Theme of 'Team' Plays Well for Portland
May 29, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Team-building, and self-sacrifice for those teammates, are among the many lessons taught through educational athletics.
Portland junior golfer Ethan Getchell has picked them up quickly.
Getchell, an all-league selection in 2017 as a sophomore, will not be playing in Wednesday’s Division 3 Regional hosted by his school – by his own accord.
He instead chose for a senior teammate to take his place.
Raiders sophomore Zach Pier – who tied for third at last season’s Division 3 Final – leads the lineup and was locked in for the Regional. Teams send out five golfers, so four more spots remained. But five others also played significant roles on this season’s Portland team – four of the five earned some level of all-league recognition, and the fifth had the team’s third-best score at the league tournament.
After all the numbers for the season were tallied, the final spot came down to Getchell and senior Devin Miller.
Both earned all-league honorable mention this season. Their competitive stroke averages are separated by less than a tenth of a stroke. So the opportunity to play in the Regional came down to a practice round at Willow Wood Golf Course, where this week’s tournament will be played. Getchell shot a season-best 79, while Miller had an off day and fired a 91.
Getchell earned the spot – and gave it right back after the team’s brief post-practice meeting.
As Portland coach Jon Snellenberger wrote: “(Ethan) felt whether he played or Devin played in the Regional tournament, that on any given day his or Devin’s competitive performance would still help their team’s result. He further explained that throughout the season Devin’s play, along with that of their other four teammates, (saw) at least one of them step up in different matches to make Portland a very competitive golf team to compete against.”
Getchell also noted to his coach, “That being a junior, he would look forward to next season, his senior year, to have the opportunity to play in a state Regional tournament, and that for Devin, a graduating senior, this may be his last chance to play in a high school golf match in his career.”
The next day, Getchell and Miller were called into a meeting with Snellenberger and athletic director Kevin Veale. Snellenberger and Veale suspected Miller – noting his character as well – might turn down the opportunity. Miller did state, according to Snellenberger, “(that) his stats hadn’t met the standard for this tournament’s lineup, but that Ethan’s stats had.”
But then Getchell again made his desire known. Miller, “with a degree of humble reluctance,” accepted Getchell’s spot in the lineup.
Miller will join the lineup and Getchell will be the team’s alternate Wednesday.
But regardless of the results, both starred in how they graciously gave and accepted a meaningful opportunity.
PHOTOS: Ethan Getchell (left) begins a swing this season, while Devin Miller watches after his follow-through. (Photos courtesy of the Portland athletic department.)
Calvin Christian's Outstanding Ending to 2024 Sparking Strong 2025 Start
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
April 24, 2025
GRANDVILLE – If only last year’s Division 4 Boys Golf Final had been extended another day.
Grandville Calvin Christian played its best during the final round of the 2024 season, and it resulted in the team’s highest Finals finish since 1990.
The Squires finished runner-up to repeat champion Clarkston Everest Collegiate at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University, just eight strokes back after entering the final round in fifth place and trailing by 17.
“Last year I think the guys really didn’t know what to expect going into the state tournament,” Calvin Christian coach Herm Medema said. “But they were ready to play and were familiar with the golf course, which really helps. They found out they could play with some of the higher-echelon teams that we are trying to chase and emulate. That we can do as well as they have in the past.
“We had a really good second day so we are kind of feeding off of that, and they were wishing it was a three-day tournament.”
The Squires recorded the best team total on the second day of the Final, posting an impressive 322 – a 28-stroke improvement from their first round.
Three golfers improved by nine strokes or more from the first round, including junior Will Orme. He fired a second-day 75 after an opening-round 87 and jumped into seventh place individually.
As this year’s No. 1 player, Orme, a returning all-state selection, is one of four starters back from that Finals lineup. The experience and veteran leadership has created lofty expectations.
“Coming into the season, we had thoughts of being a good team because of how well we did last year,” Orme said. “Even though we got second, we knew we were only losing one guy, so coming back this year I think our confidence was higher than ever.
“We were all excited to see how well we could do and get our revenge this year.”
So far, the Squires have built off their success from a year ago.
A win in their first Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver jamboree was a promising start, and they followed with a victory at the 15-team Kent City Invitational.
“We’ve played pretty good this year, and anytime you can have experience then it’s really going to help,” Medema said. “And they really like each other. These guys really care for each other, and they do a lot of things together. They go on spring break together, they hang out together and they play other sports together.
“Most of them are multi-sport athletes too. Two of them play basketball and did really well, and our No. 3 guy was an all-state hockey player. I think it helps a ton to have multi-sport athletes.”
Three seniors – Josh VanderWal, Mason Schroeder and Caleb Teusink – occupy the next three spots after Orme.
Schroeder has been playing exceptionally well early this season with a second-place finish Monday at Egypt Valley Golf Course and the medalist honor in Kent City.
It’s been a positive sign that any of the top four can go low on any given day.
“I think our biggest strength is any guy can go out and just have a great round,” Orme said. “And when one of us doesn't, then the others can cover for each other because we’re pretty consistent. We don’t have really bad rounds, and we play well off each other. We mesh really well.”
The Squires have steadily moved up in their Finals standings over the last few seasons. They placed ninth in 2022 and seventh two years ago before last spring’s runner-up finish.
“We’ve been to the state tournament three years now, and it’s about experience,” VanderWal said. “Each time it’s gotten easier. The nerves are going to be there, but it’s about how you deal with them, and all of us have another year under our belt.
“We have a deep team this year, so everyone is picking each other up and we’re doing well. It's been fun, but I’m hoping for warmer weather and less wind.”
While the MHSAA Tournament is still several weeks away, Calvin Christian is simply trying to make strides in the meantime in hopes of competing once again for a Finals championship.
“I think we all want it pretty bad,” Orme said. “We had a great time and it was a great experience last year getting runner-up, but we are all hungry this year and want to get what we wanted last year. I think we have just as good, if not better, chance this year.”
Dean Holzwarth has covered primarily high school sports for Grand Rapids-based WOOD-TV for five years after serving at the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years along with shorter stints at the Ionia Sentinel and WZZM. Contact him at dream100@comcast.net with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Calvin Christian’s Caleb Teusink sends an approach shot during last season’s Division 4 Final at The Meadows. (Middle) The Squires take a team photo after last year’s runner-up finish; all but one golfer is back this spring. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)