CSR (High Honors for Calvin Soccer Coaches)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR DECEMBER 22, 2006

Mark Recker Named Division III Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year in
Women's Soccer;
Don Buchholz Named to Michigan Soccer Hall of Fame

MARK RECKER EARNS GREAT LAKES REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR HONORS

Calvin College women's soccer coach Mark Recker has been named the Division III
Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year in women's soccer by the National Soccer
Coaches Association of America. It marks the first time that Recker has
received the prestigious honor.

 In 2006, Calvin reached the national quarterfinals and posted a final season
record of 22-0-1. Recker's 2006 team also allowed just six goals on the season,
setting a new Calvin single-season record in the process. Calvin's victory
total (22) in 2006 was also a new single-season record. In addition, Recker was
named the MIAA Women's Soccer Coach of the Year in 2006 after also receiving
the award in 2005.

With a 22-0-1 record, Recker's 2006 team led the national in won-loss-tied
percentage (.978); finished third nationally in goals-against-average (0.256),
fourth in shutout percentage (0.74) and 40th in scoring offense (3.00).
Calvin's advancement to the NCAA III quarterfinals was the farthest push in the
NCAA III Tournament by an MIAA women's soccer team. Calvin closed out it season
with a 1-1 double-overtime tie against defending national champion Messiah (PA)
advancing to the NCAA III Final Four by way of a 5-3 win a penalty kick
shootout.

Recker's team also finished fifth in the final Division III Top-25 polls
released by D3kicks.com and by the National Soccer Coaches Association of
America.

A 1981 Calvin graduate, Recker recently completed his sixth year as head
women's soccer coach at his alma mater. Heading into the 2007 season, Recker
has compiled a won-loss record of 91-24-8 (.762) at the helm of the Maroon and
Gold which includes MIAA titles in 2005 and 2006 and appearances in the NCAA
III Tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Recker will receive his Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year award at the
NSCAA convention scheduled for January 12 and 13 in Indianapolis.

For the complete list of Regional Coach of the Year winners at both the
collegiate and high school level, please visit the NSCAA web site at:
http://www.nscaa.com/articles/20061221133839153.php

CALVIN ASSISTANT MEN'S SOCCER COACH NAMED TO MICHIGAN SOCCER HALL OF FAME

First-year Calvin assistant men's soccer coach Don Buchholz was recently
inducted into the Michigan Soccer Hall of Fame which is located in Detroit
suburb of Troy.

A 1972 Calvin graduate, Buchholz is the first individual from the West side of
the state to be inducted into the Michigan Soccer Hall of Fame.

At Calvin, Buchholz was a standout goalkeeper. His goals-against-average of
0.60 in 1971 still ranks as the second-best single-season average in Calvin
men's soccer history. Buchholz was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player as a
senior in 1971 and was a member of the MIAA's first two all-conference squads
as the MIAA launched soccer as a conference sport in the fall of 1970.

Buchholz continued his playing career after graduating from Calvin with his
most notable playing achievements coming as the head coach and starting
goalkeeper for the Bill and Paul's Soccer Club of the Western Michigan Soccer
League/Michigan Soccer Association.

Buchholz served as vice president of the Western Michigan Soccer League from
1988-to-1992 and has served as league president since 1993. He has also served
as a head boys soccer coach at Grand Rapids Christian, Grand Rapids South
Christian and Northview High Schools - a span that includes 20 years of
coaching. In addition, he has worked as a licensed high school and collegiate
soccer official for the last 17 years.

This fall, Buchholz joined the Calvin men's soccer coaching staff as an
assistant, working for head coach Chris Hughes. Buchholz was part of a coaching
staff that helped a youthful Calvin men's soccer team hit the double-digit
plateau in victories for the ninth consecutive year as the Knights finished
10-5-5 overall.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Dec 22 18:12:27 2006