Sophomore Jonas Vander Woude shocked many people when he transferred to FHC. Switching from Grand Rapids Christian to Forest Hills Central is not an easy transition, but a transition Jonas is capable of making.

“Forest Hills Central has been a complete change of pace for me,” Vander Woude said. “The biggest difference is the number of people at FHC and the fact that the Bible is not incorporated with any of the lessons.”

Before people can talk about where Jonas is now, they have to take a look at his journey through his younger years that has shaped him into the player he is now.

His journey started at the age of five when his dad and grandfather introduced him to the sport of basketball. Throughout his younger years, Jonas learned the basics of basketball through the two–they were always his coaches. 

“Since my dad and grandpa both played and coached, it was really easy for me to pick up the game,” Jonas mentioned. “I started to play more and more, and it eventually turned into an everyday activity.”

With the help of his family, Jonas found a special passion for the sport of basketball. Like he previously mentioned, basketball turned into an everyday thing. He did not get tired of it, which shaped him into the player he is today. 

“His work ethic has been incredible in the first few weeks he’s been here,” head basketball coach Kyle Carhart said. “He’s early to every workout or practice, he stays after to shoot and is an underrated leader.”

When Jonas Vander Woude first was transferred to FHC, there were some mixed emotions present. But, in his first two weeks, Jonas has made many new friends and fit right into the Rangerball family. 

“FHC has treated me great so far,” Vander Woude exclaimed. “All of my new friends, teachers, and coaches have helped me feel comfortable and normal through this process.”

Getting into the specifics, Jonas Vander Woude enters his second year of high school basketball. Last year at Christian, Jonas played JV for most of the year as a freshman and was pulled up towards the end of the year for playoffs. Jonas had many big games, but one of the biggest came against FHC. In that game, Jonas scored 25 to beat out the Rangers in a close contest. 

Now at FHC, Jonas looks to have a breakout season in his first official season on varsity. Vander Woude has learned a heap of things in his first three weeks at FHC; one of the things he learned is what it means to play the Rangerball way. 

“Rangerball means family to me,” Vander Woude expressed. “For the next five months, I’m going to give everything I have every day and also succeed or fail with my team. Regardless of the result, Rangerball means getting through adversity as a team.”

Forest Hills Central basketball has a plethora of big games this year including Northview, East Kentwood, and Traverse City St. Frances. Still, the game circled on Jonas’ calendar is no surprise to anyone. 

“The game I’m most excited about is against my former school Grand Rapids Christian,” Jonas said. “It’s gonna be a lot of fun because it means so much to me and it should be a high-level game with some chirping mixed in.”