JONESVILLE — Gavin Van Kampen, a 2024 graduate of Jonesville High School, had a decision to make his senior year of what athletic sport he would want to continue at the next level.
As an accomplished runner, Van Kampen was a state qualifier for the boys cross country team, helping it win a regional title in 2023. He was an all-state runner for Jonesville track his final senior year, helping lead the team to runnerup relay honors at this year's state finals. During the winter months, he was a dream team basketball honoree for the Comets, helping lead the team to their 2022-23 district and conference championship.
After discussions with his parents, Josh and Chrissy Van Kampen, and his coaches, Van Kampen made the decision to play for the Kalamazoo College men's basketball team. He was also offered a spot on the track and cross-country teams, as well.
“It was a tough decision to make, but I think basketball is more my passion and I’ve grown into basketball more," Van Kampen said. "So, I’m glad I can pursue that.”
The Kalamazoo Hornets, a NCAA DIII member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, were one of the options Van Kampen was debating on continuing his athletic and academic career at. His desire to continue basketball at the next level was largely based on his 12 years playing for Jonesville athletics programs.
“I’ve always loved sports, specifically basketball,” Van Kampen said. “I feel like if I have a passion for it, I shouldn’t give it up. I should just keep playing as long as I can. Kalamazoo is a great school. They have really good athletics and really good academic programs. It’s just a good fit for me.”
Van Kampen credited his cross-country coaches Josh Perrin and Jake Snyder, track coach Pete Konieczki, basketball coaches Jeff Turner and Jason Elder and his teammates for helping him make that decision to pursue collegiate athletics.
“Coach Turner really helped me put my name out there. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So, (I want to thank) coach Turner, coach Elder, and my teammate Warrick Elder, too, for helping me put myself out there and showing me what I got to do.”
Warrick Elder, Van Kampen's teammate, is another signee from this class of Comet basketball seniors.
As a rotary scholar and NHS member, Van Kampen plans to pursue a degree in business at Kalamazoo College but is not yet sure what career path that will take him in after college graduation.
On the court
A three-year varsity player for the Comets, Van Kampen was on three winning basketball teams under coach Jeff Turner. The 2021-22 season saw the team win 13 games, finishing second in the Big 8 conference. The team went 19-6 in the 2022-23 season, winning the Big 8 conference championship and winning a district title.
Jonesville defeated Jackson Lumen Christi (51-36) and Hanover-Horton (54-36) to win that title. The Comets lost a heartbreaker to Laingsburg in the regional semifinals (61-54) to end that run. He was second on the team in rebounds. Van Kampen earned honorable mention dream team honors, alongside teammate Warrick Elder, while coach Turner won County coach of the year honors.
His senior year was a breakout one for the new Kalamazoo Hornet men's hoops player. The team finished 18-7 overall, including a 12-4 finish in its first season of Cascades Conference basketball. This run included four distinct winning streaks. The Comets won the Pat Paterson Pool A championship over their former county and league rivals: Reading High School. They made a second-straight district title game appearance after beating county rivals Hillsdale (54-52) and former league rivals Concord (54-51). They lost to champion Hanover-Horton 66-49 in the title game.
At the end of his senior year, Van Kampen had gathered first-team all-conference and all-area dream team honors. In addition, he was an academic team all-state honoree and the Pat Paterson tournament Pool A boys basketball MVP.
He finished his senior year averaging 11.6 points-per-game, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.1 steals. He had an overall field goal percentage of 55.3 and a two-point percentage of 54.6.
Running for the Comets
In addition to his on the court talents, Van Kampen was also an accomplished runner for Jonesville High School. As a cross-country runner, he helped lead the team to a regional championship his senior season, its first since 2002.
He was an all-region athlete three of his cross country seasons, qualifying for the state finals. He had three wins his senior year, including the Stockbridge Invitational. He earned runnerup honors at the conference championship, took fourth at regional and took 40th at the state final held at Michigan International Speedway. He had a PR time of 16:14.9. He earned 2023 all-area dream team honors for his efforts.
Van Kampen had an impressive career for Jonesville boys track and field. As a sophomore, he was a state qualifier on the 4x800 relay team. He was a state qualifier in the same event his junior year and also in the 4x400. He helped lead the 4x400 team that included David Fowler, Damion Scharer and Brady Wright to a sixth-place all-state finish.
His senior season saw him earn three state qualifications. In the 4x800, the team of Fowler, Zachery Childress, Van Kampen and Caleb Blonde took fifth and all-state honors. The team won the Area Best meet, the conference championship and the regional championship.
The 4x400 team of Nicholas and David Fowler, Van Kampen and Carter Rounds took runnerup all-state honors. They were No. 1 ranked in Division 3 heading into the state finals. They won the Area Best meet, the conference title and the regional championship. As a team, the Comets took fourth place overall, a program best finish at the state level.
Van Kampen had his best year in the 800 his senior season. He took third place and all-state honors, won the Area Best meet, took second in the league championship and took first in the regional championship. At regional, he set a career PR of 1:56.03. He won six events this spring in the 800. He also had runnerup conference honors in the 1,600-meter. He had a PR time of 4:40.4. He was named Area Best athlete of the meet for 2023-24. He helped the 4x400 team set the new school record time.
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