Nine Make All-MIAA Men's Lacrosse Team, Michael Mann Offensive MVP

The MIAA-champion Hope College men's lacrosse team utilized a prolific group of nine All-MIAA honorees this season.

The Flying Dutchmen claimed six All-MIAA First Team selections, including Offensive MVP Michael Mann, and three second-team selections, including Rookie of the Year Gibson Heethuis.

Mann, an attacker from Plymouth, Michigan (University of Detroit Jesuit HS), is joined on the 13-player first team by goalkeeper Jack Balmforth, face-off specialist Caden Brainard, midfielder Jackson Early, short-stick midfielder Owen Mueller and long-stick midfielder Luke Wierengo.

Attacker Sam Bowen, defender Michael Mileski, and attacker Heethuis made the 13-player second team.

Mann is Hope's sixth MIAA Most Valuable Player selection and fourth on offense. The senior public accounting and business major spearheaded the league's second-ranked scoring offense by totaling 11 goals and seven assists in five MIAA games.

This is Mann's fourth All-MIAA selection and third as a first-team honoree.

Balmforth (Livonia, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) claimed his first All-MIAA accolade.

The sophomore business major ranked first in the MIAA with a 61.8 save percentage and and 7.19 goals-against average in league games.

Brainard (Muskegon, Michigan / Reeths-Puffer) received his second All-MIAA recognition and first second-team selection.

The junior mechanical engineering major won a league-best 55.5% of faceoffs (50-90) during MIAA play this season.

Early (East Lansing, Michigan/ East Lansing) earned his first All-MIAA honor.

The sophomore public accounting major proved vital in the midfield for the Flying Dutchmen while also scoring eight goals in six MIAA games.

Mueller (Traverse City, Michigan / Saint Francis) claimed his first All-MIAA accolade.

The junior accounting and business major excelled as a short-stick midfielder for Hope while collecting one goal, four ground balls and two caused turnovers in five MIAA games.

Wierengo (Northville, Michigan / Northville) received All-MIAA recognition and first-team honors for the second time in his career.

The junior business major helped fuel the Flying Dutchmen's exceptional defense and recorded four caused turnovers in five MIAA games.

Bowen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern) earned his first All-MIAA honor.

The sophomore business major ranked fifth in the MIAA with 16 points in league games, including seven goals and nine assists.

Heethuis (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) is All-MIAA for the first time.

The freshman ranked second in the MIAA with 13 assists in five league games and tied for second with 21 points. Heethuis scored 21 goals.

Mileski (Inverness, Illinois / William Fremd) claimed his first All-MIAA accolade.

The senior public accounting and business major helped anchor the defense in front of Balmforth and finished with 11 caused turnovers in five MIAA games.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#29 Jack Balmforth: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Business

#11 Sam Bowen: A; 5' 9"; Junior; Business

#3 Caden Brainard: M; 5' 9"; Junior; Engineering

#31 Jackson Early: M; 6' 0"; Sophomore; Accounting - Public Acct

#43 Michael Mann: A; 5' 9"; Senior; Public Acct/Business

#36 Michael Mileski: D; 6' 1"; Senior; Accounting Public Accounting and Business/Economics

#7 Luke Wierengo: LSM; 6' 2"; Junior; Business

#12 Gibson Heethuis: A; 5' 11"; Freshman

#45 Owen Mueller: M; 5' 10"; Junior; Accounting/Business Dbl Major

Players Mentioned

#29 Jack Balmforth
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Business
: G

#11 Sam Bowen
: 5' 9"; Junior; Business
: A

#3 Caden Brainard
: 5' 9"; Junior; Engineering
: M

#31 Jackson Early
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; Accounting - Public Acct
: M

#43 Michael Mann
: 5' 9"; Senior; Public Acct/Business
: A

#36 Michael Mileski
: 6' 1"; Senior; Accounting Public Accounting and Business/Economics
: D

#7 Luke Wierengo
: 6' 2"; Junior; Business
: LSM

#12 Gibson Heethuis
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: A

#45 Owen Mueller
: 5' 10"; Junior; Accounting/Business Dbl Major
: M