Unity Christian basketball players reach the state finals in three sports

Unity Christian senior Kyler Berghuis, left, and junior Josh Bremer pose during track and field practice on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The duo will compete in the Division 2 state finals on Saturday. It will be the third sport each has reached the state finals this school year. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. - Kyler Berghuis and Josh Bremer worked up a sweat during a track practice Wednesday on a sweltering 90 degree afternoon. 

The athletes from Hudsonville Unity Christian High School are preparing for the Division 2 state track and field finals on Saturday, May 30 at Hamilton.

It’s not uncommon for high school athletes to compete in multiple sports. But three is a lot. And reaching the state finals in three sports? That’s almost unheard of.

Unity Christian has two of them.

Berghuis, a senior, competes in soccer, basketball and now track. Bremer, a junior, competes in football, basketball and track. 

Each one qualified for the track finals, meaning the’ve each reached the state finals in all of their sports in the same season. 

“It shows how athletic our class is,” Berghuis said. “We’ve had some elite athletes and some great teams. And we’ve had some great coaches help get us there.”

Unity Christian’s Kyler Berghuis in the Division 2 state championship game at The Breslin in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Unfortunately, Unity didn’t win a boys sports title this season. 

The football team was 12-2 but lost in the state title game to Dearborn Divine Child 23-22.

“That was so unexpected and a fun experience,” Bremer said. “I don’t think I’ve still realized how special that run was and to make I to a state championship. Such a fun team. Obviously, it sucks we lost. But it was a great experience to play at Ford Field.”

The soccer team was 19-1-4. The lone loss was a 2-0 defeat to Warren De La Salle in the title game. 

Both Berghuis and Bremer were on the basketball team that was 25-4 and reached the Division 2 championship game before falling to Freeland 42-32.

“It was a rough first two years because we didn’t get out of districts,” said Berghuis, who had a varsity career record of 64-12. “We never won a single tournament game. So we had a chip on our shoulders. So as a kid, I dreamed of playing at the Breslin.”

Josh Bremer of Unity Christian in the Division 2 state championship game at The Breslin in East Lansing, Mich., on Friday, March 14, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Berghuis, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound point guard, will play basketball at Calvin University, along with teammates Owen VanderWaal, Jack Kamminga and Luke Tubergen. 

“We’ve been playing together since eighth grade and most of us, we’ve been on the same AAU team and school ball team,” Berghuis said. “We know each other so well. So it’s amazing that we get to play at the next level together at the same college. I’m super excited for Calvin.”

Berghuis qualified for the track finals in the long jump, along with teammate Scott Vredevoogd. Berghuis got a PR of 21-feet, 1 inch. Vredevoogd went 21-2.5. They both want to break the school record of 22.3 by Isaac TeSlaa, who is now in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. 

“I’ve got some work to do,” Berghuis said. “It would be cool to beat an NFL player’s school record.”

Unity Christian athletes, from left, Josh Bremer, Lucas Elliott, Cooper Dykstra, Kyler Berghuis and Scott Vredevoogd run through sprints during a track practice on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Bremer, who is a lean 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, has always done discus and shot put. But he made the unusual switch to sprints. He asked his coach if he could try the 100 and it worked out well. He ran an 11.76 at regionals.

“I started track my freshman year,” Bremer said. “But I was a thrower my first two years. This year was the first time I ran the 100. That was about half way through the season. Then I got asked to be in the 4x100 and I didn’t want to turn that down. I knew the school record was possible and we did break it (with a 43.65 at regionals).”

So he’s qualified for state in the 4x100 along with teammates Cooper Dykstra, Lucas Elliott and Vredevoogd. 

“Obviously, I’m not your average thrower,” he said with a smile. “I’m not very big. I can go to the throwing pits and out-throw some of these bigger dudes and then go sprint pretty fast.”

Berghuis said he never expected to fall in love with track. 

“This was my first year in track,” he said. “And I’ve loved it way more than I thought I would. I know I can improve in every event that I’ve been doing. I started thinking about running and jumping in college as well. It’s a thought.”

Unity Christian senior Kyler Berghuis is competing in his third sport in the state finals. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).