CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR DECEMBER 9, 2013
Calvin Men's Soccer Players Receive NSCAA Division III Central All-Region Honors;
Tyler Kruis Named MIAA Player of the Week in Men's Basketball;
Andrew Mitchell Named MIAA Men's Swimmer of the Week
MEN'S SOCCER
Four members of the MIAA champion Calvin men's soccer team have received Continental Tire Division III All-Central Region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Named to the first team from Calvin are junior Travis Vegter and sophomore Taylor Pruis while senior Zach Willis and junior Sean Broekhuizen have been named to the second team. As members of the first team, Vegter and Pruis are both eligible for Division III All-America consideration.
A native of Hudsonville and a graduate of Hudsonville Unity Christian High School, Vegter is receiving first team Division III All-Central region honors for the second consecutive year as he was named to the third team a year ago. A forward, Vegter tallied a team-leading 27 goals and 60 points while also receiving credit for six assists. Four of his goals were game-winners during the season.
His 27 goals were the second highest single-season total in Calvin men's soccer history and ranked second nationally heading into last weekend.
Vegter is currently ranked fourth on the Calvin career list in goals (44) and fifth in points (104).
The MIAA's Most Valuable Player this fall, Vegter was named to the All-MIAA first team and was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week three times. He was also named the Division III National Player of the Week once by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Pruis hails from Grand Rapids and is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School. Also a forward, Pruis tallied five goals and a team-leading 17 assists for a total of 27 points. His 17 assists matched a Calvin single-season record also held by Nick Capisciolto (2005) and Joey Barone (1991). His assist total ranked him fourth in the NCAA III statistics.
A first team All-MIAA selection this fall, Pruis was also named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week once.
He is currently ranked fifth on the Calvin career list in assists (25).
Broekhuizen is from Grand Rapids and is a graduate of Grand Rapids South Christian High School. A defender, Broekhuizen is receiving all-region accolades for the first time in his career.
On defense, Broekhuizen steadied a Calvin back line that helped record six shutout victories. He also provided a spark on offense with five goals, five assists and 15 points. He scored the game-tying goal in the MIAA Tournament final against Hope. Two of his five goals proved to be game-winners.
Broekhuizen was also named to the All-MIAA first team this year.
A midfielder, Willis is from Wyoming and is a graduate of Hudsonville Unity Christian High School. He is receiving all-region accolades as he was named to the Division III All-Central Region first team in 2011.
Willis was part of a potent Calvin offense in 2013 as he recorded seven goals, 10 assists and 24 points. Two of his seven goals were game-winners.
Willis was named to the All-MIAA first team this fall.
He finished his Calvin career with 32 goals, 29 assists and 93 points. He is ranked eighth on the Calvin career list for goals, fifth in assists and and sixth in points.
Under the direction of head coach Ryan Souders, Calvin finished the 2013 season with an overall record of 14-5-1 while capturing an unprecedented seventh consecutive MIAA regular season crown with a 12-2-0 league mark.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Calvin center Tyler Kruis its Player of the Week in men's basketball for games played through December 8. Kruis, a senior from Grand Rapids (Grandville Calvin Christian HS), averaged 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds during the MIAA/CCIW Challenge at Calvin over the weekend. He scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists in a 74-68 loss to Carthage, Wis.
He then added 17 points and six rebounds as the Knights posted an impressive 78-51 victory over Wheaton, Ill. in a battle of nationally-ranked teams. Kruis, who is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time this season and second time in his career, shot 75 percent (18 of 24) from the field during the tournament.
Calvin is back in action on December 14 when it hosts Finlandia University at 3 p.m.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Calvin's Andrew Mitchell its Men's Athletes of the Week in swimming and diving for meets through December 8.
Mitchell, a senior from Iron Mountain (Kingsford HS), broke two individual school records and had a hand in two school-record relays at the Calvin Winter Invitational. He broke the school record in the 100-yard freestyle in :46.06 and the 200 freestyle with a MIAA-best time of 1:40.11.
He also swam on Calvin record-setting performances in the 200 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay. He also posted the MIAA's best time this season in the 100 backstroke with a time of :51.93.
Mitchell is being honored as Athlete of the Week for the first time in his career.
Received on Mon Dec 9 16:11:13 2013
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