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Experienced International Player Signs With KSU Tusc Baseball

Kik Uppelschoten signed an LOI to play baseball at KSU Tusc. He is joined by his mother Kim and father Mark.
Kik Uppelschoten signed an LOI to play baseball at KSU Tusc. He is joined by his mother Kim and father Mark.
Posted: Jan 02, 2024

Kent State University at Tuscarawas is announcing the signing of a 2024 Ribet Academy High School (Los Angeles) senior to their baseball team.

Kik Uppelschoten recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Golden Eagles.

Uppelschoten, primarily a catcher/utility player, is on track to earn his second letter for the Pasadena Bulldogs baseball team. His baseball journey began in 2016 at the Future Stars tournament in Germany and after four years at the Scimitars Baseball Academy in the Netherlands, he left home at the age of 16 to pursue his American dream. Notably, he has played in international tournaments in Prague, Spain and Aruba. In recognition of outstanding performances, he received the Dutch Apeldoorn Sports Honor Medal in 2018, which is awarded to athletes who have achieved a title or podium finish in a European of World Championship.

He joined the Baseball Academy of Los Angeles in 2022 and most recently participated in Baseball Week in Catalunya, Spain, and played on teams that finished in second place in the SUMO Pony League in Prague and the Dutch Championships in the Netherlands.

In the Netherlands, Uppelschoten pursued the HAVO track, demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence in Senior General Secondary Education. He enrolled in the Cambridge English program and attained the highest level of English competency within the Dutch educational system. In his first year of high school in the USA, he earned a 3.9 GPA and plans to pursue a Bachelor's degree in psychology at Kent State Tuscarawas.

He has raised funds for childhood cancer research through impactful initiatives with Kika---Children's Cancer Foundation---in the Netherlands. He also dedicates time at the local animal shelter and contributes to other high school sports programs by volunteering to help with gameday operations.

"Coming from a rich background of diverse athletic accomplishments, Kik brings a profound wealth of experience and passion to the baseball diamond," said KSU Tuscarawas Head Baseball Coach Cole Morozek. "He has shown versatility across various sports and is an avid snowboarder and mountain biker, who has a profound love for baseball. He's got lots of self-confidence which is going to be a big boost to other players around him. He not only strives for personal success, but for the success of his teammates as well."

Kik Uppelschoten signs his letter of intent.