After another action-packed week across the West Michigan Conference, three athletes rose above the rest with performances that combined big numbers, game-changing moments, and leadership when it mattered most. From a historic career milestone, to a rare triple-double takeover, to a dominant week-long stretch of production, Madie Folkema (Western Michigan Christian), Cole VanderHaag (Mason County Central), and Gabe Hulst (Fremont) have earned their spots as this week’s Player of the Week nominees with efforts that left a lasting impact on their teams and the scoreboard.
Voting ends on 11 AM on Tuesday, February 17th!
Get your voting utensils out! Check out our Player of the Week Nominees!
Madie Folkema – Western Michigan Christian Basketball
Folkema earns Player of the Week nominee honors after a monster all-around performance in a 68–42 win over Mason County Central. Folkema posted a rare triple-double with 37 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals, and 6 assists, sparked a huge second-quarter surge, and capped it by scoring 12 points in the fourth to slam the door—dominating both ends of the floor and setting the tone with relentless pressure defense that turned into transition offense.
Cole VanderHaag – Mason County Central Basketball
Senior Cole VanderHaag is a nominee for pairing elite production with a historic milestone. Early in the week against North Muskegon, VanderHaag scored 21 points while becoming just the 10th player in MCC program history to reach 1,000 career points. He followed that up with a statement game in a 54–38 win over Orchard View, pouring in 28 points, including 15 in the third quarter, and adding four steals to ignite the Spartans’ second-half separation and showcase his two-way impact.
Gabe Hulst – Fremont Basketball
Gabe Hulst rounds out the nominee group with the strongest week-long body of work, delivering big numbers in back-to-back games. Hulst scored 23 points vs. Reed City, then exploded in a 77–42 win over Oakridge with a huge 32-point, 10-rebound, 7-assist line while also impacting the game defensively (his week included strong steals production). Across those two outings he averaged 27.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals, making him a complete, consistent difference-maker every time he stepped on the floor.
