The Lakers traveled to Georgia with eight fighters, six men and two women. Rebekah DeBoer was the champion in the 132-pound beginner class and Jason Murray was the champion in the 225-pound novice class. Both DeBoer and Murray brought home two national championship belts. With these wins, GVSU boxing now holds nine belts. Samantha Swafford, sophomore Tanner “TJ” Gardner and Lucas Malloy were runners-up in their classes, securing themselves each a medal. Both DeBoer and Swafford made history for the team, as they were the first Laker women to place in nationals.

Last year, GVSU competed in the USIBA with nine boxers, seven men and two women. The 2024 team won 16 matches, had two champion runner-ups and secured three championship belts. Going into this year’s competition, the Lakers set goals to retain more boxers entering the match, have more women competitors, earn another championship belt and win USIBA team awards. 

Gardner touched on his experience competing at USIBA and the value of his team’s support. 

“All the people here will support you no matter what happens, even if you lose a national championship fight,” said Gardner. “(The team) was ultimately proud of me and it was really nice just getting picked up by everybody. I’ve only been (a part of the team) for five months, and we treat each other like family.” 

Freshman Maxwell Gohsman, junior Ashton Kamps and Kristopher “Diego” Krepps ultimately lost their bouts, but were supported by the team for achieving tournament placement.

Gohsman provided insight into the most important lesson he’s learned through boxing and competing. 

“You cannot fight through emotion,” said Gohsman. “If you are emotional when you are either sparring or hitting the bag or doing anything, it is not going to go well. You actually want to be the calmest when you are fighting.”

Club boxing offers two opportunities for students to become involved in the program: recreational sparring and competitive training. Recreational sparring allows students to work out with the team, but doesn’t offer the opportunity to compete. All members start as recreational players, but can transition to a serious spot on the competitive team. Members of the competitive squad train to represent GVSU in tournaments and shows.  

Kamps pitched the boxing club as a great opportunity to get into shape, make friends and train with coaches.

“The people I’ve met in boxing are some of the best people I’ve met in my entire life,” Kamps said. “The types of coaches and facilities that we have access to, anywhere from coaches that have trained world champions to pros and even Olympians, is amazing.”

The Lakers began their championship journey on Monday, March 24 by competing in the NCAA Elite Eight against Gannon University. This was the third time in the last 10 seasons that the Lakers competed in the Elite Eight, and the third time advancing to the Final Four after defeating Gannon, 60-32. With a day’s rest, the Lakers took the Final Four win, 68-61, against Pittsburgh State on Wednesday, March 26 after a hard-fought, nail-biting match up. 

After spending time in Pittsburgh adapting to the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse court, the Lakers found themselves in the final championship game against California State University, Dominguez Hills. In support of the big game, Laker Nation took over the fieldhouse, as GVSU supplied transportation for students, the marching band, cheerleaders and family. Additionally, other University athletic groups, such as the football and women’s volleyball teams, shared various posts of support and encouragement on Instagram.

“The support (from Laker Nation) has been like no other, and they truly love being there to support us,” said redshirt senior guard Ellie Droste. “Having them at the game on Friday was a game changer. I truly think they shifted the momentum of that game and were able to get in the other team’s head a bit.” 

By 7 p.m. on Friday, reality was setting in. Despite the Lakers’ 38-2 record this year, which is also the most single season wins in program history, the championship game was the ultimate test. 

The Lakers and Toros met at center court for the first time with high anticipation. Redshirt senior forward Rylie Bisballe produced the first two points of the game with a strong layup in the paint. In retaliation, the Toros went on a seven-point streak just four minutes into play. The Lakers settled into the play style and reciprocated a seven-point run, five of which were from Droste, putting the Lakers in the lead, 9-7. With less than three minutes left in the first quarter, the score was tied 11 all, until the Lakers pushed a late, 6-1 run, ending the quarter 17-12. 

Entering the second quarter, the Lakers capitalized on the first quarter’s late momentum by going on a 9-1 hot streak. In that run, the Toros made three turnovers and two missed plays, allowing the Lakers to maximize their control. The score gap reached a high of 19 points at 38-19. With a minute to play, the Toros made the last bucket of the first half, leaving the score 38-21. 

In a highly anticipated game, the Lakers were composed and used the pressure to their advantage. 

“This championship game was an accumulation of four years of preparation, and our coaches did a really good job of preparing us this season by playing many nationally ranked teams,” said senior guard Abrie Cabana. “We knew we were prepared and capable of winning. We just went out and treated it (the game) like every other game.” 

Coming out of the half, the Lakers’ rhythm on the offensive side of the ball continued, as they went on another 9-0 run. Six of the nine points were three-pointers produced by redshirt junior guard Molly Anderson and freshman guard MacKenzie Bisballe. The Toros were determined to stay in the game by pressuring the offensive zone, going on a 17-6 run and only trailing 53-38 at the end of the third quarter. 

In the first five minutes of play, the Toros were able to close the gap to 12 points. Each team made strategic substitutions, and GVSU demonstrated the whole team’s strength. Droste feels the student-athlete’s depth this season has impacted their successes.

“I think our experience and depth has made this team so different from previous seasons,” said Droste. “We have people coming off the bench that can pick up right where the previous people left off.” 

In a team effort, the Lakers fought to maintain their lead, but the Toros wouldn’t back down. The Toros went on a 13-6 run to get within 10 points of the Lakers, but it wasn’t enough. Droste and Cabana were tested at the free-throw line, and both sunk two each to ice the game away with a final score of 70-58. 

As the final buzzer released, confetti decorated the floor, and the crowd roared. Upon hearing the buzzer, Cabana said she felt a variety of emotions all at once.

“Honestly, I was feeling all of the different emotions,” said Cabana. “I felt proud, grateful, fulfilled, overwhelmed, and it was definitely bittersweet.” 

On top of the Lakers’ main win, they earned many titles and career highs. Rylie Bisballe received Tournament MVP and scored 13 points with three assists and three steals. MacKenzie Bisballe earned All-Tournament Team honors with a team-high of 14 points, two blocks and two steals. Redshirt junior guard Nicole Kamin was named to the All-Tournament Team with six boards, three assists, three points, and two steals. 

The Lakers’ five seniors Rylie Bisballe, Hadley Miller, Droste, Cabana, and Kathryn Schmidt will end their careers with 145 wins, which is the most of any graduating class. The seniors have accomplished four regular season GLIAC titles, three GLIAC tournament titles, two Midwest Regional Championships and now a National Championship title.

As a senior, Cabana touched on what winning a national championship means to her. 

“It (winning the NCAA National Championship) definitely means everything,” Cabana said. “I know this is a dream come true for all of us. It honestly feels so surreal, but at the same time, makes so much sense because of all the hard work and dedication we have each put in.” 

Reflecting on her career, Droste commented on what she would say to her freshman self. 

“I would just say how lucky I am to have been recruited by such a great program,” Droste said. “(I would also say) to soak up every minute because it will fly by.”

Entering the match, the Lakers were 5-1 on the road in the season’s opening six games. They earned the No. 16 ranking in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll, which is the third-highest placement in the region. The Saints arrived in Allendale on a six-game winning streak, defeating two, top-25 teams, and sought to continue their streak.

On Friday, friends and family bundled up and piled into the University’s stadium, awaiting the first draw control at center field. Maryville won the initial battle at center field, but turned the ball over for GVSU senior Kaylyn Cater to pick up and produce the first on-goal shot. However, this first shot did not result in a goal, as it narrowly missed and hit the goalpost.

The first eight minutes of play were highly competitive, as each team traded turnovers and shots on goal. Maryville capitalized on a GVSU turnover by picking up a ground ball and clearing the defensive zone to place the first goal on the board halfway through the quarter. Eager to compete, the Lakers won the draw control after the goal, and placed two shots on goal. The Lakers were still unable to get the ball by Maryville goaltender Gianna Guzek, and the Saints took the opportunity to put another goal on the board at the 10-minute mark. With less than three minutes left on the clock, Maryville turned over the ball for GVSU to make a successful clear, and take the game’s first timeout. The strategic timeout allowed the Lakers to come up with a game plan, as junior midfielder Ainsley Shilling set up junior attacker Grace Maddox to bury a goal in the back of the net with less than two minutes to play. This was the last goal of the quarter, which resulted in a score of 1-2 going into the second quarter.

Along with the high-intensity play, both teams dealt with 18 mph wind with gusts of 38 mph. The Lakers took the challenge and adjusted their communication strategies to accommodate the extreme weather.

“Today was a really windy day, so being loud and communicating is super important,” said junior attacker Gracie Bancroft. “Being able to adapt in adversity is something that we’re used to, so just staying loud and communicative was key.”

The team adapted to the extreme weather, but faced adversity in the second quarter. Maryville produced four goals in the second period, two of which were due to fouls. This season, the Saints have been dominating the offensive zone and outscoring opponents 131-49, with an average of 18.71 goals per game.

At the half, the Saints outshot the Lakers 18-10, and dominated the lower game by collecting 13 ground balls to the Lakers’ 11. The Lakers suffered from 14 turnovers and 13 unsuccessful zone clearances.

Despite the Saints’ four-goal production, the Lakers’ defense stood strong by making body-blocks and stops to keep the minimum of four goals.

GVSU’s first-year head coach, Dominique Hamman, noted that the team is currently working on their chemistry in the offensive zone.

“We’re not really scoring very many goals per game, and I think that is a combination of the youth that we have and confidence,” said Hamman. “We have lost a few seniors that were big roles (in the offensive zone) and we are still rebuilding that sort of system, but it’s not quite there yet.”

Since the Lakers are still in the process of figuring out the team’s optimal dynamic, they continue to make changes. At the beginning of the third quarter, GVSU made a goalie change putting in junior Sarah Krause.

The Saints won the initial draw control and carried over the offensive pressure, scoring their seventh goal 33 seconds into play. Two minutes into play, the Lakers went on a power play, where senior midfielder Ashleigh Rothe weaved in the zone and passed to redshirt junior attacker Jillian Bingman, who buried the ball in the net. The Lakers’ defense stepped up and made three critical turnovers to stop the Saints’ offensive powerhouse, but that wasn’t enough. Maryville was able to produce three more goals. Bingman earned her second goal of the night off a free position attempt from a Maryville foul.

Entering the final quarter, Kendra Swope was fouled, and cashed in a goal from a free-position attempt. Maryville brought an aggressive side to the last quarter in the form of seven fouls. Each team traded possession in the final quarter with clearances and picked up ground balls. Krause was able to shut the Saints down in the last quarter, and made two back-to-back stick saves. With less than a minute to play, Swope earned her second goal of the evening, assisted by Rothe. However, this final goal wasn’t enough to make up for the deficit.

Despite the loss, Rothe is still optimistic about this year’s season.

“This team brings so much energy and so much passion, it’s unbelievable,” said Rothe.

The Lakers will be back on the road on Friday, March 28 to play against Concordia St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Entering the SMSU invite, the women’s team had the opportunity to spend a week in Arizona beforehand to practice and get familiar with the green. Senior Olivia Stoll stated that GVSU had high expectations to win the competition.

The invitational kicked off mid-afternoon on a sunny day with warm temperatures for ideal golfing weather. Sophomore Evelyn Park was the first Laker to tee off. The Lakers shot a round of 291 at three over, taking first place. Stoll fought for first place at two under after a round of 70 with five birdies, but concluded the first day in a tie for first place. Four Lakers tied for fifth at one over, shooting rounds of 73. Freshman Charlotte Goersch and Lea Stotz tied for 14th in 75 rounds at three over. The Lakers concluded the first day of the competition strong, leading the opening round with a four-stroke advantage. 

The majority of golf tournaments allow five players to count toward the team’s overall score. Each team decides who will represent their given school before the event by playing qualifying rounds. Of the five players, the top four scores are added together for the group’s overall score. Since GVSU has nine women on the team, it creates an internal competition to fight for a spot.

“The competition within the team is intense, and that’s what makes us all better,” said Park. “It is nerve-racking to see how the top five players always change after each round of qualifying. However, knowing that every round is a chance to break into the top five keeps me motivated to work on my game and stay focused.”

In the invitational, Park qualified as an individual player. Her score didn’t count toward the team’s overall score, but counted toward her individual ranking. Despite golfing being inherently individualistic, the sport still fosters a sense of teamwork.

“Even when I’m playing as an individual, I am part of the team and want to contribute in any way I can, whether that’s through encouragement, practicing together or just helping create a positive team environment,” said Park.

Entering the second day with confidence and camaraderie, the Lakers repeated the first day’s successes. The Lakers won by 21 strokes and carded a final round of 286 (-2), which was the lowest round in the tournament, and secured the win. Stoll led the Lakers, earning the individual crown by taking overall individual winner and finishing -3 with three strokes ahead of the second-place golfer. In the final round, Stoll shot a round of 71 (-1), and sank three birdies. As a senior and leader on the team, Stoll’s leadership presents itself differently than in other sports. 

“I feel that I am a leader by example, not as much as a vocal leader,” said Stoll. “It is an individual sport, and each player has parts of their game (they) are better (at) than others, and not everyone has to have the same strengths to perform well.” 

Park received second place at an even par, carding a final round of 71 (-1) with three birdies. Junior Rachael Krieger tied for fourth at two over with a final round of 73 (+1), making three birdies and an eagle. Senior Megan Miron and Stotz both tied for seventh place, with scores of four over. The Lakers had five golfers in the top 10, while earning the first-place team title. 

With an early win in the spring season, the Lakers are optimistic about the future, given their successes at the invite. 

“We have a lot of depth on this team,” Stoll said. “Everyone is fighting for a spot in the lineup. We have a good team chemistry. Everyone wants to see each other succeed, and we are all each other’s biggest fans.”

The Lakers have a break to rest and prepare for the Lynn Invitational, which will be in Florida, on March 31.

In a male-dominated sport, the Lakers sought to promote women’s hockey and bring awareness to the program through Promotion Night activities.

“I think it’s really important to bring awareness to women’s hockey in general because not many people play women’s hockey,” said freshman defense Ella Campbell. “If more people learn about it and want to play, it could become a bigger organization as a whole.”

The first few minutes into the period offered back-and-forth play, as the teams fought for possession of the puck. GVSU produced the first odd-man rush eight minutes into the period, forcing Sun Devil goaltender Quinn Eatinger to make a big save. The Sun Devils reciprocated the offensive zone pressure by producing three back-to-back shots on goal for sophomore goaltender Emily Carson to shut down. Then, Sun Devil Kylie Brown had a one-on-one breakaway down the ice with Carson, and placed the first goal on the board.

After the goal, Arizona State continued pressuring the offensive zone, and tested the Lakers’ defense. With a minute left in the period, freshman forward Peyton Wysocki took a shot that deflected off Eatinger, which allowed sophomore forward Faith Kubacik to rebound with a wrist shot in the back of the net. This placed the Lakers on the board. At the end of the first period, the Lakers had five shots on goal, compared to the Sun Devils’ 12. At an even score of 1-1, it was anyone’s game.

Arizona State generated the game’s first penalty just a few seconds into the start of the second period, but the Lakers could not execute with the man advantage. The Sun Devils dominated the Lakers’ defensive zone and put up three shots on goal, but the fourth snuck by Carson and gave the Devils the lead. Immediately after, the Lakers won the face-off at center ice, and stormed down the rink. They attempted a shot on goal, but were unsuccessful. Arizona State had possession of the puck for most of the period, as their defensive line dominated the neutral zone, making it hard for GVSU to get the puck out of the zone and make a shift change. Eager to tie the game, senior forward Abby Rubsam gambled with a lobbed puck from the blue line that somehow found the back of the net. The goal was assisted by junior forward Julia Gebeck, and kept the Lakers in the game.

With three minutes left in the period, the Sun Devils capitalized on another lead, which was scored by Sam Murphy. In retaliation, the Lakers drew a roughing penalty with two minutes of play and Carson made four crucial saves to maintain the one-goal deficit. 

The third period had a total of six penalties from both teams, but the Sun Devils were the only ones to capitalize on the man advantage. On a Laker penalty kill, the Sun Devils took advantage of an extra skater,and buried a goal in the back of the net with just a few seconds left in the power play. Shortly after, the Lakers drew another penalty, which resulted in another Arizona State goal. The Lakers struggled to stay out of the penalty box, which cost them the game.

The Lakers ended the regular season 9-19-2. Team captain and lead goal scorer Abbey McCallion reflected on the team’s positive aspects as they head into post-season play.

“We come together very well in tight situations,” said McCallion.“We’ve had a lot of third-period comebacks recently, and having that energy in the locker room before the game is something we do well.” 

The Lakers begin post-season play on Thursday, Feb. 20 in Livonia for the Central Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association (CCWHA) Conference Tournament at Eddie Edgar Ice Arena.

25 total divers attended the invite to represent their given school. Of the 25 student-athletes, 13 Lakers competed, seeking to secure a qualifying spot at nationals and prepare for postseason competitions. Each diving distance was divided into two sections, the two men’s 1-meter and 3-meter dives, as well as the two women’s 1-meter and 3-meter dives, making a total of eight events.

GVSU junior Carter Wood dominated the 1-meter board, securing a first-place finish with a score of 315.45 over six total dives. Over the 2024-2025 regular season, Wood has never ranked lower than third place and remains a consistent leader of the men’s diving team. 

“I’ve been diving for a long time and have an extensive background in flips and freestyle trampoline, so (translating that into) diving has helped a lot,” said Wood. 

In the second men’s 1-meter event, sophomore Matthew Blommel earned first place with a score of 480.90 over 11 total dives. 

Moving up two meters, sophomore Austin Clise took first place in the 3-meter dive, scoring 324.40 in six dives. Clise’s performance secured his first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) qualifying score for nationals. In the same event, sophomore Aidan Busignani was right behind Clise, claiming second place with a score of 263.35. 

The women’s team reciprocated the men’s success and intensity, as senior Maddie Kooistra claimed first place in the 1-meter dive, scoring 497.20 in 11 dives. Kooistra’s performance at the board set a new pool record for the Lakers. In the same event, the Lakers dominated the top three rankings, with sophomore Macy Polasek securing second place and sophomore Emi Goto securing third. 

In such a highly individualistic sport, Goto expressed that she pushes herself on the board in hopes of success for the whole team.

“(Since) it (diving) is individualistic, you can’t rely on your teammates to boost your score,” said Goto. “I see my teammates who will do better (performance-wise) than me, and it really pushes me to want to be like them. I want to be competitive with my teammates and we push each other, which offers a different perspective.” 

In the second women’s 1-meter event, freshman Bella Larson earned second place for the Lakers with a score of 260.15 over six dives. Larson went on to secure first place in the 3-meter dive over six dives with a score of 246.30. 

Head diving coach Steve Burciaga watched his team’s success from the media booth and stressed the invite’s importance in preparing the team for nationals and post-season competition. During the invite, each diver performed and then underwent a rest period that averaged 12 minutes. This systematic model replicates that of higher competitions.

“What are you doing in those 12 minutes?” theorized Burciaga. “What are your thoughts in those 12 minutes? We focus on those attributes and modeling so we dive well. This is a great opportunity to learn what to do between breaks, and we focused on that a lot today.” 

As the regular season concludes, the Lakers will enter post-season competition in Holland for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

Waves of orange and blue filled the stands, as both teams’ friends and family members gathered around for the puck drop. The energy in the building was contagious, awaiting the intense local battle, as GVSU and Hope are no strangers to one another. 

With a short recovery period entering Saturday’s game, the Lakers were forced to use their home advantage to secure a win and eliminate penalties. During Friday’s game, the Lakers had six penalties for 12 minutes in the box. Struggling all season with penalty minutes, the Lakers identified the issue in the hopes of learning from it.

“We really stressed that we want to stay out of the box tonight,” said senior defenseman Sam Gorno. “It’s a rivalry, so we let some things get to our head, and it sets us back.”

The Lakers backtracked on their game objective, as they received the first penalty of the night for roughing, only 53 seconds into the game. Vengeful from the previous night, the penalty was just the beginning of a competitive match. Eager to take the lead, junior defenseman Sam Molin banked a shot at 12:04, assisted by senior captain Jack Myers and sophomore forward Noah Foucha. GVSU had possession of the puck for the majority of the time, seeking to eliminate any chances for the Dutch. Keeping up the momentum, the Lakers dominated the offensive zone, allowing junior assistant captain Steve Myers to bury the puck in the back of the net at 9:48, assisted by Molin and freshman forward Jackson Hare. After the second goal, the Lakers laid out defensive hits and focused on the back-check. Both teams had quick releases and scrambled for the puck in the neutral zone with a lot of back-and-forth play. 

GVSU’s sophomore goaltender Bobby Masters made seven saves, with a perfect shot percentage in the first period. The Lakers’ offense produced six shots on goal, two of which placed the Lakers ahead, 2-0 at the end of the first period.

Steve Myers noted that it was a challenge to play back-to-back games, especially against the No. 1 ranked team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). 

“Every time we go to Hope, they bring a whole student section, so it is a really tough place to play,” said Steve Myers. “We just didn’t get the right bounces yesterday (in terms of momentum and the puck), but tonight, that was a whole different story. The (crowd) was the most packed I’ve ever seen it and that helped.”

Entering the second period, the Lakers carried over the high intensity from the first period, as their first shot was on goal. Five minutes into the period, both teams received penalties, which generated 4-on-4 hockey, but it didn’t produce a goal on either end. The Lakers’ worst enemy in the period was the penalty box, as the team had three additional penalties, which almost closed the gap. At 3:05, Hope rushed GVSU’s defensive zone. The puck found the back of the net, but it was called off for a high stick tip in the goal. With a lucky break for the Lakers, the Dutch were antsy to close the margin. With only five seconds left in the period, junior forward Braden Nielsen buried the Lakers’ final goal, assisted by Steve Myers. 

Down 3-0, Hope entered the third period hot and heavy by testing GVSU’s defensive zone. Each team traded penalties, but Hope was unable to break down the Lakers’ penalty kill. With puck possession at the last minute of play, the Lakers were rewarded with the crowd’s roar and a victory.

After 60 minutes of play, Hope outshot the Lakers 22-19 but were unable to come out on top, due to GVSU finding the back of the net. However, despite the Lakers’ objective to stay out of the box, the team had seven total penalties to Hope’s six.

GVSU is currently ranked No. 6 in ACHA’s Division III league and continues to climb the rankings. The team focuses on certain game aspects, such as penalty minutes, overall chemistry and holding each other accountable. 

“What we can work on is (that) sometimes we love each other too much, and we’re afraid to hold each other accountable,” said Jack Myers. “We’ve had a couple of games earlier this year that have been shaky, but this past weekend, we were able to pick it up, which I’m not surprised (by considering) the group we have.” 

The GVSU men’s Division III hockey team is more than halfway through the regular season, and boasts a 14-5 record. The Lakers will host Michigan State for their last home game on Feb. 7.

Senior night honors the team’s student-athletes for their accomplishments and dedication over the past four years. A ceremony took place before the meet, which celebrated the Lakers’ 14 seniors. GVSU fans gathered at one end of the pool, creating a tunnel for every senior to run through and be recognized. 

“It’s their last time to perform in our home pool,” said head coach Andy Boyce. “They’re trying to give everything they’ve got on the last swim and it showed a lot today, from their effort level to their performance.”

After the ceremony, it was time for the Lakers to make history. The Lakers and the Oilers were no strangers to one another. Since 2015, the Lakers have been on a 12-matchup winning streak against the Oilers. Averaging 180.04 points per meet, the streak is the longest win streak for the Lakers. 

Kick-starting the record-breaking day, the women’s team blew the Oilers out of the water, 223 to 69. During the first event, the women’s 200-yard medley, the relay team broke the first pool record at 1:43:45. The team consisted of sophomore Vittoria Proietti, junior Sara Alvarez, graduate student Alysa Wager and senior Kiersten Harmon. Proietti broke two additional pool records in the 100-yard backstroke (56.23) and the 200-yard backstroke (1:59:83).

Displaying their leadership, GVSU’s seniors made their mark during the meet and set new records for the University. In the women’s 1000-yard freestyle, senior Kayley Gallagher took first place, touching the wall at 10:43:54. Wager broke a pool record in the 100-yard butterfly, taking home first place with a time of 55:41. 

In the last women’s event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the team set another school record with a time of 3:26:72. The team consisted of Harmon, junior Linda Frick, junior Angelica Angilletta and junior Lucy Hedley. Hedley broke three additional pool records in the 50-yard freestyle (23.36), 200-yard freestyle (1:48:83) and 500-yard freestyle (4:53:72).

Senior Maddie Kooistra dominated the boards, taking first place in the 1-meter dive with 289.58 points and the 3-meter dive with 264.23 points. Kooistra expressed that as a senior, the night was incredibly important for her. 

“It means a lot,” said Kooistra. “Over the past four years being on this team, it feels like family, and seeing everyone supporting you is the best feeling in the world.” 

The men’s team reciprocated the women’s success with dominant performances across various events, defeating Findlay 205 to 83. The first men’s event, the 200-yard medley relay, broke the pool record with a time of 1:28:48, and secured first place. Senior Aaron Dies, sophomore Andrew Goh, freshman Esteban Nunez Del Prado and junior Evan Scotto DiVetta made up the winning relay team. Additionally, the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay team with Scotto DiVetta, Goh, junior Carsyn Christoffel and senior Matt Bosch claimed first place with a time of 2:58:84. 

Bosch broke two pool records and took first place in the 100-yard freestyle (43:95) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:36:73). Dies broke the pool record for the 100-yard backstroke at 48:49, and claimed first place. Additionally, senior Thomas Zoldowski took first place in the 200-yard backstroke at 1:47:82. 

Junior diver Carter Wood swept the boards, taking first place in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives with scores of 300.15 and 280.05. 

In the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), GVSU is currently ranked fifth in the men’s division and sixth in the women’s division. 

“I would say (maturity sets the Lakers apart from others),” said senior Austin Millard. “The biggest part of this team is realizing that these relationships are deep. This is an important part of our life, and we’re all going through the mix of unknown together.” 

In Friday’s matchup, the Lakers had 11 total penalties for 22 minutes in the box, which allowed the Panthers to score four power-play goals. Struggling all season with penalty minutes, the Lakers were forced to step back and address the issue, as their time in the box has cost the team wins. 

“Guys (the team’s players) are starting to take accountability, and (are) starting to play a little bit smarter after whistles,” said the Lakers’ junior forward, Tristan Avoletta. 

During Saturday’s match, both teams’ friends and family members gathered at Griff’s Georgetown Ice Arena. The freshly laid ice awaited the vengeful Lakers, who sought to reclaim a win against the Panthers. 

GVSU won the first face-off at center ice, and laid the first two shots on goal. The teams delivered huge hits into the boards, firing up both benches, which were hooting and hollering. With an aggressive start, junior captain Carson Wood put the Lakers on the board at 17:05, which was assisted by freshman forward Yarne Vaerewyck and freshman defenseman Scott Neitzel. Continuing to trade hits, both teams received penalties at the 14-minute mark for cross-checking (GVSU) and interference (DU). In the last 30 seconds of the first period, junior goaltender Adrian Morales made two back-to-back saves that, entering the second period, kept the Lakers in the lead.

Despite the Lakers starting the game strong, they trailed the Panthers in on-goal shots, 10-12. Compared to the previous night, the Lakers had a secret weapon for this game: the return of junior defenseman Enzo Tarducci. Tarducci took a year away from hockey, and recently transferred back to GVSU.

“(It) took a minute and a couple of practices to get my legs back (in shape), but I felt pretty good out there,” said Tarducci. “Obviously, (I am) playing shorter shifts for right now so I can work my way in, but hopefully I can just be something for the team.” 

With a healthy pair of legs, Tarducci contributed to the Lakers’ aggression and laid-out hits.  

The Lakers entered the second period hot and heavy. At 17:03, Vaerewyck dished out a goal, which was assisted by senior captain Josh Suzio and freshman defenseman Brady Balagna. Following the goal, each team traded penalties and generated 4-on-4 hockey. The Panthers took advantage of the Lakers’ penalties to put themselves on the board, and made a power-play goal at 10:59. In response, the Lakers charged down the ice and owned the offensive zone, as sophomore forward Chase Tallaire buried the puck in the back of the net. Still fighting back, the Panthers scored with two minutes of play left in the second period. Morales made two back-to-back saves, but it wasn’t enough to clinch the Lakers two-goal lead. 

Eager to maintain the lead, the Lakers played strategically, while the Panthers aggressively fought for possession of the puck. The first eight minutes of play consisted of back-and-forth movement down the ice from both teams. At 9:59, senior forward Carson Korte secured the final insurance goal for the Lakers, which was assisted by junior forward Kyle VanCompernolle and Suzio. In retaliation, the Panthers started a 10-man brawl on the ice when a Panther hit Morales for goaltender interference. The Panthers received two penalties for goaltender interference and a major, five-minute penalty for cross-checking and game misconduct. Despite the man advantage, the Panthers persisted in their offensive line and created an odd-man rush on Morales, who made a diving save to shut the Panthers down for good. 

Despite having eight penalties to Davenports’ six, GVSU outshot Davenport, 34-30. Since going into 2025, the Lakers are 3-1, and continue to compete at the highest level of play. The team has also improved on certain aspects of their game, such as penalty minutes, overall chemistry and improving their offensive line. 

“Our offense is finally starting to click,” Suzio said. “We got guys who were cold (in terms of playing and producing), who are getting hot at a great time. Our main focus as a team is the offense and pushing (the momentum) forward, playing offensive first and defense second.” 

The GVSU men’s hockey team is more than halfway through the regular season, and boast a 15-6 record. The Lakers’ next matchup is against Purdue University Northwest on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. in Crown Point, Indiana. 

The Lakers have played in some highly competitive games, but couldn’t secure the wins. Two of the five losses required overtime play, and in each match, the average margin of the deficit was only 5.6 points. Despite the outcomes and their record, the Lakers continue to compete and play their game, as they are optimistic for the future.

“(The losses) make it tough because (while) our record might not reflect it, we are a really good team,” said redshirt senior guard Trevon Gunter. “When you’re losing games by a close margin and in overtime and things of that nature, especially at this level, it’s more about the little tweaks and changes rather than the big ones.” 

The Lakers arrived at Ferris State University on Thursday, Jan. 9, seeking a crucial win to end their losing streak, and were determined to implement changes. The Bulldogs and Lakers are no strangers to one another, having matched up against each other 47 times since 2002. Historically, the Lakers have 20 wins to the Bulldogs’ 27. 

With 1,634 eyes awaiting who would secure ball possession during tip-off, the last buzzer at 7:30 p.m. gathered the Bulldogs and Lakers face-to-face at Jim Wink Arena. Ferris won the initial battle and secured the first two points on the board. 10 minutes into the first half, Ferris led 20-7, which put the Lakers in a difficult situation early on. With six minutes in the half, GVSU junior forward Jalen Charity was fouled by Bulldog Ethan Erickson, which propelled the momentum for the Lakers with back-to-back free throws. Climbing up the score board, Charity and junior guard Mason Docks put up 3-pointers to begin closing the gap. As the clock ticked down to the last minute of play, Gunter released a 3-pointer, securing the Lakers 28-31 to end the half. 

Charity led both teams in points during the first half, totaling 12, with Bulldog Erickson trailing with nine. In the first 20 minutes, the Bulldogs never let up the lead, and were successful in rebounds (24) and free throws (7-9), while the Lakers had 19 rebounds and 5-8 in free throws. 

“On the defensive end, we’ve been struggling (to) defend on the block, and so the teams throwing the ball inside have been able to get (plays) done (and score),” said head coach Cornell Mann. “We need to figure that out. We have to knock down free throws, figure out how to post out the defense and take care of one or two possessions. Then we are in good shape.”

Charity tied the game with a jump shot and a free throw 30 seconds into the second half. Two minutes into the game, Docks sunk a 3-pointer, which granted the Lakers the lead for the first time in the game. The race for the lead continued with the Lakers and Bulldogs trading points and two turnovers in the span of 12 seconds. At the halfway point, the Bulldogs took the lead 54-48, and both teams tested one another on the free throw line by drawing fouls. Both Docks and senior forward William Dunn executed two free throws each. 

During the last few minutes of play, the Lakers fell short in producing points with four missed 3-pointers and two unsuccessful layups. This allowed the Bulldogs to run with the lead. Docks and Dunn produced 3-pointers in the last minute, but it wasn’t enough. Despite the loss, the Lakers fought until the end, and were focused on areas of improvement.

Charity was highlighted for tying a career high of 17 points with five rebounds and three steals. Docks trailed Charity with 13 points and four rebounds. Overall, the Lakers shot 30% from the field and 78% from the free throw line. Defensively, the Bulldogs out-rebounded the Lakers 51-35, but the Lakers shone by forcing 16 turnovers and 11 steals.

Gunter expressed the team’s resilience is different compared to that of past seasons, and that their losing streak doesn’t define the group. 

“Even though we’re on a losing streak, we’ve consistently kept the games close with all of our opponents, who are all highly ranked in the country,” Gunter said. “Those games, as well as the analytics, prove that we’re among some of the best teams in the region and country. We just have to put the last pieces of the puzzle together to unlock (our) true potential. This team stands out because of (the) belief in our potential, even during tough times.”