Vote for the best player of the 2000s

This summer, The Sentinel will announce its quarter-century team across multiple sports. The teams will feature the best athletes from 2000-2024.

Readers are encouraged to vote online for the best player of the century.

Next up is girls soccer. The team is not made up of people who are still in high school. Here is the lineup:

Beth VandenBerg, Calvary

Was named Sentinel Player of the Year after breaking the school scoring record.

Hannah Petroelje, Dutch Christian

Received the Sentinel Player of the Year award as a goalkeeper after leading the Maroons to a good run in the tournament.

Lindsey Bieri, Dutch Christian

She was named All-State Player of the Year and Sentinel Player of the Year for her ability to find the net and use her speed to get there.

Claire Broekhuizen, Dutch Christian

Broekhuizen is one of the best defenders in area history and was named All State Player of the Year and Sentinel Player of the Year.

Taylor TenHarmsel, Holland Christian

One of the most intelligent players in the history of the area, TenHarmsel controlled the midfield and got the ball into the net via her own foot or the foot of a teammate. Later excelled at Calvin.

Shelbi Lowe, Zeeland West

One of the toughest defenders to get past, Lowe helped the Dux on their way to success and was also voted Sentinel Player of the Year.

Sadie Misiewicz, Netherlands

Earned all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year honors three years in a row at multiple positions for the Dutch. Went to star at Michigan State.

Bria Schrotenboer, Hamilton

Was one of the best high school players in the area before playing for the U.S. U-19 national team. Then starred at Michigan State as a defender.

Madi Alexander, Hamilton

He played only one year with the Hawkeyes, but scored 20 goals and was named all-state before moving on to play for the University of Florida.

Kenzie Fox, Zeeland East

He won all-state honors twice and was named Sentinel Player of the Year his senior year, before playing for Grand Valley State and helping the Lakers win multiple NCAA championships.

Phoebe LaCroix, Zeeland West

A midfielder with perhaps the best vision in area history, LaCroix was a master of distribution to get the ball in pass to her teammates. Earned all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year honors before shining as captain of Cornerstone University.

Abby Koops, Holland Christian

Earned all-state honors and Sentinel Player of the Year honors after leading the Maroons to the state quarterfinals. Went on to play at Calvin.

Samantha Hecht, Zeeland West

Was a power forward in every sense of the word. Used her strength to set the Dux scoring record and earn all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year honors before shining at Muskegon Community College.

Meg Morehouse, Zeeland East

Was an elite defender who led the Chix to their first district title and first place finish in a regional final. Earned all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year honors as a senior.

Haley Diekevers, Zeeland East

Diekevers is one of the fastest players in midfield and her excellent foot skills have been a real star for Chix and Davenport University.

Abby Winn, Zeeland West

Winn is one of the most complete players to ever come out of the area. She was named All-State multiple times and was named Sentinel Player of the Year before continuing her career at GVSU.

Paige Westra, Zeeland East

A scoring machine, Westra set the school and region record for career scoring and earned all-state and Sentinel Player of the Year honors. Was all-state in three sports for the Chix.

Adele Nieuwsma, Saugatuck

This defensive midfielder was a three-time all-state for the Trailblazers, helping the team to its first district title, then its second. Was Sentinel Player of the Year as a senior.

Bria West, West Ottawa

Her athleticism and talent for finding the net were unreal, and she went on to play at the NCAA Division I level at UNC-Asheville.

Holly Ellerbroek, Holland Christian

Ellerbroek, one of the best goalies in area history, battled injuries to lead GVSU to a national title after starring at Calvin.

Ashley Overbeek, Hamilton

Overbeek, who had the fastest feet in the region, was an all-state player in soccer and basketball and used that speed to become one of the most prolific scorers in the area.

Eliza Beird, Black River

Beird is one of the most versatile players and was the driving force behind Black River’s defensive line, leading the team to multiple district titles before the all-state player starred at Hope College.

Casi Gibson, West Ottawa

Gibson was one of the smartest players in the area, getting the ball where it needed to go and keeping it out of the way of defenders on her way to all-state honors.

Madison Holloway, Holland Christian

Was all-state as a junior before COVID-19 wiped out her senior year. Went on to Hope College, one of the smoothest scorers in area history.

Faith Mulder, Holland Christian

Earned all-state honors for the Maroons as a forward after scoring 11 goals in a tournament season.

Hanna Veenman, Black River

Hanna Veenman is one of the best forwards in the history of the region. She was named all-state in her junior and senior years and helped Black River reach the regional finals.

Allison Vroon, Black River

vAllison Vroon, the only Black River athlete to earn multiple Sentinel Athlete of the Year honors, dominated cross country during her career. She was all-state in cross country as a senior and finished fourth in the state. She also earned all-state soccer honors as a senior before going on to play soccer at Grace.

Molly Drooger, Holland

Was one of the leading scorers from the penalty box for the Dutch before moving to Taylor University and becoming one of the leading scorers in the entire NAIA.

Courtney Diekema, Zeeland East

One of the most athletic goalkeepers in history, he was also an all-state champion swimmer and eventually went on to row at Harvard after serving as a goalkeeper for Harvard for several years.

Taryn Meiste, Hamilton

Keeper won the All-State award with the Hawkeyes and went on to star at Ferris State.

Abby Frankhouse, Black River

One of the top scorers in region history was a multi-state player for the River Rats, leading the team to the district title.

Kayla Brothers, Black River

The River Rats set a season record for goals and were named to the All-State team as Black River won two district titles.

Erin Doolittle, Black River

Doolittle was one of the best athletes in the area, a star in football, basketball and volleyball.

Rose Anthony, Holland Christian

Used her long legs and vision to become one of the elite players in the middle of the court. Led Cedarville to a national title.

Ainsley Harris, Holland Christian

A fierce competitor who won all-state honors before playing at Hope College.

Angelica Mendoza, Fennville

One of the most aggressive players with the best vision. Was all-state. Had 20 goals and 21 assists as a senior.

Kasey Losik, Saugatuck

Scored more than 20 goals in Saugatuck’s first district title season and earned all-state honors.

Karrisa Moerler, Saugatuck

Scored more than 20 goals in Saugatuck’s first district title season and earned all-state honors.

Kenzie Burke, West Ottawa

Was an all-state midfielder for the Panthers with quick feet and an extremely high football IQ.

Alexi Zastrow, Holland Christian

This midfielder could score and defend and was one of the best Maroons of the century, winning the All-State Award.

Yulissa Rodriguez, Zeeland West

She was the first all-state player for the Dux and used her strength and speed to become one of the region’s top players.

Riley Ouderen, Holland

Was one of the best midfielders in the region and later played for Davenport University.

Kristen Marsman, Dutch Christian

One of the best defenders in the area, he was an honorable mention draft pick from the state before joining Hope College.

Abby Dykema, Dutch Christian

Elite goalie earned an honorable mention in the state competition after leading the Maroons to a regional title in a shootout.

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