Ryan DeHaan (front row second from left) is pictured with his father Rick DeHaan, mother Deb Turner, sister Katelynn DeHaan, and back row coaches Ken Sattler, Dave Lodes, and Kevin Langs.
C-S senior signs letter of commitment
to run track, cross country
By Bruce Rolfe
After enjoying a small home town feel during the time he attended Climax-Scotts Community Schools since pre-school, C-S senior Ryan DeHaan felt Trine University brought a similar atmosphere, which proved to be a big factor why he chose the university for his next academic and athletic journey.
DeHaan, the son of Rick DeHaan and Deb Turner, signed a letter of commitment to run on the Trine University track and cross country teams. He will major in Sports Management and minor in coaching.
The 2024 C-S Class Valedictorian said Trine gave him the impression that he would also be able to prove himself athletically right away, which was also appealing.
“What I liked most is one, the small campus feel of it. Throughout my college decision process I weighed many different sizes. I visited Eastern (Michigan University), Western (Michigan University) and some of the in between size schools like Olivet College at the time and Trine University. I liked the smaller, one on one style of feel that Trine would give, plus, they were one of the only schools that athletically were going to give me a chance to prove myself right away. I just decided it felt like a place I could call home and the place that I felt had the best fit and the most chance to fulfill my potential in college,” said DeHaan.
DeHaan, who runs mainly the 400 and 800-meter runs, but is also a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that participated in the Division 4 State Finals June 1, said the Trine track coach was impressed with the C-S graduate’s versatility in mid-distance events.
“It’s not very often, he told me, people who are planning to run in college can come in and do the full spectrum like I could. He liked that ability to be able to use me in more then one way, like he possibly could, instead of just sticking to one or two event types,” said DeHaan, who has also participated in the 4x400 and 4x800-meter relays this season at C-S.
The departing C-S senior said the Trine track coach also told him he liked DeHaan’s make up as a person along with the motivation and the work ethic he brings to practice each day. He was also impressed with the time he gives to the sport outside of the season in an effort to improve his times, which could help make the team better.
DeHaan said his role hasn’t been defined yet, but he got the impression he will be utilized mostly in the 400 and 800-meter runs. But he also could be used in a distance medley relay event.
DeHaan said both the Trine cross country and track coaches believe all athletes should be used throughout the season, however on the cross country side, he knows he’s going to have to work extremely hard to get into conference meets because of the limited number of entries that can get into a race.
He said in track, there’s a chance he could step in for opportunities almost every meet because of his versatility. Plus, he will be part of a group of incoming mid-distance runners replacing graduating mid-distance runners. He’s hoping to get into a regional meet with a chance to qualify for the national meet.
DeHaan is also looking forward to competing against highly skilled athletes in a more competitive environment.
“That’s going to be a whole new challenge. And in a sense, it’s gonna make it feel like every meet is important and you know that there isn’t a day that you can take it easy. Knowing that every single day that there is going to be someone at your level or always trying to get better than you at your level, no matter if they’re faster, on par, or slower than you. This gives me the motivation to work more and make sure I’m not falling behind,” observed DeHaan.
DeHaan, who is majoring in sports management with a minor in coaching, said he would really like to become a coach some day, however if that does not work out, he said it’s been his dream to work closely with a college or professional sports team in some role, even if it is at a minor league level.
DeHaan said his parents attended larger schools, and saw what C-S had to offer in terms of a small school feel and sense of community. So they decided to give the local school district a chance for him along with his sister, who has already graduated. From pre-school to graduation, DeHaan said he has “had nothing but positive experiences at Climax-Scotts.”
The departing senior said attending a small school district like Climax-Scotts opened the door for him to reach his potential and strive for larger goals.
“It’s just been a great experience for me. I love the friendships and the sense of community that they’ve given me. And also without Climax-Scotts, I probably, would have never had the opportunity to be the athlete I am now. And the teachers have also always been great, and I have nothing bad to say about the district as a whole in these past 13 years,” adds DeHaan.
After enjoying a small home town feel during the time he attended Climax-Scotts Community Schools since pre-school, C-S senior Ryan DeHaan felt Trine University brought a similar atmosphere, which proved to be a big factor why he chose the university for his next academic and athletic journey.
DeHaan, the son of Rick DeHaan and Deb Turner, signed a letter of commitment to run on the Trine University track and cross country teams. He will major in Sports Management and minor in coaching.
The 2024 C-S Class Valedictorian said Trine gave him the impression that he would also be able to prove himself athletically right away, which was also appealing.
“What I liked most is one, the small campus feel of it. Throughout my college decision process I weighed many different sizes. I visited Eastern (Michigan University), Western (Michigan University) and some of the in between size schools like Olivet College at the time and Trine University. I liked the smaller, one on one style of feel that Trine would give, plus, they were one of the only schools that athletically were going to give me a chance to prove myself right away. I just decided it felt like a place I could call home and the place that I felt had the best fit and the most chance to fulfill my potential in college,” said DeHaan.
DeHaan, who runs mainly the 400 and 800-meter runs, but is also a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that participated in the Division 4 State Finals June 1, said the Trine track coach was impressed with the C-S graduate’s versatility in mid-distance events.
“It’s not very often, he told me, people who are planning to run in college can come in and do the full spectrum like I could. He liked that ability to be able to use me in more then one way, like he possibly could, instead of just sticking to one or two event types,” said DeHaan, who has also participated in the 4x400 and 4x800-meter relays this season at C-S.
The departing C-S senior said the Trine track coach also told him he liked DeHaan’s make up as a person along with the motivation and the work ethic he brings to practice each day. He was also impressed with the time he gives to the sport outside of the season in an effort to improve his times, which could help make the team better.
DeHaan said his role hasn’t been defined yet, but he got the impression he will be utilized mostly in the 400 and 800-meter runs. But he also could be used in a distance medley relay event.
DeHaan said both the Trine cross country and track coaches believe all athletes should be used throughout the season, however on the cross country side, he knows he’s going to have to work extremely hard to get into conference meets because of the limited number of entries that can get into a race.
He said in track, there’s a chance he could step in for opportunities almost every meet because of his versatility. Plus, he will be part of a group of incoming mid-distance runners replacing graduating mid-distance runners. He’s hoping to get into a regional meet with a chance to qualify for the national meet.
DeHaan is also looking forward to competing against highly skilled athletes in a more competitive environment.
“That’s going to be a whole new challenge. And in a sense, it’s gonna make it feel like every meet is important and you know that there isn’t a day that you can take it easy. Knowing that every single day that there is going to be someone at your level or always trying to get better than you at your level, no matter if they’re faster, on par, or slower than you. This gives me the motivation to work more and make sure I’m not falling behind,” observed DeHaan.
DeHaan, who is majoring in sports management with a minor in coaching, said he would really like to become a coach some day, however if that does not work out, he said it’s been his dream to work closely with a college or professional sports team in some role, even if it is at a minor league level.
DeHaan said his parents attended larger schools, and saw what C-S had to offer in terms of a small school feel and sense of community. So they decided to give the local school district a chance for him along with his sister, who has already graduated. From pre-school to graduation, DeHaan said he has “had nothing but positive experiences at Climax-Scotts.”
The departing senior said attending a small school district like Climax-Scotts opened the door for him to reach his potential and strive for larger goals.
“It’s just been a great experience for me. I love the friendships and the sense of community that they’ve given me. And also without Climax-Scotts, I probably, would have never had the opportunity to be the athlete I am now. And the teachers have also always been great, and I have nothing bad to say about the district as a whole in these past 13 years,” adds DeHaan.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
