By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
It has been quite a year so far for former Zeeland East distance running standout Danielle Groendyk.
First in April, Groendyk and her brother, John, ran in their first Boston Marathon, with Danielle breaking the 3-hour mark on the 26-mile, 385-yard course.
Now, Groendyk will be coaching a new generation of runners for the Chix. She has been hired as East’s new boys varsity cross country coach, replacing Ralph Neal, who led the Chix for the last nine years.
“Danielle has great character, a deep knowledge and passion for running and is ready to invest into our student-athletes. We are looking forward to having her part of our coaching staff and working with our student-athletes,” East Athletic Director Josh Glerum said in a social media post.
Groendyk, a 2015 East graduate, had spent the past six years as a teacher and coach at Oakridge High School in Muskegon. She was the Eagles’ girls track and field coach the last five years. She also served as the boys middle school cross country coach and assisted the boys varsity cross country program at Oakridge the last six years.
“I am so excited to be returning to begin coaching for my alma mater,” Groendyk said in a social media post. “Cross country and track were such a big part of my high school experience, so I cannot wait to give back to the program that taught me to love running. My hope is to facilitate a similar passion and excitement in current athletes, and to continue the excellence of Zeeland East sports. I cannot wait to get started.”
In high school, Groendyk earned all-state honors her senior year in the 1,600-meter run at the Division 2 girls state track and field finals, finishing sixth in a time of 5:10.23. She also qualified for the state girls cross country finals at Michigan International Speedway three times, with her best showing being a 44th-place effort out of 249 runners in her freshman season in 2011.
Groendyk taught English and psychology at Oakridge, but will be teaching Spanish at Zeeland East. She holds a bachelor’s degree and teaching certification in English language and literature from the University of Michigan, and a master’s in educational administration from Grand Valley State University.
Zeeland Record
It has been quite a year so far for former Zeeland East distance running standout Danielle Groendyk.
First in April, Groendyk and her brother, John, ran in their first Boston Marathon, with Danielle breaking the 3-hour mark on the 26-mile, 385-yard course.
Now, Groendyk will be coaching a new generation of runners for the Chix. She has been hired as East’s new boys varsity cross country coach, replacing Ralph Neal, who led the Chix for the last nine years.
“Danielle has great character, a deep knowledge and passion for running and is ready to invest into our student-athletes. We are looking forward to having her part of our coaching staff and working with our student-athletes,” East Athletic Director Josh Glerum said in a social media post.
Groendyk, a 2015 East graduate, had spent the past six years as a teacher and coach at Oakridge High School in Muskegon. She was the Eagles’ girls track and field coach the last five years. She also served as the boys middle school cross country coach and assisted the boys varsity cross country program at Oakridge the last six years.
“I am so excited to be returning to begin coaching for my alma mater,” Groendyk said in a social media post. “Cross country and track were such a big part of my high school experience, so I cannot wait to give back to the program that taught me to love running. My hope is to facilitate a similar passion and excitement in current athletes, and to continue the excellence of Zeeland East sports. I cannot wait to get started.”
In high school, Groendyk earned all-state honors her senior year in the 1,600-meter run at the Division 2 girls state track and field finals, finishing sixth in a time of 5:10.23. She also qualified for the state girls cross country finals at Michigan International Speedway three times, with her best showing being a 44th-place effort out of 249 runners in her freshman season in 2011.
Groendyk taught English and psychology at Oakridge, but will be teaching Spanish at Zeeland East. She holds a bachelor’s degree and teaching certification in English language and literature from the University of Michigan, and a master’s in educational administration from Grand Valley State University.
Hope Athletics Season Tickets on Sale
This summer, the Hope College ticket office is putting season tickets on sale for the upcoming Hope football, volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball seasons.
Join the top fan base in NCAA Division III in cheering on the Flying Dutchmen and Flying Dutch in person. Hope led the nation in home attendance for men's basketball, women's basketball and women's volleyball during 2024-25.
Football and volleyball season tickets can be purchased starting next Monday online, by phone at (616) 395-7890, or in person at the ticket office, 100 E. Eighth St., during regular business hours.
From Monday, Aug. 11, through Thursday, Aug. 21, men's and women's basketball season-ticket renewals can be purchased online, by phone, or in person.
On Friday, Aug. 22, men's and women's basketball season tickets will go on sale to the general public online, by phone, or in person.
Those who purchase men's basketball season tickets by Monday, Sept. 1, also receive free ticket(s) to the Nov. 8 Hope-Calvin football game at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.
Men's basketball season tickets are the only way to guarantee admission to the Jan. 24 Hope-Calvin game at Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse.
Football season tickets cost $50.The Flying Dutchmen, who reached the third round of the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2024, will host five home games at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium this fall:
• Mount St. Joseph University (Ohio) for the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 20;
• Alma College in the MIAA opener on Saturday, Sept. 27;
• Kalamazoo College for One Big Weekend (homecoming) on Saturday, Oct. 18;
• Calvin University for the first time on home turf on Saturday, Nov. 8;
• The University of Olivet for Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Women's volleyball season tickets cost $80. The Flying Dutch, a national semifinalist last season and the national runner-up in 2023, have 10 home dates at Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse this fall, including:
• Two four-team tournaments, beginning with a season-opening event on Friday-Saturday, Aug. 29-30;
• Calvin University in the MIAA opener on Tuesday, Sept. 30;
• Trine University for Senior Night on Friday, Nov. 7.
Men's basketball season tickets cost $185 for padded seats and $155 for plastic seats. The Flying Dutchmen have 14 scheduled home games at Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse this season.
Women's basketball season tickets are $100. The Flying Dutch have 11 scheduled home games at Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse this season.
Join the top fan base in NCAA Division III in cheering on the Flying Dutchmen and Flying Dutch in person. Hope led the nation in home attendance for men's basketball, women's basketball and women's volleyball during 2024-25.
Football and volleyball season tickets can be purchased starting next Monday online, by phone at (616) 395-7890, or in person at the ticket office, 100 E. Eighth St., during regular business hours.
From Monday, Aug. 11, through Thursday, Aug. 21, men's and women's basketball season-ticket renewals can be purchased online, by phone, or in person.
On Friday, Aug. 22, men's and women's basketball season tickets will go on sale to the general public online, by phone, or in person.
Those who purchase men's basketball season tickets by Monday, Sept. 1, also receive free ticket(s) to the Nov. 8 Hope-Calvin football game at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.
Men's basketball season tickets are the only way to guarantee admission to the Jan. 24 Hope-Calvin game at Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse.
Football season tickets cost $50.The Flying Dutchmen, who reached the third round of the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2024, will host five home games at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium this fall:
• Mount St. Joseph University (Ohio) for the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 20;
• Alma College in the MIAA opener on Saturday, Sept. 27;
• Kalamazoo College for One Big Weekend (homecoming) on Saturday, Oct. 18;
• Calvin University for the first time on home turf on Saturday, Nov. 8;
• The University of Olivet for Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Women's volleyball season tickets cost $80. The Flying Dutch, a national semifinalist last season and the national runner-up in 2023, have 10 home dates at Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse this fall, including:
• Two four-team tournaments, beginning with a season-opening event on Friday-Saturday, Aug. 29-30;
• Calvin University in the MIAA opener on Tuesday, Sept. 30;
• Trine University for Senior Night on Friday, Nov. 7.
Men's basketball season tickets cost $185 for padded seats and $155 for plastic seats. The Flying Dutchmen have 14 scheduled home games at Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse this season.
Women's basketball season tickets are $100. The Flying Dutch have 11 scheduled home games at Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse this season.
