Hope soccer goalie earns MIAA Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Hope College goalie Daniel Hesselbein spent his time deflection shots on the pitch.
But he didn't deflect his academics.
Hesselbein has been named the 2024-25 recipient of the Albert L. Deal Scholar Athlete of the Year award in a Men’s Sport by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The prestigious award honors a senior student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics while demonstrating exceptional leadership. It is named in recognition of former MIAA Commissioner Albert L. Deal, who served the conference from 1971 to 1991.
Hesselbein becomes the sixth student-athlete in Hope College history to receive the Deal Award, joining Nick Hoffman (2021-22), Josh Gibson (2018-19), Harrison Blackledge (2016-17), Boone Marois (2015-16) and Cory Schmidt (2012-13).
"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition for leadership, athletic, and academic excellence," Hesselbein remarked. "This achievement would not have been possible without God’s Grace, the unwavering support of my family, teammates, and the exceptional Hope College athletic department."
A May 2025 graduate with a degree in Physical and Health Education, Hesselbein compiled a 3.84 grade-point average. He appeared on Hope’s Dean’s List during all eight semesters of his college career and earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors in both 2023 and 2024.
Hesselbein was also recognized as the 2024 Major of the Year by SHAPE Michigan and received Hope’s 2025 Otto VandeVelde All-Campus Award, which is given to a student who demonstrates leadership, service, and excellence across campus.
"We are thrilled to celebrate Daniel as the recipient of the Albert L. Deal Award," Hope Director of Athletics, Tim Schoonveld, stated. "This honor reflects his outstanding commitment to the core pillars of Hope College Athletics: academic success, competitive excellence, and transformational experiences. Daniel truly embodies what it means to be a student-athlete and represents Hope College with excellence both on and off the field. His dedication to the values and ideals of Albert L. Deal and the MIAA is something we are deeply proud of. We are excited to see all that God has in store for Daniel in the years ahead and know that he will continue to inspire others through their character, leadership, and pursuit of excellence."
On the field, Hesselbein made a lasting mark as a four-year varsity letterwinner and two-year team captain. The goalkeeper was named First Team All-MIAA in 2024 and Second Team All-MIAA in 2023. He capped his senior season with Second Team All-Region honors, helping lead Hope to a competitive showing in one of the nation’s toughest NCAA Division III conferences.
"Daniel has represented everything that we strive for in our program’s culture," commented head men's soccer coach, David Blahnik. "He has truly lived a purpose-driven life and wakes up every day wanting to help others and succeed in the classroom. As much as I am going to miss having Daniel in our program, I am excited to see the positive impact he is undoubtedly going to have on others in his future."
Beyond the classroom and competition, Hesselbein served as a spiritual and community leader throughout his time at Hope. He participated in Senior Witness, developing and sharing his personal faith testimony with more than 1,500 college-aged peers. He also spent two years as a student intern for Hope’s Athletics Chaplain, helping organize Bible studies and faith-building events for student-athletes.
Hesselbein was a small group Bible study leader for two years, meeting one-on-one with peers to offer care and support. He also helped launch Unified Hope, serving as the vice president and co-founder of the program that organized and coached Unified basketball teams in intramural play, providing inclusive opportunities for athletes of all abilities.
Additionally, Hesselbein captained an intramural volleyball team for two years, scheduling games and maintaining communication with his teammates.
"My time at Hope has been transformative, helping me grow both personally and professionally," said Hesselbein. "The culture here taught me the importance of service to others and building meaningful relationships within our community. I'm grateful for how these experiences have shaped my success in athletics, academics, and most importantly, in connecting with those around me. This honor truly belongs to everyone who supported me throughout my journey at Hope."
MIAA Commissioner Jason Horn remarked, "Daniel has been a standout in every way — academically, athletically, and through his leadership at and away from the net. The finalist pool this year was exceptional across all of our campuses, and the selection committee had a very tough decision. Daniel rose to the top, and we’re proud to recognize the impact he’s made at Hope and in the MIAA with the Deal Award."
Also nominated for this award were: Adrian College's Michael Jonas (lacrosse), Albion College's Christopher Krum (wrestling), Alma College's Maxim Kraniak (golf), Calvin University's Luke Witvliet (cross country, track), Kalamazoo College's Adnan Alousi (tennis), The University of Olivet's Tyler Herrema (wrestling), and Trine University's Emmanuel Megnanglo (basketball).
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hope soccer goalie earns MIAA Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Category: General Sports
