CKSR (Joel Kamstra Named Men's Varsity Lacrosse Coach)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR JAN. 17, 2012 (PART TWO)

Joel Kamstra Named Men's Varsity Lacrosse Coach

MEN'S LACROSSE

Calvin College has named Joel Kamstra as its first head men’s varsity lacrosse
coach. A native of Grand Rapids, Kamstra is no stranger to Calvin College or
the school’s lacrosse program as he has served as an assistant coach with the
Calvin men’s club lacrosse program the last two years. He will also serve as
the head coach this spring in Calvin’s final year of club men’s lacrosse with
the Knights making the transition to varsity status for the 2012-13 academic
year.
Kamstra has also served two years as assistant coach with the Grand Rapids
Christian boy’s lacrosse program - one year at the club level and one year at
the varsity level.
A 2007 Calvin College graduate, Kamstra was a four-year member of the Calvin
men’s club lacrosse program during his time as a student. Kamstra was a
midfielder with the Calvin men’s lacrosse club team and was part of teams that
earned bids to the MCLA National Tournament. He was also part of teams that
captured 2004, 2005 and 2006 CCLA Conference Championships while serving as
team captain his senior year.
Kamstra became interested in lacrosse as a senior at Calvin Christian High
School when he began to compete in local club tournaments after also playing
varsity football and varsity tennis at the high school level.
After graduating from Calvin Christian High School, Kamstra chose to attend
Calvin College and joined its men’s club lacrosse team as a freshman. Kamstra
graduated from Calvin College while holding a major in political science and a
minor in business. In addition to his coaching duties, Kamstra currently works
in sales with telecommunications company U.S. Signal in the Grand Rapids area.
His family has strong ties to Calvin College as his wife Maribeth (Borchert) is
a 2008 Calvin College graduate while his younger brother Eric Kamstra is a
recent Calvin College graduate and will serve as an assistant coach under Joel
beginning this spring.
“Calvin College has been very good to my family and I have a great love for the
institution for what it stands for spiritually, academically and athletically,”
said (Joel) Kamstra. “I am honored to accept the head coaching position at my
alma mater, particularly as lacrosse makes the transition to varsity status.”
Kamstra is also eager to begin recruiting student-athletes for Calvin College.
“Our college has many selling points and I am looking forward to the
recruiting process,” said Kamstra. “Calvin College is a wonderful Christian
school with outstanding academics and now we (lacrosse) will also be competing
as a varsity sport.”
Calvin men’s director of athletics Dr. Jim Timmer is also pleased with
Kamstra’s addition to the Calvin varsity coaching staff. “We are very
excited to bring Joel aboard to our coaching staff,” said Timmer. “Joel is very
passionate about lacrosse and he is also very passionate about Calvin College.
He understands the mission of Calvin and our athletics program. I am confident
he will do a terrific job as our head men’s lacrosse coach.”
Calvin will be part of seven MIAA schools that will be competing in men’s
lacrosse in the spring of 2013. With seven schools competing, the MIAA will
also receive an automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament that spring.
“Our league will be very competitive,” said Kamstra. “Knowing that everyone has
a chance to compete for a league championship and an NCAA III Tournament bid
will be very exciting for everyone in our conference.”

Calvin will also be fielding a varsity women's lacrosse program for the 2012-13
academic year. Calvin's search for a head coach in women's lacrosse is ongoing.
JOEL KAMSTRA AUDIO INTERVIEW:
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/audio/12/Lacrosse/JoelKamstraHeadCoachAnnouncement.mp3
Received on Tue Jan 17 17:50:33 2012