file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr94-056.txt ------------------------------------------------ From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Thu, 27 Oct 1994 02:42:14 -0400 Subject: NR #56 - Christian School Refuses Sabbath Play, Wins Anway Reformed Believers Press Service An independent source of news on developments in the Reformed and Presbyterian world Sponsored by Reformed Believers United News Release For Immediate Release October 26, 1994 Release #1994-56 (Revised) For Further Information Contact: Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service Voice: (616) 674-8446 FAX: (616) 674-8454 E-Mail: Darrell128@AOL.com PO Box 691, Lawrence, MI 49064-0691 Hudsonville Christian School Equestrian Team Wins Michigan State Horse Finals Despite Refusing Sunday Competition by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service Hudsonville, Mich (October 26, 1994) RBPS - The equestrian team at Unity Christian High School in the Grand Rapids suburb of Hudsonville has accomplished an almost impossible feat: in its first year of existence, the nine-member team galloped past every other Class B horsemanship team to win the October 21-23 state finals of the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association by 27 points, despite refusing to compete in Sunday events due to religious convictions. "You just don't eliminate almost a third of the events and still win the state championship," said a surprised Doyle Fenner, show manager for the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association. "Never before have we had a team organized for the first year win a competition and never before have we had a team do what they did, winning despite not participating on Sunday." According to Fenner, this year was the first time in the organization's 20-year history that any of its 173 teams declined to participate in Sunday events at the state finals. However, team coach Judy Kuyers said their unprecedented decision was not difficult at all. After winning all three District Five meets in their area, none of which are held on Sunday, the Hudsonville team qualified for state competition and realized they would have to make a decision on Sunday competition. "The state thing came up, we decided representing Unity Christian we definitely could not show on Sunday, but we decided to go, compete on Friday and Saturday, and leave Saturday evening," said Kuyers. "At the end of Saturday night we were 48 points ahead, there were four more events to go, there were 3 or 4 teams who were really close together and if any of them took the lead in the contests that were left, they could win. Instead, they all divided among themselves and we still ended 27 points ahead." Kuyers said her team's victory in the state finals surprised everyone, most of all the team itself. "Eight young ladies and one young man organized the club last year, I ended up being coach because my husband and my son and my daughter all rode, so we said we'll try it because there's nobody else to do it," said Kuyers. "We didn't even have any idea how state was. We simply asked questions because it was all so new." The Hudsonville victory surprised not only the MIHA but also Unity Christian High School and prompted a special announcement at school the next morning. Most students at Unity Christian are members of rural or suburban congregations in the 300,320-member Christian Reformed denomination, and the school has a policy of not competing in Sunday events. However, this was the first time the school's policy of no Sunday competitions had ever been tested since the Michigan High School Athletic Association, the governing body for all other sports at Unity Christian, does not allow Sunday events. Unity Christian's principal said the equestrian team's decision was made without pressure from the school. Since the team's volunteer coach is not paid by the school, the team is technically a club rather than a sport and for that reason would not have been subjected to the mandatory policy banning Sunday competitions. "They decided on their own that was what they would do," said Jack Postma. "One of the parents, Cheryl Visser, called me and said, 'I know the school doesn't officially sponsor the team, but we have decided not to compete on Sunday because that would be a bad witness for the school.'" Although this is the first time a team ever declined to compete on Sunday in the state finals, Visser said Unity Christian is not the only equestrian team in her area which does not participate in Sunday competitions. "Holland Christian has taken on the equestrian team, but they just say no state, period," said Visser. "We decided we would go for the first two days but not participate on Sunday." "I got the feeling that on Saturday because we were so far ahead, people thought we were committing suicide, that we definitely could win if we stayed," said Visser. "It gives us the opportunity to witness and explain our views." According to the MIHA, the policy difference on Sunday competitions between the state athletic association and the horsemanship association arises from different policies in non-scholastic horse competition. "The MIHA was founded by horse people and right or wrong it is standard policy to have horse shows on Sunday," said Fenner. "We do have people who will not participate in events on Sunday morning but will participate in events on Sunday afternoon." "We have hesitated from getting full MHSAA approval because we would put kids in the position of choosing a sport," said Fenner. "There are some schools where the team is more than a club, it is a sport, and in some cases a varsity sport in which letters are awarded; with MHSAA they can only participate in one sport during a season and that would hurt the kids." The Unity Christian victory means that the team is the best Class B school among 173 schools and 1134 riders who participated throughout the state. "We certainly hope they will be back next year to defend their championship," said Fenner. "The closest team to them, New Boston-Huron High School, has repeated the state championship many times and history shows that a school which takes the championship will probably come back and win again." Contact List: Doyle Fenner, Show Manager, Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association 648 North Dennis Rd. Ludington MI 49431 * O: (616) 845-6248 * H: (616) 845-7187 * FAX: (616) 843-9453 Judy and Dave Kuyers, Coaches, Unity Christian Equestrian Club 2487 24th Ave., Hudsonville MI 49426 * H: (616) 896-9132 Jack Postma, Principal, Unity Christian High School 3487 Oak Street, Hudsonville, MI 49426 * O: (616) 669-1820 Cheryl Visser, Parent, Unity Christian Equestrian Club 14485 60th Ave., Coopersville MI 49404 * H: (616) 837-9530 --