By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
ALLEGAN
New.
That just might be the word of the season for Allegan under the guidance of first-year coach Ernie Ramirez.
“We lost six seniors out of eight varsity players from last year, so the majority of the players are new to the varsity level,” Ramirez said. “There’s also a new coach with a new system and a new way of doing things.
“So, this will be a season of transition.”
Indeed it will.
Senior forward Jayden VandenAkker and senior point guard Elijah Ziemelis are the only two holdovers from last year’s team, which posted a 14-8 record.
“Last year’s seniors led the team to a great final year under Coach Sharron Thompson,” Ramirez said.
Newcomers who are expected to see significant playing time include junior forward Sydney Cooley and freshman forward Camden Drozd.
“We have had a core group of three players who have done the extra and have helped me get the rest caught up before our first game has been critical,” Ramirez said. “I can see some talent, we just have to get the girls the floor time they need to feel comfortable using those skills.”
Among the skills Ramirez is most excited about are quickness to the defensive gaps and a group of forwards who can get to the basket.
“Free throw shooting will be something we will need to work on before, during and after practice,” Ramirez said.
Learning to play in at a high level at the end of the game will be an area of focus for the young Tigers.
“I feel we will be very competitive in our division, but it’s those close games and closing them out with a young team that will be critical for our season,” Ramirez said.
FENNVILLE
Three returning players will be asked to lead the way for Fennville this season.
Senior Lily Achterhof, junior Ceeley Howard and sophomore Amiyah Johnson—all guards—are back after playing big roles for the Blackhawks last season.
The rest of the team is comprised of seven newcomers to the varsity level.
“Though we do have more depth this season compared to last season, one of the concerns is lack of experience with only two returning starters,” Fennville coach Cory Howard said.
Newcomers include the first-year senior trio of guard Marisol Diaz, Atiyah Chambers and Christina Sanchez Hernandez.
Junior forwards Adriana Hicks and Veda Seward also join the team, as do freshman guards Leslie Hernandez and Candela Ruiz Martinez.
“Our expectations are to compete, play hard and play together every game for four quarters,” Cory Howard said.
Cory Howard expects South Haven to be the favorite in the race for the divisional title.
HOPKINS
After putting together an outstanding hoops career at Hopkins that saw her earn All-Conference two times, Kennedy Helderop went on to star at Cornerstone University. At CU, she averaged 9.9 points as a senior, leading the Golden Eagles in assists and steals.
Now, Helderop is back home in Hopkins, having been named the Vikings’ new head coach.
“I’m looking forward to starting my coaching journey,” Helderop said.
Last season, the Vikings finished with an overall record of just below .500 at 11-12. But Hopkins went 9-5 in the OK Silver, placing the Vikings in the top portion of the final league standings.
With some key players returning this season coupled with some talented newcomers, Helderop is hoping to be in the mix for the top spot in the conference.
“We expect to be in the top three along with Calvin Christian and Belding,” she said.
Back for the Vikings are seniors Cora Hall, Reegan Helderop, Ali Langlois and Kelsey Burgess along with junior Aliza Kerber.
“We should be a quick team that will be hard to beat our opponent down the court,” Coach Helderop said. “We expect to be a top contender in our conference because of that.”
Sophomore center Natalie Geers and freshman guard Claire Brenner are among the newcomers who will be expected to make an impact.
“Our team focus is on defense and that’s where we will be at our best,” Coach Helderop said. “We are also looking at bettering our half-court offense.”
MARTIN
After a six-year run as head coach that included three district championships and a regional title, Ben Schipper decided to step away from the Martin bench in order to spend more time with his young family.
The Clippers didn’t have to look very far for his replacement.
Eric Zudweg, who served as an assistant coach under Schipper last year, has been elevated to the top position.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity and very excited about the girls on this team,” Zudweg said. “I think we have the potential for a great season.”
Zudweg has six returning players from a team that went 11-13 last season and finished third in the SAC Central with a 5-5 mark.
Those returning players are led by the senior trio of forward/center Marybeth Ritchie, guard/forward Torryn Harris and guard Alley Bacon. Juniors Anna Jager (guard/forward), Kayden Jager (guard) and Maggie Jager (forward/center) also return.
“We have six strong returners who all played consistent minutes last year bring back a lot of experience,” Zudweg said.
Having six returning players is the good news for Zudweg.
The bad news? Sophomore forward/center Aliyah DeGlopper is the lone newcomer, leaving the roster at seven.
“It is a concern that we only have seven players on the varsity team,” Zudweg said. “But we’ll use the five-quarter rule (allowing JV players to see some time at the varsity level) when able to add some more depth.
“But we are truly a balanced team 1-7, with all seven having the ability to be the leading scorer any given night.”
Zudweg views defending SAC Central champion Saugatuck to be the favorite in the division once again this season.
“Saugatuck is the team to beat in the division with some of the returners they have and the fact that they are the defending champs,” he said. “Gobles and Galesburg-Augusta are also strong conference opponents.
“There were a lot of close games in conference last year, and I expect it to be the same this season.”
OTSEGO
Last season, Otsego coach Tony Koshar was dealing with the loss of eight seniors from the 2023-24 squad.
The situation looks much different this season, as the Bulldogs lost just two players to graduation from a year ago.
“After a growth year last season with a bunch of first-year varsity players, we are excited about what lies ahead this year,” said Koshar, who guided Otsego to a 13-10 record last season, including a 9-5 mark in the Wolverine Conference that was good for third place.
Seven players return for the Bulldogs, led by senior guard Audrey Lingbeek and junior guard Brooke Smalldon.
“Having seven girls with some pretty good varsity experience allows us to do a little more in terms of our approach to the game,” Koshar said. “We expect to be in the thick of the things in the Wolverine conference, which is a little more wide open than it’s been the last four or five years.
“We are also hoping to make a run in the tournament at the end of the year.”
Junior guards Madden Fitzpatrick and Peyton Johnson join Lingbeek and Smalldon as returning players, as do junior guard/forward Mya Engbers, junior forward Malania Miller and sophomore guard Olivia Hildebrand.
Newcomers include junior guards Annika Quakenbush and Madelyn Goodwin.
“Athleticism should be a strength,” Koshar said. “We don’t have the traditional back-to the-basket type player this year, but we do have an abundance of athletic length which should offset that.
“Then just having the experience back with a four-year player in Audrey, three-year players in Brooke and Madden and the experience Olivia, Peyton, Mya and Malania gained last year.”
Shooting the ball will be a focus for the Bulldogs.
“I think we may see a decent amount of zone from opponents this year, so shooting is a concern that may end up being a strength,” Koshar said.
In the Wolverine Conference, Koshar believes the graduation of several key players from Vicksburg and Paw Paw could change the landscape of the title hunt.
“I would expect us to be in the mix for a championship along with Plainwell, Edwardsburg, Sturgis and Niles,” he said. “Vicksburg and Paw Paw lost some college-level players, but are good programs so I would expect them to be a tough out also.”
PLAINWELL
First-year head coach Elexis Buchanan has high hopes for Plainwell this season.
“We have an active group of young, hardworking individuals who continuously and eagerly seek more knowledge and experience,” she said. “As long as they keep that mentality and never grow tired of learning, my staff and I will always be willing and ready to teach.”
Buchanan, who takes over for Mark Stephenson, comes to Plainwell with 16 years of coaching experience, including eight years as a sub-varsity coach at Kalamazoo Central. As a player, she was a four-year letter winner at Loy Norrix and went on to play collegiately at Wayne State University.
She inherits a team that went 9-12 overall a year ago, with a 5-9 mark in the Wolverine Conference.
“We’re a young group that’s continually growing and will learn more about ourselves each week as we figure out how to utilize all the pieces we have,” Buchanan said. “The progress is a process, and we’re building something strong for the future of Plainwell basketball.
“I expect nothing less than greatness. My team’s goal is to win more league games than the previous season and to have a winning percentage of more than .600.”
The return of some key players should help the Trojans’ cause.
Senior guards Alyssa Weldon and Anna Schierbeek are back, as are juniors Anna Overway (forward/center), Kaylee VanAtter (guard), Alayna Ranney (guard/forward) and Tessie Kiel (forward).
Newcomers include senior center Blanka Bolinska, junior guard/forward Ella Petik, sophomore guards Emma Rayman and Mai Nguyen and the freshmen trio of Erica Klein (forward), Olivia Wagner (guard/forward) and Leigha Weldon (guard).
“This year’s squad brings a unique blend of athleticism and chemistry that continues to fuel their progress,” Buchanan said. “One of the team’s greatest strengths is its speed, an advantage that shows up in transition play and defensive pressure.
“With several multi-sport athletes on the roster, players are able to transfer skills learned in other sports directly onto the basketball court, giving the team added versatility and game sense. Equally important, the athletes share a strong bond off the court. Their friendships translate into trust, communication, and a natural cohesion during competition—qualities that elevate their performance and keep the team moving in a positive direction.
As a newcomer to coaching in Plainwell, Buchanan wasn’t sure who to pick as the favorite to win the Wolverine Conference title, but …
“I believe that this conference has some pretty tough contenders, and I want Plainwell to be among the teams at the top of that list this year,” she said.
SAUGATUCK
New season.
Same goals for Saugatuck and head coach Kevin Tringali.
“We’re really proud of what we’ve built around here and we look forward to continue to compete for championships,” Tringali said.
Saugatuck enters the 2025-26 campaign having won the past two divisional title in addition to claiming a district title last year.
“We really like this team,” Tringali said. “They are athletic and pretty quick. We just have to put these kids in the right spots to be successful.
“If we can do that and we’re able to stay healthy, we feel like we can make a run for third consecutive division title and fight for a second consecutive district championship.”
The loss of four-year starter Kennedy Gustafson—who graduated with more than 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds—leaves an obvious void.
But the return of the three-headed guard group of seniors Natalia Laskowski and Penny Grob and junior Mylah Simpson gives the Trailblazers quite a competitive advantage.
Simpson was First Team All-State last season, Simpson was Second Team All-State and Grob was All-Conference.
“I feel like when healthy, our three-guard combo of Natalia, Penny and Mylah Simpson are as good as any around,” Tringali said. “Our concern, or course, is our depth in the post.”
In addition to the loss of Gustafson, Saugatuck also is without Maggie Loomis (moved out of district) and Nova DeGraff (injured).
A group of newcomers that includes 6-foot-2 junior Lauren Grant, 5-foot-11 freshman Charlee Gustafson and 5-foot-9 senior Chloe Collins should help.
Returning senior Ashtyn O’Neil will also be in that mix.
“Losing Kennedy is tough, but we are confident we can develop Lauren, Chloe and Charlie and Ashtyn,” Tringali said.
Senior Jordan Sanders also returns, while classmate Ada Roth is on the roster after missing the past two seasons with ACL injuries.
“She wants to finish her career strong,” Tringali said of Roth.
The Trailblazers finished 23-2 last season, including a 10-0 record in the SAC Central.
“This season, (the SAC Central) is really up for grabs,” said Tringali, who carries a 184-104 career mark as a girls varsity coach. “Martin and Gobles have been traditionally really tough, but I would not look past Galesburg Augusta or Black River either. It comes down to who stays healthy, as it always does.”
WAYLAND
Few teams will be able to match the level of experience Wayland has this season.
A total of 11 players are back from last year’s 13-9 squad, including eight seniors.
“The overall look of our team is an older, experienced group,” Wayland coach Wes Hudson said. “As we did lose a great player in Harmony Laker, these upperclassmen are ready to continue what last year’s seniors left behind and continue to help our program strive.”
That senior group includes guards Laney Wolf, Hayden Keena and Dacey Schaefer, forwards Charlotte Markoski, Kennedy Lown and Rae Stallard, guard/forward Kaylee Lown and center Addi Sikorski.
Junior guard Marissa Ainsworth, junior center Lauren Bultsma and sophomore guard/forward Charity Laker also return.
“We have a very fast, dynamic and aggressive team that I think will give some teams fits with the pressure we are able to apply,” Hudson said. “The group is eager and ready to learn and then apply it to everything that we do.
“I love the leadership and care that this team has for one another. One thing that we always talk about is that our team has no grade levels. We have leaders and everyone has the ability to lead in their own way.”
Freshman guard Jordan Grevenstuk is a newcomer who could make an impact.
“Our biggest strength is going to be our defense,” Hudson said. “Our group can run and pressure better than any group of girls that I have coached so far, and that’s a testament to the players and the work that they put in outside of the season to become the best athletes that they can be.”
With that defense leading the way, the Wildcats hope to be in contention for an OK Golf championship.
“We have so many great teams and coaches in the Gold, so each game is a battle and everyone is always competing like it’s the last game they play,” Hudson said. “I am thankful for the great coaches in our league that continue to pour into the athletes to help them compete at the highest level possible.
“It is so much fun to compete in this league and can’t wait until we can get games started.”
Hudson thinks South Christian, West Catholic and Middleville will also be contenders in the league.
NOTE: No preview information was received from Hamilton prior to deadline.
