Who was the Zeeland West top athlete of the quarter century?

With the century a quarter done, the Holland Sentinel is selecting its top 25 athletes from the past quarter century.

We will start with the top 25 from each school and move on to the top 25 overall male and female high school athletes from the past 25 years.

Athletes must be graduated to be eligible.

Today: Zeeland West

Merritt Alderink

Class of 2024

Was a Mr. Basketball finalist as a senior after multiple all-state seasons for the Dux. Led Zeeland West to the state semifinals as a senior, the best finish in program history. Went on to play at Indiana State.

Kaylee Bakker

Class of 2020

An elite two-sport athlete, Kaylee Bakker was a force at the net in volleyball and under the net in basketball. She earned all-state honors in volleyball as a senior, powering a Dux resurgence. Meanwhile, she was all-state honorable mention in basketball multiple years and plays basketball at Grand Valley State.

Danny Bauder

Class of 2014

One of the fastest athletes in area history, Danny Bauder made his speed known on the football field and the track. Bauder earned all-state honors as a running back, leading the Dux to the football state championship with four touchdowns in the title game. He was then all-state in multiple track and field events to lead the Dux to another team state championship.

Ethan Brooks

Class of 2021

One of the most elegant athletes in the area, Ethan Brooks soared to a state championship in the hurdles, helping the Dux dominate for a state championship. He was an all-state performer in multiple events for multiple years, continuing the dominating legacy of the Dux on the track.

Jordan Bullock

Class of 2012

One of the best water polo players in state history, Jordan Bullock claimed all-state honors three years in a row, also sweeping Sentinel Water Polo Player of the Year honors. She was also an all-state swimmer all four years and earned an NCAA Division I scholarship to swim at Bowling Green.

Morgan Bullock

Class of 2016

Swimming for Zeeland, Morgan Bullock claimed the Division 1 state championship in the 100 butterfly as a senior. She was an all-state performer all four years in swimming and earned all-state water polo honors as a senior. Bullock went on to swim at West Virginia and was an All-American honorable mention.

Micah DeJonge

Class of 2016

Continuing his family's legacy in the pool, Micah DeJonge was a distance specialist. He won the Division 1 state championship in the 500 freestyle and was all-state all four years in multiple events. He also earned all-state honors in water polo before heading to swim at Oakland University.

Josh Geschwendt

Class of 2009

Won the Division 1 state championship in the 100 butterfly as a senior to lead Zeeland to the team championship. Went on to swim at Michigan State where he excelled at the Big Ten level.

Keaton Hendricks

Class of 2025

Broke the state record for most touchdowns in a state championship game to lead the Dux to the state title his senior year. He was first-team all-state and was also a multi-state qualifier in track and field. He will play football at Hope College next year.

Parker Holman

Class of 2023

Was first-team all-state in football as a junior running back before a knee injury cut short his senior season. Still was named honorable mention all-state and was a multiple state qualifier in track and field.

Haley Hoogenraad

Class of 2016

One of the most well-rounded athletes in history, Haley Hoogenraad made her mark in several sports. She was a state meet qualifier in both cross country and track and field. She also was one of the top basketball players in the area during her career. But her best sport was softball. She was all-state for the Dux and ended up at the University of Michigan as a starting outfielder. But her four-sport legacy at Zeeland West lives on.

Carson Gulker

Class of 2021

One of the greatest football players in area history, Carson Gulker was a sensational quarterback who led the Dux to multiple deep runs in the playoffs. He earned all-state first-team honors as a senior and was honorable mention as a junior. Gulker was also the top player on the basketball team, earning honorable mention all-state., and played baseball. He went to Ferris State to play both sports.

Jordyn Klaasen

Class of 2025

One of the most versatile and successful athletes in area history, Klaasen earned all-state honors during her career in soccer, cross country, basketball and was a state qualifier in track and field. She will play Division I soccer at Ball State next year.

Phoebe LaCroix

Class of 2017

One of the most important and magnificent leaders in Holland area history, Phoebe LaCroix became one of the top soccer players as well. She earned all-state honors because of her incredible vision and passing ability from the midfield. She went on to play at Cornerstone University where she also was a captain and an All-American.

Jill Pastunink

Class of 2009

Perhaps the best tennis player in area history, Jill Pastunink was all-state on the court for multiple years and was a two time Sentinel Player of the Year before heading to play at Western Michigan.

Darius Perisee

Class of 2016

One of the best running backs in the history of the area, Darius Perisee earned all-state honors for Zeeland West led by his speed and ability to make tacklers miss. He also ran track and was part of both programs' state championship runs.

Sam Plaska

Class of 2015

A blue-collar worker, Sam Plaska made his mark on the track. He won the state championship in the 800 meters as a senior and as a junior, helped lead the Dux to the team state championship. He was a multiple all-state relay performer and also was a standout football player, helping both teams earn a state title.

Jeremy Sall

Class of 2008

Swimmer was a state champion and multiple state-runner-up finisher, earning multiple all-state honors each year for Zeeland. Went on to swim at Ohio State.

Rachele Schulist

Class of 2012

One of the most dominant athletes in local history, Rachele Schulist was an all-state cross country performer all four years, leading the Dux to a state title. On the track, she claimed the state championship in the 1,600 meters and was all-state in multiple events all four years for the Dux, leading them to a runner-up finish as a senior. She went on to run at Michigan State and was an All-American.

Carly Sleeman

Class of 2024

Was named Division 2 Miss Softball as a senior after setting most of the Zeeland West records. She was all-state three times and Sentinel Player of the Year twice. She went on to play at Central Michigan where she was All-MAC.

Trey Sloothaak

Class of 2025

Was named Division 3 Football Player of the Year by the Michigan sportswriters association after leading the Dux to the state title. Was two-time Sentinel Player of the Year and top safety in area history. Was also all-state in the long jump multiple times. He will play football at GVSU next year.

Rylee Smith

Class of 2024

Was the Holland Sentinel Golfer of the Year all four years and was twice the Bowler of the Year. She was a state qualifier on the golf course and led the bowling team to a state championship and was a standout soccer player.

Owen Stevens

Class of 2025

Stevens finished his stellar swimming career with five individual state championships, tied for the second-most in area history. He was a three-time Sentinel Swimmer of the Year and will swim at Louisville next year.

Jason Tran

Class of 2014

Another multi-sport star, Jason Tran won the state championship in the 110-meter hurdles as a senior, leading the Dux to the state championship. He was a multi-event all-state athlete on the track and was also a strong football player, helping the Dux win the state championship during his career as well.

Jordan VanDort

Class of 2014

Perhaps the most dominant lineman in area history, Jordan VanDort sparked multiple Zeeland West football state championships. He was an all-state lineman and ended up playing at Western Michigan, Hope and GVSU. VanDort also broke the Zeeland West career scoring record in basketball and was an all-state performer in the shot put.

Zach VanValkenburg

Class of 2016

On the football field, there was no escaping Zach VanValkenburg. He was going to bring you down. Same thing in wrestling. It added up to a spectacular career at Zeeland West where he was an all-state performer in both football and wrestling. He ended up playing football at Iowa, was All-Big Ten and signed a free agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this year.

Abby Winn

Class of 2022

The most recent stellar multi-sport star for the Dux, Abby Winn saved her best for her senior year. She was honorable mention all-state in volleyball, before earning all-area basketball honors. In the spring, she was a state qualifier in track and field all while earning first-team all-state honors in soccer, leading the Dux to their first regional final. She played soccer at GVSU.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.   

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Who was the Zeeland West top athlete of the quarter century?