CKSR (Calvin C Club Awards Announced)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MAY 14, 2015 (Part Two)

Calvin C Club Awards Announced

By Mark DeHaan

The 3rd Annual Calvin College C-Club Awards were held Thursday night in Van Noord Arena. The award winners are as follows:

Record-breaking Performance: Grant Van Putten, senior, baseball

Female Exceptional Performance in an Individual Event: Abby Van Harn, freshman, swimming & diving

Male Exceptional Performance in an Individual Event: Erik Holstege, senior, track & field

Female Role Player of the Year: Anna Timmer, sophomore, basketball

Male Role Player of the Year: Austin Roden, sophomore, lacrosse

Play of the Year: Hannah Acre's (senior) last second shot vs Hope, women's basketball

Male Freshman of the Year: Skyler Fish, freshman, swimming & diving

Female Freshman of the Year: Jenna Lodewyk, freshman, volleyball

Male Athlete of the Year: Travis Vegter, senior, soccer

Female Athlete of the Year: Maggie Kamp, junior, volleyball

Game of the Year: Men's basketball MIAA Tournament Men's Basketball Final 70-69 win over Hope

Breakthrough Team of the Year: Women's lacrosse

Outstanding Team of the Year: Women's basketball

Kay Tiemersma Award: Breanna Verkaik, senior, basketball

Beré Memorial Award: Jordan Brink, senior, basketball

Calvin also recognized Dr. Mark Veenstra as its Knight of Distinction, not only for his exceptional athletic achievements, but more-so his work since graduating from Calvin in 1977. Veenstra is the only player in MIAA men's basketball history to have been named MIAA MVP four straight years. He holds a number of Calvin and MIAA scoring and rebounding records.

Since his days as a Knight, Veenstra has practiced as an orthopedic surgeon for 26 years, and as part of his work, Veenstra has traveled to Honduras with the Luke Society to both conduct operations and teach the technique of orthopedic surgery to Honduras doctors.

"It's a special award because it's an honor not for athletics at Calvin but for how God has blessed my life since that time," said Veenstra.

Veenstra also had a challenge for the athletes.

"God has given each of you a special ability in athletics" said Veenstra. "But God has given you other talents besides athletic ability, and some of those you may not have even discovered yet, but God wants you to develop all of those abilities also."

"God will lead each of you in your lives as you move on and develop your abilities," continued Veenstra. "I've realized that God blesses us for a reason. He wants us to develop our gifts as much as we can so that we can serve God and that we can serve others. God blesses each of us so that we can be a blessing."

Veenstra joins Dr. Anthony Diekema ('56) and the inaugural two Knight of Distinction honorees.
Received on Thu May 14 23:27:08 2015