Samuel De Young

Years in Cross Country: 5

Favorite Cross Country Memory: The bags tournament at XC camp

Future Plans: Attend Calvin University

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Training can pay off in the end

Celia Kort

Years in Cross Country: 3

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Celebrating with my team mates after finishing Otsego (my first race back from a stress fracture and a big PR)

Future Plans: Attend either Calvin University or Wheaton College

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Don't wish you could be cross training. Running is more fun.

Isaiah Lindstrom

Years in Cross Country: 7

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Having deep conversations during runs.

Future Plans: Go to a college and then get a job.

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: If you really want to improve, do what Coach tells you to; run 6 days a week, all year round.

Emily Plantinga

Years in Cross Country: 1

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Getting 3 minutes faster from the start of the season and cheering people on after racing

Future Plans: Studying neuroscience at Calvin

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Don't be afraid to try something new or limit yourself by thinking you're one-dimensional

Micah Small

Years in Cross Country: 8

Favorite Cross Country Memory: The 2 mile prediction run this year. It was my first full camp and on the cool down we threw James in the lake. 

Future Plans: I want to go to college, get a degree in business management/administration, get a masters, and then coach basketball or cross country while getting a PHD, then be a collegiate athletic director. 

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: The best part of running isn't the PRs or running fast, the time spent with teammates doing draft battles or just laughing is what makes Cross Country so great.

Run the 800.

Annika TerBeek

Years in Cross Country: 8

Favorite Cross Country Memory: winning states my sophomore year 

Future Plans: go to either University of Kentucky or University of Alabama and go into marketing or sports management 

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: enjoy the process of each season and don't take it for granted because it goes by really fast.

Anson Lange

Years in Cross Country: 3

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Going to pasta parties and just hanging out with people

Future Plans: Undergrad and graduate education

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: It's important to engage with the team outside of practice too. 

Lilah Poel

Years in Cross Country: 8

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Winning states as a team my sophomore year, and getting a PR at Otsego this year with Ellie. 

Future Plans: Attend college, still unsure of where or what I will study.

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Not stress too much and try and have fun!

Mia Roe

Years in Cross Country: 4

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Frankfort after Benzie, prayer buddies, runs with Coach Kate's speaker, and making posters for State! 

Future Plans: Studying Elementary Education and Spanish at Hope College

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Enjoy all of it! Even though cross country can be hard, especially through setbacks like injuries, have fun and remember you run for God. Most importantly, be a loving and encouraging teammate :)

Sean Ryan

Years in Cross Country: 7

Favorite Cross Country Memory: running in thunderstorms

Future Plans: Studying economics at TBD school

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Don't worry about the people around you. Run your own race

Ellie Scholma

Years in Cross Country: 8

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Winning State as a team and having an undefeated season in 2023 and getting a pr at Otsego with Lilah

Future Plans: study nursing but am undecided as to where

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Enjoy the process and try not to stress out to much about races.

Lily Tatko

Years in Cross Country: 4

Favorite Cross Country Memory: PRing at Otsego after 2 years of injury. It was so fun because I got to run with Cora for most of the race, and we both medaled. Also I beat my freshman year PR by over 30 seconds!!!

Future Plans: Attending either Wheaton College or Calvin University (I plan to run in college)

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Team culture is everything. Make connections with teammates of all grade levels and always cheer on your team!

Merinaz Vogelzang

Years in Cross Country: 1

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Favorite memory is cross camp, all gathered at the fire watching the sunset and talking about how God is love and loving one another. Also me and Zoe trying to keep our posture straight during singing

Future Plans: hope college to study business or law 

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: Find the joy in running, dont focus on your time.

Anna Watrous

Years in Cross Country: 6

Favorite Cross Country Memory: Freshman year, cheering at states with all the seniors.

Future Plans: Go to college for biochemistry and minor in studio art.

Wisdom for Younger Teammates: The hardest part about running is getting over mental blocks. Once you believe you can do something, you will.

From Coach Hoekstra:

This season, we were blessed with an outstanding class of seniors! Seniors, your presence this season was a true gift. You did an amazing job cultivating a team that loves each other. You actively encouraged your teammates while supporting them through every mile and every challenge this fall. Thank you for setting the standard of servant leadership—your example will continue to inspire. We will miss you greatly!