were able to make it happen,” Dux coach Elijah Beckwith said.
West dropped three straight to Unity Christian last week. The Dux were swept May 5 by the Crusaders, 3-2 and 11-2, then fell 12-2 last Thursday. Unity moved into sole possession of first place in the O-K Black with the series sweep, one game ahead of Zeeland East and Spring Lake.
In the first game, the Dux took advantage of two Crusader errors to take the lead in the top of the fourth. Josh Kuipers delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single to give West a 2-1 lead.
Unity came back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead and held on for the win.
Dom Sczczerowski took the pitching loss for West, going six innings and allowing three runs on eight hits.
Unity used two big innings – a six-run third and a five-run sixth – to take game two. West scored its two runs in the top of the sixth on bases-loaded walks to Lincoln Deppe and Kuipers.
West managed just four hits and committed six errors, leading to six unearned runs, in the series finale last Thursday.
The Dux split a doubleheader with Forest Hills Central last Friday, winning the opener 15-10 and losing game two 7-6. Brenton Erdmann had a big game in the opener, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs, while Kuipers went 4-for-5 with three RBIs.
Jakson Keeler had three hits and three RBIs.
The Dux will face Grand Rapids West Catholic in a single game at 6 p.m. at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. Admission is free. A junior varsity game will take place before the varsity contest at 4 p.m.
“(We’re) very excited for the opportunity to play there – and takes me back a lil' bit to my playing days – all due to a few relationships, a couple supporters of each team, and the West Catholic coach and I texting last October – we were able to make it happen,” Dux coach Elijah Beckwith said.
West dropped three straight to Unity Christian last week. The Dux were swept May 5 by the Crusaders, 3-2 and 11-2, then fell 12-2 last Thursday. Unity moved into sole possession of first place in the O-K Black with the series sweep, one game ahead of Zeeland East and Spring Lake.
In the first game, the Dux took advantage of two Crusader errors to take the lead in the top of the fourth. Josh Kuipers delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single to give West a 2-1 lead.
Unity came back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead and held on for the win.
Dom Sczczerowski took the pitching loss for West, going six innings and allowing three runs on eight hits.
Unity used two big innings – a six-run third and a five-run sixth – to take game two. West scored its two runs in the top of the sixth on bases-loaded walks to Lincoln Deppe and Kuipers.
West managed just four hits and committed six errors, leading to six unearned runs, in the series finale last Thursday.
The Dux split a doubleheader with Forest Hills Central last Friday, winning the opener 15-10 and losing game two 7-6. Brenton Erdmann had a big game in the opener, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs, while Kuipers went 4-for-5 with three RBIs.
Jakson Keeler had three hits and three RBIs.
Dux Softball Swept by Unity Christian
The Zeeland West softball team fell out of a first-place tie in the O-K Black Conference May 5 as the Dux were swept by Unity Christian, 16-1 and 5-4.
West entered the doubleheader in a tie with the Crusaders for the top spot in the O-K Black. Unity exploded for nine runs in the first inning and added six more in the fourth to win the opener by the run rule.
The second game saw the Dux battle back several times. After Unity scored a run in the top of the first, Bri Kamer singled home a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 1-1.
The Crusaders took the lead in the top of the third on a solo home run, but West tied it at 2-2 on Jenna Hendricks’ RBI single.
Unity broke through for three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. The Dux came back again in the bottom of the inning as Hendricks tripled and scored on an error. Kamer later belted a solo homer to pull West within one at 5-4. But that was as close as the Dux would get.
Kamer led the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Hendricks also had two hits.
West went 3-0 last Saturday at the Calvin Christian Invitational, blanking Reese 10-0, defeating Wyoming 10-8 and downing the host Squires 9-7. The Dux trailed 7-6 going into the seventh against Calvin Christian, but tied the game on a Hendricks home run. Then with two out, Oetman delivered a two-run double to put West ahead.
West entered the doubleheader in a tie with the Crusaders for the top spot in the O-K Black. Unity exploded for nine runs in the first inning and added six more in the fourth to win the opener by the run rule.
The second game saw the Dux battle back several times. After Unity scored a run in the top of the first, Bri Kamer singled home a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 1-1.
The Crusaders took the lead in the top of the third on a solo home run, but West tied it at 2-2 on Jenna Hendricks’ RBI single.
Unity broke through for three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. The Dux came back again in the bottom of the inning as Hendricks tripled and scored on an error. Kamer later belted a solo homer to pull West within one at 5-4. But that was as close as the Dux would get.
Kamer led the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Hendricks also had two hits.
West went 3-0 last Saturday at the Calvin Christian Invitational, blanking Reese 10-0, defeating Wyoming 10-8 and downing the host Squires 9-7. The Dux trailed 7-6 going into the seventh against Calvin Christian, but tied the game on a Hendricks home run. Then with two out, Oetman delivered a two-run double to put West ahead.
Zeeland East Baseball Takes Two Out of Three From Lakers
The Zeeland East varsity baseball team took two out of three games in a critical O-K Black Conference series with Spring Lake last week.
The teams split a doubleheader at Spring Lake May 5, with the Chix taking the opener 6-3 and the Lakers the nightcap 7-4. Then at home last Thursday, East blanked Spring Lake 2-0 behind another strong pitching performance by junior lefthander Ethan Campbell.
Spring Lake entered last week with a one-game lead over three teams, including the Chix and Zeeland West, in the O-K Black.
In the first game on May 5, East broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth with a three-run rally. Senior Peyton Davis blasted a solo home run to put the Chix ahead for good, and Joseph Mireles added insurance with a clutch two-out, two-run single for the final margin of victory.
Joel Bazan recorded the win in relief for East while Gavin Weighmink closed it out in the seventh for the save.
In the second game, East had a 4-2 lead in the fifth with two outs and no one on base. A close call at first base went Spring Lake’s way, and the floodgates opened. The Lakers went on to score five runs on seven hits in the inning to take the win.
Weighmink took the loss in relief.
Jack Toner led East with three hits in the game while Morgan Ulberg added two hits and an RBI.
The series finale last Thursday was a pitcher’s duel between Campbell and Spring Lake’s Maddux Kipling, who has committed to playing baseball at Michigan State next year.
East opened the scoring in the second with an unearned run. Weighmink singled with one out, then advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw. Toner was safe on a fielder’s choice as the Lakers tried unsuccessfully to cut down Weighmink at the plate, as East took a 1-0 lead.
Then in the third, Campbell helped his own cause, leading off the inning with a single. Ryan Kuzma walked, and Mason Raade then singled to left, scoring courtesy runner Beck Arendsen to put the Chix ahead 2-0.
Campbell and freshman Sawyer Klaasen took care of matters the rest of the way on the mound. Campbell allowed just two hits over 5-1/3 innings and struck out 10. Klaasen got the last five outs, allowing one hit, to earn the save. Davis made two big-time catches in the sixth inning to preserve the shutout.
East then picked up its 20th win of the season last Friday with a 4-2 win over Muskegon Mona Shores. The Chix built an early 3-0 lead and held on for the nonleague win. Caden Hunderman, Weighmink and Ayden Lankheet combined on a four-hitter and recorded 10 strikeouts.
The Chix entered the week tied for second in the O-K Black, one game behind Unity Christian, at 10-2 in the conference and 20-5 overall. The Crusaders took over sole possession of first place in the conference after a three-game sweep of Zeeland West.
The teams split a doubleheader at Spring Lake May 5, with the Chix taking the opener 6-3 and the Lakers the nightcap 7-4. Then at home last Thursday, East blanked Spring Lake 2-0 behind another strong pitching performance by junior lefthander Ethan Campbell.
Spring Lake entered last week with a one-game lead over three teams, including the Chix and Zeeland West, in the O-K Black.
In the first game on May 5, East broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth with a three-run rally. Senior Peyton Davis blasted a solo home run to put the Chix ahead for good, and Joseph Mireles added insurance with a clutch two-out, two-run single for the final margin of victory.
Joel Bazan recorded the win in relief for East while Gavin Weighmink closed it out in the seventh for the save.
In the second game, East had a 4-2 lead in the fifth with two outs and no one on base. A close call at first base went Spring Lake’s way, and the floodgates opened. The Lakers went on to score five runs on seven hits in the inning to take the win.
Weighmink took the loss in relief.
Jack Toner led East with three hits in the game while Morgan Ulberg added two hits and an RBI.
The series finale last Thursday was a pitcher’s duel between Campbell and Spring Lake’s Maddux Kipling, who has committed to playing baseball at Michigan State next year.
East opened the scoring in the second with an unearned run. Weighmink singled with one out, then advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw. Toner was safe on a fielder’s choice as the Lakers tried unsuccessfully to cut down Weighmink at the plate, as East took a 1-0 lead.
Then in the third, Campbell helped his own cause, leading off the inning with a single. Ryan Kuzma walked, and Mason Raade then singled to left, scoring courtesy runner Beck Arendsen to put the Chix ahead 2-0.
Campbell and freshman Sawyer Klaasen took care of matters the rest of the way on the mound. Campbell allowed just two hits over 5-1/3 innings and struck out 10. Klaasen got the last five outs, allowing one hit, to earn the save. Davis made two big-time catches in the sixth inning to preserve the shutout.
East then picked up its 20th win of the season last Friday with a 4-2 win over Muskegon Mona Shores. The Chix built an early 3-0 lead and held on for the nonleague win. Caden Hunderman, Weighmink and Ayden Lankheet combined on a four-hitter and recorded 10 strikeouts.
The Chix entered the week tied for second in the O-K Black, one game behind Unity Christian, at 10-2 in the conference and 20-5 overall. The Crusaders took over sole possession of first place in the conference after a three-game sweep of Zeeland West.
Dux 2nd, Chix 4th at O-K Black Girls Tennis Championships
Zeeland West won three individual flights last Friday at the O-K Black Conference girls tennis championships, but fell short of winning the conference title.
Holland Christian won the other five flights to take the team championship with 51 points, while the Dux finished second with 46. Zeeland East tied for fourth place with Holland with 27 points.
All three of West’s individual champions came in singles play. At No. 1 singles, Emily Haskill won a three-set battle over Unity Christian’s Jayda Velzen in the championship match, 6-3, 0-6, 6-2. At No. 3 singles, Halle Reider defeated Hamilton’s Kylie Rietema 6-1, 6-1, to win that flight. At No. 4 singles, Aneliece Yin downed Evie Traverse of Holland Christian in the title match, 6-3, 6-2.
One of the pivotal matches of the day came at No. 2 doubles, where Holland Christian’s Hope Bruinsma and Lily Wierenga edged West’s Brailee Bursley and Molly Settlemyre in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-1 in the tiebreaker). The Maroons swept all four doubles flights.
At No. 2 singles, West’s Harley Brown reached the championship match, but lost to Holland Christian’s Iyla Holmes, 7-5, 6-0.
At No. 3 doubles, East’s Kiana Samora and Raeleigh Jones advanced to the finals, but fell to Holland Christian’s Izzy Delcalzo and Lucia VanKlompenberg, 6-0, 6-2. At No. 1 doubles, East’s Mahalia Vis and Elizabeth Rogovich won the third-place match over Holland’s Kate Ferguson and Sophia Poretta, 6-3, 6-4.
At No, 3 doubles, West’s Alice Smead and Elise Fobar took third place with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Hamilton’s Sadie Buus and Kennedy Reitzel. The Dux also took third at No. 4 doubles as Natalie Lauritzen and Abby TenBroeke defeated Allory Netz and Aeris Ensing of Unity Christian, 6-1, 6-3.
Holland Christian won the other five flights to take the team championship with 51 points, while the Dux finished second with 46. Zeeland East tied for fourth place with Holland with 27 points.
All three of West’s individual champions came in singles play. At No. 1 singles, Emily Haskill won a three-set battle over Unity Christian’s Jayda Velzen in the championship match, 6-3, 0-6, 6-2. At No. 3 singles, Halle Reider defeated Hamilton’s Kylie Rietema 6-1, 6-1, to win that flight. At No. 4 singles, Aneliece Yin downed Evie Traverse of Holland Christian in the title match, 6-3, 6-2.
One of the pivotal matches of the day came at No. 2 doubles, where Holland Christian’s Hope Bruinsma and Lily Wierenga edged West’s Brailee Bursley and Molly Settlemyre in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-1 in the tiebreaker). The Maroons swept all four doubles flights.
At No. 2 singles, West’s Harley Brown reached the championship match, but lost to Holland Christian’s Iyla Holmes, 7-5, 6-0.
At No. 3 doubles, East’s Kiana Samora and Raeleigh Jones advanced to the finals, but fell to Holland Christian’s Izzy Delcalzo and Lucia VanKlompenberg, 6-0, 6-2. At No. 1 doubles, East’s Mahalia Vis and Elizabeth Rogovich won the third-place match over Holland’s Kate Ferguson and Sophia Poretta, 6-3, 6-4.
At No, 3 doubles, West’s Alice Smead and Elise Fobar took third place with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Hamilton’s Sadie Buus and Kennedy Reitzel. The Dux also took third at No. 4 doubles as Natalie Lauritzen and Abby TenBroeke defeated Allory Netz and Aeris Ensing of Unity Christian, 6-1, 6-3.
