Western Michigan Christian Warriors are pictured celebrating their third-straight Division 4 state soccer championship on November 2.
By Ron Rop
LocalSportsJournal.com
When Western Michigan Christian capped off its third-straight Division 4 state soccer championship on Nov. 2, it culminated a season that featured quite the roller coaster ride for the Warriors.
Of course, the season ended on top of the mountain with a 1-0 victory over Plymouth Christian Academy in the state title game at Grand Ledge High School, but it was a long journey for the Warriors that started back in August.
For starters, how many teams that began the season 1-3-2, and in that span, got shut out three straight games, possibly come back all the way to hoist another state title trophy?
Coach Ben Buursma and his players did endure some trying times, but as the coach will tell you, he felt quite early on that this team could accomplish its ultimate goal of a third-straight title. As an independent, the Warriors sought out the best of competition, they found it, and took some lumps because of it.
The Warriors battled Division 2 Cedar Springs to a tie and followed that up with another tie, this time to Division 1 Grand Haven. It was about then that Buursma started to get the feeling this team could do it again despite the youthful roster that included freshmen and sophomores, and of course, some seasoned seniors to lead the way.
After a shutout victory, WMC did not score a goal for three straight games - a 1-0 loss to Division 2 Holland Christian, a 2-0 setback to Division 2 East Grand Rapids and a 2-0 shutout at the hands of Hartford, which made it to the Division 3 state semifinals.
Later came epic battles, and losses, to state ranked teams in Leland (D4), Hudsonville Unity Christian (D3) and Allendale (D2).
The disappointing loss to Allendale on their home turf was the last time the Warriors felt the bitter taste of defeat. From there, the team finished it off 10-0-1 and in the six-game tournament run, did not allow a goal.
“We knew we had to go through some struggles,” said Buursma, the Warriors fifth-year coach. “We just keep reminding them the goal is to be holding the championship trophy at the end of the season. We’ll take our lumps and learn and we’ll grow throughout the entire season. We’ll play the best teams because we want to be the best.”
And that mission was accomplished thanks to a hard-working group of seniors. For the season, Tekalegn Vlasma led the goal scoring with 28 goals and Cole DeJonge had five goals, but was the leading distributor, by far, with 26 assists.
“This (senior) class has been incredible,” Buursma said. “Probably the most successful in the history of the soccer program as far as going to three state title games and winning all three. They’ve earned everything they’ve gotten.”
The Warriors were building up steam, led by their senior captains DeJonge (midfield), Vlasma (forward), Luke Maat (defense) and Dan Minasian (goalkeeper). But, you can’t overlook the contributions of the underclassmen.
A group of nine underclassmen, who were coached by WMC assistant coach Jeremy Leffring from the age of 5 or 6, made significant contributions to the team’s fortunes. And it all started with recreational soccer leagues and built up from there. As 7-year-old players, they were playing Sailor Select at the U-9 level in the third division. They moved up to the top division before joining premier soccer.
“This year, they had a new coach because I can’t coach them,” said Leffring. “A couple of those boys play the E-64, which is like the MLS, but you play high school soccer too.” Those two players are Mason Bonnema and Carter Heimiller. E-64 is a top level in Nationals 2 and play spring tournaments before the prep season in the fall.
“I love those boys, I love the families,” said Leffring. “The families have been at tournaments and trusted me with their boys years and years ago to help them become better young men. That’s what Ben is leading here and we’re using youth soccer as that tool.”
It started in the first game when sophomores Anderson Leffring and Heimiller scored the Warriors’ first two goals of the season. It culminated when Bonnema scored the only goal in the state title game. For the season, Bonnema scored seven goals, Heimiller had four and Leffring had four. Sophomore Tyson Annema was another offensive stalwart with eight goals and four assists.
“It was really the leadership of our seniors,” said Leffring. “You’ve got these young guys coming and they don’t know. The seniors really took them under their wing and built their confidence, but it’s a talented group.”
“We didn’t know exactly how the underclassmen would step in and just improve over the course of the year, but I would say when we went toe-to-toe with Grand Haven, I was thinking that we have a shot,” said Buursma.
And it was never a tug of war between the upperclassmen and the underclassmen.
“The upperclassmen were so inclusive with these guys,” Buursma said. “They knew the kind of talent those guys have and they are a fun group to play with so the senior and the juniors just embraced that.”
“They are really good players and definitely belonged on the team,” said Dan Minasian, the senior goalkeeper and team captain. “We welcomed them with open arms and encouraged them when they needed encouragement and that kind of thing. They are really good and deserved to be there.”
“We are fully reloaded and I think we’ll see more in the next couple of years,” said Buursma.
LocalSportsJournal.com
When Western Michigan Christian capped off its third-straight Division 4 state soccer championship on Nov. 2, it culminated a season that featured quite the roller coaster ride for the Warriors.
Of course, the season ended on top of the mountain with a 1-0 victory over Plymouth Christian Academy in the state title game at Grand Ledge High School, but it was a long journey for the Warriors that started back in August.
For starters, how many teams that began the season 1-3-2, and in that span, got shut out three straight games, possibly come back all the way to hoist another state title trophy?
Coach Ben Buursma and his players did endure some trying times, but as the coach will tell you, he felt quite early on that this team could accomplish its ultimate goal of a third-straight title. As an independent, the Warriors sought out the best of competition, they found it, and took some lumps because of it.
The Warriors battled Division 2 Cedar Springs to a tie and followed that up with another tie, this time to Division 1 Grand Haven. It was about then that Buursma started to get the feeling this team could do it again despite the youthful roster that included freshmen and sophomores, and of course, some seasoned seniors to lead the way.
After a shutout victory, WMC did not score a goal for three straight games - a 1-0 loss to Division 2 Holland Christian, a 2-0 setback to Division 2 East Grand Rapids and a 2-0 shutout at the hands of Hartford, which made it to the Division 3 state semifinals.
Later came epic battles, and losses, to state ranked teams in Leland (D4), Hudsonville Unity Christian (D3) and Allendale (D2).
The disappointing loss to Allendale on their home turf was the last time the Warriors felt the bitter taste of defeat. From there, the team finished it off 10-0-1 and in the six-game tournament run, did not allow a goal.
“We knew we had to go through some struggles,” said Buursma, the Warriors fifth-year coach. “We just keep reminding them the goal is to be holding the championship trophy at the end of the season. We’ll take our lumps and learn and we’ll grow throughout the entire season. We’ll play the best teams because we want to be the best.”
And that mission was accomplished thanks to a hard-working group of seniors. For the season, Tekalegn Vlasma led the goal scoring with 28 goals and Cole DeJonge had five goals, but was the leading distributor, by far, with 26 assists.
“This (senior) class has been incredible,” Buursma said. “Probably the most successful in the history of the soccer program as far as going to three state title games and winning all three. They’ve earned everything they’ve gotten.”
The Warriors were building up steam, led by their senior captains DeJonge (midfield), Vlasma (forward), Luke Maat (defense) and Dan Minasian (goalkeeper). But, you can’t overlook the contributions of the underclassmen.
A group of nine underclassmen, who were coached by WMC assistant coach Jeremy Leffring from the age of 5 or 6, made significant contributions to the team’s fortunes. And it all started with recreational soccer leagues and built up from there. As 7-year-old players, they were playing Sailor Select at the U-9 level in the third division. They moved up to the top division before joining premier soccer.
“This year, they had a new coach because I can’t coach them,” said Leffring. “A couple of those boys play the E-64, which is like the MLS, but you play high school soccer too.” Those two players are Mason Bonnema and Carter Heimiller. E-64 is a top level in Nationals 2 and play spring tournaments before the prep season in the fall.
“I love those boys, I love the families,” said Leffring. “The families have been at tournaments and trusted me with their boys years and years ago to help them become better young men. That’s what Ben is leading here and we’re using youth soccer as that tool.”
It started in the first game when sophomores Anderson Leffring and Heimiller scored the Warriors’ first two goals of the season. It culminated when Bonnema scored the only goal in the state title game. For the season, Bonnema scored seven goals, Heimiller had four and Leffring had four. Sophomore Tyson Annema was another offensive stalwart with eight goals and four assists.
“It was really the leadership of our seniors,” said Leffring. “You’ve got these young guys coming and they don’t know. The seniors really took them under their wing and built their confidence, but it’s a talented group.”
“We didn’t know exactly how the underclassmen would step in and just improve over the course of the year, but I would say when we went toe-to-toe with Grand Haven, I was thinking that we have a shot,” said Buursma.
And it was never a tug of war between the upperclassmen and the underclassmen.
“The upperclassmen were so inclusive with these guys,” Buursma said. “They knew the kind of talent those guys have and they are a fun group to play with so the senior and the juniors just embraced that.”
“They are really good players and definitely belonged on the team,” said Dan Minasian, the senior goalkeeper and team captain. “We welcomed them with open arms and encouraged them when they needed encouragement and that kind of thing. They are really good and deserved to be there.”
“We are fully reloaded and I think we’ll see more in the next couple of years,” said Buursma.
