Against the odds, Western Michigan Christian High School’s boys’ soccer team won the 2010 state championship. For WMCHS, located in Muskegon, Mich., the win was thrilling, as the team was not anticipating a victory.
“No one expected us to win. This year’s team had nine new starters. Even when we were at the state finals, we were not expected to win,” said Coach David Hulings.
This year the team explored the New Testament parable of the widow who gave all she had, focusing on using their individual God-given talents to work together as a team.
“At the state championship, our kids learned that if you trust God for the people he puts on your team, you can do amazing things,” said Hulings.
The 2010 team finished the season with a record of 22-2-1. Several players received statewide recognition for their contribution, including forwards Colin Breit, Matt DeKryger, Chaise Schuiteman, and Matt Wisen; defender Tim Schuitema; goal-keeper Jacob Baren; and mid-fielder Jason Prince.
In addition, Hulings earned two awards: 2010 Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association Private School Coach of the Year and 2010 Region 4 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Private/Parochial Coach of the Year.
“When players are good they bring honor to their coach, so my awards are the result of the players doing good. I have several assistant coaches, and they too deserve credit for this season,” said Hulings.
The win was a great addition to the previous athletic achievements of 2010, a year that found the WMCHS boys’ basketball team repeating for the third time as Class D State champions and the golf team ending the season as state runner-up.
WMCHS was one of the first high schools in West Michigan to field a soccer team in the late 1960s. Since 1982, WMCHS has finished as state champion or runner-up 12 times.
