Todd Rose | Daily Press Gladstone Braves’ Claire van Ginhoven (front, center) sits with mother Kelli and father Bjorn after signing her letter of intent Monday afternoon in Gladstone to play basketball at Finlandia University next year. Pictured in the back row are coaches Josh Eagle and Andy Cretens and Gladstone Athletic Director Dale Hongisto.

GLADSTONE – Claire van Ginhoven made her plans for her next steps in education and basketball official Monday afternoon as she signed her national letter of intent to attend and play NCAA Division 3 basketball at Finlandia University in Hancock.

Van Ginhoven, who begins her final season as a member of the Gladstone Braves girls’ basketball team today in Gwinn, said she felt a sense of relief and excitement – both feelings strengthened by already having played under Finlandia head coach Mariah Dunham in the Amateur Athletic Union, as well as playing with and against some of her future teammates – to have her future made official.

“I feel very relieved that I don’t have this stress on my back during the season trying to impress my coaches and, obviously, my Finlandia coach coming up in the next year and, as I’ve already had her as my AAU coach it’s a lot easier to go into the next year,” van Ginhoven commented. “I am very excited. Knowing a lot of the girls into the next year is going to be really nice.”

On the school side of things, van Ginhoven will be pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice.

“I’m going to be majoring in Criminal Justice,” she said. “That might change, but I hope it doesn’t because I really have a desire to do it.”

While her relationship with Finlandia coach Mariah Dunham goes back a little ways, the offer to join the Lions came as a bit of a shock to van Ginhoven.

“It really was kind of a surprise to me,” she said. “(Coach Dunham) had asked me to come up for a visit, and I really didn’t expect her to want me until she asked me if I was committing right there. So, then I did, and it was actually really nice.”

One of the big things van Ginhoven is looking forward to is simply meeting her new teammates.

“I’m just super excited to meet all the new girls and all the seniors because I’ve heard it’s just such a nice environment to be a part of,” she said.

Van Ginhoven anticipates the transition from high school senior to college freshman will go smoothly, partly due to class size.

“I’m actually feeling really good (about the transition),” she explained. “When I went up there for everything, I got to see part of the classes. They seemed pretty small, kind of like a high school classroom. So, it’s really nice to be part of that.”

Van Ginhoven also expressed her gratitude for those who have supported her through the years.

“I just want to shout out my family, my supporters, and obviously, my coaches,” she said. “They’ve helped me come so far.”

Among van Ginhoven’s coaches through her basketball career thus far is Gladstone Braves varsity basketball coach Andy Cretens, who shared his excitement for her signing.

“It is a cool moment to see one of our girls going to play at the next level to play a game she loves and has put a lot of time into,” Cretens said. “So, it’s really cool for us and our program, and we are excited for her and her family to be able to experience something like this because only a small percentage of student athletes move on to the next level. We are super excited for her and can’t wait for what she does at the next level.”

Cretens added that Finlandia will be gaining someone special and a role model in van Ginhoven, who he also noted has the potential to become an even better player in the years ahead.

“She came to us as a sophomore, and she’s done a lot of things for our program,” he said. “She’s put a lot of time in and really encouraged the other girls to put a lot of time, effort and commitment into the program as well.

“She’s one of the most improved players we’ve had in this program in a long time and probably across the U.P. when you talk about from her eighth grade to her senior year. So, she’s a great role model in that aspect. I think Finlandia’s getting a steal with her. I think she’s got a lot higher ceiling than most people realize, and I think she’s going to surprise some people. Maybe not in her first year, but I think in her career at the college level she is going to be someone other teams are really going to have to worry about.”