Zeeland East High School

Varsity vs Ludington Area Schools (4 - 4) Tie On August 17th, Ludington (2-0-1) and Zeeland East (2-0-1) played to a 4-4 tie, with each side taking care of business in different parts of the lineup. Ludington swept all four singles matches, while Zeeland East answered by winning every doubles court. Ryan Higley opened the singles run for Ludington with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Daniel Steenwyk at No. 1 singles. Oliver Kolb also rolled at No. 2 singles with the same score against Gavin Sullivan, and Ryder Saya matched that result at No. 4 singles over Oliver Reese, while Tyler Keillor added a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles. Zeeland East’s biggest swing came at No. 1 doubles, where Jacob Guerriero and Luke Hathaway (3-0) rallied past Ludington’s Gavin Cohoon (2-1) and Ethan Blough (2-1) 4-6, 6-2, 10-5 in a three-set tiebreak. Jace Velderman and Payton Ott followed with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles, and Zeeland East completed the comeback in doubles with straight-set victories from Lukas Hafeman and Pierson Kolean, and from Ben Slotman and Max Lewis. The result left both teams unbeaten through their first three duals. Varsity vs Big Rapids High School (6 - 2) Win Zeeland East (2-0-1) defeated Big Rapids (4-2) by a 6-2 score on August 17th, getting the better of the doubles matches and enough singles support to take the dual meet. Big Rapids picked up wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, but Zeeland East answered with victories in the other four completed flights and collected a walkover at No. 5 doubles. At No. 4 singles, Zeeland East’s Oliver Reese (2-1) held off Big Rapids’ Andrew Hinkley (3-3) in one of the day’s closest matches, winning 7-5, 4-6, 10-5. Reese took the first set, Hinkley forced a deciding super tiebreak by claiming the second, and Reese finished it there to add a key point for Zeeland East. Zeeland East also got a strong showing at No. 1 doubles, where Jacob Guerriero (3-0) and Luke Hathaway (3-0) beat Big Rapids’ Ryder Lacourse (4-2) and Jude Trouba (4-2) 6-2, 7-6 (3). The East pairing controlled the first set and held firm in the tiebreak to secure the point, while No. 2 doubles and No. 3 doubles each finished in straight sets for the winners. Zeeland East moved to 2-0-1 with the victory. Varsity vs Greenville Senior High School (7 - 1) Win Zeeland East (2-0-1) defeated Greenville (0-3) by a 7-1 score on August 17th, sweeping all four doubles matches to back a strong performance across the lineup. Greenville got its lone point at No. 1 singles, but Zeeland East controlled the rest of the dual. At the top of the singles ladder, Greenville’s Marek Susta held off Daniel Steenwyk 6-3, 6-3 for the home side’s only victory. Zeeland East answered immediately behind him, as Gavin Sullivan rolled past Emmit Willhite 6-4, 6-0 at No. 2 singles before Andrew Colasanti and Oliver Reese added straight-set wins at Nos. 3 and 4. The doubles courts were even more one-sided. Jacob Guerriero and Luke Hathaway opened with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles, and Jace Velderman and Payton Ott followed with a 6-1, 6-0 decision at No. 2. Zeeland East also picked up a walkover at No. 4 doubles, where Ben Slotman and Max Lewis were credited with the win, helping the team build momentum early in the season.