Justin Scott - Info@redarrowpreps.com
This week’s Rogers Neighborhood Realty seniors of the week are Ellery Vogel and Weston McFarland. From making new friends and helping younger skaters to competing on the football field and wrestling mat, both have found ways to grow during their time at Lowell High School.
This feature is sponsored by Rogers Neighborhood Realty, and we couldn’t do it without them!
Ellery Vogel
Ellery Vogel came into high school on the quiet side. Looking back, she is proudest of taking the first step to talk to more people.
“Now I have many more friends and feel much more comfortable in my own skin,” Vogel said.
At Lowell, she participates in Student Council, Interact and National Honor Society and serves as a Student Ambassador. Her teacher’s nomination praised her kindness, willingness to help classmates and readiness to ask questions that benefit the whole class. The teacher also noted her work at Red Barn and the courtesy she shows there.
Her favorite school memories include the Unified Basketball game assemblies that take place during the winter months.
“I think that they bring the school together,” Vogel said.
Outside of school, Vogel is a figure skater at Patterson Ice Arena. She enjoys learning new skills herself and coaching the next generation of skaters.
Her father has been her biggest influence during high school. He stays up with her while she studies, offering sayings that make her laugh while reminding her to keep doing her best. One that has stayed with her is “everyone is running their own race.”
“That quote really stuck with me because it reminds me not to compare my grades or myself to others around me,” Vogel said.
She has also learned how much she enjoys making new friends and experimenting with style. For the rest of senior year, her goals are to make the most of her remaining time with friends and pass AP Statistics. After graduation, she plans to attend a large college and study either film or fashion.
Her advice to younger students is to be themselves and respect who they are.
“Not only will you feel better, but you will find yourself enjoying others’ company as well,” Vogel said.
Weston McFarland
Weston makes a tackle for loss against Mattawan.
Football and wrestling have been a big part of Weston McFarland’s time at Lowell. Playing football and competing at the individual wrestling state tournament stand out as his favorite high school experiences.
The teacher who nominated McFarland described him as a standout in both sports, a strong student and a school leader who is kind and cares about others. McFarland tallied 45 tackles this year, 14 TFL, and three and a half sacks for the Red Arrows this year on the football field. He also pulled in two interceptions. On the wrestling mat, McFarland is an important piece of the program’s upper weight classes where he went 26-10 last year and is one of Lowell’s key returning starters.
When asked which accomplishment makes him proudest, McFarland pointed to beating Zeeland West in the football regional final. He remembers a fun game and the work his teammates put in to earn the win. The game came down to the final play, where Lowell’s defensive line helped force an incompletion that advanced the Red Arrows to the 2025 state semifinal.
Weston McFarland after the 2026 wrestling state finals.
His parents have had the greatest influence on him during high school. They have been at every event to support him whether he was on the field or the wrestling mat.
“The main thing I learned is that nothing is given, and you have to work as hard as you possibly can in order to get where you want to be,” McFarland said.
That same approach shapes his goals for the rest of senior year: keep working hard and never quit. After graduation, he plans to attend college to become a physical therapist and continue playing football.
His advice to younger athletes is to find a way to make practices the best part of each day. Enjoying the sport, he said, makes the work easier and gives you more reason to keep improving.
