November 8, 2000
Byeman named MIAA men's soccer MVP
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Calvin College senior Marcus Byeman has been named
the MIAA men's soccer MVP. Byeman is the first MVP in men's soccer from
Calvin since 1991 when Joey Barone was named the league's MVP. It also
marks the 13th time that a Calvin player has been named MIAA MVP in
men's soccer. Byeman is the fourth athlete from Calvin to receive MIAA
MVP accolades this fall as seniors Dan Hoekstra and Sarah Gritter were
recently named MIAA MVP in men's and women's cross country while senior
Rhonda Volkers was named MIAA MVP in women's volleyball earlier this
week.
Byeman is one of five Calvin players to receive All-MIAA honors as
senior Jason DeJonge and junior Peter Knoester were named to the
All-MIAA first team and senior Jon VerMerris and junior Matt Thelen
named to the All-MIAA second team.
Byeman hails from Redmond, Washington and is a graduate of East Lake
High School. A midfielder, Byeman also saw time at a defensive position
but still managed to score three goals and tally an MIAA-leading seven
assists on the year while earning MIAA Player of the Week honors once.
It marks the third consecutive year that Byeman has been named to the
All-MIAA first team.
DeJonge hails from Muskegon and is a graduate of Western Michigan
Christian High School. A forward, DeJonge led the MIAA in goals in
conference games with 13 goals while also finishing second in points
with 26. Overall, DeJonge finished with a team-leading 21 goals that
included a hat-trick in a season-ending 3-2 victory over Hope that
earned him MIAA Player of the Week honors. Of his 21 goals, six were
game-winners. Knoester is from Grand Rapids and is a graduate of Grand
Rapids Christian High School. A marking back, Knoester is making his
second straight appearance on the All-MIAA first team. Knoester helped
spearhead Calvin's defensive attack while also notching a pair of goals
with strong offensive rushes up field.
VerMerris is a native of Spring Lake and a graduate of Western Michigan
Christian High School. The son of head coach Dave Ver Merris, Jon
VerMerris is making his third straight appearance on the All-MIAA second
team. During the year, he split time between midfield and as a
defensive back. VerMerris finished the year with four goals and a
team-leading eight assists for a total of 16 points. In conference
play, he collected three goals and three assists for a total of nine
points to rank among the MIAA leaders in all three categories. Thelen
is a Grand Haven native and a graduate of Grand Haven High School. A
goaltender, he is making his first appearance on the All-MIAA second
team. During the year, he appeared in 18 of Calvin's 20 games,
collecting 103 saves and recording a goals-against-average of 1.98. In
conference play, he collected 70 saves, one shutout victory and a
goals-against-average of 1.82.
In addition, Calvin sophomore Charles Telep received honorable mention
recognition from the MIAA coaches. A native of Sewickley, Pennsylvania
and a graduate of Quaker Valley High School, Telep opened the season as
a marking back on defense but later moved into a midfielder's role.
Telep finished the year with one goal and five assists for seven points.
In Saturday's 3-2 victory over Hope, he assisted on the game-winning
goal by DeJonge in the second half.
With Saturday's victory over Hope, Calvin secured its 30th winning
campaign in the last 32 years as the Knights finished 10-9-1 overall. In
conference play, Calvin finished fourth in the final MIAA standings with
a 7-4-1 record. Since the MIAA began men's soccer in 1970, Calvin has
recorded a won-loss record of 239-62-29 for a winning percentage of
.768. Since its first year of varsity play in 1959, Calvin has an
overall won-loss record of 391-209-56 for a winning percentage of .639.
-end-
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