LocalSportsJournal.com
 
NORTON SHORES–Mona Shores senior Dan VanderPloeg recently signed his national letter of intent to attend Davenport University in Grand Rapids.
 
VanderPloeg played 3 years of varsity soccer. His freshman season he decided to play club soccer. During his senior season, he was instrumental in leading the Sailors to a 15-2-3 overall record and a 7-0-0 record in the OK Conference-Green. During his Sailor career, VanderPloeg played center attacking midfield, left wing, right wing and striker.
 
VanderPloeg is very familiar with Davenport University.
 
“My club trains at Davenport when it is warm outside, so I’m familiar with the campus and the facility they have,” said VanderPloeg. “That is what impressed me and also made me want to go there. My club coach is the Davenport men’s soccer assistant coach and he helped me get there as well. I also enjoyed how close it was to home so my family can make it to games.
 
“My role at Davenport will be to do what the coach says,” he said. “As a freshman, I don’t know how much playing time I’ll be able to get. I’ll just have to work my way up and see what I can do.”
 
Davenport is a Division II University and a member of the GLIAC conference. Last season, the Panthers finished 8-8-3 overall and were 5-4-3 in GLIAC action.

Photo courtesy of LSJ Photographer Leo Valdez

 
While at Mona Shores, VanderPloeg was selected to the OK Conference-Green all-conference teams during both his junior and senior seasons. He also was selected to the all-state honorable mention team as a senior.
 
“Playing at Shores has been some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing soccer,” said VanderPloeg. “The atmosphere and the coaches I worked with were phenomenal and I wouldn’t trade it for anybody else. I’ll never forget the times I had stepping on the field and playing with all my friends.”
 
VanderPloeg plans to major in business, although he is undecided on what aspect of business he will pursue. He is the son Charles and Deanna VanderPloeg. He has a 3.5 grade-point-average at Mona Shores.