GRAND RAPIDS, MI – From promising underclassmen to four-year varsity standouts, the Grand Rapids area is loaded with talent on the soccer field in 2024.
Three local teams – Hudsonville, East Grand Rapids and Unity Christian – reached the state finals last season, and several more have their eyes on a long playoff run thanks to the top-level players on their rosters.
Follow along to see which players are among the Grand Rapids area’s best heading into the heart of the 2024 campaign.
Kendall Aikens, Hudsonville
The senior midfielder and Grand Valley State signee led Hudsonville to its first state championship game appearance by posting team highs in goals (20) and assists (15) during the 2023 season, including an assist in the Division 1 finals against Rochester Hills Stoney Creek. This year, Aikens leads a talented and top-ranked Eagles squad that has already defeated Division 2 No. 8 Plainwell and Division 3 No. 1 South Christian.
Devanee Balczak, Caledonia
The senior goalkeeper is on pace to break Caledonia’s career saves record this season, after allowing just 17 goals and posting four shutouts during last year’s 13-5-1 campaign, which marked the Fighting Scots’ highest win total since 2013.
Alexa Boersma, South Christian
The junior forward stepped up last year due to injuries on South Christian’s front line, and she finished second on the team with 16 goals to go along with six assists, including a pair of goals in the Sailors’ 2-0 district championship win over West Michigan Aviation Academy. This year, the Sailors are ranked at the top of Division 3, and Boersma’s ability to put the ball in the net is a big reason why.
Evie Brown, Forest Hills Northern
The junior defensive midfielder played a big role in Northern’s success during its run to an OK White championship last year and has earned a team captain spot this season due to her leadership and relentless effort on the pitch. So far this season, Brown has one goal and has helped the Huskies log two shutouts in five games.
Stella DeSmit, Unity Christian
The senior forward and future Indiana Wesleyan student-athlete helped Unity Christian win the Division 3 state title last year by collecting 12 goals and nine assists, including a goal and an assist in the 3-0 championship game win over Grosse Ile. The graduation of star forwards Jenna Schreiber and Olivia Bosworth means DeSmit should see her production take another step up in her final year of high school soccer.
Mae Doyle, Forest Hills Northern
The junior defensive midfielder has an incredible motor and a defensive tenacity that makes it difficult for opponents to get anything going in the Huskies’ end. Her soccer IQ and passing ability throughout the midfield also make her a valuable asset to Northern’s attack and have helped her collect a goal and two assists so far this season.
Abby Druelle, West Catholic
The senior four-year starter accounted for almost half of West Catholic’s goals last year with 25 to go along with her eight assists for a Falcons team that went 14-4-3 and finished third in an ultra-competitive OK Blue. Druelle could challenge West Catholic’s career scoring record this season, and with the return of teammate and star midfielder Claire Smith, the Falcons should score a lot of goals again this year.
Olivia In’tHout, South Christian
Also a star volleyball player, In’tHout’s athleticism translates especially well to the goalkeeper position, where she help South Christian post a 16-3-2 record last year by allowing just six of her team’s 14 goals and contributing to 12 shutouts. The Sailors’ defense does a good job of keeping her clean, but when a save needs to be made, In’tHout rises to the occasion more often than not.
Maislyn Joldersma, Hudsonville
The graduation of all-state forward Raeleigh Woodwyk means that Joldersma is in line for more responsibility this season, and after netting 16 goals last year, the senior seems more than capable of shouldering a bigger load for a Hudsonville team that returns a ton of talent across the field.
Jordan Kerns, Byron Center
The junior defender and Davenport University commit played a big role in Byron Center’s run to a district championship and regional semifinal appearance, where the Bulldogs lost to eventual state runner-up Hudsonville, 1-0. Now, she returns to anchor a back line that lost all-stater Rachel Phelan, and after allowing just three goals in four games of a tough early season schedule, it appears Kerns and the Bulldogs’ defenders are up for the challenge.
Jordyn Klaasen, Zeeland West
The versatile junior and Ball State commit played outside back, midfield and forward for the Dux last season and finished with four goals and eight assists en route to honorable mention all-state recognition. Also a star basketball player and cross country all-stater, Klaasen has rare athleticism that certainly stands out on the soccer field.
Ava Lutke, Unity Christian
The junior forward is coming off a 28-goal, 16-assist season for the Division 3 state champs, and when paired with teammate Stella DeSmit, she forms one of the area’s best attacking duos. Through her first two seasons, the Michigan State commit has reached the states finals twice and has tallied 55 goals and 35 assists, and another big season will put her in the Miss Soccer conversation this year.
Aubree Lee, Lowell
The senior goalkeeper stayed busy against a challenging schedule last year, finishing with 245 saves in 18 games for the 8-6-5 Red Arrows, including a school-record 30 stops in a 1-1 tie against perennial power Forest Hills Northern. A four-year starter and two-time team MVP, Lee enters her last season as Lowell’s unquestioned leader and will play a key role in keeping the Red Arrows in OK White contention.
Gracie Lynn, East Grand Rapids
Along with twin sister Reese Lynn, the sophomore midfielder burst onto the high school soccer scene last year and led EGR to the Division 2 state finals by scoring 21 goals, including a goal and an assist in the Pioneers’ 3-2 championship game loss to Grosse Pointe North. Though EGR lost some key players from its long playoff run, the return of Gracie her sister make the Pioneers a title contender once again.
Reese Lynn, East Grand Rapids
The sophomore midfielder wasn’t far behind twin sister Gracie, with 19 goals last year, including a a goal and an assist in the Division 2 state championship game. With a great combination of speed, skill and feel for the game, Reese and her sister make East Grand Rapids a dangerous team in 2024.
Emma Mead, GR Catholic Central
The junior forward played with unmatched energy last year, which allowed her to collect 12 goals and seven assists and help the Cougars post a 12-8-2 record, including an upset win over West Catholic in the district finals. The return of Mead, plus midfielder Maris Klein and defender Lindsay Lauria give Catholic Central a strong core to contend challenge for the OK Gold title this year.
Lauren Moylan, Hudsonville
As a freshman, Moylan emerged as a key player during Hudsonville’s run to the Division 1 state finals, finishing the season with four goals and seven assists as a starting midfielder for the 19-3-2 Eagles. No longer a rookie, Moylan is poised for an even better season, and with other star players scattered throughout Hudsonville’s lineup, she’ll have plenty of help in leading what promises to be one of the state’s best squads.
Laney Peterson, Caledonia
Caledonia is coming off its best season in a decade, and Peterson’s play on the back line is a big reason why. The Western Michigan commit earned honorable mention OK Red recognition last year and helped the Fighting Scots hold opponents to 17 goals in 19 games, and her return, plus that of goalkeeper Devanee Balczak mean Caledonia’s defense will be tough to crack in 2024.
Syd Ryan, Forest Hills Central
If hockey assists existed in soccer, the senior midfielder would’ve stuffed the stat sheet due to her ability to start the attack, but as it stands, Ryan finished her junior season with five goals and six assists as the top playmaker for the district champion Rangers. A future Grand Valley State Laker, Ryan returns to lead a talented Central squad that is currently ranked No. 2 in Division 2.
Emma Schut, Thornapple Kellogg
The senior defensive midfielder and Southern Indiana commit is coming off a stellar junior season, in which scored 11 goals, dished five assists and was voted the top player in her district by the coaches. Though Thornapple Kellogg loses star midfielder Payton Pratt to graduation from its 15-5-1 season, Schut’s return should help the Trojans stay competitive in the OK Gold and contend for a second consecutive district title.
Claire Smith, West Catholic
The top playmaker for a potent West Catholic offense that produced 50 goals during its run to a district title, Smith accounted for eight goals and 25 assists from her midfield position and returns to lead an offense that will likely need to score goals in bunches once again, especially with the graduation of star goalkeeper Charlotte Dauser.
Auden Stauffer, Forest Hills Northern
After playing ECNL soccer as a freshman, the Central Michigan commit and junior striker burst onto the high school scene last year and scored a team-high 18 goals to go along with three assists for a Huskies team that finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in Division 2. Northern has a new look this season following the graduation of several key seniors and the departure of head coach Dan Siminski, but the return of Stauffer should keep the Huskies competitive against a tough schedule under new coach Juan Torres.
Anna Thelen, Forest Hills Northern
The senior defender earned honorable mention all-state recognition as a freshman, then played ECNL soccer for two years, before returning to the high school game for her senior campaign. On a team with a lot of underclassmen, the future Ferris State Bulldog provides a wealth of high-level experience and leadership along the Huskies’ back line.
Katelyn VanderArk, South Christian
The senior midfielder is coming off a junior season in which she led South Christian with 17 goals, including five game-winners, to go along with eight assists during the Sailors’ 16-3-2 season. An Indiana Wesleyan commit, VanderArk is potent on free kicks, but also has the skill and stamina to create opportunities for herself and her teammates.
Claire VanZanten, Byron Center
The senior forward is coming off an honorable mention all-state season after tallying 18 goals for a Byron Center squad that went 14-4-4 and won a district championship, before seeing its playoff run end with a 1-0 loss to Hudsonville in the regional semifinals. VanZanten is off to a great start this year, after tallying a goal and an assist in Byron Center’s 3-1 win over Forest Hills Northern in their OK White opener.
Jaidyn Veldhouse, Calvin Christina
The senior forward and future Saginaw Valley State Cardinal is coming off a first team all-state season, in which she tallied 37 goals and double-digit assists for the 17-1-3 Squires, who were undefeated until falling to eventual state champ Kalamazoo Christian in the regional semifinals.
Holly Velting, Thornapple Kellogg
The senior forward is coming off a strong junior season in which she scored a team-high 19 goals to go along with two assists for a Thornapple Kellogg team that went 15-5-1 and won its first district title since 2018.
Haley Ward, Forest Hills Central
After playing a reserve role as a sophomore on Central’s state championship team, Ward enjoyed a breakout season last year, scoring 15 goals and adding five assists, including her team’s lone goal in a 1-0 district championship win over Forest Hills Northern. The graduation of standout forward Dailey Tucker means Ward could see her production tick up once again as a senior.
Rachael Wright, Coopersville
One of the area’s top under-the-radar players, Wright enters her first year of high school soccer after playing on the ECNL circuit the first three seasons. A Michigan State commit, Wright is responsible for roughly 60 percent of Coopersville’s scoring during the Broncos’ 3-0 start, and first-year head coach Art Dorsey called her one of the most skilled players he has coached in his 25 years on the sideline.
Ella Zoerhoff, East Kentwood
The junior midfielder established herself as one of the area’s top players from the class of 2025 last year by scoring 19 goals and distributing four assists against a grueling schedule for the 10-9-1 Falcons. With another offseason under her belt, Zoerhoff and her young teammates should be a much-improved squad in 2024 and could contend for a conference title in the ultra-competitive OK Red.
More names to know
Adelyn Raad (Sr. D), Hudsonville
Sofia Delinck (Sr. D), Hudsonville
Kendall Maynard (Sr. D), Caledonia
Brooke Pedersen (Sr. D), West Ottawa
Rogen McLean (Sr. GK), West Ottawa
Ella Chatfield (Sr. M), Jenison
Ayla Thompson (Sr. M), Forest Hills Central
Anna Frost (Sr. D), Forest Hills Northern
Ayla Mayton (Jr. F), Forest Hills Northern
Lexi Smith (Soph. F), Forest Hills Northern
Ella Wolters (Sr. D), GR Christian
Rylee Smith (Sr. M), Zeeland West
Macie Moore (Jr. M), Zeeland East
Maris Klein (Jr. M), GR Catholic Central
Lindsay Lauria (Sr. D), GR Catholic Central
Sydney Greer (Sr. M), Coopersville
Kendall Petoskey (Sr. D), Hamilton
Halle Steele (Sr. F), Allendale
Sienna Ouendag (Sr. F), Comstock Park
Avary Braman (Sr. F), Calvin Christian
Maddie Muilenberg (Jr. M), Calvin Christian
Emersyn Braman (Soph. M), Calvin Christian
Lindsey Schrock (Sr. M), NorthPointe Christian
Khloe Koelling (Sr. F), West Michigan Aviation Academy