Hope College dedicated the Jim Heeringa Athletic Center on Saturday. The 102,000-square-foot facility near the north end zone at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium will serve the football, baseball, and softball teams.
The building was constructed through a gift from Jim Heeringa and his partner, Eileen Kilmer. Mr. Heeringa was a Holland-area businessman who died in October at the age of 77.
Pictured, from left, Eileen Kilmer, head football coach Peter Stuursma, and Hope College President Matthew Scogin.
FOOTBALL
The annual Hope College Purple Community Game will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m., when the Flying Dutchmen football team hosts Northwestern (Minn.).
Funds raised will help provide a Hope student with an internship at Van Andel Institute and support VAI’s disease research and education efforts.
On Thursday, Sept. 23, the “Huge Show” radio show will broadcast live on WHTC 99.7 FM and 1450 AM and statewide from 3 to 6 p.m. from the Jim Heeringa Athletic Center and interview Hope coaches and student-athletes.
FOOTBALL
Junior Kenyea Houston rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Hope College football team to a 27-20 victory against Rose-Hulman (Ind.) on Saturday at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.
The Flying Dutchmen (2-1) held off a late comeback from Rose-Hulman, which scored two touchdowns in a 12-second span late in the fourth quarter.
VOLLEYBALL
The ninth-ranked Hope College volleyball team went undefeated at its tournament last weekend. Molly Ligon (7) and the Flying Dutch defeated Muskingum (Ohio) and Dominican (Ill.) in three sets and Cornell (Iowa) in four sets while improving to 8-1 on the season. Senior Ana Grunewald totaled 30 kills over the three matches. The Flying Dutch open MIAA play on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Alma.
MEN’S SOCCER
Brandon Fles scored 1 minute, 58 seconds into overtime to lift the Hope College men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory at Heidelberg (Ohio) on Saturday. It was the Flying Dutchmen’s fourth consecutive victory. Freshman Mario Hrvojevic recorded the assist. Goalie Daniel Hesselbein made six saves in his fourth shutout of the season. Hope (4-1-1) plays on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Central at North Park (Ill.) in Chicago.
WOMEN’S GOLF
The Hope College women’s golf team downed Calvin in match play, 7 1/2 – 2 1/2, on Saturday at Clearbrook Golf Club in Saugatuck. The event honored Joan Stafford, the late wife of Flying Dutch head coach Greg Stafford. Junior Emlin Munch and sophomore Abby Fansler each earned Hope points in the 10-match event with wins of 2-1 at the third flight and 3-2 at the fourth flight, respectively.
MEN’S GOLF
The Hope College men’s golf team finished fourth at the 36-hole, two-day Irish Hills Invitational hosted by Adrian last weekend. Freshman Jack Guerrera, pictured, topped the Flying Dutchmen by carding rounds of even-par 71 and 75 and finishing fourth in the individual standings. Sophomore Logan DeWitt was two strokes behind Guerrera and tied for forth. Hope next tees off on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. at the MIAA Jamboree at The Medalist Golf Course in Marshall
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Amid a field of runners from all three NCAA Divisions, Hope College women’s cross country runner Ana Tucker was among the fastest at the Michigan State University Spartan Invitational on Friday. The junior from Midland, Michigan (H.H Dow HS) clocked a sixth-place, 6K time of 21 minutes, 59.7 seconds at Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan. Tucker recorded the top non-NCAA Division I effort. Hope finished 10th as a team.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Nick Hoffman and Connor Vachon led the Hope College men’s cross country team with top-50 performances at the Michigan State University Spartan Invitational on Friday. Hoffman clocked an 8K time of 25 minutes, 53.8 seconds at Forest Akers East Golf Course. The senior finished 27th in a field of 266 that included runners from all three NCAA divisions. Vachon, pictured, a freshman, went 26.28.4 for 49th place. Hope finished 15th in the team standings.
