Excel 2022

As the summer approaches, we are excited to offer the Excel training program for our Zeeland West and Creekside athletes in grades 6th-12th. The Excel program, in its 16th year,  is a 6-week long training program led by Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Henry DuMez and  Zeeland West teachers and coaches. The goal of Excel is to offer an affordable but highly specialized training program with a focus on speed and quickness, agility, plyometrics, and strength training; while giving student-athletes the opportunity to work and improve alongside their teammates. 

Dates: June 13th to July 29th with the exception of the dead week July 4-8. 

Days: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Cost- $115

HS boys (9th-12th)- 7:30-9:00

HS/MS girls(6th-12th)- 8:45-10:15

MS Boys (6th-8th)- 10:00-11:30

To sign your son or daughter up, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/S3GuYThRmksvTfSP9 . Please fill out a different form for each child you are signing up for the program. We want the Excel program to be an affordable option for all of Zeeland West athletes and their families. If you or your family are interested in participating in the program, but are struggling financially, please send Mr. Vande Guchte an email at nvandegu@zps.org to discuss what options are available. 

Please have your son or daughter bring their payment of $115 to Mrs. Brookhouse in the Athletic Office, or to Mr. Vande Guchte in D130 prior to the program start date. Checks should be made out to Zeeland West Athletics with Excel in the memo line, or exact cash is appreciated. Payment will also be accepted the first day of Excel, but we would prefer to get that taken care of ahead of time. 

Program History

This summer we are entering year sixteen of our Excel training at Zeeland West. Prior to teaching and coaching at Zeeland West, Coach Vande Guchte was the Director of Sports Training at Excel-R-ation Physical Therapy and Sports Training for many years. While there, he was responsible for a staff of 3-5 trainers who trained middle school athletes all the way up through professional athletes. In addition to training in their facility, he led ground based training programs here at Zeeland West, as well as Saugatuck High School, Holland Christian High School, Griff's Ice Arena, the Hope College Tennis Academy, and several other high school teams and small groups of athletes throughout the area.

In the summer of 2022, the staff welcomed Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Henry DuMez to the team. Henry graduated from Hope College with a degree in Exercise Science. He has worked in the field of strength and conditioning since graduating and he currently owns his own gym in the Grandville area. His certifications include being a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, Certified Functional Strength Coach, EXOS Performance Specialist, Functional Movement Specialist, StrongFirst Kettlebell Instructor, Precision Nutrition Coach, and Certified Coach through the Titleist Performance Institute. We are thankful to have Henry on staff and know the expertise that he will bring to our program will help us continue to help our athletes improve each year. . 

When the program started here at West, it was one trainer and approximately 15-20 athletes. Over the last sixteen years, the program has developed and grown into 8-12 coaches helping each summer, and now  training between 140-160 athletes from a variety of sports and age groups.

We look forward to a summer of getting better, together! Go Dux!