ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College men's lacrosse junior Sam Van Eekeren recently competed in the World Lacrosse Men's U20 Championship in South Korea. Representing Team Netherlands, Van Eekeren appeared in three matches during the tournament. The Netherlands went 1-1 in pool play, earning a win over Hong Kong and a loss to Japan, before moving on to face Puerto Rico and Mexico in bracket play.
Van Eekeren earned his spot on Team Netherlands by submitting a highlight reel, followed by an interview process. He was ultimately chosen to represent his Dutch heritage on the international stage.
"This experience has been incredible," Van Eekeren said. "I feel extremely blessed to travel across the world and represent both my Dutch heritage and Adrian College lacrosse. Meeting my teammates for the first time was amazing, and it was really cool to learn about how each of them was connected to Dutch lacrosse."
Over the course of his three appearances, Van Eekeren recorded three goals on three shots on goal. He also collected eight ground balls and forced nine turnovers.
"It's an incredible honor to represent Adrian College on such a big stage," Van Eekeren added. "Adrian has played a major role in my growth as both a student and an athlete, and I wouldn't be in this position without the support of my coaches, teammates, and the lacrosse program. Being able to carry the Adrian name with me while competing against some of the best players in the world is something I'm really proud of. It motivates me to push even harder, not just for myself, but to represent the college and community that have helped shape me. I especially want to shout out the seniors who just graduated from the program. They reset the standard for Adrian College lacrosse and built a strong foundation for the future. As I head into my junior year, I'm excited to work for a starting spot and continue the process of chasing a conference championship."
The international tournament featured 19 teams, each competing in pool play before entering bracket rounds. After losses to Puerto Rico and Mexico, Team Netherlands secured a place in the top playoff bracket and will compete in the 11th place game on Saturday, August 23, against either Ireland or Germany.
"We are very excited that Sam was able to participate in the U20 World Championships for the Netherlands," said Adrian College head men's lacrosse coach Brett Wetzel. "He has been an extremely hard worker for our program and is ready to step up and fill some big shoes in the next year for our program. He clearly showed this tournament that he is more than capable of playing our brand of lacrosse in transition and on the defensive end. This was a great experience for him that will only bolster his rapid development, we cannot wait to see him back on the field in the Black and Gold."
Van Eekeren will return to Adrian College for his junior season, aiming to help lead the Bulldogs toward a conference championship in the spring of 2026.
