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.

Honored as the rookie of the year was junior shortstop Bobby Edelberg of Benton Harbor (Coloma HS).

Sophomore infielder/pitcher Robby Poll of Grandville, Mich. (Grandville HS) was named an All-MIAA second team honoree.

Named co-captains of the 2009 team were Dustin Wuis of Kalamazoo (Comstock HS), Matt VanderVelde of Grandville (Grandville HS), and Robby Poll of Grandville, Mich. (Grandville HS).

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).

Freshman catcher Abby Phillips of Wayland (Wayland HS) was named the team's most improved player.

Brouwer was chosen the MIAA's most valuable player and a Division III first team All-American.  She was joined on the All-MIAA first team by junior first baseman Kelli Duimstra and senior centerfielder Jessica Regnerus, both from Hudsonville (Hudsonville HS).  Van Enk was named an All-MIAA second team honoree. Four players received Great Lakes All-Region honors -- Kylee Brouwer, Kelli Duimstra, Jessica Regnerus, and sophomore shortstop Beth Yahraus of Bryan, Ohio (Bryan HS).

Co-captains of the 2009 team will be Kelli Duimstra and Deidra Enochs of Summerfield, Fla. (Belleview 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.

Sophomore John Gardner of Granville, Ohio (Granville HS) joined Pelton on the All-MIAA team as a second-team honoree.

Honored as the most improved players were freshmen Brad Boelkins of Ada (Forest Hills Central HS) and Jon Lautz of Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton North HS).  Junior John Schlotz of Kirkwood, Mo. (Kirkwood HS) was presented the new "Spirit of Hope" award for exemplifying the values of Hope tennis (scholarship, hard work, compassion for others, kleadership, sportsmanship, commitment and passion of competition.

Co-captains of the 2009 team will be Zach Huber of Holland (West Ottawa HS), John Schlotz and John Pelton.

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).

Receiving All-MIAA honors were junior Sean Bergsma of Grand Haven (Grand Haven HS), junior Brandon Bosch of Hudsonville (Hudsonville HS), senior Andrew Denniger of Winfield, Ill. (West Chicago HS), freshman John Donkersloot of Zeeland (Zeeland East HS), freshman Cameron Lampkin of Oak Park (Berkley HS), Jeff Minkus, senior Chad Rector of Grant (Grant HS), freshman Nick Rinck of Hudsonville (Hudsonville HS), and Seth Weener.

Competing in the NCAA Division III track and field championships were John Donkersloot in the high jump [9th place]  and junior Rob Bailey of Ogden Dunes, Ind. (Portage HS) in the 3000-meter steeplechase [10th place].

Establishing school records were Chad Rector, hammer (174-4), Jeff Minkus, triple jump (46-4 1/4), and Rob Bailey, 3000-meter steeplechase (9:09.89).

Co-captains of the 2009 team will be Rob Bailey and Jeff Minkus.

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).

Receiving All-MIAA honors were junior Kate Freshour of Bloomington, Ill. (Olympia HS), freshman Emily Kreichelt of Northville (Northville HS), junior Nora Kuiper of Parchment (Parchment HS), Lindsay Lange, Christina Lis, freshman Kara Vandeguchte of Hamilton (Hamilton HS), and junior Emily VanderMeer of Holland (Holland HS).

Three athletes achieved NCAA Division III All-America distinction at the national championships -- Lindsay Lange, 4th place in the heptathlon; Christina Lis, 4th place in the high jump; and Nora Kuiper, 5th place in the 100-meter dash.

Establishing school records were Nora Kuiper, 100-meter dash (:12.13), and the 4x100 meter relay of Nora Kuiper, Kara Vandeguchte, Emily Kreichelt and Lindsay Lange (:48.47).

Tri-captains of the 2009 team will be Sarah Multer of Plainwell (Plainwell HS), Emily VanderMeer and Nora Kuiper.

-30-