FRUITPORT – Fruitport senior Hudson Hazekamp has always been a really good soccer player, and he’s always had the ability to score goals.

He just never had to score very often last year, because his team was loaded with lots of players who could put the ball in the net.

That worked perfectly for Hudson last season, because he was moved to a defensive back line position to use his 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame to help prevent opponents from scoring.

This season has been different for Hudson, however, and a lot busier.

The Trojans lost most of their roster, including most of their top offensive players, to graduation last spring. With a brand new group of players up from junior varsity this fall, the coaches were not sure who  could carry the bulk of the scoring load.

A big part of that burden fell to Hudson, who was called on to crank up his goal production, even while remaining at his defensive position.

He has responded to the extra challenge even better than expected, exploding for a team-leading nine goals in the first 15 games this season.

Hudson started lighting it up right away, on the first day of the season, when the Trojans played two games. He had one goal in a 2-1 win over Eaton Rapids, and the only goal in a 1-0 win over Romeo.

There have been plenty of other highlight games for him since then. He scored an amazing three goals in the first half in a 5-0 win over Hopkins. He scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Ludington. He scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Allendale, and scored the tying goal in a 2-1 comeback win over North Muskegon.

Fruitport head coach Dan Hazekamp – who just happens to be Hudson’s father – said he knew that his son would have to be more of an offensive player this year, but even he’s been surprised by the outcome.

“Over the summer, me and my brother (co-coach Steve Hazekamp) talked about how he was going to have to be a piece of it, but he has surprised us,” Coach Hazekamp said. “We did not anticipate this much offensive production out of him. It’s been great and needed.

“He has scored in a variety of ways – a few penalty kicks, a few free kicks he converted, a couple of headers. Actually one of the biggest weapons he brings is that he can rip it in there with his throw-ins. He can throw really far, and several of his throws have hit the goalie or other players, and he was credited with the goals.

“He can also kick the ball very hard, and it carries a long way in the air. He’s had a couple goals from 30 or 40 yards out on free kicks.”

Hudson said he’s also been surprised by his scoring surge, and welcomes the opportunity to do more for his team.

“I have surprised myself a little bit,” he said. “This year we needed someone to step up, and I’m willing to be that guy. My dad and uncle told me, you got the green light whenever you see a window, and that’s what I’m looking for. If I can get the opportunity, I’m going to go for it.

“As a defender, I don’t get as many opportunities, but I try to make the most out of the ones I get.”

Whatever it takes for the team

While he has become more of a scorer by necessity, Hudson’s main role  remains on defense – and he remains very, very good at that.

He is part of what has to be one of the best defensive back four units in the state, working along with first-year starters Hayden Taylor, Conner King and Roger Camp, plus defensive midfielder Cole Luker and goalie Sebastian Sweet.

The Trojans have only given up seven goals in 15 games this season, which is remarkable.

Hudson had been a forward his entire life before his junior year, and wasn’t thrilled when his dad moved him to defense, but now he relishes that role.

He took right to it last year, winning All-Conference, All-District, All-Region and second team All-State honors for his work on the back line.

“At first I wanted to stay up in the attack, but I will do whatever I have to for the team,” Hudson said. “Now I take more pride in not giving up goals.”

Hudson’s all-around play has helped the young Trojans, who only returned three starters from last year, post a pretty amazing 11-1-3 record so far this year. They are currently the seventh ranked Division 2 team in the state.

While others have been surprised by the young team’s performance, Hudson said he’s not.

“In my mind, I had confidence in my guys,” he said. “I knew what we had. I knew we had a great JV team last year and those guys were coming up. This is definitely a different team, but not in a bad way at all. My dad will say (the success) surprises him a little bit, but I knew we had a bunch of competitors who hate to lose.”

Fruitport had two very big O-K Silver conference games last week. The first ended in a disappointing 1-1 tie with Calvin Christian on Tuesday, which was the first non-victory in conference play for the Trojans since they joined the O-K Silver three years ago.

They rebounded on Thursday, however, with a 1-0 victory over NorthPointe Christian, and now sit alone in first place in the O-K Silver with only two more conference games remaining.

Hudson got an assist on the only goal with a throw-in.

“I think on Tuesday we came out a little slow, which got us yelled at during halftime,” he said. “We had a senior meeting on Wednesday, then a players-only meeting, and figured some things out. I think it really helped us.”

Beyond trying to win a third straight conference title, the Trojans would love to go deep in the Division 2 state tournament again, and have a better fate than the last two years, when they won district championships but were twice stunned in regionals in dramatic overtime shootout losses.

Hudson thinks this young team, as inexperienced as it is, could be the one that gets Fruitport closer to its state championship dream.

‘It really sucked, honestly,” he said about the two dramatic state tournament losses. “I think about it all the time, and the different things we could have done. I am trying my best now to just use that as motivation.”

A family affair

You hear a lot of stories about parents and children in coach-player relationships. Some say it’s a blessing, some say it’s a curse, and some say it’s a mixed bag.

The Hazekamps say it’s worked out beautifully for them, with father and son using the experience to develop even more mutual respect.

Coach Hazekamp said he couldn’t be more proud of Hudson, both for his skills and accomplishments, and for his desire to win and willingness to put the team before everything.

Hudson brings those traits to three varsity sports – soccer, basketball and baseball – and he’s a great player in every one.

“He’s a special athlete,” the coach said. “He’s been All-State, All-Region and All-Conference. He’s had honors in basketball and baseball, too. It’s been pretty impressive. But I’m more proud of the fact that he’s a great kid who works really hard and is a great teammate.

“I think he would trade in all of his honors for a few more team trophies. He wants to win. He pushes himself hard and gives it everything he’s got. The one thing I always wanted for him, as a player and my son, was for him to play like a warrior, and that’s what he’s done.”

Coach Hazekamp admits he’s pushed Hudson pretty hard over the years, to help him get the most out of his abilities.

“He has always been pushed,” the coach said. “There have always been high expectations for him. In some places, coaches’ kids get the breaks, but I think it has worked the opposite way for Hudson. He had to work harder for things.”

Coach Hazekamp said he and Hudson have always had a great relationship, on and off the field.

“We are both extremely competitive, we both really want to win, but at the end of the day we know we love each other a lot, and we’re on the same page 98 percent of the time,” the coach said. “There have been a few times when we’ve gotten after each other a little bit, but it doesn’t last for long, and we move on.”

Hudson says he’s appreciates the way his dad has pushed him on the field – when he was coaching him during his youth soccer days, and again at the varsity level.

“I am very grateful for that,” he said. “He pushed me very hard. He knows what I’m capable of and how hard I can be pushed. If I have another level he can get me there, when sometimes I can’t get there myself . He knows I have another level in the tank.

“I am very grateful for him. It’s been awesome.”

Coach Hazekamp and Hudson are having extra fun from a family perspective this season, because a very familiar new face has arrived on the scene.

Freshman Brydan Hazekamp – Hudson’s little brother – is a goalkeeper who mostly plays on the junior varsity squad, but has also been able to spend some time playing with the varsity this season.

“I got to be in a game with him at Boyne (in the season-opening games) and it was awesome,” Hudson said. “He’s a very good goalkeeper. There have been a few times in the past when I have been a fill-in with his group in indoor soccer, but I have never been on a real team with him before.

“It’s a weird dynamic, hopping in the car with him after a game and talking with him about it, but it’s been awesome. It’s an experience I have been waiting for.”

Coach Hazekamp loves the added family element, too.

“For me, having the opportunity to have my brother coaching with me, and now having my second-born son become a freshman, and all four of us on the same sideline, has been really special,” he said. “These are special moments to me, things that I will never forget.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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