Written By, Bryce Dysard, Cameron Altonen, and Brody Sara
Welcome to This Week’s Edition of Ferris Sports Update!
This week, host Rob Bentley highlights Special Olympics basketball, Ferris State softball, and both men’s and women’s golf. Guests include women’s basketball head coach Kurt Westendorp, softball senior Brooklyn Verbeek, and head golf coach Sam Stark.
We begin with Special Olympics basketball, as Coach Kurt Westendorp reflects on the women’s basketball team’s strong season, which ended with an NCAA tournament appearance. Although it’s only been four weeks since their last game, Westendorp says it already feels like forever. He and Rob then shift focus to the Special Olympics basketball game. Westendorp emphasizes how meaningful the event is, as athletes from the men’s and women’s teams join the Special Olympians on the court. Many of these participants already know each other from working concessions or in the Rock, creating an even more special and joyful atmosphere during the game.
Next, we hear from senior third baseman Brooklyn Verbeek of the Ferris State softball team. Verbeek shares her excitement about the team’s progress and her gratitude for being a student-athlete. She highlights last week’s home game against Davenport, which resulted in a 14–6 victory for the Bulldogs. Verbeek praises her teammates for their strong communication and ability to keep the momentum going by “passing the bat around.”
Brooklyn Verbeek, senior third baseman for the Ferris State softball team, highlights how the pitching staff has been coming into their own lately, thanks to hard work and dedication. She emphasizes that much of the team’s recent success is a direct result of the pitchers’ efforts. During their recent matchup against Saginaw Valley, Verbeek notes how strong defense kept the Bulldogs in the game. The team’s great defense, along with some solid contributions from new recruits, helped Ferris stay competitive.
In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Ferris scored a couple of runs in the final inning but ultimately fell short in a 3–2 loss to Saginaw Valley. However, they carried that momentum into Game 2, securing a 7–3 victory. The Bulldogs finished the weekend with a 3–1 record, an important result for positioning themselves for a top seed in the conference championship. With a doubleheader against Wayne State on the horizon, Ferris is gearing up to carry that momentum into the upcoming tournament and potentially earn a regional ranking.
Next, head coach Sam Stark talks about the Ferris State men’s and women’s golf teams. The men’s team made an impressive comeback at the GLIAC semifinals, finishing first in stroke play after starting in fifth place. After shooting 8 under par on the second day, the Bulldogs moved into the top spot, but ultimately fell short to Wayne State on the final day. Coach Stark reflects on the close competition throughout the season, especially with teams like Grand Valley, who are ranked in the top 10 nationally. He highlights the strong performances of several key players on the team and expresses optimism for the future, saying they’re hoping to play for a national championship in about four weeks.
As for the women’s team, they’re preparing for the GLIAC championships with a lot of depth on the roster. Players are fighting for spots in the lineup, and despite being a young team, there’s a lot of promise for the future.
That’s all for this week’s edition of Ferris Sports Update. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to stay up to date with all things Ferris athletics. Until next time, see you later, Bulldogs!