Former Hamilton all-state basketball player Kaitlyn Geurink is a starter for Saginaw Valley State University.
Kaitlyn Geurink was out to prove something to herself.
Along the way, she proved it to her coach and teammates: Geurink is ready to start.
The Saginaw Valley State basketball freshman from Hamilton didn't take look to impress the Cardinals, earning a starting spot in the preseason and keeping it every single game.
"At first, we didn't know who was going to start. I had to work for my position from the beginning, work every day. It is something that I really didn't expect, but one that I have really taken advantage of," Geurink said. "It is really special because I didn't expect it. The fact that I am able to start, I am really proud of myself (for getting there)."
The list of Holland-area players who have started in college is very small. The list at the scholarship level is even smaller - fewer than five in the past two decades combined.
Geurink, who was all-state the past two years at Hamilton, and the Holland Sentinel Player of the Year as a senior, has worked for this distinction.
"I have really expanded my skillset. I have gotten better shooting and learned how to finish around defenders better than I could in high school, where I was able to kind of plow through things. I have really learned how to play against defenders. It took some getting used to at the beginning but we all have such a great connection off the court. We all love each other. That always helps on the court," Geurink said. "It is about giving more effort every single day. The confidence boost has really helped. The first couple of games I felt so timid, but once I realized I could hang with the teams that we were playing, it really just built that confidence and helps me play better."
Geurink and the Cardinals found out what it is like to play the best in the county, too, facing the NCAA defending champion Grand Valley State early in the season.
"It was so cool because they have always been a team around me, so it was cool to be in the moment playing that team - and really realizing how good they are she said. "It was nothing I have ever gone against. That is something I need to adjust to. That was really special to have the Hamilton community show up like that. I didn't even know that many people were coming. I didn't expect anything like that. It was such a good moment to see all of that support."
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Saginaw Valley State's Kaitlyn Geurink is a freshman starter
Category: General Sports
