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2007 - 2008 Athletic Faculty,
Staff & Student Achievements



July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007

2006 - 2007 Athletic Faculty, Staff and Student Achievements

2005 - 2006 Athletic Faculty, Staff and Student Achievements

All Archived Press Releases for Athletics


July 2008

July 3, 2008

Lindsay Lange Receives NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Recent Hope College graduate Lindsay Lange of Manistee (Manistee HS) has been awarded a postgraduate scholarship by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes.

Athletics and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership, are evaluated. In maintaining the highest broad-based standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through postgraduate study in an accredited graduate degree program.

Read the Press Release


July 2, 2008

Two Golfers are All-American Scholars

Two members of the 07-08 Hope women's golf team have been named an All-American Scholars by the National Golf Coaches Association.

Honored were Cassie Sneller of Holland (Hamilton HS) and Julie Hoogerhyde of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Northern HS).

Golfers needed to have played in at least two-thirds of their team's matches and maintained a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average.

Read the Press Release


June 2008

June 27, 2008

Teams Honored by MIAA for Academics

Ten Hope College athletic teams have been presented the 2007-08 Team GPA Award by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).

The award is presented to conference teams who achieved a 3.300 or better grade point average during the entire academic year.

This program, now in its tenth year, is administered by the Faculty Athletic Representatives of the MIAA member colleges.

The women's cross country team (3.542 gpa), coached by Mark Northuis, has received the honor for the tenth consecutive year.

For the second consecutive year, the men's golf team, coached by Robert Ebels, had the highest GPA (3.475) among all MIAA men's teams.

Read the Press Release


June 27, 2008

Hope Athletes Named to 2007-08
MIAA Academic Honor Roll

The 2007/2008 Academic Honor Roll of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) includes 162 student-athletes from Hope College.

The academic awards program is administered by the faculty representatives of the MIAA member colleges.

The 19th annual Academic Honor Roll consists of student-athletes who maintained a minimum 3.5 grade point average for the year.

Among the Hope students named to the Honor Roll are ten seniors who both lettered four years and achieved the academic distinction. They are Rebecca Baker of Lafayette, Co./Centaurus HS (softball), Jordyn Boles of Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Central HS (basketball), Kylee Brouwer of Hudsonville/Hudsonville HS (softball), Amanda Friedline of Howell/Howell HS (trainer), Christine Garcia of Battle Creek/Battle Creek Central HS (tennis), Erika Guijarro of Los Angeles, Ca./John Marshall HS (softball), Andrew Hickok of Portage/Kalamazoo Christian HS (trainer), Anne Hoekstra of Kalamazoo/Loy Norris HS (cross country and track), Joseph Seymour of Holland/Holland HS (cross country, track), Seth Weener of Grand Rapids/Grandville HS (track).

Read the Press Release


June 21, 2008

Hope Finishes on Top in Men's Basketball Attendance

For the sixth straight year, Hope College has led all NCAA Division III men's basketball programs in home attendance.

This is the tenth time in school history that Hope has been the men's basketball attendance leader. The 2007-08 MIAA champion Flying Dutchmen averaged 3,016 fans per game over 17 dates, nearly doubling runnerup Wooster, Ohio who averaged 1,621. MIAA rival Calvin slipped from third to fifth in the rankings, averaging 1,373 fans over 13 home dates.

Hope's attendance average, the best in school history, was bolstered by three home NCAA tournament games that averaged over 3,600 fans. The Flying Dutchmen posted a 17-0 home floor record that included a pair of victories over rival Calvin before sellout crowds. In three seasons at DeVos Fieldhouse, Hope has posted a 48-2 record.

Read the Press Release


June 12, 2008

Hope Among Leaders in NACDA Director's Cup Standings

Hope College finished among the nation's top NCAA Division III schools in the annual NACDA Directors' Cup standings for the 2007-08 school year.

Hope ranked 39th among 306 NCAA Division III colleges in the standings compiled by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.

The NACDA Directors' Cup standings are based on points earned by teams that compete in NCAA championship events.

Hope College has been ranked among the nation's top 50 NCAA Division III programs in 11 of the 13 years. Hope's place in the standings other years were 1995-96, 26th; 1996-97, 46th; 1997-98, 23rd; 1998-99, 47th; 1999-00, 47th; 2000-01, 38th; 2001-02, 70th; 2002-03, 31st; 2003-04, 39th; 2004-05, 56th; 2005-06, 12th; 2006-07, 20th.

Read the Press Release


June 7, 2008

Flying Dutch Second in
Nation in WBB Attendance

The Hope women's basketball team ranked second in the nation in average home attendance among all NCAA Division III programs during the 2007-08 season.

It marks the third consecutive season at DeVos Fieldhouse that the Flying Dutch have averaged over 1,000 fans per home game. Coach Brian Morehouse's Dutch averaged 1,107 fans over 18 home dates.

The Division III attendance leader was national champion Howard Payne, Tex. with an average of 1,549 fans over 15 home dates. One of those home dates was an NCAA tournament game against Hope that attracted 2,777 fans. Hope also hosted the NCAA Final Four, attracting an average of 2,453 fans over four games, but those didn't figure into Hope's season average since the Flying Dutch were not playing in them.

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) ranked seventh among Division III conferences averaging 380 fans over a cumulative 101 home dates. Hope accounted for more than half of the total attendance at MIAA member sites (19,930 of 38,394).

Read the Press Release


June 6, 2008

Two Tracksters Receive
CoSIDA Academic Honors

Two members of the Hope track and field team have received ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV honors in the cross country/track and field division.

Distance runner Seth Weener of Grandville, Mich. (Grandville HS) and sprinter Nora Kuiper of Parchment, Mich. (Parchment HS) have been named to the all-district first team and are now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Weener, a recent graduate, received all-conference (MIAA) honors in both cross country and track during his career. This spring he was the conference champion in the 1,500 meter run He was co-captain in both cross country and track & field. An accounting major who maintained a 3.82 GPA, he was the recipient of a "Fifth/Graduate Year Scholarship" from the Michigan Accountancy Foundation and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and a Deloitte & Touche Accounting book award. He was also active in co-curricular activities serving as a member of finance committee for the student-organized Dance Marathon that benefited the Children's Miracle Network, raising $120,878 this year.

A chemistry major with a 3.96 GPA, Kuiper will be a senior in 08-09. This spring she achieved NCAA All-America distinction by finishing fifth at nationals in the 100-meter dash. She is a three-time conference (MIAA) champion in 100-meter dash (2006-07-08) and holds the conference record (:12.13) in the event. She became the first woman in MIAA history to be an All-American in 100-meters Her time of :12.03 at nationals was career-best.

Read the Press Release


June 3, 2008

Spring Sports Letterwinners
Are Announced

Letterwinners on spring sports teams at Hope College have been announced by athletic directors Ray Smith and Eva Dean Folkert.

The spring season culminated a successful year of intercollegiate athletics as Hope shared the Commisioner's Cup with Calvin for having the best cumulative men's and women's program in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Hope also finished first in the MIAA men's all-sports standings. It marks the 30th time in school history that Hope has won the coveted MIAA Commissioner's Cup, the most of any member school.

Eighteen athletes lettered in their sport for a fourth consecutive year. They are Becca Baker (softball), Andrew Bedan (baseball), Kylee Brouwer (softball), Andrew Denninger (track), Christine Garcia (tennis), Erik George (track), Joey Goeb, (baseball), Erika Guijarro (softball), Katie Immink (softball), Lindsay Lange (track), Chad Rector (track), Jessica Regnerus (softball), Matthew Sattler (baseball), Joseph Seymour (track), Scott Sommavilla (baseball), Laura Tanouye (softball), Nate VandeGuchte (track), Seth Weener (track).

Read the Press Release


June 2, 2008

Article by Coach Published by Volleyball Magazine

Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Head Volleyball Coach Becky Schmidt had an article published in the June-July issue of Coaching Volleyball, the publication of the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The article, "Cultivating Competition: Five Scrimmages to Kindle Your Athletes' Competitive Fire," flows from Coach Schmidt's twin interests - volleyball and sports psychology.

After graduating from Hope with a degree in physical education she was a graduate assistant volleyball coach at Miami University of Ohio while completing her master's degree in Sport Behavior and Performance.

Read the Press Release


May 2008

May 31, 2008

Professor's Expertise
Extends Across the World

Richard Ray, professor and chair of kinesiology, spent a week during May in Taipei, Taiwan consulting with the faculty and administration at the National Taiwan Sports University.

NTSU offers a major program of study in athletic training and is considered a pioneer in the development of athletic training education in Asia. The program enrolls approximately 50 upper division students who take courses in both Western and traditional Chinese approaches to injury and illness diagnosis and treatment.

NTSU is attempting to position itself to the be the first university outside the U.S. to have its athletic training program accredited.

Dr. Ray is experienced in specialized accreditation and has served as a consultant or accreditation site visitor to approximately 40 colleges and universities.

Read the Press Release


May 29, 2008

Kylee Brouwer Named an
Academic All-American

Hope College senior Kylee Brouwer of Hudsonville, Mich. (Hudsonville HS) excelled on the softball diamond and in the classroom.

Earlier this month she was named a first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-American.

Now, she is being honored as a first team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Brouwer was able to balance her outstanding four-year softball career with the academic demands of being a nursing major. A 3.76 GPA student, she received the college kinesiology department's Vanderbush Student-Athlete Award and the nursing department's Senior Sigma Xi Research Award. She is now pursuing a professional career as an emergency room nurse in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Brouwer is a two-time NFCA All-American. In 2006 she was named to the third team as a catcher. This year she was honored as the designated player, a position she assumed a month into the season after suffering a hand injury and subsequent infection that affected her ability to throw the softball.

Read the Press Release


May 29, 2008

Spring Sports Honors Announced

Honors for spring sports athletes at Hope College have been announced.

BASEBALL
Senior outfielder Matt Sattler of Brighton (Hartland HS) was named the most valuable player. He was also named to the MIAA all-conference first team and a Rawlings/ABCA Division III All-Mideast Region honorable mention honoree.

SOFTBALL
Sharing most valuable player honors were senior designated player/catcher Kylee Brouwer of Hudsonville (Hudsonville HS) and sophomore pitcher Leah VanEnk of Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo Christian HS).

MEN'S TENNIS
In addition to being named the most valuable player, junior John Pelton of Rock Hill, S.C. (Midland, Mich. HS) was presented the team's sportsmanship award. Pelton was also named the most valuable player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and was presented the Division III Central Region "Player to Watch" award which goes to a player who has an outstanding career and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of his/her career. The criteria for this award included a player's sportsmanship and character.

WOMEN'S TENNIS
Junior Samantha (Sammi) Stille of Holland (Holland HS) was named to the All-MIAA first team while senior Christine Garcia of Battle Creek (BC Central HS) received second team honors and was presented the MIAA's Karen Caine Scholar-Athlete Award. Stille was named captain of the 2009 team.

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Honored as the team's most valuable athletes were senior distance runner Seth Weener of Grandville (Grandville HS) and sophomore triple jumper Jeff Minkus of Glen Ellyn, Ill. (Glenbard West HS).

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Honored as the team's most valuable athletes were senior heptathlete Lindsay Lange of Manistee, Mich. (Manistee HS) and junior high jumper Christina Lis of Novi (Novi HS).

Read the Press Release


May 27, 2008

Flying Dutch Crown Three
Track/Field All-Americans

The Hope women's track and field team scored a school-record 13 points as three athletes achieved NCAA All-America status at the national championships held in Oshkosh, Wisc.

The Flying Dutch totaled 13 points to place 20th out of 80 schools who scored in the three-day meet. The Flying Dutchmen qualified two athletes who had top-ten performances, but did not score in the men's meet.

The Flying Dutch had two repeat All-America performances. Senior heptathlete Lindsay Lange of Manistee, Mich. (Manistee HS) achieved NCAA All-America status in the heptathlon for a third straight year while junior Christina Lis of Novi (Novi HS) earned A-A high jump honors for the second year in-a-row. Each finished fourth in their event.

Read the Press Release


May 21, 2008

Christina Lis Receives
Regional Track Honor

Junior Christina Lis of Novi, Mich. (Novi HS) has been named the Great Lakes Region Division III women's field athlete of the year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The association honors the top track and field performers in eight Division III regions across the country.

Lis won the high jump championship of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) this spring and with a season-best jump of 5-7 1/4 has qualified for the NCAA Division III track and field championships this weekend in Oshkosh, Wisc.

Read the Press Release


May 17, 2008

Hope 18th at Men's
NCAA Golf Championships

Hope finished 18th at the 2008 NCAA Division III
men's golf championships played in Braselton, Ga.

St. John's Minn. repeated as national champion with a 72-hole total of 1,192 strokes. Hope was 52 strokes off the pace (312-322-313-297--1,244).

It marks the second consecutive year that coach Bob Ebels' Flying Dutchmen have finished 18th in the field of 35 teams.

Read the Press Release


May 21, 2008

John Pelton Bows in First
Round at Tennis Nationals

Hope junior John Pelton lost his first round match in the singles tournament of the NCAA Division III championships in Lewiston, Me.

He was defeated in three sets by Spencer Feldman of Trinity, Conn., 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Pelton was the first Hope men's tennis player invited to the national tournament in 26 years. He ends with a 22-4 season record.

Read the Press Release


May 16, 2008

Kylee Brouwer Named
a Softball All-American

Hope College has a first team softball All-American.

Senior Kylee Brouwer of Hudsonville, Mich. (Hudsonville HS) was named to the 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-America team Thursday prior to the start of the NCAA championships in Salem, Va.

Brouwer is being honored as a NFCA All-American for the second time in her career. In 2006 she was named to the third team as a catcher. This year she is being honored as the designated player, a position she assumed a month into the season after suffering a hand injury and subsequent infection that affected her ability to throw the softball.

Read the Press Release


May 16, 2008

Volleyball Home Attendance
Among the Best in D3

Two members of the 07-08 Hope women's golf team have been named an All-American Scholars by the National Golf Coaches Association.

Honored were Cassie Sneller of Holland (Hamilton HS) and Julie Hoogerhyde of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Northern HS).

Golfers needed to have played in at least two-thirds of their team's matches and maintained a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average.

Read the Press Release


May 15, 2008

R. Richard Ray Jr. Appointed Dean

Dr. R. Richard Ray Jr. of the Hope College kinesiology faculty has been appointed dean for the social sciences at the college.

A member of the faculty since 1982, he succeeds Dr. Nancy Sonneveldt Miller, who is retiring at the end of June after serving as dean since 1985. He has been appointed following a nationwide search based on the high quality of his service to the college and of his service and scholarship within his primary discipline of athletic training, according to the college's provost, Dr. James N. Boelkins.

"Dr. Ray was the consensus choice of the search committee based on his understanding of and commitment to our mission, experience as chair of a complex department, understanding of planning and assessment, previous leadership of the North Central Association accreditation process, national recognition in his field, work ethic, inclusive perspective, communication skills and ability to be a systems thinker," Boelkins said. "Dr. Ray will provide effective and caring leadership for the Social Science Division."

Read the Press Release


May 13, 2008

MIAA Commissioner's
Cup Standings End in Tie

For the first time in the eight-decade-long history of the MIAA< Commissioner's Cup (All-Sports) standings, there is a tie for first place. Hope and Calvin each accumulated 202 points in the compilation.

The MIAA Commissioner's Cup award is based on the cumulative performance of each member school in the league's 18 sports for men and women.

The Commissioner's Cup (MIAA All-Sports Award) has been presented since 1934-35. The standings have been based on men's and women's sports standings since 1981-82. The closest finish before this tie occurred in 1999-2000 when Calvin edged Hope 178-176. Hope won the Commissioner's Cup the next seven years (2000-01 thru 2006-07).

Read the Press Release


May 13, 2008

Hope Places Two on
All-MIAA Baseball Team

Two Hope baseball players have been named to the coaches' All-MIAA teams.


Senior outfielder Matt Sattler of Brighton, Mich. (Hartland
HS) has been named to the first team for a second consecutive year while sophomore second baseman Robby Poll of Grandville, Mich. (Grandville HS) is a second team honoree.


Sattler ranked second in the MIAA in batting this spring with a .413 average. He batted .403 for the entire season and ended his career as Hope's alltime leader in total hits (176) and triples (11). Poll, who also is a starting pitcher, batted .357 in league games.

Read the Press Release


May 7, 2008

Hope has a Record Number
of All-MIAA Tracksters

A record number of Hope College track and field athletes have received all-conference honors from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).

Sixteen athletes have been named by coaches to the honor squad. Thirteen of them were gold medal winners at the annual Field Day championships. The others were selected in the at-large category.

Men's and women's All-MIAA teams have been named since 1983. The previous combined high of All-MIAA honorees from Hope was nine. The Hope teams had 13 conference champions, the school's highest number since 1986.

The teams, coached by Kevin Cole, each finished second in the conference standings. Each had their highest team point total since the current point-system was initiated in 2000.

Read the Press Release


May 7, 2008

MIAA Softball Honors
Include Conference MVP

Four Hope College players have received all-conference honors from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), including the top prize as most valuable.

Senior Kylee Brouwer is the seventh Hope player to receive the most valuable award joining Lisa Walters (1991), Johanna Pscodna (1992), Carrie Scott (2001), Andrea Adams (2002), Jessica Regnerus (2006) and Becky Whitman (2006).

Joining Brouwer on the All-MIAA first are junior first baseman Kelli Duimstra and senior cehterfielder Jessica Regnerus. All three players are from Hudsonville, Mich. and graduates of Hudsonville High School.

Read the Press Release


May 7, 2008

Four Softball Players are All-Region

Four Hope softball players have been named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III Central All-Region team.

Seniors Kylee Brouwer and Jessica Regnerus have been named to the first team. Junior Kelli Duimstra is a second team honoree while sophomore Beth Yahraus is a third team choice. Brouwer was chosen at the designated player position while Regnerus, a centerfielder, was named to one of three at-large spots. Duimstra (a first baseman) and Yahraus (a shortstop) were honored at-large players.

Brouwer, Regnerus and Duimstra are from Hudsonville and graduates of Hudsonville High School while Yahraus is from Bryan, Ohio (Bryan HS). Brouwer and Regnerus have each received All-Region honors four consecutive years.

All-Region first team honorees become eligible for All-America recognition which will be announced in conjunction with the NCAA Division III championships later this month. Brouwer received All-America recognition in 2005 and Regnerus in 2006.

Read the Press Release


May 7, 2008

John Pelton Receives NCAA Tennis Bid

Hope College junior John Pelton is one of 32 players nationwide invited to compete in the singles tournament of the NCAA Division III championships to be held May 16-18 at Bates College in Lewiston, Me.

The selection of players for the tournament is based on won-lost record, strength of schedule and eligibility and availability of student athletes.

Pelton is a graduate of Midland High School. He transferred to Hope after playing at Division I Western Michigan University. His family currently resides in Rock Hill, S.C. He posted a 22-3 dual match record at #1 singles. He lost to only one Division III opponent.

Read the Press Release


May 4, 2008

Karla Wolters Achieves
Coaching Milestone

A coaching milestone was reached when the Hope College softball team posted a pair of victories in the recent MIAA conference tournament.

A 7-1 victory over Saint Mary's was the 1,100 collegiate coaching victory for Karla Wolters who over her 33-year career has guided student-athletes in five different sports, including the past 20 years as coach of the Flying Dutch softball team.

A 4-0 win over Alma a day later put Wolters at an amazing 1,101-606 over 56 coaching seasons in softball, volleyball, basketball, field hockey and tennis.

Read the Press Release


April 2008

April 24, 2008

Seniors Honored for Athletic Accomplishments

Seventy Hope College seniors have been awarded monogrammed blankets for their participation in athletics at Hope.

The orange and blue "H" blankets are presented to seniors who earned at least three varsity letters while at Hope. One of the varsity letters must have been earned during the student's senior year.

The students were recognized during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday, April 24, and will also be honored during a reception on-campus on Monday, April 28.

Read the Press Release


 

April 24, 2008

Senior Scholar-Athletes Honored

Awards as the outstanding senior athletes among Hope College graduates in the class of 2008 were presented to two students during the college's Honors Convocation on Thursday (April 24).

Lindsay Lange of Manistee (Manistee HS) was presented the John Schouten award while Tommy Yamaoka of Zeeland (Zeeland East HS) received the Otto van der Velde All-Campus Award.

The van der Velde award is presented to a senior man for outstanding contributions to the college in athletics, scholarship and participation in student activities. The award, presented annually since 1932, is named in memory of Dr. Otto van der Velde, a 1915 HopeCollege graduate who lettered in four sports and was later the college's team physician for more than 40 years.

The Schouten award is given to a senior woman who, in addition to excelling in athletics, possesses other strong character traits and leadership abilities. The award is named in memory of John "Jack" Schouten who was a long-time physical educator and coach at Hope, in addition to serving as the college's first director of athletics.

Read the Press Release


April 23, 2008

Hope College Honors
Anne Irwin & Norm Japinga

Two persons who have made lasting impacts on HopeCollege athletics will be recognized through the naming of the press boxes in their honor at the college's new baseball and softball stadiums.

The press box at the Wolters Softball Stadium is being named in recognition of Dr. Anne Irwin while the Boeve Baseball Stadium press box is being named in honor of Norm "Bunko" Japinga.

Dr. Irwin will be honored Saturday, April 26, during the dedication festivities for the softball stadium. Japinga will be recognized prior to the Saturday, May 3, home baseball doubleheader against Alma.

Both stadiums feature spacious, state-of-the-art press boxes that compliment the outstanding playing fields and areas for spectators.

Read the Press Release


April 20, 2008

Baseball/Softball
Stadiums to be Dedicated

Hope College will celebrate its new baseball and softball stadiums by using them on Saturday, April 26.

Doubleheaders are scheduled immediately following the dedications of Boeve Baseball Stadium and Wolters Softball Stadium.

The dedication ceremonies will begin at 12:45 p.m., first at Boeve Stadium and then at Wolters Stadium. The Flying Dutchmen baseball team will then play Kalamazoo College while the Flying Dutch will take on Alma College. A complimentary picnic will be served those attending the festivities.

Wolters Softball Stadium honors Karla and Tom Wolters, both graduates of Hope. Karla has coached collegiate athletics for 34 years. Since becoming Hope's softball coach in 1988, she has brought a new level of success to the program. She entered this softball season ranked the fourth winningest NCAA Division III coach all-time. She has coached a multitude of collegiate sports over her career, garnering more than 1,000 victories in softball, volleyball, field hockey, basketball and tennis.

Read the Press Release


April 4, 2008

Winter Sports Letterwinners
Are Announced

The winners of athletic letters for Hope College winter sports teams have been announced by men's athletic director Ray Smith and women's athletic director Eva Folkert.

Hope teams captured three of the four Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) winter sports championships. Hope was champion in men's and women's basketball and men's swimming/diving. Women's swimming/diving finished in second place.

Hope is also in first place in the MIAA Commissioner's Cup standings after the winter season. The Commissioner's Cup is presented to the MIAA member school with the best cumulative standings in the 18 sports sponsored by the MIAA.

Eleven athletes lettered in their sport for a fourth consecutive year. They are Jordyn Boles (basketball), Wade Engers (swimming), Julie Henderson (basketball), Nicholas Hinkle (swimming), Jeffrey Holtman (swimming), Trisha Meier (swimming), Emily Mills (cheerleading), Kevin O'Brien (swimming), Gregory Reznich (swimming), Amanda Scheeringa (cheerleading), and Stacy Warsen (basketball).

Read the Press Release


March 2008

March 25, 2008


Flying Dutchmen Swimmers
16th at Nationals

The Flying Dutchmen finished 16th at the NCAA Division III men's swimming and diving championships which were held in Oxford, Ohio from March 20-22.

Coach John Patnott's Dutchmen ended with 84 points by collecting one All-America and seven honorable mention All-America finishes.

The All-America recognition came in the 400-yard medley where an all-sophomore team finished seventh with a time of 3:34.72. Members of the relay were Phil Heyboer of Zeeland, Mich. (Holland Christian HS), Brandon King of Willowbrook, Ill. (Hinsdale Township HS), Ryan Nelis of Holland, Mich. (West Ottawa HS), and Matt Rose of Grandville, Mich. (Grandville HS).

Honorable mention All-America is afforded swimmers who finish between ninth and 16th place overall. Phil Heyboer had the best individual performance, winning the consolation finals of the 200-yard backstroke for an overall ninth place finish (1:51.76). He was also tenth overall in the 400-yard individual medley with a school record time of 4:00.48. Ryan Nelis finished 14th in the 100-yard butterfly (:50.34).

Read the Press Release


March 25, 2008


Hope Basketball Afforded
Post-Season Honors

The success of Hope's basketball program this season continues to receive recognition on a national level.

Men's basketball coach Glenn Van Wieren has been named the Division III Coach-of-the-Year by the publication Basketball Times. It is the second time in his career that Van Wieren has been honored for the publication. In 1995 he was named the Division III co-coach of the year.

Two senior players can be considered consensus All-Americans. Marcus Vanderheide has been honored four times as an All-American -- the National Basketball Coaches Association (first team), Basketball Times (third team), DIII News (first team) and D3hoops.com (third team) while Jordyn Boles has been honored three times -- the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (first team), DIII News (first team) and D3hoops.com (honorable mention).

Read the Press Release


March 22, 2008


Hope Has Two
Basketball All-Americans

Two Hope basketball players have received All-America honors for outstanding play during their senior seasons.

Marcus Vanderheide of Grandville (Calvin Christian HS) was named to the first team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches while Jordyn Boles of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Central HS) was one of 10 players named to the All-America team of the National Association of Women's Basketball Coaches.

Each is being honored for their role in Hope's MIAA championship season. Vanderheide was voted the MIAA's most valuable player and was name the Great Lake region's most outstanding DIII player. Boles was a three-time All-MIAA honoree who over her career started in a school-record 120 games and compiled an amazing 110-10 record.

Read the Press Release


March 25, 2008


Hope Men's Basketball Finishes Third in NCAA Division III

The Flying Dutchmen capped a most successful season by winning the consolation title game of the NCAA Division III men's basketball championship by defeating Ursinua, Pa. 100-86.

With the win, coach Glenn Van Wieren's Dutchmen tied a school record for wins in a season (28-4).

The Flying Dutchmen were making their third trip to DIII's final four. Hope was second in 1996 and 1998.

Senior Derek Van Solkema was voted to the all-tournament team.

Read the Press Release


March 25, 2008


Hope Basketball Afforded
Post-Season Honors

The success of Hope's basketball program this season continues to receive recognition on a national level.

Men's basketball coach Glenn Van Wieren has been named the Division III Coach-of-the-Year by the publication Basketball Times. It is the second time in his career that Van Wieren has been honored for the publication. In 1995 he was named the Division III co-coach of the year.

Two senior players can be considered consensus All-Americans. Marcus Vanderheide has been honored four times as an All-American -- the National Basketball Coaches Association (first team), Basketball Times (third team), DIII News (first team) and D3hoops.com (third team) while Jordyn Boles has been honored three times -- the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (first team), DIII News (first team) and D3hoops.com (honorable mention).

Read the Press Release


March 25, 2008


Hope Basketball Afforded
Post-Season Honors

The success of Hope's basketball program this season continues to receive recognition on a national level.

Men's basketball coach Glenn Van Wieren has been named the Division III Coach-of-the-Year by the publication Basketball Times. It is the second time in his career that Van Wieren has been honored for the publication. In 1995 he was named the Division III co-coach of the year.

Two senior players can be considered consensus All-Americans. Marcus Vanderheide has been honored four times as an All-American -- the National Basketball Coaches Association (first team), Basketball Times (third team), DIII News (first team) and D3hoops.com (third team) while Jordyn Boles has been honored three times -- the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (first team), DIII News (first team) and D3hoops.com (honorable mention).

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March 18, 2008


Flying Dutchmen Headed
to NCAA Final Four

The 2008 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship is set with four schools ready to make the trip to Salem. Amherst College is back to defend its 2007 NCAA D-III crown following its sectional victory. Hope College and Washington University in St. Louis also make return trips to Virginia's "Championship City." Ursinus College rounds out the field, making its first men's basketball championship visit to the Roanoke Valley.

The national semifinals are set for Friday, March 21. Amherst will take on Ursinus in the opening contest at 5 p.m. Hope and Washington will lock horns at 7 p.m. Two more games follow on Saturday, March 22, with the two losing squads from the first night squaring off in the consolation match at 1:30 p.m. The remaining two teams stand toe-to-toe for a 4 p.m. tip-off to determine the 2008 national champion. All games will be played in the Salem Civic Center.

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March 12, 2008


Hope Tennis Pro Nate Price Honored

DeWitt Tennis Center Head Professional Nate Price has been honored as the 2008 Western Michigan Tennis Association Adult Player of the Year.

The award is presented to the adult who has achieved at a high level through either tournament or travel team play.

Price is ranked number 1 in the West Michigan District in the Men's Open Division. He is also ranked in the top 20 in the Midwest Section of the United States Tennis Association for the Men's Open Singles, Doubles (individual), and Doubles (team).

His role at the DeWitt Tennis Center includes teaching individual and group lessons, coordinating special events, and working with the Hope Summer Tennis Academy.

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March 12, 2008

Jordyn Boles Named to
All-Region Basketball Team

Hope College senior Jordyn Boles of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Central HS) has been voted to the Division III All-Region team of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). She becomes eligible for All-America consideration.

She is among 40 players nationwide selected by the WBCA member coaches in each of the eight WBCA award regions.

The 10-member All-America team will be announced Thursday, March 20 at the national championship finals to be hosted by Hope College.

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March 7, 2008