2013 Jostens Trophy Winner

Verkaik is the second individual in Calvin women's basketball history to receive the award as Lisa Winkle was also so honored in 2007.  A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik has been a leader on the basketball court, in the classroom and in the community.

As a basketball player, Verkaik was recently named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Player for the fourth straight year. She averaged 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks a game.  She completed her career as Calvin’s all-time leader in points (2,236), rebounds (1,071) and blocked shots (440). She is now currently ranked third on the all-time NCAA III women’s basketball list in blocked shots and 14th in points.

She helped Calvin post an overall record of 100-16 during her four-year collegiate career which included three MIAA regular season titles and four trips to the NCAA III Tournament including a berth in the national quarterfinals in 2012. This year Calvin finished 23-4 overall including 15-1 in conference play as the Knights gained a share of the MIAA regular season title and later earned a bid to the NCAA III Tournament.

Verkaik was most recently named the D3hoops.com Great Lakes Region Player of the Year for the third consecutive year and was named a State Farm Division III All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association of American for the second straight year. In addition, she is one of three finalists for the State Farm Division III Player of the Year Award presented by the WBCA.

An education major, Verkaik was recently named the Division III Capital One Academic All-American of the Year and also landed a spot on the Capital One Academic All-America first team. She was named to the Capital One Academic All-American third team the year before. She carries a 3.76 grade point average and is a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

She has also been active in the community. Some of her volunteer activities include serving as a mentor in the Special Olympics program, serving as a tutor with local elementary school children, serving as a praise and worship leader in her church and organizing a middle-school book club group. She is currently student-teaching at Potter’s House Christian School in southwest Grand Rapids.

Verkaik is a two-sport athlete at Calvin, also competing on the outdoor women’s track and field team. Last spring, she repeated as MIAA champion in the high jump and later qualified for the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the event for the second consecutive year.

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