Sports Editor Dan D'Addona's top 25 moments of the past 25 years

With our theme of 25s this year, here is a list of the top 25 things I have had the privilege of covering for The Sentinel in my career.

There have been 44 MHSAA team state champions crowned during this time, plus a slew of big Hope and Grand Valley moments, as well as pro and national coverage.

And don't get too occupied with the numbers. I could wake up tomorrow and reshuffle many of them - even the top five because they are so different.

PLEASE NOTE that this is a list of things I have covered in person, so if there is a big moment that is left off of here, it probably means that another reporter covered it live (for example, I wasn't at either of the Hope women's basketball NCAA title games). Also I have been here almost 22 years and, no, I am not going anywhere.

But I will get a little personal with some of these moments.

1. Jim Kaat elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

The reason this one is No. 1 is because it was a complete full-circle moment for me. When I was in college at Central Michigan, I did my internship at the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, working with writers in the research library. I also had family that lived in the Catskills not too far away, so we would hit Cooperstown on the way home nearly every year. I was writing about Kaat belonging in the Hall of Fame before I set foot in Holland, or even knew where exactly Zeeland, Michigan, was. So getting to not only know Kaat over the years, but be able to watch as his name was called as a member of the Class of 2022 was incredible. It also helped that he went in with teammate Tony Oliva, as well as Minnie Minoso, Gil Hodges, Buck O'Neil - also people I had written about deserving the Hall of Fame both before I reached Holland and after I started at The Sentinel. Talking to him after he got the call was special. I also was able to be on hand in Cooperstown for the induction ceremony in 2022 where that group mentioned was joined by Bud Fowler and David Ortiz. Watching the joy on the faces of Kaat and Oliva in particular as they spoke was something I will never forget. Watching the Hall of Fame staff actually hang their plaques in the gallery after the ceremony was also very special, something I had not experienced before. I have been to my share of induction ceremonies in Cooperstown, but never for someone I knew personally, let alone supported their case for so many years. It was all of my worlds coming together into one incredible weekend in Cooperstown.

1. A world record, then American record in the pool

It is no secret that swimming is huge in the Holland area. The pinnacle was in 2015 watching Courtney Bartholomew compete for Team USA in the Duel in the Pool. It is USA vs. Europe meet like the Ryder Cup in golf. This meet was in Indianapolis and Bartholomew did not disappoint. She broke the American record in the short-course 100-meter backstroke, and was part of the 400 medley relay that broke the world record. It was Bartholomew's first and last big meet for Team USA. Her storied career included a plethora of state titles, NCAA runner-up finishes and All-American honors at Virginia. Watching a hometown athlete put on the Team USA cap was special enough to give me some goosebumps, but then watching her break records both individually and on relays with Olympic gold medalists was absolutely spectacular.

1. Magglio's pennant-winning walk-off

One of the privileges of the job is going to big moments around the state. When the Tigers were in the playoffs in 2006, for the first time since 1987, it was a huge deal and for those of you who remember, we had a "Tiger Beat" special section in print that we ran every day throughout the playoffs and World Series. Leading 3-0 in the ALCS against Oakland, Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez hit one of the most famous home runs in Tigers history - and baseball history. A walk-off at Comerica Park to clinch the pennant. I was in the tunnel behind home plate as it happened, ready to scamper onto the field for interviews assuming it ended in a positive way for the Tigers. Did it ever. I didn't have a great view of the home run itself, though I could see the ball fly off of Ordonez's bat. What I remember the most is the eruption of the crowd. Not just the cheering noise, but since I was halfway in the tunnel, it felt like the stadium itself was shaking with the echo of the bowels of the stadium adding a thunderous finale to the moment. Later in the clubhouse, while I was interviewing Justin Verlander, relief pitcher Wil Ledezma dumped a bottle of champagne on my head. I still have the audio tape of Verlander stopping midsentence and just yelling, "Get him Wil! Get him Wil!" Those are the kinds of moments that sports journalists dream of.

1. The journey to Hope volleyball's NCAA title

It would be a great memory to watch a national championship no matter what the circumstances, but what makes Hope's title extra special is what led up to the journey. Two days before, I was in Holland on a Saturday. Our assistant sports editor had just left and I sent an intern to cover Zeeland West's football state semifinal matchup in Greenville. Meanwhile, I covered the state swim finals where Holland's Taylor Garcia became the most decorated state champion in Michigan history, then covered Hope's men's and women's basketball season opening doubleheader, before heading back to the office to watch the live stream of Hope's NCAA volleyball semifinal win over rival Calvin. Yes, that was all one long day. Since Hope doesn't compete on Sundays, the NCAA final was moved to Monday afternoon at Newport News, Virginia. So after that incredibly long day, I woke up Sunday and drove to Virginia. I stayed with a cousin outside D.C., then got to Newport News on Monday to watch Hope survive a five-set thriller to claim the program's first NCAA championship. The team had been a powerhouse and was hoping to win on the DeVos Fieldhouse floor the year before, but was upset. The title team was all but two of that same team and needless to say, with them being ranked No. 1 or No. 2 for most of two seasons, I got to know the athletes quite well, perhaps more than I have ever known a complete team. I knew how much this meant to them after the heartbreak of the year before. And I knew they were capable of it. Being courtside for that after the wild weekend made the moment even more special.

1. Capping a national performance with Taylor Garcia

OK here is where I get personal for this one. It was the 2013 USA Swimming National Championships, also in Indianapolis. Holland's Taylor Garcia was competing as well as a few other local performers. Garcia was 15, a year after her first Olympic Trials. She ended up finishing 10th in the 50-meter backstroke, in an event stacked with Olympians. That was exciting enough, but it was what happened before that was so personally touching. Garcia was the only Holland/MLA swimmer there. Coach Don Kimble had already gone out to his spot to whistle and cheer Garcia on. Garcia was walking to the ready room for the finals and I was getting ready to get to my photographer's spot. She stopped me and asked, "Dan, can you cap me?" With no teammates there, she was looking for someone familiar to help her put her cap on, something all swimmers do. I of course obliged and apparently did the job well enough. Then she finished 10th. I couldn't help feeling like I helped make that happen. As reporters, we aren't supposed to interfere with something like that, but since she asked, I affected the story much less by just doing it - and it gave me a very special memory. It wasn't the first or last special moment that involved Garcia. The first was when she was in the eighth grade and I wrote a story about her as the next up-and-comer. She baked me cookies. Normally, we don't take gifts or any special favors, but show me the person turning down an eighth grader who baked you cookies. I thanked her and told her if she did that every time I wrote about her in the future, I would weigh 500 pounds. But being on hand for both of her Olympic trials, the first where she was happy to get through it, and the second where she came back from a last-place finish in the butterfly to make the semifinals on the big stage in the backstroke was spectacular and shown in the documentary "The Water is My Sky." In fact the last scene as the credits begin is Garcia jubilantly coming down the mixed zone and giving me a bear hug in excitement. I was just as excited for the swimmer I once had the honor of capping.

1. MLB All-Star Game in Detroit

Comerica Park hosted the 2005 MLB All-Star Game and it was an incredible weekend. First was the Futures Game that Justin Verlander pitched in before he was called up. That was my first time getting to interview Verlander. The Legends-Celebrity Softball Game was also a blast. I got to interview my favorite player of all-time Andre Dawson as well as a few former players, softball star Jennie Finch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Amanda Beard. The Home Run Derby was next and it was incredible. As a non-Detroit and non-national media member, I was in the right field bleachers in the auxiliary press seating area. It was perfect for the derby as David Ortiz and eventual winner Bobby Abreu continued to assault members of the media with their homers. I was so surprised at how many media members weren't prepared for this. I brought my glove because I knew where I was sitting, but alas, did not have one come quite near me. Before the game, there was a media hour where all of the all-stars had their own table and media could come up and ask questions to anyone. That was fun bouncing around to talk to guys like Garret Anderson, Aramis Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez. And all of that was before the game, which to be honest was a blur, but so fun to watch so many of the game's elite in Detroit.

1. Last game at The Joe

Baseball wasn't the only opportunity to cover something big in Detroit. When the Red Wings moved out of Joe Louis Arena, I was able to cover that emotional event. After the game, seeing all of the old Red Wings out on the ice was pretty special. The best part was our assistant sports editor at the time, Chris Zadorozny, was a huge hockey fan and was at The Joe as a kid as much as I was at Tiger Stadium. Watching him soak it all in was the best part. We then got to be at the first game at Little Caesar's Arena as well, getting the chance to catch up with then-Red Wing and Holland native Luke Witkowski.

1. The World Series at last

This would have been a lot higher had the Tigers won, but getting the chance to cover the 2012 World Series was spectacular. In 2006, I covered the playoff run, but not the first two games of the World Series in Detroit because I was gone for my first anniversary. The Tigers making the series was definitely not something we planned on. But they never made it back to Detroit, losing in five games to the Cardinals. So in 2012, I finally got the chance to see a World Series in person and cover the event. The Giants swept the Tigers, but I still got to be in the winning clubhouse with the champagne flying.

1. Holland wins everything - almost

In 2011, the Holland High School girls swim team won its first state championship. But after finishing runner-up the past two years, it was how they did it that was historical. Holland became the first team (and still only) to finish first or second in every swimming event. The Dutch won every event but the 100 breaststroke (runner-up) and diving. No team in the history of the state has ever dominated a state championship like that. And it wasn't just one person. Sure, Courtney Bartholomew won the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, but Taylor Garcia won the 50 free and 100 butterfly, Haley Thompson won the 200 free, Cassie Misiewicz won the 500 free and Holland Morren won the 100 free. Utter domination and I have never seen anything else quite like it.

1. West Ottawa's surprise state title

In 2013, the West Ottawa girls swim team was ranked third heading into the state finals. The Panthers were seeded third the year before and had a disappointing meet and ended up finishing seventh. But this year was different. Nothing could go wrong in prelims. Everyone made the finals in their events. Swimmers expected to make the B final made the A final. Swimmers not expected to score made the B final. The Panthers stacked the finals, got a big boost from Dani VanderZwaag winning diving, won two relays and claimed an unlikely state championship. It was the most stunning upset I have ever witnessed at the state level.

1. Kirk Cousins in Detroit

It has been a pleasure watching Kirk Cousins' rise to the NFL from Holland Christian High School. I covered the game that put him on the map in high school as he threw a fourth-down pass for a touchdown as time expired against Greenville, then instead of going for the tie with an extra point, the Maroons went for it and Cousins again found Elias Kos for the conversion and the win. But watching Cousins with Washington in the NFL score a late touchdown rushing against the Lions was remarkable. But the best was watching him with Minnesota get the win in Detroit with a sensational game. He actually shouted out The Sentinel in the postgame press conference for always capturing his big moments, which gave us a lot of pride.

1. The last touch

The West Ottawa boys swim team won the state championship on the final leg of the final relay of the meet. Khadin Soto was able to out-touch his Detroit Catholic Central counterpart, coming back in the final yards to win the relay and the title.

1. First taste of Ford Field

Watching Cousins at Ford Field was awesome, but my first time there was watching Zeeland West complete a perfect season with a dominating state title win over Marine City, the first perfect season for the Dux. Jordan VanDort had the big play with a rumbling touchdown.

1. The first title

It didn't take long for me to cover my first state championship. My first year here, the Holland boys swim team edged Ann Arbor Pioneer for their first state title. It was one of the closest and best meets I have seen and was another worlds collide moment for me because I went to Ann Arbor Pioneer.

1. Suenomi nearly does it all

Getting to watch Suenomi Norinh was a treat. She was one of the best athletes to ever come through the area and proved it on the big stage. She nearly won the track and field state championship by herself for Zeeland East. Norinh won the long jump, high jump, 300 hurdles and finished second in the 100 hurdles. Coupled with some great throwers (Aliyah Boeve and Taylor Waterway) and another all-state high jumper (Sophie Riemersma) the Chix claimed their first state championship, nearly all in field events.

1. GVSU golfer wins qualifier to play in LPGA

Being on hand to watch Gabrielle Shipley win her qualifier, then tee off in the Meijer LPGA Classic a few days later was pretty special. After she won the NCAA title, the summers were Shipley watch and to see her reach her goal and play in the LPGA was pretty emotional. The officials even let me tell her she qualified after her qualifying round. The look on her face is something I will never forget.

1. Vaulting into the record books

Taking photos at events gives a unique perspective of big moments, extra close to the action. One of the best memories of this I have is covering the NCAA track and field championships at Grand Valley State. GVSU's Kristen Hixson won the pole vault title in a record height and freaked out in celebration on the way down before hitting the mat. That face was caught by my lens and we still laugh about it. Over the years, Hixson has been on Team USA and competed for a spot in the Olympics.

1. Perfect game and a state title for HC

Watching Mike Mokma throw a perfect game pretty special. Watching him pitch the Maroons to a state championship was amazing. That Maroons run was very special and I was at every postseason game that year all the way to the state finals where Mokma was again on his game and pitched the Maroons to the title. That team had three dominant pitchers in Mokma, David Williams and Jack Huisman as well as freshman Chris Mokma, who like his brother, would become a professional baseball player.

1. Hope-Calvin in The Rivalry

There is not one memory I have for Hope-Calvin basketball, there is a blur of them. There is Hope's Lindsay Lange dominating defensively in the paint or Calvin's Nick Kronemeyer screaming after cutting down the net after an upset of Hope for the MIAA title. Volleyball has had several No. 1 vs No. 2 in the country matchups in The Rivalry, while several swim meets have come down to the final relay involving the two rivals - with epic relay anchor legs from Klare Northuis and Delaney Wesolek. The Rivalry is special in every sport and it has been a privilege to see it in every sport every year. The first Hope-Calvin football game last season was pretty special and I am looking forward to more of those.

1. Steigenga breaks all-time scoring record; and following local athletes

Sometimes local athletes send us to different colleges for coverage. A few years ago, Holland Christian graduate Kyle Steigenga did that for us at Cornerstone University. He was the NAIA Basketball Player of the Year and an All-American all four years there. But the biggest moment was breaking the all-time college scoring record in the state of Michigan. It was fun following his big moments over the years, but that record is pretty spectacular. Also fun was following the college and pro careers of Coreontae DeBerry in basketball (NBA G League), Sophie Riemersma and Raegan Lantz (Miami), Liz Sundburg (Toledo) and Alyssa Garvelink in volleyball (MSU and Grand Rapids Rise), Corey Willis, Nathan Ricketts and Johnathan Berghorst (CMU), Tyler Van Tubbergen, the Bonnemas and Blake Bosma (WMU) Kirk Cousins and Adam Berghorst (MSU), Desmond Morgan (Michigan) in football, and Nicole Artz (Michigan), Taylor Buis and Jessi Buis (Western Michigan) in gymnastics as well as the nearly 100 Division I college swimmers and divers.

1. Paige Westra makes history

Watching Paige Westra was special in itself. She was an all-state soccer player, shot putter, and was the kicker on the football team. My best memory, though, was in the all-state meeting with the sports editors across the state. Watching nearly everyone's hand raise for the Zeeland East kicker as first-team all-state gave me chills. Westra became the first female football player to earn all-state first team honors in the history of Michigan.

1. Kenzie Fox scores the most amazing goal

You never know what you are going to see, which is why we do this job. Sometimes it is just a moment. The best soccer goal I ever saw was one of those moments. It happened a decade ago during districts. Zeeland East's Kenzie Fox lined up a free kick within the circle of midfield. She proceeded to launch it nearly half the field and into the top corner of the goal on the fly just out of the reach of Holland Christian's goalie. There was only a margin of error of a couple of inches - from midfield - to get that into the goal and she did. It was perhaps the best and most shocking play I have ever seen. She went on to play at GVSU and help the Lakers to multiple NCAA titles.

1. Los Dutch title

This one is a little lower just because I didn't actually cover the state finals where Holland won its soccer title. But I was there for much of the run where Holland soccer became Los Dutch. The team had Latino, Black, White, Asian and Middle Eastern players on it. It was the most diverse team I have ever seen. Los Dutch embraced that and became an amazing example for the community that coming together leads to big things.

1. Down to the last throw - again

Covering Zeeland East track and field has allowed me to see some amazing performances - around 50 all-state performances in less than 20 years. The most memorable was nearly a decade ago when Brittany Casey won the regional championship in the shot put on the final throw. She was favored to win but then had her back against the wall only to perform like a champion when it counted most. And that was only regionals. She did the exact same thing at the state finals and won the state championship on the final throw. Watching someone at their best in the biggest moment was inspiring and I was able to capture it with a photo.

1. Whitecaps titles and more

Having the Whitecaps in West Michigan is a blessing for all of us. Not only is it good baseball, but it is the place to see future Detroit Tigers. There have been a lot of memories at the ballpark. Watching them win two titles in person was amazing. Watching local kids Blake Dunn and Mike Mokma play against the Whitecaps was equally as thrilling. One game early on saw the first Midwest League game to feature two top 10 picks when Cameron Maybin and Justin Upton squared off. That was fun. Plus the Tigers have had some great guests to interview as part of Tiger Fridays with Jack Morris, Lou Whitaker, Chet Lemon, Mickey Lolich, Willie Horton (and plenty more) and even had promotions with Ozzie Smith and Steve Yzerman.

1. Miss Basketball and regional run

Getting to cover West Ottawa's Gabby Reynolds was simply awesome. To watch her night in and night out dominate on the court was impressive. But senior year was special as she not only won Miss Basketball, something never done in the area, but she helped her team to its best finish ever, winning their first regional title and reaching the state quarterfinals. That team had the star in Reynolds, but Chelsea Overbeek, Magaly Lemus, Brooke Pedersen and company all performed spectacularly in the postseason. It was a fun team to cover.

Bonus: Dare Dan

Does anyone remember Dare Dan? For two summers early in my career when I was much younger, I competed against local athletes in their sport one-on-one. I did nearly every sport. I got beat in every one, but it was so much fun getting to see the top athletes' skills in action.

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: Sports Editor Dan D'Addona's top 25 moments of the past 25 years