While we continue to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, we continue to look at 250 – this time locally.
The top 250 female athletes from the Holland area since 2001 was much more difficult to pick than expected. We are sure there are some people we missed or that readers might disagree with. Bring on the debate!
It is stunning how many elite athletes did not make this list – all-state players, NCAA Division I athletes, Sentinel Athletes of the Year. That is how privileged the Holland area is when it comes to sports.
Here are the top 250 female athletes (plus ties in voting) since 2001 in alphabetical order:
Ayisha Afrik, West Ottawa swimming
Adeleine Alderink, Calvary volleyball, rowing
Madi Alexander, Hamilton soccer
Shayna Altvater, Holland cross country, track & field
Isabel Anaya, West Ottawa wrestling
Rose Anthony, Holland Christian soccer, volleyball
Nicole Artz, West Ottawa gymnastics, softball
Sydnie Avery, Saugatuck track & field
Anna Babinec, West Ottawa swimming
Aerin Baker, Saugatuck volleyball, track & field
Kaylee Bakker, Zeeland West volleyball, basketball
Mackenzie Baldwin, West Ottawa swimming
Kara Bartels, Zeeland West basketball
Courtney Bartholomew, Holland swimming
Anna Battistello, West Ottawa swimming
Eliza Beird, Black River soccer, basketball
Libby Berens, Holland Christian golf
Selena Beltran-Pena, Fennville softball
Lindsey Bieri, Holland Christian soccer
Natalie Blake, West Ottawa track & field
Megan Blake, West Ottawa tennis
Rayah Blood, Hamilton diving, track & field
Aliyah Boeve, Zeeland East track & field, volleyball
Emily Bos, Holland swimming
Abby Bonnema, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Sophie Bonnema, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Alexa Borgman, West Ottawa volleyball, basketball
Ashley Borgman, Zeeland diving
Teresa Borst, Zeeland East volleyball, basketball
Lilly Brandt, West Ottawa swimming
Claire Broekhuizen, Holland Christian soccer
Trisha Brondyke, West Ottawa soccer
Ashley Bronkema, Zeeland swimming
Joslyn Bronkhorst, Hamilton basketball
Kayla Brothers, Black River soccer
Lydia Brouwer, Zeeland East track & field
Amber Brunmeier, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Jessi Buis, West Ottawa gymnastics
Taylor Buis, West Ottawa gymnastics, track & field
Jordan Bullock, Zeeland swimming, water polo
Morgan Bullock, Zeeland swimming, water polo
Lisa Butler, Holland swimming
Julie Buursma, Holland Christian tennis, volleyball
Julia Calcut, Zeeland diving
Ana Capotosto, Saugatuck basketball, volleyball, track & field
Brittany Casey, Zeeland East track & field
Lindsay Cossey, Fennville softball
Kelly Daniel, Zeeland East tennis
Betsy DeJonge, Zeeland swimming
Zoe DeKievit, Holland Christian swimming
Sydney Del Valle, Black River cross country, track & field
Elyse DeShaw, West Ottawa swimming, water polo
Lauren DeShaw, West Ottawa swimming, track & field
Erica Deur, Holland Christian diving
Sara DeWeerdt, Hamilton volleyball, basketball, track & field
Courtney Diekema, Zeeland East soccer, swimming, rowing
Nicole Diekema, Zeeland West track & field
Haley Diekevers, Zeeland East soccer, basketball
Erin Doolittle, Black River basketball, soccer
Emma Drnek, Zeeland East cross country, track & field
Chelsea Drooger, Holland gymnastics
Kennedy Dumas, West Ottawa tennis
Natalie Dunn, West Ottawa basketball, volleyball, track & field
Bria Ebels, Holland basketball
Britta Ebels, Zeeland East basketball, track & field
Rileigh Eding, Hamilton swimming
AJ Ediger, Hamilton basketball, volleyball
Brooke Eilers, Holland Christian cross country, track & field
Holly Ellerbroek, Holland Christian soccer
Jessica Elzinga, West Ottawa diving, softball
Madison Ensing, Zeeland swimming
Nicole Ensing, Zeeland diving
Kristen Etterbeek, Holland Christian volleyball, tennis
Lindsey Etterbeek, Holland Christian tennis
Janise Everest, Zeeland swimming
Jillena Everest, Zeeland swimming
Terin Everse, Holland Christian tennis
Jade Evink, Hamilton swimming
Hannah Fathman, Hamilton swimming
Gillian Fiene, Holland Christian cross country, track & field
Kenzie Fox, Zeeland East soccer
Lily Francis, Saugatuck track & field
Melissa Francis, Saugatuck track & field, basketball and rugby
Erika Freyhof, Hamilton cross country, track & field
Elizabeth Fris, West Ottawa swimming
Taylor Garcia, Holland swimming
Alyssa Garvelink, Holland Christian volleyball
Amanda Geerlings, Zeeland East track & field
Addy Gerig, West Ottawa track & field
Kaitlyn Geurink, Hamilton basketball, volleyball
Anna Giesler, Holland swimming
Elle Giesler, Holland swimming
Danielle Groendyk, Zeeland East cross country, track & field
Haley Groteler, West Ottawa swimming
Leah Gruppen, Zeeland softball
Sam Hecht, Zeeland West soccer
Hannah Heemstra, Zeeland water polo
Sarah Heemstra, Zeeland swimming, water polo, rowing
Kayla Hintz, West Ottawa track & field
Paige Hoeve, Zeeland swimming
Rachel Hoeve, Zeeland swimming
Madison Holloway, Holland Christian soccer
Haley Hoogenraad, Zeeland West softball, basketball, cross country, track & field
Jeralyn Hoppes, Hamilton volleyball, track & field
Coryne Howard, Fennville basketball
Sadie Huizenga, Zeeland diving, gymnastics
Hannah Jaiven, West Ottawa lacrosse, hockey
Madie Jamrog, Hamilton softball, volleyball
Lauren Jenkins, Saugatuck cross country, track & field
Ayvah Johnson, Hamilton swimming
Emily Johnson, Holland Christian volleyball
Jillian Johnson, Saugatuck track & field
Thea Johnson, Saugatuck cross country, track & field
Stephanie Johnston, Hamilton swimming
Sarah Kamstra, Zeeland West
Alyssa Karner, West Ottawa basketball, soccer
Chloe Karp, West Ottawa tennis
Jordyn Klaasen, Zeeland West soccer, cross country, basketball, track & field
Hannah Klenk, Hamilton softball
Abby Koops, Holland Christian soccer
Paige Kortman, Holland diving
Jamie Kraker, Hamilton volleyball, basketball, track & field
Michelle Kuipers, Holland Christian cross country, track & field
Nikki Kupres, Saugatuck softball
Macy Kuyers, West Ottawa volleyball, soccer
Allison Kuzma, Zeeland East cross country, track & field
Phoebe LaCroix, Zeeland West soccer
Shelby Lacy, West Ottawa swimming
Raegan Lantz, West Ottawa volleyball, track & field
Talia Laskowski, Saugatuck basketball
Stephanie Lebster, West Ottawa gymnastics
Genna Lebster, West Ottawa gymnastics
Magaly Lemus, West Ottawa volleyball, basketball
Brooke Leonard, Zeeland East softball
Alyssa Lester, Hamilton volleyball
Allison Liske, Zeeland East track & field, basketball
Caitlin Lohr, Hamilton swimming
Cortney Lokker, West Ottawa volleyball, basketball
Kasey Losik, Saugatuck soccer, equestrian
Amanda Loudin, Hamilton soccer
Emily Ludema, Zeeland swimming
Sarah Ludema, Zeeland swimming
Bre Luurtsema, Holland Christian basketball, softball
Hayley MacDonald, Zeeland East track & field
Lourdes Manderfield, Holland swimming
Emily Martinez, Eli J Boxing
Mercedes Martinez, West Ottawa swimming
Mikayla Martinie, West Ottawa basketball, track & field
Kaylie McConnell, West Ottawa softball
Sheri McCormack, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Taryn Meiste, Hamilton soccer
Bethany Meeuwsen, Zeeland swimming
Caroline Meyer, Holland swimming
Madelyn Moore, Saugatuck basketball, volleyball, soccer
Sarah Moraw, West Ottawa gymnastics
Meg Morehouse, Zeeland East basketball, soccer, volleyball
Amanda Morley, West Ottawa volleyball
Holly Morren, Holland swimming
Cassie Misiewicz, Holland swimming, track & field
Sadie Misiewicz, Holland soccer
Chelsea Miskelley, Black River cross country, track & field
Melanie Naber, West Ottawa volleyball
Brooke Nienhuis, Zeeland West softball, basketball
Adele Nieuwsma, Saugatuck soccer
Sara Nitz, Zeeland East basketball, track & field
Suenomi Norinh, Zeeland East track & field
Kasia Norman, Black River swimming
Klare Northuis, Holland swimming
Abby Olson, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Arianne Olson, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Emily Oren, Hamilton cross country, track & field
Molly Oren, Hamilton cross country, track & field
Sarah Oren, Hamilton cross country, track & field
Vickie Otto, West Ottawa swimming, water polo
Ashley Overbeek, Hamilton basketball, soccer
Chelsea Overbeek, West Ottawa basketball, volleyball, soccer
Sarah Parker, West Ottawa diving
Jill Pastunink, Zeeland West tennis
Lisa Peerbolt, Holland Christian volleyball, tennis
Avari Peddie, Zeeland West track & field
Brooke Pedersen, West Ottawa soccer, basketball, volleyball
Hannah Petroelje, Holland Christian soccer, volleyball
Sarah Phillips, West Ottawa soccer
Jordan Pikaart, Hamilton volleyball
Jenna Plewes, Zeeland East basketball
Ava Porras, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Megan Postma, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Kylee Poulton, Black River track & field
Heather Price, Saugatuck cross country, track & field
Kalyna Pyk, West Ottawa swimming
Annelies Real, West Ottawa swimming
Brittaney Reest, West Ottawa swimming
Liz Reikow, Holland volleyball
Gabby Reynolds, West Ottawa basketball
Neave Rewa, Saugatuck soccer, skiing
Sophie Riemersma, Zeeland East volleyball, basketball, track & field
Katie Rietberg, West Ottawa volleyball, basketball
Lizzie Risdon, Zeeland East volleyball, basketball
Leah Ritsema, Zeeland swimming, water polo
Mazie Robison, Saugatuck track & field
Ally Rooks, Holland Christian volleyball
Jenna Saarela, Saugatuck basketball
Helen Sachs, West Ottawa cross country, track & field
Ashlee Sall, Holland Christian swimming
Daniela Sanchez-Martinez, Black River cross country, track & field
Kenedy Schoonveld, Holland Christian basketball, volleyball
Bria Schrotenboer, Hamilton soccer, basketball
Rachele Schulist, Zeeland West cross country, track & field
Abby Schultz, Calvary basketball
Brooke Simpson, Saugatuck basketball, track & field
Caroline Sisson, West Ottawa swimming
Carly Sleeman, Zeeland West softball, diving
Courtney Sleeman, Zeeland West softball
Anna Sluiter, Zeeland East track & field, swimming, rowing
Rylee Smith, Zeeland West golf, bowling
Tristen Smith, Saugatuck basketball, track & field
Cassie Sneller, Hamilton golf, volleyball
Melissa Sneller, Zeeland golf
Kaitlin Spoelhof, Holland Christian tennis
Ella Spooner, West Ottawa lacrosse
JulieAnne Stears, Zeeland swimming
Grace Steenwyk, Zeeland East volleyball
Mackenzie Stephens, West Ottawa volleyball
Kayle Stevenson, West Ottawa softball
Samantha Stille, Holland tennis
Natalie Stitt, West Ottawa diving, track & field
Liz Sundburg, West Ottawa volleyball
Taylor TenHarmsel, Holland Christian soccer
Haley Thompson, Holland swimming
Kiri Tiemeyer, Saugatuck basketball
Anna Tilden, Zeeland East track & field
Rachael Tolsma, Hamilton track & field, basketball
Taylor Trammell, West Ottawa basketball
Shelby Ulven, Zeeland East track & field
Kara VandeGuchte, Hamilton volleyball, basketball, track & field
Camryn VandenBosch, Holland Christian basketball
Colleen Vande Poel, West Ottawa swimming
Haily Vande Poel, West Ottawa diving
Ainsley VandenBrink, Holland Christian golf, tennis
Mayleigh VanderBeek, Zeeland East gymnastics
Kylee VanderBeek, Zeeland East, gymnastics, track & field
Jennifer VanderMeer, Holland track & field
Melissa VanderMeulen, Holland swimming
Heather VanderSlik, Hamilton track & field
Amy VanderStoep, West Ottawa volleyball
Dani VanderZwaag, West Ottawa diving
Courtney VandeVorde, Hamilton volleyball, basketball, track & field
Amber VanWieren, Fennville basketball
Sarah Venlet, Holland Christian track & field
Breanna Verkaik, Holland Christian basketball, track & field
Carissa Verkaik, Holland Christian basketball, track & field
Kally Verkaik, Holland Christian basketball, track & field
Caley Vink, Zeeland East volleyball, track & field
Karis Vink, Zeeland East volleyball
Kianna Vork, Hamilton softball
Olivia Voskuil, Holland Christian basketball, volleyball
Allison Vroon, Black River soccer, cross country
Taylor Waterway, Zeeland East volleyball, track & field
Corbyn Wayner, Hamilton volleyball, track & field
Bria West, West Ottawa soccer
Paige Westra, Zeeland East football, soccer, track & field
Elaine Whitbeck, West Ottawa softball, basketball
Eva Whiteman, Holland track & field
Emily Wierenga, Zeeland East basketball
Kayla Windemuller, Holland Christian cross country, track & field
Abby Winn, Zeeland West soccer, volleyball, basketball, track & field
Alyssa Wolfram, Hamilton volleyball
Ashlen Wolfram, Hamilton basketball, tennis
Phloy Wongvilart, Zeeland West golf
Madison Wyckoff, Zeeland West softball
Le’Anna Zavala, West Ottawa wrestling
Nicole Zeinstra, Black River cross country, track & field
Reilly Zegunis, Zeeland East volleyball
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: America 250: Meet the Holland area’s top 250 female athletes since 2001
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan D'Addona, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
