Trio of talent Sloothaak, Forbes, Boehm earns Holland Sentinel top football honors
HOLLAND - The 2023 football season was a big one for Holland-area teams across the board.
After a year with just one local team having a winning record, four teams made the playoffs and two more were a win away. Zeeland West, the lone playoff team from a year ago also made a leap, reaching the state semifinals this season.
It takes talented players for those kinds of turnarounds and in an area that produced nine all-state players, three stood out by reaching the elite.
Zeeland West's Trey Sloothaak was selected as The Holland Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year, while Hamilton's Ben Boehm and West Ottawa's Kayden Forbes were chosen as Co-Offensive Players of the Year.
Sloothaak anchored arguably the top defense in Zeeland West history, leading the Dux to the state semifinals in Division 3. The Dux allowed more than 16 points just three times all season, and only once in the regular season.
The junior safety had 132 total tackles, including 84 solo. He was at his best in big moments, tallying 20 tackles in the state semifinals. He was voted first-team all-state by The Associated Press.
More: High school football season rewind: Remarkable turnarounds for each team
More: Zeeland West football edged by Forest Hills Central in state semifinals - by 2 yards
He also chipped in on offense when last year's Sentinel Offensive Player of the Year Parker Holman went down with an injury early in the season. Sloothaak rushed for 621 yards and six touchdowns and caught 18 passes for 383 yards an five more touchdowns.
"His playoff run was tremendous," Zeeland West coach John Shillito said.
Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, Boehm and Forbes proved incredibly difficult to bring down.
Both had completely different running styles, but in the end, put together nearly identical seasons.
Boehm used his 5-foot-11, 215-pound strong frame to run over people, then used his all-state speed to run away from people. He finished with 1,403 rushing yards on 165 carries. He scored 22 touchdowns. He also scored on an interception return and once on a reception.
"Ben can run over you, or around you, it was really his choice on a lot of plays," Hamilton coach Phil Koops said. "He is a great kid, great player, and an amazing athlete. He will be missed greatly by everyone here at Hamilton, but we are excited to see where he plays in college and what that has in store for him."
A little further north, in the OK Red, Forbes, at 5-8, 190 was smaller, but didn't play like it.
He totaled 216 carries for 1,570 yards and 16 touchdowns. He used his elite footwork and quick bursts of speed to get past defenders in a hurry.
"A tremendous blocker in pass protection and leading on the run," West Ottawa coach Pat Collins said. "Yards after contact has been exceptional and elite. He has one-of-a-kind horizontal speed."
Both Forbes and Boehm earned second-team all-state honors by The Associated Press.
Boehm is a senior, but Forbes and Sloothaak will return for one more year to continue their elite play.
Holland Sentinel All-Area Football
FIRST TEAM
Ben Boehm, Hamilton (Co-OPY)
Kayden Forbes, West Ottawa (Co-OPY)
Trey Sloothaak, Zeeland West (DPOY)
Ethan Abberger, Holland Christian
Gabe Amid, Zeeland East
Tyler Berens, West Ottawa
Wyatt Boersen, Zeeland West
Trenten Bolhouse, Zeeland West
Eli Boyce, Holland Christian
Max Brink, Hamilton
Nate Brower, Zeeland West
Matthias Buter, Zeeland West
Will Doucette, Saugatuck
Ryder Gravenhof, Holland Christian
Matt Hartgerink, Saugatuck
Austin Keur, Zeeland East
Tyler Loeb, Zeeland East
Brody Maas, Zeeland West
Rolando Robelin, Zeeland West
Ethan Rosenberg, Zeeland East
Carter Scholten, West Ottawa
Brody Smeyers, Zeeland West
Cass Stanberry, Saugatuck
Isaac VanderZwaag, Zeeland West
Garrett Weeden, Zeeland East
Parker Williams, Zeeland East
Orion Yant, Zeeland West
SECOND TEAM
Jeren Bronkhorst, Hamilton
Keaton Draeger, Zeeland East
Ruben Esparza, West Ottawa
Chris Foley, Saugatuck
Matt Harrison, West Ottawa
Keaton Haverdink, Hamilton
Dylan Killilea, Zeeland East
Connor Knapp, West Ottawa
Elliot Kraker, West Ottawa
Cam Lewis, Saugatuck
Tailen Luna, Holland
Justin McIllwain, Hamilton
Luke Michmerhuizen, Holland Christian
Landon Miller, Saugatuck
Brad Moorer, Saugatuck
Cam Nemes, West Ottawa
Lincoln Phillips, Hamilton
Amari Powell, Holland
Elijah Reynolds, West Ottawa
Will Stehouwer, Zeeland East
Jacob Torres, Holland
Brady White, Zeeland East
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: Trio of talent earns Holland Sentinel top high school football honors
