4 days Ago By Tyler Crabb
Two Pella Christian seniors recently signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers in Northwest Iowa next school year. Cooper Spronk signed his letter of intent to join the football program at Dordt University, while Clarie Westerkamp signed her letter of intent to run track and field at Northwestern College. As a senior, Spronk was selected to the Class 1A All-District 6 first-team as a running back after rushing for 685 rushing yards and scoring seven total touchdowns.
Additionally, the senior was Pella Christian’s second leading tackler with 48 on the season and was tied for the team-lead in tackles for loss with four, while also recording an interception. Spronk said that a variety of factors played a part in his decision to attend Dordt next school year. “I really loved the coaches that are there.
I think they have a great community and a lot of good guys, and I really love the Christian centered education that Dordt has and that played a big part in my commitment.” Returning to the sport for the first time since middle school, Westerkamp enjoyed a successful junior season with the Pella Christian girls track and field team last spring. As part of the Eagles’ 4×100 and 4×200 meter relay teams, Westerkamp qualified to run in both the Drake Relays and the State Meet last year.
At the Drake Relays, the 4×200 meter relay team of Westerkamp, Rachel Kacmarynski, Bailey Vos, and Meredith Van Wyk took eighth place, while the 4×100 meter relay team of Westerkamp, Amelia Boender, Lexi Terpstra, and Amaia Agre finish in 80th place. In addition to running at the Drake Relays, Westerkamp and the same 4×100 meter relay team took 16th place at the State Meet, where the Eagles took second place overall as a team. Westerkamp said that her visit to the campus in Orange City factored into her decision to attend Northwestern next year.
“One of my big things, I was looking for a Christian College, and I actually had the track coach at Northwestern reach out to me and so I thought I’d give it a visit. And I kept it in consideration with other colleges that I was looking at, and once I visited I just fell in love with the campus and I fell in love with the atmosphere.” Find the full interview with Spronk about his decision to continue his football and academic careers at Dordt University next fall here , and the full interview with Westerkamp about her decision to pursue track and field and academics at Northwestern College next fall here .
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