Portland’s Haden Getchell to continue football career at Hope College

Portland High School senior Haden Getchell will be attending Hope College next fall and will be joining the Flying Dutchmen football team.

Getchell participated on the varsity golf, soccer, basketball and football teams at Portland, including three years of varsity football.

As a freshman at PHS, Getchell played varsity soccer and golf. As a sophomore he was on varsity football, basketball and golf. Junior year was varsity football and golf. Then, senior year I focused only on football and private training because I knew I wanted to play in college.

On the football field, he earned CAAC All-Academic and All-Conference honors.

When asked about his decision to attend Hope, he said, “My brother, Ethan is a junior at Hope, so I have visited several times. I am familiar with the campus and culture, and I already knew it would be a good fit. I also knew of the football team's success, and found it even more appealing when I got to meet the coaching staff. Everyone has so much respect for Coach Stuursma. And the team has such a great family atmosphere it reminds me a lot of Portland that way.”

Getchell was appreciative of his support his family has given him to this point. He said, “I appreciate everything my family has done to support me: from coaching me as a young player and driving me around the state for soccer and AAU basketball to being team parents and never missing a game. My brother would even come back from college and bring his friends to support me in games. That meant a lot.”

Getchell added, “Being part of the Raider football family and playing my favorite sport with guys I have grown up with has been so rewarding. My team, our coaches, and the community have been incredibly supportive, and I'll always be grateful for the lessons learned and memories made. Our whole class is so talented and we have so many going on to play at the next level, it will be fun to see everyone continue. I'm proud to be a Raider and to be part of this community!”

Hope College, located in Holland, MI, participates in NCAA Division III for football, and is a member if the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, America’s oldest college sports conference.

Photos courtesy of PHS Athletics.