Former Catholic Central teammates become foes in Calvin-Hope rivalry
Calvin University’s Luka Ressler, left, and Hope College’s Gabe Quillan had to guard each other for a moment in the first half of a game on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. The two were teammates at Grand Rapids Catholic Central. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - T.J. Meerman wanted to cheer for his former players. But the Grand Rapids Catholic Central boys basketball coach was torn. So he didn’t cheer at all.
Two of his former players - Hope College sophomore Gabe Quillan, and Calvin University freshman Luka Ressler - played against each other on Wednesday. Hope won 65-57.
“It’s really special,” Meerman said. “The Hope coach gave us tickets, so we couldn’t really cheer for Luka and then we were sitting behind the Calvin bench, so we couldn’t really cheer for Gabe. So we just kinda had to bite our tongues. But it’s awesome to watch them have such a huge part in these college basketball programs. They both start, both contribute and play so hard and are great teammates. It’s a proud moment for CC (Catholic Central) people.”
Ressler, a 6-foot-3 guard, starts for the Knights. He finished with eight points and six rebounds. At one point, he had to guard the 6-foot-9 Quillan.
“I remember down low, I slapped his arm and he made the bucket, but they didn’t call it,” Ressler said. “It’s fun. I like playing against my (former) teammates. I like to see him do well, of course. But I wish the outcome would have been different tonight.”
Calvin’s Luka Ressler dribbles up court while being guarded by Hope’s Marcus Wourman on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Ressler and Quillan were on the Catholic Central team that won the Division 2 state championship in 2021.
“Gabe got hurt his senior year,” Meerman said. “And Luka came in and started at the five (center) and then Gabe came back and took his spot back in the state finals. But now Luka is playing the point guard spot at the college level. So it’s completely different role.”
Ressler is averaging 6.8 points for a 20-4 Calvin team that won the MIAA regular season championship.
Quillan is having a huge sophomore season. He’s averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds for Hope (15-9).
“It was fun,” Quillan said of playing against Ressler. “Luka’s my guy. We were on the state championship team together. We got along really well. It was fun playing with him.”
Quillan played on a high school team full of all-stars, so he wasn’t the focus of the offense. Now, he’s second on Hope in scoring.
“I’m very happy,” he said of his role. “I’m still learning about my game. This is still all new for me. I’m very grateful that my teammates are trying to find me (in the post). And that has given me confidence.”
He finished with six points, five rebounds and a block on Wednesday.
Hope College center Gabe Quillan looks for a teammate to pass to on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. He is second on the team in scoring with 14 points per game. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
