Cooper Terpstra anchoring line for West Ottawa
HOLLAND TWP. — Cooper Terpstra is a problem for defensive coordinators.
The 6-foot-4, 270-pound senior destroys gameplans for the opposition. Terpstra, entering his third season as West Ottawa's starting left tackle, has just gotten better and better since entering the varsity lineup as a sophomore. Early on in his playing days, he was just a big body. But now, he still has that massive frame, but has added quick feet and precise hands to the mix as well, keeping defensive linemen and linebackers at bay.
Pat Collins, the Panthers' second-year head coach, knows guys like him don't come around that often. Collins won three state titles at Montague before and even on those extremely talented teams, they didn't have a ton of players like Terpstra.
"He's just a dude, he's phenomenal, you only get so many of those kinds of players in your career as a coach," Collins said. "All these kids work their brains out and they do great work, but Coop is a guy that just has a different level of natural talent that he was blessed with."
As big as his talent level is, it's matched by his larger-than-life personality. Terpstra is as serious as anybody when business needs to be done, but once he steps outside the lines he becomes a bit of a clown.
The senior loves to make people laugh and joke, which is important to have on any team. It's even more important on a program that entered the season losing 26 games in a row, until the skid was snapped with a win over Northview on Thursday. Nobody on the varsity roster has known what it feels like to win a high school football game heading into the 2022 season until that season opening win. That could result in a lot of depressed or angry kids, but Terpstra is there to lighten the heavy mental load the guys carry.
"We always have a good time at practice, we're never not having fun regardless of the situation," Terpstra said. "But with the younger guys, it just shows them that there's always going to be a bright light at the end of the tunnel and it helps keep things positive."
That constant thought of caring for his teammates makes him a natural fit for the position he plays, left tackle. Outside of quarterback, it's arguably the most important position when the offense is on the field. He protects the quarterback's blind side, allowing him to keep his eyes downfield and look for an open receiver.
Cole Tulgestke, the Panthers' junior quarterback, is entering his second season as the signal caller for West Ottawa. There was a bit of a learning curve last year stepping into the starting role, but he was never worried about getting hit from behind.
Having Terpstra there gave him poise and a sense of calm that the defense couldn't get to him from the left side. That confidence has only grown heading into their second year playing together on varsity.
"I have just a ton of trust in him and I always know where he's supposed to be," Tulgestke said. "He knows the game better than anybody else and I have a ton of confidence knowing that he's blocking for me."
The reason that trust is so air-tight is because Terpstra is really good at what he does. So much so that he had several offers from colleges to come play at the next level, including some Division I FBS schools and several FCS programs.
In the end, though, he decided it was in his own best interest to stay close to home. He verbally committed to Grand Valley State University over the summer and is showing no signs of changing his mind before he has to make that choice official in December.
Not only is he excited about staying close to home, but the Lakers were the team that made Terpstra feel most important throughout the recruiting process. He'll also have a real chance to win a national title out in Allendale, with GVSU losing just two games last year- both to the eventual national champions Ferris State.
So while this fall Terpstra will be a problem for defensive coordinators around West Michigan, don't be shocked if he remains a thorn in the side of defensive coaches throughout the nation for the next four years.
"I felt like I was the most wanted there, I had some opportunities out west, but it just felt right to go to Grand Valley and that was the place for me," Terpstra said. "Eventually it looks like I can get a pretty big role and contribute on the line there."
—Contact Assistant Sports Editor Will Kennedy at Will.Kennedy@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @ByWillKennedy and Facebook @Holland Sentinel Sports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Cooper Terpstra anchoring the line for West Ottawa
