Veteran soccer coach Tim TerHaar took over the Grand Rapids Christian girls soccer program last spring and was hired over the summer to carry on the tradition-rich GRC boys soccer program, the defending Division 2 state champions.
Courtesy Photo | Grand Rapids Christian Athletics
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
DIRECTOR OF NEWS
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @MiSoccerNetwork
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Christian didn’t have to look too far to replace its head coach of the Eagles boys soccer program. He was waiting in the wings with deep roots in the Grand Rapids area.
Longtime successful Grand Rapids area soccer coach Tim TerHaar was hired on to take over the Grand Rapids Christian program this summer. Aric Dershem resigned back in May after he accepted a new job in New York State, leaving a door open for the prestigious position.
Dershem was 58-20-9 in four seasons with the Eagles which included the two state titles and a host of other league, district and regional titles.
“I’m really excited to be back at Grand Rapids Christian,” offered TerHaar, a 1992 graduate of the school. “The school has been successful for a long time, and they have won a few state titles. We return a few players (this year) and have quite a few returnees as well. That will make our practices competitive and hopefully keep us competitive (on the field).”
Grand Rapids Christian is the second defending state championship boys soccer team in the state to hire a new coach over the past three months. Tim McConnell, a 1988 Troy Athens grad, took over the prestigious Red Hawks program back in June from Todd Heugh, who led Athens to state titles in 2019 and 2023 and to a state runner-up finish in 2016, all in Division 1.
This is TerHaar’s second stint as head coach of the Grand Rapids Christian boys soccer program. He coached the Eagles to winning records in both 2012 and 2013, including a district championship in 2012, before stepping down to take a new day job in the area.
TerHaar was also the Grand Rapids Christian girls soccer coach for the first time this past spring. He led a freshmen- and sophomore-heavy team to a 12-7-0 overall record, a district finals appearance and a fifth-place finish in a very deep Ottawa Kent Conference White Division behind four schools that spent time in the top 15 or honorable mention in the rankings.
When TerHaar took over in 2012, he was replacing Hall of Fame coach Larry Klaasen. Now he’s replacing Aric Dershem who led the program to two state championship teams. Those two coaches combined for four state championship teams and a bevy of titles (league, district, regional and state) and a multitude of high-level players during their respective tenures.
Grand Rapids Christian has steadily been one of the more successful boys soccer programs in Michigan over the past 25-plus years. The Eagles are the defending Division 2 state champions and captured two of the last three D-2 state crowns (2021, 2023). GRC also captured D-2 state titles back in both 1998 and 2001 under the aforementioned Larry Klaasen. The program has put together multiple other deep postseason tournament runs and seasons that included several league, district and regional championships in the program’s storied history.
TerHaar coached high school girls soccer at Division 4 powerhouse Grandville Calvin Christian from 2000-2022. He led Calvin Christian to a Division 4 record four straight state championships from 2012-15. He also helped the Squires win 18 conference, eight districts and five regional titles during his tenure.
Combining high school girls soccer and boys soccer, TerHaar has amassed over 520 career wins. He also coached at Jenison High School for a few years in the early 2010s.
Additionally, TerHaar has also coached in the youth club circuit, most recently with SCOR Meulensteen, which is now under the Midwest United FC umbrella.
At TerHaar's new boys soccer position, the Eagles have high expectations.
“I don’t think that will ever change here, no matter who coaches,” offered TerHaar. “The school has a long history of successful teams and there is an expectation to work hard, compete, to be good teammates and quality students.”
Grand Rapids Christian is coming off an 18-5-2 campaign which ended last season with a 3-0 shutout of fellow state-ranked Mason in the Division 2 state finals at Grand Ledge High School.
The Eagles were ranked all season but competed in a loaded Ottawa Kent Conference White Division along with the likes of Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Byron Center and Lowell. GRC tied for third in the regular season, finished fifth in the OKC-White Tournament and landed fourth overall with 9.5 points in the final conference standings. The team still finished with a quality 6-2-2 record against league competition.
Overall, the Eagles posted a 72-19 scoring edge over their 25 opponents, recorded 10 clean sheets and were only shut out four times during a difficult schedule.
Although the Eagles graduated eight players, including six starters, the talent pool is far from dry. The Eagles should again be a top-15 team in Division 2 and a Top 50 program overall coupling all divisions and leagues across the state.
Grand Rapids Christian is returning five starters, including senior John Cassiday (F/M, All-State Second Team), senior Soren White (D), senior Peter Borst (M/F), junior David Postarelli (M) and sophomore Liam Jansen (M).
In total, 17 of the 25 players on last year’s state tournament roster return, as junior Emmett Vance (M), junior Maxwell Visser (M), senior Dimas Perez-Guinet (F) and senior Isaac Williams (F) all saw substantial minutes last year. Seniors Max Michael (F), Abel denDulk (D) and William Bufalini (G) and juniors Seth Rozema (F), Micah Rogers (M), William Bush (F) and Joshua Dukema (G) are also slated to return, along with the arrival of several newcomers who hope to make one of the rosters at the tradition-rich school.
The Eagles did graduate six starters, including a pair of All-State First Team players in Christian Dershem (Milwaukee School of Engineering) and Jackson Mindling (Hope College), along with Andrew OverVoorde (M), Grayson Montpetit (M), Andrew Schepel (D) and Carter Goodyke (D).
“We do have a strong group coming back, but we also graduated a great group of players,” said TerHaar. “We’re looking forward to when official practices begin to see who we have. Who will step up and anchor our defense? Who will step in and be our No. 1 goalkeeper and who will step up and be our go-to players on offense? This program graduated some key pieces. There’s playing time to be earned.”
MHSSA-member schools will begin the first official day of practices and tryouts for all fall sports on Aug. 12. Grand Rapids Christian will begin the season on Aug. 20 with an away game at Byron Center.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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Michigan-based Premier Media Group is expanding ... don't miss out
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Premier Media Group is expanding its broadcast net.
And we want you.
The Michigan-based PMG, founded in 2022, its flagship production the Michigan Soccer Network and all other affiliates, is actively scheduling games in a wide variety of high school leagues and conferences, small colleges, amateur, pre-professional, youth club, and other avenues of the beautiful game in Michigan.
The schedule for the fall semester is starting to fill up across Michigan.
The daily connections are being made and the spreading of our brand has brought in great reviews.
Would the coaches, administration, student-athletes, players and fans like for us to broadcast a game near you?
Regardless of the now-popular remote broadcast games, on-location broadcast games, on-location shows or in-studio daily shows, there is a simple process. Visit the website www.michigansoccernetwork.com or click below for details.
PMG will also be holding various “Win A Free Broadcast” contest at various parts of the fall, winter (indoor) and spring seasons.
"(Michigan Soccer Network) has does a great job making these kids feel special,” offered Michal Hatfield, girls soccer coach at Trenton High School who also coaches in the Detroit City FC youth club system. “The broadcasts were professionally done and we were very pleased when they did our games. They did a great job with (play-by-play), graphics and postgame interviews with the kids. And a lot of people saw it. We had uncles and aunts that have never seen their nieces play get a chance to watch them on YouTube). And all of the kids were able to jump on there (the YouTube channel) afterwards and watch the game.”
The MSN staff had the pleasure of broadcasting multiple games the last two school years for schools in the Oakland Activities Association and have received its fair share of feedback. The goal is to conduct broadcasts of games throughout the state of Michigan, especially in the larger populated regions.
“MSN has done a great job with broadcasts in our league (Macomb Area Conference),” said Trevor Foster, current head coach of the Romeo girls soccer program, goalkeepers coach for Oakland University’s soccer programs, and director at the Michigan Goalkeepers Academy. “I know the girls love it. And I know some of the parents were putting their earphones on and listening to the game when they were (in the stands) and it gives relatives a chance to watch games that they normally wouldn’t be able to.
“It’s as close to professional (broadcast) as any broadcast of high school soccer that you will see out there,” added Foster. “Plus, they do all types of (amateur and pre-professional) leagues out there (in Michigan).”
“We were very pleased, especially with the knowledge of high school soccer in the state of Michigan from the play-by-play announcers and color commentators,” said Todd Heugh, the current director of athletics at Troy Athens High School and a former coach at the school. “They put together a valuable (product) and the games are live on YouTube for everyone to watch, even if you are (a relative or an alumni) not in the area. I know coaches go on there (YouTube), too, to watch games of an upcoming opponent.”
The PMG staff has a goal of 100-plus games this fall from mid-August through November. The Michigan Soccer Network conducted a record 50 remote or in-person broadcasts during the month of June.
PMG also has contacts within Michigan, the Midwest and even in different parts of the U.S. and have become broadcast partners for more than 15 different leagues or franchises within those leagues over the past three years. PMG has multiple broadcasting rights for within the USL-League Two, USL-W League, UPSL, MWPL, NISA, WSPL and more and constantly expanding its web of coverage both on various YouTube channels and on our website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com. It has broadcasted more high school boys soccer and high school girls soccer at more than 75 high schools in Michigan.
“MSN has been a great media partner for the Bucks and AFC,” said Costa Papista, President of the Flint City Bucks and Flint City AFC of the USL-League Two and USL-W League, respectively. “The production and overall quality of our live broadcasts are professional grade. Flint City fans, sponsors and supporters greatly appreciate the MSN quality. We are always receiving excellent feedback and comments from our fans and visiting fans as well.”
And now the busy season starts in earnest with high school, college and youth club team beginning the 2024-25 school year.
To schedule a game or to consult team members of our broadcast, reach out to the following persons in the PMG family of networks: Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner, 248-525-2083, jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com or new Director of Scheduling / Office Manager Alaina Gagnon, at agagnon@thepremiermediagrp.com and inquire about the broadcast options, packages, special packages and more.
For news on the soccer scene in Michigan, check out the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com for daily updates, game recaps, feature stories, previews and more for teams, players and coaches from a wide variety schools, amateur teams, colleges and youth club teams.
The PMG and MSN staff will continue to reach for its goal of providing quality broadcast on any network and in-depth coverage and content on it website.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
Interested in internships in broadcasting, communications, journalism, public relations or sales and marketing in the sports world? The Premier Media Group is seeking applications for current college students or students entering their senior or junior years of high school that have a career interest in working in different capacity of a constantly-evolving media world.
Contact both Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner at 248-525-2083 or jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com and Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at (248) 525-2349 and dstickradt@thepremeiermediagrp.com.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com.)
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