Kate van Keuren (’87)
Kate Van Keuren was a three sport star athlete (soccer, basketball and softball) who received multiple All-League, All-County and All-State honors.
Kate Van Keuren was a four year starter for Glen Rock High School’s girls soccer team and helped lead the team to four extremely successful seasons. A versatile and multitalented athlete, Kate played center halfback,she directed the offense and was also a leading score.
In her sophomore year, Kate helped lead the 1984 team to the school’s first B-PSL championship in girls soccer. In the State Championship playoffs, the team defeated Berkeley Heights 3-2 (on Kate’s winning penalty kick) and then defeated league rival Mahwah 2-1 (with Kate scoring the winning goal) to win the Division B (Groups 1 & 2), Sectional Championship. In the subsequent Division B, State Championship game, the Panthers tied Delran High School tied 3-3 (with Kate scoring one of the team’s three goals) and were crowned Co-Champions.
At the end of the season, Kate was named to the First Team, Group 1, All-State, to the Third Team, All Groups, All-State, to the Second Team, All County (by The Bergen Record) and to the First Team, All-B-PSL.
In Kate’s junior year, Glen Rock repeated as B-PSL champion but, unfortunately, was defeated by Mahwah in the Group 1, North semifinal in a shootout that followed a scoreless tie between the two rival schools. During that season, Kate scored 21 goals and delivered 13 assists from her midfield position. She was named to the First Team, All-County and to the First Team, All-B-PSL.
In Kate’s senior year, she served as Co-Captain of the 1986 team and was the team’s leading scorer with 22 goals. In the State Tournament, Glen Rock won the Group 1, Sectional Championship (in a 3-2 victory over Chatham Boro with Kate scoring two of those three goals), the Group 1, North Jersey Championship (in a 1-0 victory over Mahwah) and then the Group 1, State Championship (in a 1-0 victory over Bordentown). At the end of the season, Katewas named to the Second Team, All-County and to the First Team, All-B-PSL.
Kate played four years on the basketball team In her junior and senior years, Kate was named to the First Team, All-B-PSL Carpenter Division and received Honorable Mention, All-County. She was also selected Co-Captain in both her junior and senior years. The basketball team won two league championships during that time.
Kate contributed greatly to the school’s softball program. She was the starting shortstop (and sometimes third baseman) for four years and served as a Co-Captain in her senior year. As a junior, she was named to the First Team, All-B-PSL and received Honorable Mention, All-County. She also received B-PSL honors as a sophomore and senior.
In June 1987, the administration and coaches of Glen Rock High School recognized Kate as the top female athlete in that year’s graduating class and gave her the esteemed Athlete of the Year Award.
Kate continued in her athletic endeavors while at Tufts University. She played both soccer and softball lettering four years in each sport. Playing as a sweeper, Kate helped lead the soccer team to a NIAC championship when she was a sophomore. As a junior, Kate was the team’s leading scorer and was named the team’s MVP. Kate was named to the NSCAA Division 3, Second Team, All-New England three times and was the team’s Co-Captain in her senior year. Kate was a pitcher and a shortstop for the Tufts softball team. In her sophomore year, she pitched a then-record 111 innings and pitched back-to-back no-hitters. The softball team won the NIAC championship in 1988, were runners-up in 1989, and won the NESCAC championship in 1991. Kate was the team’s Co-Captain as a senior.