WHITEHALL – Nate Bolley chose to come home a few years ago, and that turned out to be a great decision for him and the Whitehall athletic program.

After Bolley’s sixth-grade year, his stepfather joined the military and his family moved from Whitehall to Missouri.

That move could have potentially cost Whitehall one of its finest student-athletes, and Bolley the chance to finish his education in the hometown he loves.

He left behind his school, friends and two very important people in his life – his aunt and uncle Stephanie and Jason Niezurawski.

Whitehall’s Nate Bolley

“I hated it,” said Bolley about his time in Missouri. “I couldn’t play sports because of injuries, and it just didn’t feel like home.”

During his freshmen year of high school, Bolley decided it was time to return home, even if that meant putting distance between himself and his immediate family.

“Family things happened, and I called my aunt one day,” Bolley said. “They took me back, so that meant I get to graduate with friends and family.”

The senior slot receiver, defensive back and punter is thankful for his aunt and uncle, whom he often refers to as Mom and Dad.

“They’re my true Mom and Dad,” Bolley said. “It’s rough sometimes, but it’s a bump in the log. You have to be the type of person to persevere. I’m really comfortable now and Jason and Stephanie are there for me.”

Whitehall’s Nate Bolley looks for running room in a game last season.

Bolley said he doesn’t feel like he’s missed out on family support throughout high school, because his aunt and uncle play a very active role in his life.

“They’re at every single event showing support and sharing my best moments with me,” he said.

Whitehall head football coach Tony Sigmon is well aware of Bolley’s loyalty to Whitehall, whether in games or on the practice field.

“He’s probably one of the most genuine kids,” Sigmon said. “If you invest in him, he’s fiercely loyal. He’s the kid that if you give him a hug, it means more to him than any other kid. He knows it’s genuine and his appreciation for others is genuine. That might be the coolest thing about him.”

Bolley has become a leader on the Whitehall team, which is 2-0 after impressive road wins over Hudsonville Unity Christian and Hastings.

Bolley, top left, with his aunt, uncle and cousins at a family outing.

“It means a lot,” said Bolley about having a leadership role. “Having the whole team count on me to lead can be tougher than I thought. But I have to step up and make sure the energy is high and everyone is ready to play. I like it because people count on me, and I can come through for them.”

With Bolley and several teammates leading the way, the Vikings were able to shock the state with a 54-26 victory over Unity Christian, which finished as the Division 4 state runner-up last season and hadn’t lost a regular season game in three years.

“We were all really mad going into that night,” Bolley said. “Everybody was against us, and we were such underdogs. But we were locked in and ready. We came out and smacked them in the mouth, and probably the state in the mouth, by saying we’re here.”

Bolley almost always plays a key role in Whitehall’s wins, and that was certainly the case against Unity Christian and Hastings.

In Week 1 he rushed for a team-high 110 yards and had seven tackles on defense. Last week he caught a 34-yard touchdown pass and had an interception.

Bolley with his aunt, Stephanie Niezurawski.

While his offensive exploits get more attention, Bolley said he prefers to play on the defensive side of the ball.

“Honestly, I never thought I’d say it, but I love being on defense this year,” he said. “It feels good to stop a very good offense.”

Bolley, who also plays varsity basketball and runs track at Whitehall, is hopeful that the Vikings can finally make a long run in the state playoffs after several years of disappointment.

Whitehall has made the playoffs six out of the past seven years but hasn’t advanced beyond districts. Last fall the Vikings, who were West Michigan Conference co-champions, lost in the district finals to Cadillac, 24-14.

“Honestly, since we lost that heartbreaker to Cadillac last year, I knew our potential would be high this year,” he said. “The way our senior class is, we’ve been setting high standards since being pulled up to varsity in our sophomore year. We have a good squad this season. November is the bar for us.”

Regardless of what the rest of the season brings, Bolley will graduate from his hometown school next spring, and will always be thankful that he decided to return to Whitehall.

“It changed me as a person and made me more independent,” he said. “It’s probably the main reason I am who I am today.”