Calvin Sports Report for December 14, 2004
CALVIN MEN'S SOCCER COACH NAMED GREAT LAKES REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
GRAND RAPIDS - Calvin College men's soccer coach Chris Hughes has been named Division III Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
A native of Mount Clemens and a graduate of Lutheran North High School, the 35-year old Hughes is the first soccer coach in Calvin history to receive Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year honors.
A 1992 Calvin College graduate, Hughes led his alma mater to its first outright MIAA title since 1987 and its first NCAA III Tournament berth since 1991 as the Knights finished 18-2-1 overall and 13-1-0 in conference play.
This fall marked the third year that Hughes has served as Calvin head men's soccer coach. Over his three-year tenure as coach, Hughes has compiled a record of 44-15-2 for a sparkling winning percentage of .732.
Hughes was a freshman on Calvin's 1987 MIAA championship team and served as a captain on Calvin's 1990 team that earned a share of the MIAA title with Kalamazoo. A rugged defensive back, Hughes was an All-MIAA second team selection in 1989 and an All-MIAA first team choice in 1990.
As Calvin's men's soccer coach, Hughes has carried over his staunch defensive philosophy as the Knights allowed just seven goals this fall including just one in league play as the Knights established a new MIAA record for fewest goals allowed. Of Calvin's 18 victories this fall, 16 were shutout victories as the Knights finished second nationally in shutout percentage (0.76) and fourth nationally in team goals-against-average (0.32).
Calvin's 18 victories this fall also marked the second-highest single-season win total in Calvin men's soccer history and allowed the Knights to finish seventh nationally in winning percentage (.881).
"I am honored and humbled to receive this award," said Hughes. "When I look at some of the other names on the regional coach of the year list, I can't believe that my name is included."
According to Hughes, the award is a reflection of his players. "I was blessed to have a group of players that were not only talented, but also very hard-working and determined," said Hughes. "This award is only because of them. We're striving to make our men's soccer program one that is consistently in the top-25 national rankings and the guys that I've been able to work with over the past three years have helped us get to that point. Our goal now is to maintain that excellence."
This past week, Hughes saw four of his team members named to the Division III Great Lakes All-Region first team as seniors Joel Veldhouse and Joel Vande Kopple and juniors Kurt Visker and Joe Westra were so honored. Visker was then named a Division III second team All-American becoming the first Calvin men's soccer All-American since 1991.
Calvin also finished the year ranked 16th in the final Division III Top-25 poll of the year conducted by the NSCAA. During the season, Calvin was ranked as high as fourth * the highest-ever national ranking in Calvin history.
CALVIN SWIMMERS RANK HIGH ON NATIONAL LISTS
As the first semester comes to a close, a number of Calvin swimmers are ranked high on the national qualifying lists for the upcoming NCAA III Championships.
Senior Peter Boumgarden is Calvin's lone representative thus far on the men's side as he is ranked sixth with an NCAA III conditional qualifying time of 50.75. A native of Naperville, Illinois, Boumgarden is a three-time NCAA III All-American in the event.
On the women's side, Calvin sophomore Rebekah Weima ranks highly in three events. A graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, Weima has the top time in the country in the 200 freestyle with an NCAA III automatic qualifying time of 1:52.37. She also has an automatic qualifying time of 51.73 in the 100 freestyle that ranks third on the national list and a conditional qualifying time of 5:03.31 in the 500 freestyle that ranks second on the list. A year ago, Weima took second at the national meet in the 200 freestyle, fourth in the 100 freestyle and sixth in the 500 freestyle.
Calvin junior Abby Johnson of Grand Haven High School is also ranked in three individual events as she has NCAA III conditional qualifying times in the 200 breaststroke, 200 IM and 400 IM. Johnson is ranked 10th in the 200 breaststroke (2:25.56), 14th in the 200 IM (2:10.99) and ninth in the 400 IM (4:37.79).
In addition, Calvin has two ranked relays as its 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle relays have NCAA III conditional qualifying times. Calvin's 400 freestyle relay team of freshman Kat Vinson (Kaneohe, HI), freshman Stephanie Duncan (Long Grove, IL), Johnson and Weima is sixth on the national list with a time of 3:34.52. Calvin's 800 freestyle relay team of Johnson, Duncan, junior Lynn Visser (Jenison HS) and Weima is ranked fourth with a time of 7:51.00.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Tue Dec 14 18:00:15 2004
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