Niles’ Sam VandenHeede earned not only a spot on the Big 16 All-West Division boys’ cross country team this past season, but also earned all-conference honors as well.
The Vikings’ Bridgette Carpenter was an All-West Division performer for the girls’ team.
Both VandenHeede and Carpenter were the lone Niles runners to earn all-division or all-league status.

Big 16 Conference cross country
Alex Standiford, Mattawan
Zach Warner, Portage Central
Thomas Meeker, Mattawan
Chris Pfahler, St. Joseph
Charlie Felton, St. Joseph
Jordan Henning, Kalamazoo Central
Joseph Beemer, St. Joseph
Scott Bradley, Battle Creek Lakeview
Aaron Bell, Mattawan
David Berry, St. Joseph
Anderson Lee, Kalamazoo Central
Benny Richardson, Mattawan
Sam VandenHeede, Niles
Joe Wheatley, Marshall
Max Mizikar, Portage Northern
Austin Sroczynski, Sturgis
Kyler Stanley, Kalamazoo Central
Alec Sullivan, Portage Northern
Alex Waldvogel, Portage Central
Stephen Pfahler, St. Joseph
Neal Schlack, Sturgis

Boys’ All-West Division
Alex Standiford, Mattawan
Sam VandenHeede, Niles
Joseph Beemer, St. Joseph
Charlie Felton, St. Joseph
Benny Richardson, Mattawan
Ryan Leahy, St. Joseph
Alex Farrington, Lakeshore
Joey Lautrup, Mattawan
Aaron Bell, Mattawan
Stephen Pfahler, St. Joseph

Girls’ All-West Division
Eiley Hinkel, Mattawan
Bridgette Carpenter, Niles
Lindsay MacMillan, Mattawan
Anna Farrell, Mattawan
Summer Lennartz, St. Joseph
Kelsey Dorgan, Mattawan
Sydney Shewmaker, Lakeshore
Jennifer Dowsett, St. Joseph
Teri LaForest, St. Joseph
Kelsey Craig, St. Joseph