With a hesitation on the wing, Gabby Reynolds finds a gap and dribbles to the right. As her defender steps up, she takes a step-back midrange jumper. Her calm poise builds the crowd’s anticipation as the ball sails through the air and drains into the net. Reynolds finishes with 34 points on the night, leading her team to a Division I district title victory against Grand Haven. That shot pushed her total to 1,844 career points, breaking the school and area all-time scoring record. Not only did she break this record, but she also earned her spot among the top ten athletes in West Ottawa history. With that in mind, we present the revised list of the top ten greatest athletes in West Ottawa’s history.
After five years, it’s time to update this list. Over the past half-decade, we’ve witnessed an incredible wave of talent and achievement from a new generation of athletes who have left their mark on the school’s storied athletic history. From championship performances to breaking long-standing records, these athletes have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and determination. But before we dive into the revised rankings, let’s take a moment to recognize the athletes who, though not making the top 10 this time, have earned their place among the honorable mentions. Keep in mind, these rankings are based solely on high school achievements.
HM Xavier Wade (Class of 2018)
A member of two all-time great teams, Wade was a starter on both the 4th place football team and runner-up basketball team during his senior year. One of West Ottawa’s best multi-sport athletes, Wade earned all-state honors in football both his jJunior and sSenior years. As a wide receiver and cornerback, in his senior year, he caught 71 passes for 1,200 yards and led the state with 18 receiving touchdowns. He also was a member of the Grand Rapids Press dream team in 2018.
HM Kevin Maas (Class of 2022)
Maas had an outstanding swimming career at West Ottawa High School, achieving remarkable success across multiple events. He won the Michigan Division 1 50 freestyle in both 2021 and 2022 and was a key part of the 200 freestyle relay team that set a Division 1 state record. Maas earned six All-America honors, including in the 50 freestyle (2022), 100 freestyle (2022), 200 freestyle relay (2022), and 400 freestyle relay (2022), along with honorable mentions in the 200 medley relay (2022) and 200 freestyle relay (2021). Maas’s remarkable performances also helped set a state record in the 200 medley relay. His exceptional achievements solidified his place as one of West Ottawa’s top swimmers.
HM Kim (Wheeler) Lewis (Class of 1982)
In her high school career, Lewis earned an incredible total of 12 varsity letters. As one of West Ottawa’s few four sports athletes, Lewis competed in basketball, volleyball, swimming, and softball. She earned All-Area and All-Conference honors in all four sports and set 12 varsity records in both swimming and softball. These include four individual swimming records, two relay records, as well as the best fielding percentage and batting average in softball as of 2014. She was inducted into the West Ottawa Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
HM Raegan Lantz (Class of 2023)
Lantz had a stellar volleyball career at West Ottawa High School, becoming one of the most accomplished players in the program’s history. She was selected to the Third Team 2022 AVCA Girls High School All-America Teams and reached 1,000 kills during her senior season. Lantz earned OK Red 1st Team All-Conference honors in 2020, 2021, and 2022, along with MIVCA D1 All-State Honorable Mention in 2020 and 2021, and MIVCA D1 All-Region recognition in 2020, 2021, and 2022. She was also named to the High School All-American All-Region Team in 2022 and was the Holland Sentinel Co-Player of the Year in 2021.
Lantz appeared on the AVCA Phenom Watch List in 2020 and 2021 and was named MVP in 2021. Additionally, she received an invite to the UA Next All-American Selection Camp in 2022. Lantz was a leadership delegate in the OK Conference and played for the MVA 18 Black club team. She was ranked #5 outside hitter in Michigan by Prep Dig and ranked #11 overall in the Class of 2023. Currently, Lantz is continuing her volleyball career at Miami University in Ohio.
HM Ato Condelee (Class of 2013)
Condelee was the definition of an athlete during his time at West Ottawa, excelling in football, basketball, and track. As a defensive back and wide receiver on the football team, he earned All-Conference honors and helped lead the team to multiple successful seasons. He went on to play at Ferris State University after high school.
In track and field, Condelee’s athleticism truly stood out. He became the Division 1 Long Jump Champion in 2013, with a jump of 22 feet, 3 inches, and was a State Finalist in the 200 meters that same year. His incredible speed and power were unmatched, earning him recognition as one of the top track athletes in the state.
One of his coaches once claimed that Condelee could jump from the front to the back of a classroom with ease, a testament to his natural explosiveness and athleticism. His impact on West Ottawa’s sports legacy remains undeniable.
HM Margo Jonker (Class of 1972)
Jonker was a standout athlete and a key figure on many of West Ottawa’s first interscholastic women’s teams. She competed in bowling and basketball, but it was in softball where she truly made her mark. As a key member of West Ottawa’s first OK Red Conference Championship team, Jonker helped lead the squad to an undefeated season as a pitcher.
In addition to her pitching success, Jonker was a powerhouse at the plate, finishing her career with an impressive batting average of .514. Over the course of her career, she posted over 100 strikeouts as a pitcher and recorded multiple no-hitters. Her leadership and contributions were pivotal to West Ottawa’s rise in competitive softball.
HM Matt Vanderbeek (Class of 1985)
Vanderbeek was a force for the Panthers on the football field. In his junior and senior years, he earned All-Conference honors. His senior year, he was honored for both his contributions on offense and defense, earning All-State on both sides of the football. Vanderbeek will go down as one of the best football players to attend West Ottawa High School. Retired West Ottawa Instructor Gene Wong said “ He (Vanderbeek) was a very talented basketball and football player. He was for sure one of the better players I’ve seen.” Vanderbeek went on to hold a career in the NFL and win one Super Bowl.
HM Tyler Bosma (Class of 2018)
Tyler Bosma is one of the key athletes who led the resurgence of sports at West Ottawa. A leader on both the basketball and baseball teams, in his senior year, he helped the basketball team finish second in the state and the baseball team advance to the quarterfinals. He earned 1st team All-Conference and 1st team All-Area recognition in both sports. West Ottawa Varsity Baseball Coach Matthew Naber praised Bosma for his outstanding way of play. Naber said “ Tyler Bosma was a special athlete for a variety of reasons. Things came easy to Tyler, he’s a natural athlete. Very smooth and fundamentally sound in all the sports he played. Tyler was also at another level in the mental game. He understood game situations and could anticipate things before they happened.” He had the biggest impact in re-establishing West Ottawa as a powerhouse in the OK Red.
- Gabby Reynolds (Class of 2024)
Reynolds was an electrifying player, known not only for her highlight-reel moments but also for her commitment to the small, impactful details that elevated her team. As the 2024 Michigan Miss Basketball Award winner, Reynolds averaged 29.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game throughout her high school career.
She led her team to a Division 1 district title and was named Holland Sentinel Basketball Player of the Year from 2022 to 2024. A four-time All-Conference honoree, Reynolds set a school record with 47 points in a game against Jenison High School. Ranked second among point guards in Michigan by PrepGirlsHoops, she totaled 1,899 career points, cementing her legacy as the tenth-best athlete in West Ottawa history. Currently, Reynolds is playing basketball at George Washington University.
- Erika (Wade) Knoerr (Class of 1991)
Knoerr was a standout three-sport athlete, excelling in basketball, volleyball, and track and field. However, it was her volleyball skills that truly set her apart. Knoerr was a four-year varsity starter in volleyball, earning three All-Conference and All-State honors.
Her exceptional talent made such an impact that her jersey, #11, was one of the few retired in West Ottawa athletic history. Perhaps most impressively, at the time of her induction into the West Ottawa Hall of Fame, Knoerr held the records for game, season, and career in digs, block kills, spike kills, and kill ratio.
Her coach, Deb Kiekover, once said, “Erika was a very serious athlete. She was never goofing off when it came to sports and was committed to being the best.” The impressive statistics Knoerr amassed throughout her career are unmatched, which is why she secured her place as the ninth-best athlete in West Ottawa history.
8 Desmond Morgan (Class of 2011)
Morgan was the starting quarterback and inside linebacker for the 2011 West Ottawa football team. As a senior, he threw for 519 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also rushing for 802 yards and 11 touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 120 tackles as a linebacker.
As a sophomore, Morgan posted some of the best stats of his high school career, including 34 solo tackles, 83 total tackles, 2 sacks, an average of 0.3 sacks per game, 18 points per game, and 10.4 tackles per game. His all-around effectiveness on the field was undeniable.
In 2010, Morgan was named the Holland Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year. He was also highly ranked on the national level, rated 24th by ESPN and 42nd by Scouts among inside and middle linebackers in the Class of 2011. Additionally, he was recognized as the 25th-best high school football player in the state of Michigan at the time.
Morgan’s standout performances and noticeable impact on the field earned him a spot as the eighth-best athlete in West Ottawa history.
- Karl Nadolsky (Class of 1998)
Nadolsky is widely considered the best wrestler in West Ottawa history, with numerous achievements that elevated the school’s wrestling program. A four-time state finalist and a two-time state champion, he solidified his legacy in the sport. In 1998, he was named OK Red Athlete of the Year for his dominance in the conference, securing four conference titles. Additionally, during his senior year, Nadolsky “unofficially” set the national takedown record for any wrestler. His remarkable impact on the growth of the West Ottawa wrestling program, along with his impressive achievements, cemented his place as the seventh-best athlete in West Ottawa’s history.
- Derek Maas (Class of 2019)
Derek Maas is part of the distinguished Maas family, known for its legacy in West Ottawa’s history. He was a key figure on the Panthers’ first Division 1 State Championship team, earning the title of Most Valuable Swimmer. He was later voted Swimmer of the Meet at the Division 1 Championship.
As one of the most impactful swimmers on West Ottawa’s dominant swim team, Maas played a pivotal role in leading them to their first state championship since 1971. During that meet, Maas won the 100 butterfly and the 200 individual medley, and he also contributed to the victorious 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay, securing the state title for West Ottawa. Maas still holds the school record in all four of those events.
Additionally, Maas earned All-American status in the 100 backstroke and the 400 freestyle relay. Throughout his high school career, Maas was a dominant force in the pool, driving West Ottawa’s swim program to success and securing his place as the sixth-best athlete in West Ottawa’s history.
5 Tabahn Afrik (Class of 2015)
West Ottawa’s swim program is arguably the most consistently high-achieving team in the school, and Afrik stands as its top swimmer. During his high school career, Afrik was unmatched in the pool. He became a Division 1 State Champion in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay in 2015, setting state records in each of those events. He swam a 43.90 in the 100 freestyle and posted a 20.27 in his split in the 200 relay. Although his efforts weren’t quite enough to win the state title, Afrik led his team to a state runner-up finish.
In addition to his state achievements, Afrik holds school records in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. His individual and team success also earned him All-American status three times in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay, twice in the 50 freestyle, and once in the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay, and 200 medley relay. Afrik was ranked among the top swimming recruits in the nation in 2015. His unparalleled impact on the West Ottawa swim team solidified his place as the fifth-best athlete in the school’s history.
- Arianne Olson (Class of 2022)
West Ottawa’s track and cross-country programs are among the most successful in the school, and Olson stands out as one of the greatest athletes to ever compete for West Ottawa. She was named the 2021-2022 Michigan Girls Cross Country Gatorade Player of the Year, cementing her legacy as one of the best in the state. Olson won the Portage Invitational and the Michigan State University Invitational. She took home the Regional Championship, leading her team to a third-place finish at the state cross-country meet. She also posted the fastest time in the state that season and earned All-American honors after finishing 13th at the Eastbay Cross Country Championships with a time of 17:43.4.
In addition to her cross-country success, Olson also dominated on the track. She claimed the state title in the 3200-meter run at the 2022 Division 1 State Championships, contributing to West Ottawa’s fourth-place team finish in track. Olson was ranked 1st in the state in both the 1600 meters, 1 mile, and 3200 meters, proving her dominance.
Olson’s achievements and impact on cross country and track solidified her place as the fourth-best athlete in West Ottawa history. Currently, Olson is running both cross country and track and field at Notre Dame.
- Helen Sachs (Class of 2025)
Like Olson, Sachs has helped to further excel West Ottawa’s cross-country and track teams. With great achievement, she was able to help create a successful cross-country and track program. During her high school career, Sachs was unmatched in distance running. She became the Michigan Cross Country Player of the Year for the 2022-2023 season, proving she was one of the state’s best. Sachs claimed the Division 1 Lower Peninsula Individual State Championship in cross-country with an impressive time of 17:18.74, leading West Ottawa to the state title as a team.
In addition to her state championship, Sachs dominated several other major events during the season. She won the Portage Invitational with a time of 17:03.0, the Michigan State Spartan Invitational with 17:15.76, and the Nike Midwest Regional, where she posted a personal-best time of 16:47.90. Sachs also finished fifth at the Champs Sports Midwest Regional Championships and placed 18th at Nike Cross Nationals, despite dealing with a foot injury.
In track, Sachs also excelled, establishing herself as one of the top runners in the state. Her consistent success, including three-speed ratings in the 150s, further solidified her legacy. Sachs’ impressive results and unparalleled impact on the West Ottawa cross-country and track teams earned her a spot as the third-best athlete in West Ottawa history. Sachs is following in Olson’s footsteps as she is currently committed to Notre Dame.
2: Ameer Ismail ( Class of 2002)
Ismail was undoubtedly a multi-sport star. He excelled in football, basketball, and track and field, earning All-Area and All-Conference honors in each sport, totaling 11 varsity letters. In track, he was the OK Red Champion in the 110M Hurdles and a State Qualifier in Shot Put.
However, Ismail’s true legacy lies in football. He was an All-State honoree and named OK Red Player of the Year in the 1999-2000 season, making him the only sophomore to earn the honor. Ismail still holds the season rushing and scoring records with 264 attempts, 1,536 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 138 points. He also holds the career rushing and scoring records with 509 attempts, 2,980 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 252 points.
Former West Ottawa security guard and teammate Lancaster recalls Ismail’s unmatched athleticism, saying, “It wasn’t just contained to one sport—it was anything he touched.” He also shared a memorable moment: “One game, I was the pulling tackle and felt a hand on my back. Ameer had grabbed me like a human shield and ran behind me to score a touchdown.”
Ismail’s astonishing accomplishments earned him the title of the second-best athlete in West Ottawa history.
1: Rob Renes (Class of 1995)
Renes was arguably the best multi-sport athlete West Ottawa has ever had. He participated in four sports: football, wrestling, baseball, and track. Renes was the definition of a well-rounded athlete. He would play a few innings of baseball, head to the dugout, put on his track uniform, compete in the shot put, and then return to finish the baseball game. Over the course of his high school career, he earned 11 varsity letters.
While Renes was a state champion in both wrestling and powerlifting, it was in football where he truly made his mark. As a nose guard, Renes earned All-Conference and All-State honors. He was a dominant force on the field, always making his presence felt. His exceptional skills also earned him a spot on the Detroit Free Press Dream Team and an invitation to the East vs. West All-Star game.
Ultimately, his undisputed dominance across multiple sports cemented his legacy as the best athlete in West Ottawa history.