CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR DECEMBER 11, 2004
CALVIN'S KURT VISKER NAMED MEN'S SOCCER ALL-AMERICAN BY NSCAA
Over the last three years, Calvin College junior Kurt Visker has been recognized as one of the finest men's soccer players in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Now he has been recognized as one of the finest players in NCAA Division III soccer.
Last night, Visker was named a Division III second team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) at a press conference in Carson, California - site of the NCAA Division I Men's College Cup - where All-America teams for all three NCAA divisions were announced.
Visker is the first men's soccer player at Calvin to receive NCAA Division III All-America honors since Joey Barone was so honored in 1991. He is also the fourth individual in Calvin men's soccer history to receive all-america accolades as Casey TeHaar was so honored in 1962 and Doug DeSmit in 1982.
A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School where he played soccer for Larry Klaasen, Visker is one of 38 individuals nationwide to be selected to either the Division III All-America first, second or third team.
A defensive back with the ability to score with his powerful right leg, Visker helped the Calvin men's soccer team post an 18-2-1 record this fall as the Knights captured their first outright MIAA title since 1987 and gained their first bid to the NCAA III Tournament since 1991.
Despite battling injuries throughout the season, Visker helped key Calvin defense that posted 16 shutout victories and allowed only seven goals all season including only one in conference play * establishing a new MIAA single-season record. A three-time first team All-MIAA selection and the 2003 MIAA MVP, Visker also managed to score two goals and collect two assists for a total of six points.
"This is a tremendous honor for Kurt and I am delighted for him," said Calvin men's soccer coach Chris Hughes. "I think everyone on our team and in our league knows the caliber of player he is. It's very gratifying to see that coaches around the country have now also recognized what a special player Kurt Visker is for our team. The most exciting thing about all of this is that we get Kurt back for one more year because he's just a junior."
Visker will receive his NCAA Division III All-American award on January 14 at the NSCAA convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
Visker was part of a strong influx of Grand Rapids Christian High School graduates on the Calvin men's soccer team this fall. Earlier this week, Visker was named to the Great Lakes All-Region first team by the NSCAA and was joined on the all-region first team by senior midfielders Joel Veldhouse, Joel Vande Kopple and junior goalkeeper Joe Westra. Like Visker, Vande Kopple and Westra are both graduates of Grand Rapids Christian High School. A four-year starter in the midfield, Vande Kopple scored seven goals including four game-winners this fall while also collecting four assists for a total of 18 points. Westra posted 14 shutout victories this year for the Knights and registered a goals-against-average of 0.38 that ranked among the top10 goalkeepers in NCAA Division III men's soccer.
Calvin finished the year ranked 16th in the final Division III top-25 rankings. Earlier in the year, Calvin was ranked fourth * achieving the highest national ranking in school history.
For a complete list of the 2004 Division III Men's Soccer All-American teams, please visit the NSCAA web site at: http://www.nscaa.com/04Awards/04CollegeAwards/88372.html
MORE MEN'S SOCCER * VERMERRIS NAMED TO MUSKEGON SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Former Calvin men's soccer coach Dave VerMerris has been selected to be inducted into the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame. The induction ceremonies will be held June 4, 2005.
A 1968 graduate of Calvin, VerMerris served as Calvin men's soccer coach from 1998-2001. While a student at Calvin, he was a standout three-sport athlete, participating in soccer, swimming and track and field.
VerMerris is currently the principal at Western Michigan Christian High School where he served as head boy's soccer coach for more than 25 years.
VerMerris is the first individual representing the sport of soccer to be inducted into the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame. He is also one of two representatives from the MIAA scheduled to be inducted into the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame in June as former Hope swimmer Rob Peel is also part of the induction class. A swimming All-American at Hope, Peel is a native of Spring Lake.
VerMerris is also the second Calvin graduate and coach to be inducted into the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame as former Calvin men's basketball coach Ed Douma was inducted into the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. A 1966 graduate of Calvin, Douma is a native of Muskegon and also a graduate of Western Michigan Christian High School.
For more on VerMerris and the current class of Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame inductees, please read the story written by Muskegon Chronicle assistant sports editor Tom Kendra at: http://www.mlive.com/sports/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1102698916253000.xml
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Dec 11 13:09:37 2004
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Sat Dec 11 2004 - 13:09:37 EST