By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
When she was in elementary school, recent Saugatuck High School graduate Kennedy Gustafson remembers noticing the distinct difference in crowd size for girls basketball games compared to boys basketball games.
“I asked my mom why there were not as many fans at the girls basketball games as there was for boys,” she said. “My mom said, ‘Your team has to be so good that they want to come watch.’”
Gustafson took the message to heart. And she did everything in her power to make Saugatuck girls basketball games must-see viewing for local fans.
During her four years as a member of the Saugatuck varsity squad, Gustafson helped the team to a 71-23 record. That included marks of 23-2 last year and 22-2 during her junior campaign.
And during her sophomore year, the team captured a district championship to end a 20-year drought in that department.
The community responded.
“During my high school basketball career at Saugatuck, the girls basketball program reached new heights and more fans came to watch,” Gustafson said. “The Saugatuck community has been incredibly supportive throughout my athletic career.”
While the girls basketball program at Saugatuck reached heights not seen in the program in two decades, Gustafson reached individual heights few in the state have ever reached.
In a non-conference game against Bridgman on Dec. 10, she scored 20 points to surpass the 1,000-point mark in career scoring.
Less than two months later, on Feb. 5, Gustafson snagged the 1,000th rebound of her high school career.
In doing so, she became just the 32nd female player in the state’s history to join the 1,000-1,000 club for points and rebounds.
“Being the first player in the area to reach over 1,000 rebounds in a high school career and only the 32nd player with 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points was pretty special,” Gustafson said.
Longtime Saugatuck girls basketball coach Kevin Tringali agreed.
“When you think of how rich the MHSAA history is for basketball in our state, and for Kennedy to be one of 32 players to do that is an amazing accomplishment,” Tringali said.
Given the success she enjoyed during her prep career, Gustafson became a fan favorite for many younger girls in Saugatuck.
“Young girls looked up to me and their families became some of my biggest supporters,” she said. “The community has given me countless opportunities from summer jobs to leadership and mentoring roles helping shape me into the person I am today.”
As talented as Gustafson is on the hardwood, she is equally as skilled on the soccer field.
A four-year starter in soccer like she was in basketball, Gustafson primarily anchored the Saugatuck defense as goalie, but also had some opportunities to come out of net and show her skills in the field.
“Soccer and basketball have always been my favorite sports, and I’ve never been able to pick just one,” said Gustafson, who also stayed busy with National Honor Society, Be Nice, Leadership Club, Spirit Crew, Cooking Club and being a Student Tutor. “They offer different challenges that I love.
“From being the last line of defense in soccer as the goalkeeper to the physical play of being a post in basketball, I loved it all.”
Saugatuck girls soccer posted winning records in each of Gustafson’s four seasons, including a 17-3 mark during her sophomore campaign.
For the final two years of soccer, Gustafson was coached by someone who played a big role in her development in the sport.
Jim Theis, who recently announced his retirement from high school coaching, was also Gustafson’s club coach.
“Coach Theis has coached me since I was nine years old,” she said. “He was my most impactful coach ever because he always believed in me pushing me to grow, even when I doubted myself. That belief made all the difference in my sports career.
It’s a sports career that isn’t finished just yet.
Even though her time in Saugatuck is done, Gustafson will continue to play both basketball and soccer at Wartburg College in Iowa.
“Wartburg has a strong NCAA Division III (athletic) program and I’m excited to play there,” Gustafson said. “I will be majoring on biology education and plan to use my degree to become a biology teacher and a coach at the secondary level.”
Gustafson, who began playing sports age three and immediately was drawn to them because they “challenged me to push my limits,” will undoubtedly carry the lessons she learned through athletics in Saugatuck to Wartburg and beyond.
“Athletics shaped me into the leader I am today because it taught me to never give up despite what challenges you may face,” she said. “I also learned that hard work and dedication to the sports you love can be incredibly rewarding. Those are lessons I can use throughout my life.”
Friday, July 25, 2025
