It was a two-bird, one-stone trip to Ripon for Kevin Lubbers of Trinity Christian College.

The men’s basketball coach of the Palos Heights, Ill.-based school was at Ripon Christian High Wednesday to present seniors Tim Hoeksema and Logan Vos with letters of intent that they signed in the school’s administration building.

Vos will play basketball for Lubbers but will also join Hoeksema, a familiar name at Trinity, on the fledgling golf team. Both are receiving partial scholarships.

“It’s a big day for Trinity College,” joked Mark Hoeksema, Tim’s father and a 1980 graduate of Trinity.

Kevin Tameling, a math teacher at RC and 2004 graduate of Trinity, is credited for establishing a relationship between his college alma mater and the Ripon Christian tandem. Last spring, he took them on a trip to visit the campus of more than 1,400 students located 30 minutes from Chicago.

Trinity is a Division-II member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as well as the National Christian College Athletic Association.

“I like the smaller look,” Vos said. “I kind of wanted to get away. A lot of people like to stay in California, but I wanted to go somewhere.

“I like the fact that it’s near a big city like Chicago, and I like the campus (atmosphere). It all just seemed to fit.”

And Lubbers said Vos — the Bulletin’s 2010-11 All-Area Boys Basketball MVP — fits into his program perfectly.

The men’s basketball team was the runner-up of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference with an 11-3 record and finished 20-17 overall after losing the seventh-place game of the NCCAA National Tournament.

The Trolls are known for their 3-point shooting prowess, as is Vos.

Junior guard Jamie King led Trinity with 31.5 points per game and was one of four Trolls to average better than 17. He shot 45.3 percent from 3-point range (121-for-267) and hit a school record 13 of 17 in a single game this past season.

“Our team shoots a ton of 3s and that’s one of (Vos’) strengths,” Tameling said. “Last year we were No. 2 in the nation in 3-point field goals made and percentage.

“We’re graduating nine seniors next year, so we’re definitely go to need some people to come in and contribute right away on the court and off the court. I think Logan will blend in well.”

Both Hoeksema and Vos were multi-sport standouts at RC.

This past winter season, Vos led Ripon Christian to a 14-0 record and the outright championship in the school’s grand return to the Southern League. He was named Most Valuable Player and went on to lead the Knights to the semifinal round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-V playoffs and a berth to NorCals.

The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 18.8 points per game.

In golf, he was co-medalist of the Southern League Tournament and was the Trans Valley League’s Most Outstanding Golfer as a sophomore.

A four-year golfer at RC, Vos was reluctant to give up the sport competitively. 

“I didn’t want to feel like I was wasting my talents (in golf), but I want to play basketball first,” he said. “That’s still my priority and it’s my main focus.”

His greatest achievements are as a student-athlete. Boasting a 4.3 grade point average, Vos was a national finalist for the 17th Annual Wendy’s High School Heisman Award after earning the California state honor.

Additionally, Vos was one of eight SJS athletes to earn the $1,000 A. Dale Lacky Scholarship Award.

Hoeksema, a three-year varsity soccer player and golfer, looks forward to continuing a family tradition at Trinity Christian. His dad played soccer and basketball there, and all of Mark’s siblings attended the school.

Mark’s family is from the Chicago area, so Hoeksema won’t have too much trouble getting acclimated.

“The coach said I would definitely play right away and that I’d be an asset to the team,” Tim said “I have family down there and I love being there. I decided it was a good opportunity for me.”

 Dennis Harms will head Trinity’s men’s golf team, which tee off for the first time in the 2011-12 season.