Page 14 — Thursday, June 24, 2021 — The Hastings Banner
Trojans honor group of 13
college-bound student-athletes
Brett Bremer
Sports Editor
Despite masks, altered or canceled varsity
and club seasons and everything else that
came along with the Covid-19 pandemic, col-
lege coaches found the talent in the Trojans.
Thornapple Kellogg High School honored
its college bound student-athletes who have
plans to continue competing in sports on the
next level in May in the high school auditori-
um. TK athletic director Brian Hammer was
happy to be able to host the annual event,
which couldn’t be held in 2020.
Tyah Jefferson is the lone Division 1 signeeof the bunch, but she won’t be competing for
the Michigan State University Spartans in
basketball or volleyball where she stood out
for the Trojans. Jefferson has been recruited to
join the MSU Women’s Rowing team.
Much like another local product, 2018
Caledonia High School graduate Emily
Petrosky who was a talented volleyball player
and an all-state skier and now a rower for the
Spartans, Jefferson was recruited for her size
and athleticism. With high school rowing pro-
grams few and far between, universities often
have to find athletes in other fields to build
their squads – and collegiate coaches often
prefer to build their rowers from the ground
up.
Jefferson’s talented Trojan basketball team-
mate Paige VanStee in all likelihood could
have found a spot playing softball or golfing
collegiately of she had wanted too, but basket-
ball is really her game. VanStee, often one of
the loudest voices cheering for her teammates
and classmates at the ceremony, has signed
her National Letter of Intent to join the Grand
Valley State University Women’s Basketball
program.
VanStee’s basketball and softball teammate
Moriah Sprague, an outstanding catcher, has
made plans to join the Cornerstone University
Women’s Softball team next season. Another
TK basketball player, Haven Beyer, celebrat-
ed her decision to continue playing ball for
Judson University.
A Trojan trio is headed to Olivet College,
football lineman Blake Monroe, cheerleader
Liberty Tetzlaff and Cole Shoobridge who is
going to try his hand at playing football and
basketball for the Comets.
One more of Monore and Shoobridge’s
teammates from the TK varsity football team
has also found a collegiate home. Kicker/
punter Mitchell Middleton has signed his
National Letter of Intent to join the Ferris
State University football program. Middleton
set a school record at TK, booting a 52-yard
field goal and was rated as not only one of the
top kickers in the state of Michigan but also
among the best in his class in the country.
Shoobridge’s basketball teammate Austin
Van Elst is taking his talents on the hardwood
to Calvin University. Van Elst averaged 17.
points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game
as the big man in the paint for TK during his
senior season and closed the year among the
Detroit Free Press’s honorable mention all-
state award winners and was a BCAM
Academic All-State Award winner as well.
A pair of Thornapple Kellogg bowlers are
headed to join the Davenport UniversityBowling program, Michael Willshire and
Carly Snyder, both of whom were individual
state qualifiers during their time rolling with
the Trojans.
Thornapple Kellogg has a pair of girls
headed to continue their soccer playing days
on the college level. Abbie Numerick has
plans to play at Great Lakes Christian College
and Grace Snyder is going to play for KelloggCommunity College. TK also has Nathan
Hildabrand from the boys’ program headed to
Cornerstone University to continue his soccer
playing days.
TK has one newly graduated senior headed
on to continue his wrestling career as well,
Carter West who placed fourth at heavyweight
in Division 2 at the Individual State Finals in
March.OUR BEST HOPE IS THE
COVID-19 VACCINE.
Why should I get mine?
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective.
It will save lives and help Michigan move forward.
Protect us all, by getting your dose of hope.
To find vaccine or to learn more visit
http://www.barryeatonhealth.org/schedule-vaccine
or call 517-543-2430 (Eaton County residents)
or 269-945-9516 (Barry County residents).
Thornapple Kellogg High School athletic director Brian Hammer welcomes the
crowd to celebrate TK’s college-bound senior athletes in a ceremony in the high school
auditorium in Middleville last month. (Photo by Brett Bremer)
Thornapple Kellogg’s Moriah Sprague (center) celebrates signing with Cornerstone
University to play softball next season, joined on stage by her class of 2021 teammate
Maleah Bailey (left) and TK varsity softball coach Ashley Garrett in the TKHS
auditorium May 6. (Photo by Brett Bremer)Thornapple Kellogg’s Cole Shoobridge (center) and his parents Chris and Mitch
Shoobridge remove their masks for family photos with smiles as Cole celebrates
signing his National Letter of Intent to join the Olivet College Football and Men’s
Basketball programs during the TKHS senior signing ceremony in the high school
auditorium May 6. (Photo by Brett Bremer)