CKSR (Tim Syrek Named Calvin Softball Coach)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR July 17, 2013 (Part Two)
 
Tim Syrek Named Calvin Softball Coach
 
SOFTBALL

GRAND RAPIDS - Tim Syrek has been named the head coach of the Calvin softball program. A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Valley State University, Syrek comes to Calvin from Otsego High School where he has served as an administrator and head varsity girls softball coach since 2000.

At Otsego, he served as the Director of Community Education and Middle School Athletics. As the varsity softball coach, he fashioned a won-loss record of 403-207 including a school record 34-win season in 2009. He has also previously served as the high school varsity softball coach at Allegan High School and Big Rapids High School. In addition, he has served as an assistant softball coach with the District 2 Big League softball team for several years and was part of the District 2 team that captured the Big League World Series title in 2000 and finished runnerup three times.

"I am very excited about the opportunity coach at Calvin College," said Syrek. "Calvin is a place with a lot of upside and is a great place to be. Coaching at the collegiate level for the first time will be a challenge but it is a challenge I am looking forward to."

Syrek is also excited to be working at a Christian institution like Calvin. "I am looking forward to expressing my Christian faith as a head coach," said Syrek. "One of my goals is to promote a family atmosphere within our team and our Christian faith will be at the center of that."

Syrek was graduated from Grand Valley State University in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism. He later earned a master's degree in organizational leadership and communication from Western Michigan University in 2006.
 
Prior to working for Otsego Public Schools, he served as the Director of Recreation and Enrichment in the Allegan Public School system from 1997-to-2000.

He also has experience as a member of the media, writing for the Grand Rapids Press from 1992-to-1994 and working as the sports editor of the Big Rapids Pioneer Press from 1994-to-1997.

"I am very pleased to announce that Tim will direct our softball program," said Calvin Director of Women's Athletics Dr. Nancy Meyer. "Tim is very passionate about the game of softball and I am confident that he will do a great job as our head coach."

Syrek takes over a Calvin softball team that finished 17-13 overall this past spring and in sixth place in the highly-competitive MIAA with an 8-8 league record.

"I feel honored to be able to coach in the MIAA," said Syrek. "I know softball within the league is very competitive and we will have to bring our 'A' game every day that we play. From a strategy standpoint, our goal is to build a balance on offense, manufacturing runs when we need to while also using the long ball when we can. Strong defense and pitching will be also be an emphasis. Strong pitching and defense are keys to any successful team."
 
 
Received on Wed Jul 17 19:34:23 2013