Athletes on the six Hope College spring sports
teams have been recognized for outstanding performances by the
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) coaches.
     Hope teams had an outstanding spring season, winning an MIAA
championship in women's tennis and co-championship in baseball.
The softball, men's tennis and women's track teams all finished
second in their respective races while the men's track team ended
in a tie for third place.  Hope swept the year-end honors of the
MIAA capturing both the men's and women's all-sports awards and
the new Commissioner's Cup for the best cumulative finishes in
all sports for men and women.
     Senior outfielder Ryan Tanis of Holland (Holland Christian
HS) was voted the most valuable MIAA baseball player marking the
fourth time this decade that the honor has been presented to a
Hope player.  He played on three MIAA championship teams.  This
season he batted a career-best .361 in all games and had a team-
high .598 slugging percentage behind 11 extra base hits,
including six home runs.  He batted .333 in MIAA games and was
among the league leaders in total bases (44), runs scored (22),
RBIs (19) and home runs (6).
     Two of three individual honors awarded in men's tennis went
to Hope athletes.  Junior Erik Berg of Lansing (Lansing HS) was
presented the Stowe Sportsmanship Award while senior Robert
Brandt of Holland (Grand Rapids Christian HS) received the
Lawrence Green Scholarship.  It is the third time in four years
that a Hope player has been presented the sportsmanship award.
It is the second consecutive year that a Hope player has received
the academic award which honors the memory of the late Lawrence
"Doc" Green, longtime athletic trainer and coach at Hope.
     The championship baseball team had six players receive All-
MIAA honors.  Senior shortstop Dean Esteves of Hudsonville
(Hudsonville HS) was voted to the first team for the third
consecutive year.  He was joined on the first team by Tanis and
sophomore shortstop Sean Bateman of Saline (Saline HS).  Voted to
the All-MIAA second team were senior second baseman Matt Klein of
DeWitt (DeWitt HS), junior outfielder Ben Fellows of Lansing
(Lansing Eastern HS), and senior pitcher Adam Labbe of Cadillac
(Cadillac HS).
     The Flying Dutch softball team also had six players earn
All-MIAA honors.  Voted to the first team were sophomore pitcher
Kim Grotenhuis of Hamilton (Hamilton HS), senior outfielder
Christa Murphy of Midland (Midland HS) and sophomore catcher
Carrie Scott of Centreville (Centreville HS).  Voted to the All-
MIAA second team were junior outfielder Angie Ciesielski of
Linden (Linden HS) and senior pitcher Lisa Larzelere of Omaha,
Neb. (Westside HS).
     In men's tennis, junior Paul Lillie of Roseville, Minn.
(Roseville HS) was voted to the All-MIAA first team for the
second year in-a-row while teammates Chad Bollinger, a junior
from Petoskey (Petoskey HS), and Kai Bouchard, a sophomore from
Hinsdale, Ill. (Hinsdale Township HS) were voted to the second
team.
     In women's tennis, junior Jennifer Smith of Holland (Holland
HS) was voted to the All-MIAA first team for the second year in-
a-row.  She was joined on the first team by sophomore teammate
Julie Murray of Spring Lake (Spring Lake HS).  Sophomore Krissy
Kooyer of Holland (Holland Christian HS) was voted to the second
team.
     Seven athletes were voted to the All-MIAA track and field
teams.  Junior Paul Berke of Park Ridge, Ill. (Maine South HS),
the league champion in the 10,000-meter run, is the only Hope
honoree on the All-MIAA men's team.
     Voted to the All-MIAA women's team were freshman Sarah
Burgess of Niles (Buchanan HS), junior Jennifer Ernst of
Westerville, Ohio (Westerville South HS), senior Becky Timmer of
Pella, Iowa (Pella HS), freshman Elizabeth Chapman of Marquette
(Marquette HS), junior Kim Richardson of Sanford (Meridian HS),
and sophomore Emily Sowers of Grand Rapids (GR Christian HS).
Ernst was the conference champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters,
Burgess captured the gold in the shot put, Sowers repeated as
league champion in the discus and Kim Richardson took first in
the high jump.

 Athletes on the six Hope College spring sports
teams have been recognized for outstanding performances by the
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) coaches.
     Hope teams had an outstanding spring season, winning an MIAA
championship in women's tennis and co-championship in baseball.
The softball, men's tennis and women's track teams all finished
second in their respective races while the men's track team ended
in a tie for third place.  Hope swept the year-end honors of the
MIAA capturing both the men's and women's all-sports awards and
the new Commissioner's Cup for the best cumulative finishes in
all sports for men and women.
     Senior outfielder Ryan Tanis of Holland (Holland Christian
HS) was voted the most valuable MIAA baseball player marking the
fourth time this decade that the honor has been presented to a
Hope player.  He played on three MIAA championship teams.  This
season he batted a career-best .361 in all games and had a team-
high .598 slugging percentage behind 11 extra base hits,
including six home runs.  He batted .333 in MIAA games and was
among the league leaders in total bases (44), runs scored (22),
RBIs (19) and home runs (6).
     Two of three individual honors awarded in men's tennis went
to Hope athletes.  Junior Erik Berg of Lansing (Lansing HS) was
presented the Stowe Sportsmanship Award while senior Robert
Brandt of Holland (Grand Rapids Christian HS) received the
Lawrence Green Scholarship.  It is the third time in four years
that a Hope player has been presented the sportsmanship award.
It is the second consecutive year that a Hope player has received
the academic award which honors the memory of the late Lawrence
"Doc" Green, longtime athletic trainer and coach at Hope.
     The championship baseball team had six players receive All-
MIAA honors.  Senior shortstop Dean Esteves of Hudsonville
(Hudsonville HS) was voted to the first team for the third
consecutive year.  He was joined on the first team by Tanis and
sophomore shortstop Sean Bateman of Saline (Saline HS).  Voted to
the All-MIAA second team were senior second baseman Matt Klein of
DeWitt (DeWitt HS), junior outfielder Ben Fellows of Lansing
(Lansing Eastern HS), and senior pitcher Adam Labbe of Cadillac
(Cadillac HS).
     The Flying Dutch softball team also had six players earn
All-MIAA honors.  Voted to the first team were sophomore pitcher
Kim Grotenhuis of Hamilton (Hamilton HS), senior outfielder
Christa Murphy of Midland (Midland HS) and sophomore catcher
Carrie Scott of Centreville (Centreville HS).  Voted to the All-
MIAA second team were junior outfielder Angie Ciesielski of
Linden (Linden HS) and senior pitcher Lisa Larzelere of Omaha,
Neb. (Westside HS).
     In men's tennis, junior Paul Lillie of Roseville, Minn.
(Roseville HS) was voted to the All-MIAA first team for the
second year in-a-row while teammates Chad Bollinger, a junior
from Petoskey (Petoskey HS), and Kai Bouchard, a sophomore from
Hinsdale, Ill. (Hinsdale Township HS) were voted to the second
team.
     In women's tennis, junior Jennifer Smith of Holland (Holland
HS) was voted to the All-MIAA first team for the second year in-
a-row.  She was joined on the first team by sophomore teammate
Julie Murray of Spring Lake (Spring Lake HS).  Sophomore Krissy
Kooyer of Holland (Holland Christian HS) was voted to the second
team.
     Seven athletes were voted to the All-MIAA track and field
teams.  Junior Paul Berke of Park Ridge, Ill. (Maine South HS),
the league champion in the 10,000-meter run, is the only Hope
honoree on the All-MIAA men's team.
     Voted to the All-MIAA women's team were freshman Sarah
Burgess of Niles (Buchanan HS), junior Jennifer Ernst of
Westerville, Ohio (Westerville South HS), senior Becky Timmer of
Pella, Iowa (Pella HS), freshman Elizabeth Chapman of Marquette
(Marquette HS), junior Kim Richardson of Sanford (Meridian HS),
and sophomore Emily Sowers of Grand Rapids (GR Christian HS).
Ernst was the conference champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters,
Burgess captured the gold in the shot put, Sowers repeated as
league champion in the discus and Kim Richardson took first in
the high jump.

Related News

  1. Hope Leads MIAA in All-Sports

     Hope College has swept all three of the awardspresented by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association(MIAA) for the best cumulative performance in men's and women'ssports during the 1998-99 academic year.     For the first time, the MIAA is presenting separate awardsfor the best cumulative finish in men's and women's sports, aswell as an award for the best cumulative finish in all leaguesports (men and women).     The new awards are known as the Men's All-Sports Award andthe Women's All-Sports Award while the cumulative award is nowknown as the Commissioner's Cup.  The final standings for theall-sports awards were determined on the basis of each college'sstandings in eight of nine sports for men and eight of ninesports for women.     In the Commissioner's Cup standings, Hope finished with 213points, followed by Calvin with 192, Albion 151, Alma andKalamazoo 137 each, Olivet 90, Adrian 70, and Defiance 64.     Hope posted 95 points in the men's all-sports standingsfollowed by Calvin with 83, Albion 71, Alma 68, Kalamazoo 64,Olivet 45, Adrian 36 and Defiance 27.  In the women's all-sportsstandings Hope ended with 118 points followed by Calvin with 109,Albion 80, Kalamazoo 73, Alma 69, Saint Mary's 64, Olivet 45,Defiance 37 and Adrian 34.     During the year Hope captured MIAA championships in women'sgolf, women's swimming, women's tennis and volleyball and wereco-champions in men's basketball and baseball.     Teams finishing second in their respective sport were men'sand women's cross country, men's golf, football, softball, men's swimming, men'stennis and women's track.  Hope was third in women's basketball,men's track and women's soccer and ended sixth in men's soccer.     Also the defending MIAA All-Sports champion, Hope has wonthe award three consecutive years and six times in the decade ofthe 1990s.     The MIAA All-Sports Award (now the Commissioner's Cup) hasbeen presented since 1934-35.  Hope has won the All-Sports awarda league-leading 22 times.  Next is Albion with 14, followed byKalamazoo 13, Calvin 7 and Alma 5.

  2. Kim Grotenhuis Honored As GTE Scholar-Athlete

    Hope College sophomore pitcher Kim Grotenhuis ofHamilton has been voted to the GTE Academic All-District collegedivision softball team. As a first team honoree, Grotenhuis becomes eligible for GTEAcademic All-America consideration. The all-district team includes players from NCAA Division IIand III colleges in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio andTennessee. A social studies major with a perfect 4.0 grade pointaverage, Grotenhuis posted an 11-6 record this spring with a 1.54earned run average as the Flying Dutch finished second in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and postedan overall 21-13 record. She has a career record of 23-13 andcareer earned run average of 1.60. Grotenhuis is also a two-year starter on the Hope volleyballteam which has advanced to the NCAA playoffs both seasons. A graduate of Hamilton high School, Grotenhuis is thedaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Grotenhuis of Hamilton. Grotenhuis is one of seven players from MIAA member collegesnamed to the all-district team. Other first team honoreesinclude Albion junior first baseman Kacy Davidson, Alma senioroutfielder Heather Bruder, Alma junior catcher Kathryn Nordin andAlma junior designated hitter Stacie Vietzke. Second teamhonorees include Calvin senior second baseman Robin Janssen andAlma junior outfielder Amy Czabala.

  3. All-MIAA Spring Honors

     Athletes on the six Hope College spring sportsteams have been recognized for outstanding performances by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) coaches.     Hope teams had an outstanding spring season, winning an MIAAchampionship in women's tennis and co-championship in baseball. The softball, men's tennis and women's track teams all finishedsecond in their respective races while the men's track team endedin a tie for third place.  Hope swept the year-end honors of theMIAA capturing both the men's and women's all-sports awards andthe new Commissioner's Cup for the best cumulative finishes inall sports for men and women.     Senior outfielder Ryan Tanis of Holland (Holland ChristianHS) was voted the most valuable MIAA baseball player marking thefourth time this decade that the honor has been presented to aHope player.  He played on three MIAA championship teams.  Thisseason he batted a career-best .361 in all games and had a team-high .598 slugging percentage behind 11 extra base hits,including six home runs.  He batted .333 in MIAA games and wasamong the league leaders in total bases (44), runs scored (22),RBIs (19) and home runs (6).     Two of three individual honors awarded in men's tennis wentto Hope athletes.  Junior Erik Berg of Lansing (Lansing HS) waspresented the Stowe Sportsmanship Award while senior RobertBrandt of Holland (Grand Rapids Christian HS) received theLawrence Green Scholarship.  It is the third time in four yearsthat a Hope player has been presented the sportsmanship award. It is the second consecutive year that a Hope player has receivedthe academic award which honors the memory of the late Lawrence"Doc" Green, longtime athletic trainer and coach at Hope.     The championship baseball team had six players receive All-MIAA honors.  Senior shortstop Dean Esteves of Hudsonville(Hudsonville HS) was voted to the first team for the thirdconsecutive year.  He was joined on the first team by Tanis andsophomore shortstop Sean Bateman of Saline (Saline HS).  Voted tothe All-MIAA second team were senior second baseman Matt Klein ofDeWitt (DeWitt HS), junior outfielder Ben Fellows of Lansing(Lansing Eastern HS), and senior pitcher Adam Labbe of Cadillac(Cadillac HS).     The Flying Dutch softball team also had six players earnAll-MIAA honors.  Voted to the first team were sophomore pitcherKim Grotenhuis of Hamilton (Hamilton HS), senior outfielderChrista Murphy of Midland (Midland HS) and sophomore catcherCarrie Scott of Centreville (Centreville HS).  Voted to the All-MIAA second team were junior outfielder Angie Ciesielski ofLinden (Linden HS) and senior pitcher Lisa Larzelere of Omaha,Neb. (Westside HS).     In men's tennis, junior Paul Lillie of Roseville, Minn.(Roseville HS) was voted to the All-MIAA first team for the second year in-a-row while teammates Chad Bollinger, a juniorfrom Petoskey (Petoskey HS), and Kai Bouchard, a sophomore fromHinsdale, Ill. (Hinsdale Township HS) were voted to the secondteam.     In women's tennis, junior Jennifer Smith of Holland (HollandHS) was voted to the All-MIAA first team for the second year in-a-row.  She was joined on the first team by sophomore teammateJulie Murray of Spring Lake (Spring Lake HS).  Sophomore KrissyKooyer of Holland (Holland Christian HS) was voted to the secondteam.     Seven athletes were voted to the All-MIAA track and fieldteams.  Junior Paul Berke of Park Ridge, Ill. (Maine South HS),the league champion in the 10,000-meter run, is the only Hopehonoree on the All-MIAA men's team.     Voted to the All-MIAA women's team were freshman SarahBurgess of Niles (Buchanan HS), junior Jennifer Ernst ofWesterville, Ohio (Westerville South HS), senior Becky Timmer ofPella, Iowa (Pella HS), freshman Elizabeth Chapman of Marquette(Marquette HS), junior Kim Richardson of Sanford (Meridian HS),and sophomore Emily Sowers of Grand Rapids (GR Christian HS). Ernst was the conference champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters,Burgess captured the gold in the shot put, Sowers repeated asleague champion in the discus and Kim Richardson took first in the high jump.