Steenhuis commits to Richmond
It was love at first sight for Tye Steenhuis and the University of Richmond.
The 18-year-old forward for the St. Catharines WMKL Athletics recently committed to the Division 1 school after receiving an offer and making a visit to their campus.
“They reached out to me,” Steenhuis said. “I went with my dad for a visit in early September and the place was amazing. There wasn’t anything negative I could say. The facilities are great, the guys are great.
“It was a perfect visit and we kind of fell in love with it and made the decision.”
Steenhuis, whose father Mark Steenhuis was a member of the 2001 Minto Cup champion Athletics, is thrilled to have his future set after some sleepless nights.
“It comes with a lot of stress and a lot of thinking,” he said. “Sometimes you just have to let things fall into place a little bit. Do the research and make sure the things you’re doing are going to be the right things in the future. That’s what I did to help me through it. Now that the decision has been made a lot of pressure is off and now I can focus on just getting better and improving.
“It’s nice to have my mind set on just one thing.”
Steenhuis graduated from Governor Simcoe last year and has spent this year at The Hill Academy, an independent school in Caledon.
“I decided to take that gap year. The Hill became an option and at the time I wasn’t committed,” Steenhuis said. “We saw The Hill as a great place to get me more looks and exposure and also to improve my game and to get used to living away from home and all that. I wanted to use the gap year to stay focused and on task and it worked out well.”
Steenhuis, who collected 29 goals last season for the A’s, is aware he will need to continue to evolve as he moves up to the next level.
“I’m expecting that when I go there I’m not going to be the star player I want to be already,” he said. “It can be used as great motivation, to work up a list of see where I have to get to and keep going and climb those steps up the mountain.”
He is eagerly awaiting the start of his sophomore season with the Athletics.
“Growing up I played box most of my life and I still lean toward liking the box game a little more,” he said. “To get back to that season, it’s super fun the friends you make in that short span of time.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m super excited.”
A’s general manager Jeff Chcoski is confident Steenhuis will excel at the next level.
“The genes there are unbelievable and the sky is the limit for him,” Chcoski said. “Richmond is always in the top 20 and is a great school.”
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