Calvin Sports Report for November 22, 2004
VELDHOUSE REPEATS AS CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
GRAND RAPIDS, MI * For the second straight year, Calvin College senior Joel Veldhouse has been named a first team CoSIDA Academic All-American in men's soccer.
The award is indeed significant for Veldhouse as he is receiving the honor in the college division which consists of more than 700 total schools at the NIA, NCAA II and NCAA III levels. Veldhouse is one of just 11 players nationwide to be selected to the first team in men's soccer and one of just 33 individuals overall on either the first, second or third team.
The CoSIDA Academic All-America teams are selected by the College Sports Information Director's Association of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a starter or a key reserve with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20. In addition, student-athletes must have completed one full academic year at their respective institutions.
A native of Sioux Falls and a graduate of Sioux Falls Christian High School, Veldhouse carries a 3.79 grade point average in biochemistry with plans to attend medical school after graduating from Calvin next month. Veldhouse is a four-time member of the Calvin Dean's List and a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
Veldhouse is the third men's soccer player from Calvin to receive CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and the first to be named to the first team. Other Calvin CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in men's soccer include 1998 graduates Sam Glass and Will Watts. Like Veldhouse, Glass earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in back-to-back years. Veldhouse and Watts also share the distinction of being biochemistry majors and pursuing careers as medical doctors.
This past fall, Veldhouse led the Calvin team in scoring with 19 goals, nine assists and 47 points. In addition, he was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player for the second time in three years and landed a spot on the All-MIAA first team for the third straight year. During the 2004 season, he was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week three times * a distinction that he received six times overall in his Calvin career.
Veldhouse also helped the Knights capture their second straight MIAA title including their first outright crown since 1987 as they finished 18-2-1 overall and 13-1 in the MIAA. Veldhouse also helped the Knights gain their first bid to the NCAA III Tournament since 1991. Heading into the NCAA III Tournament, Calvin was ranked sixth in the country. Earlier in the fall, Veldhouse helped Calvin achieve a ranking of fourth in the country for Calvin's highest-ever national finish.
Veldhouse closed out his three-year Calvin career with 49 goals, 26 assists and 124 points, ranking him third on the Calvin career list for points and goals and fourth in career assists. Veldhouse is also a two-time Great Lakes All-Region selection, earning second team all-region honors in 2002 and first team accolades in 2003.
Veldhouse has served as a team captain in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He has also served as a medical volunteer in the southwest side of Grand Rapids through Health Intervention Services.
Veldhouse is the son of Terry and Ladeen Veldhoue of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Calvin has now had its athletes recognized as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans 57 times including 32 times in the last eight years.
DIEMER AND HOEKSTRA REPEAT AS NATIONAL Co-COACHES OF THE YEAR
For the second straight year, Calvin men's cross country coaches Brian Diemer and Al Hoekstra have been named Division III National Co-Coaches of the Year by the United States Track and Field Coaches Association.
This past Saturday, Diemer and Hoekstra led the top-ranked Calvin men's cross country team to its second consecutive (NCAA III) national title including its third in the last five years.
Calvin posted a first place score of 107 points at the NCAA III Men's Cross Country Championships on Saturday in Colfax, Wisconsin. The first place score was 30 points better than runner-up North Central College (IL).
Calvin had three individuals post All-America finishes as senior Jeff Engbers (Whitinsville, MA) was 20th in 25:11; sophomore Tim Finnegan (Los Alamos, NM) 28th in 25:13 and senior Dave Haagsma (Grand Rapids) 30th in 25:15. Rounding out Calvin's top five finishers were senior Hendrik Kok (Lynden, WA) in 39th (25:21) and senior Andy Yazzie (Rehoboth, NM) in 51st (25:31) as just 19 seconds separated Calvin's tip five runners.
Diemer and Hoekstra are receiving national coach of the year honors for the third time as the duo was also so honored in 2000.
Diemer and Hoekstra have served as co-coaches of the Calvin men's cross country team since 1986. Together, they have led Calvin to 18 MIAA titles and 15 top-10 national finishes. Calvin has finished in the top-four in each of the last seven years including national titles in 2000, 2003 and 2004 and national runner-up berths in 1998, 2000 and 2001 which ranks as the best combined set of team finishes of any NCAA III men's cross country team during that span.
Diemer is a native of Cutlerville and a graduate of South Christian High School and the University of Michigan. A three-time U.S. Olympian in track and field, Diemer is the last men's distance runner from the United States to win a medal at the Olympic Games as he earned a bronze medal in the steeplechase at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Hoekstra is a native of Palos Heights, Illinois. He graduated from Chicago Christian High School and later was a three-year member of the Calvin men's cross country and track and field teams.
CALVIN NATIONAL COACHES OF THE YEAR (Year by Year)
Karla Wolters, Volleyball, 1986
Ed Douma, Men's Basketball 1992
Nancy Meyer, Women's Cross Country, 1998
Nancy Meyer, Women's Cross Country, 1999
Kevin Vande Streek, Men's Basketball, 2000
Al Hoekstra and Brian Diemer, Men's Cross Country, 2000
Jong-Il Kim, Women's Track and Field, 2002
Jong-Il Kim, Women's Track and Field, 2002
Jong-Il Kim, Men's Track and Field, 2003
Al Hoekstra and Brian Diemer, Men's Cross Country, 2003
Al Hoekstra and Brian Diemer, Men's Cross Country, 2004
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Mon Nov 22 15:31:51 2004
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