Happy New Year Spring Lake!  For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Chip Vasquez. I’ve been coaching lacrosse for 8 years now. I’m currently the head coach for women’s lacrosse at Aquinas College and the high school coach for women’s lacrosse at Mona Shores. Seems like I’ve always been coaching something!  In my younger years, I’d coach youth boys’ basketball or soccer. 

 

I’ve been married for 23 years to Lisa (Bordeaux) Vasquez. We have 3 children. Branyon, our son, is a Junior at GVSU double majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice.  Our daughter Gabby is a senior and SLHS plays golf and lacrosse.  This year she jumped on board to join the inaugural season of SLHS field hockey. She’s committed to playing lacrosse at Detroit Mercy next fall.  Easton, our youngest son, is a sophomore at SLHS. He’s a 3-sport athlete. He Plays volleyball, and lacrosse and runs cross country. 

 

Starting a girl’s field hockey team has been discussed around Spring Lake for years. I can’t take a whole lot of credit for getting the ball rolling initially as it was the Johnson family and our daughters who started the process last year along with a ton of help from Melissa Sieracki who brought it to fruition. If not for all of them, field hockey still wouldn’t be here. I was honored to be asked to coach with my friend Eric Johnson (head coach), Matt Weidenhoeft and in late fall we wrapped up our first season!

 

Now that the inaugural season is over, let’s reflect!  We had 26 girls come out and play from all grades 9-12.  The program was a huge success and we won 5 games which is difficult to do going up against more developed programs. These girls are special athletes at SL, and to come out and try a new sport that not one person played before was just amazing. I’m still so impressed how they continued to grow as players even though we had limited games. They came out, worked hard and that’s all we can ask for.  

 

We’re confident that field hockey will become a popular sport at Spring Lake.  We’ll be joining a league next year with guaranteed 16-18 games. I imagine that we will also induct a JV squad as well. It’s a terrific sport of endurance and team camaraderie that’s played in high schools and colleges across the country, so why not here?  Field hockey is even an Olympic sport!  

 

My late mother, Sharon Williams, inspired me to start coaching. She coached me in soccer up to high school. I think the joy she showed when coaching was passed down and part of who I am now. I just love coaching. It is truly the best part of my day!  Most of whom I’ve coached know that I do not like hearing the word ‘I CAN’T’. That is a choice and as a coach when you see them succeed you just know you’ve done your job. 

 

Spring Lake’s Athletic Director, JT Hogan, came to me during our meetings about field hockey and was also in the market for a bowling coach. I thought, ‘Hey why not add another sport like bowling to my coaching resume?’ We’re still looking into all the expenses but excited to have a bowling club for the first time here at Spring Lake HS.    

 

I just want to send out a huge thanks to everyone who has been part of this journey, the whole community who stood behind these new sports and Alexis, Publisher of Stroll Spring Lake, for allowing me to tell our story.  I’m just so honored to be a part of this first amazing season of field hockey and now bowling here at Spring Lake!