2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

The 2023 Class of Inductees into the Spring Lake High School Athletic Hall of Fame have been announced by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. All seven athletes continued their successful athletic participation after leaving Spring Lake High school at colleges and universities across the country.

The honorees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Thursday, September 7, at the Grand Hall of Harbourfront Place. Tickets are available through the SLPS web site under the High School link, Athletic Hall of Fame.

Barbara Vipond Brackett is a 10 time high school letter winner in gymnastics, softball, and swimming, and winner of the Len Fase Award for outstanding senior female athlete. She received All-State recognition in diving in high school and continued her record-setting diving at Central Michigan University. She still holds diving records at SLHS. Vipond coached gymnastics and diving at SLHS. She was awarded a Laker Athletic Foundation Award for her support of Laker athletics. 

Evie Lorimer Uithoven was a three sport high school athlete participating in volleyball, basketball, and softball. Uithoven received athletic and academic conference and All-State honors in all her sports. She was the Len Fase winner and selected as Miss Softball Position Player, with multiple State softball records still on the books . She continued her success at Central Michigan University being selected Academic All-MAC and a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete. Uithoven currently coaches softball at Spring Lake.  

Jeff VanDenBerg was a varsity tennis player each year in high school winning the State Championship at #2 Singles in 1986. VanDenBerg was the runner up in 1985, a quarter finalist in 1984, received All-State honors and was nationally ranked by the United States Tennis Association. He continued his tennis success at Miami University of Ohio with NCAA ranking and played qualifier level professional tours, including the Western and Southern Opens. VanDenBerg has coached at the high school, university, and professional level.

Katie Skendrovic was a three sport athlete, leading teams in Swimming and Diving, Volleyball, and Track and Field, earning All Conference and All State awards. She was selected as the Len Fase winner as the outstanding female athlete her senior year at SLHS. Skendrovic was a four year letter winner in diving at the University of Michigan, receiving both athletic and academic recognition, and advanced to regional and national competition.  

Rob Peel was a team leader for men’s swimming at SLHS placing at the State level his senior year in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Peel’s success continued at Hope College as a 9 time MIAA champion and conference-school record holder in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle. He is an 11 time Division III All American and won the NCAA 50 freestyle. Peel was inducted into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame, coached the SLHS swim team from 2017 through 2019, and was selected the 2019 High School Swim Coach of the Year by MISCA.

Valerie Alter Wallrath participated in basketball, tennis, volleyball, and softball. She was selected All Conference in all 4 sports, received All State honors in Softball and Tennis, and still holds many MHSAA records in softball. Walrath was a finalist for the Athlete of the Year, was named a Top Ten Athlete of the Decade, was named Top 50 players in the State by the Detroit Free Press, and was selected the Len Fase outstanding senior female athlete. She continued her softball and academic success in college both in Michigan and Florida.