For the second time in program history, Grand Valley State University’s women’s basketball team won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) National Championship. Making history on Friday, March 28, the Lakers achieved the highest honor in Division II women’s college basketball. The last time GVSU went to the championship was in 2006.

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.

To read more from Tori Byrne on this historic victory, click here.

GV track and field shatters records at home meet

The Grand Valley State University track and field teams competed in their first outdoor home meet of the season from Friday, April 4 to Saturday, April 5. There were plenty of notable moments from the weekend, none bigger than school records being broken.

The meet kicked off with sprints and hurdles, where GVSU saw plenty of success. In the 110m, two men and three women for the Lakers qualified for finals. In the finals, senior Ethan Smith finished first with a time of 14.60. For the women, all three runners finished in the top five. Junior Destini Dorkins led the way by running a 14.35, beating her personal record.

In the 100m, GVSU had five men and three women competing in the finals. Graduate student Myles Rhodes led the way for the men with a first place finish. Rhodes ran a 10.48, which tied his personal record. Second and third place also belonged to the Lakers, thanks to freshmen Jacob Machiniak and Desmond Chapa, respectively.

Women’s first, second and third place all belonged to the Lakers. Freshman Claire Neumann ran a personal best, which placed her first. Sophomore Catherine Guckenberger placed second and senior Melia Williams rounded it out at third.

Click here to read more from Griffin Missant on this first meet for the outdoor track and field season.

GV swim and dive secures first win of the semester

On Saturday, Jan. 11, Grand Valley State University’s swim and dive team competed against the Wayne State University Warriors at home. The Lakers came out on top, with leading scores in both the men’s and women’s divisions. The final score for the women was 215 to the Warriors’ 84, in addition to the men’s lead of 207 to 93.

The Lakers had standout performances across the board. Sophomore diver Macy Polasek displayed skill in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. In the 1-meter, Polasek came in first, which awarded nine points to the Lakers’ final score. During the 3-meter event, Polasek attempted a new dive, securing her third place in the event.

“Macy Polasek’s forward 3 ½ somersault is a new dive and she performed it very well,” said Steve Burciaga, both the men’s and women’s diving head coach.

In addition to strong diving performances, the women had other notable accomplishments in the pool– the 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. The Lakers triumphed in both events, securing a combined 22 points toward the team’s final score.

To read more from Arianna Westbrooks on the swim and dive team’s victory against Wayne State, click here.

GV women’s wrestling debuts at home against Northern Michigan

In front of a packed crowd at the Fieldhouse Arena, the Grand Valley State University women’s wrestling team debuted their inaugural dual against Northern

Michigan University, dominating their way to a win, 42-6.

Kicking things off for the Lakers was 160-pound junior Clarissa Agostini. She quickly scored her first points with a takedown over Sophia Bassino from NMU. Agostini maintained her early lead into the second period, where she scored four points from a takedown that resulted in her opponent being controlled on their back. Another quick takedown put Agostini up by 10 points, giving her the win by technical fall, 14-4.

Following GVSU scoring their first official points, 180-pound freshman Sabrina Nauss used her overpowering strength to quickly pin her opponent in only one minute and 40 seconds.

Off to a good start, 207-pound freshman Aaliyah Grandberry took the mat next for the Lakers. A strong first period put Grandberry up 7-0, but a quick pin by her opponent gave the Wildcats their only points of the duel. 103-pound junior Rayana Sahagun received an easy, automatic win for GVSU, as Northern Michigan then forfeited the match.

Click here to read more from Brady Kemmerling on the debut of the new women’s wrestling program.

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.”

Morgan’s Message is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving student-athletes’ mental health and removing associated stigma. GVSU is one of nearly 2,000 schools that promote the cause and host a dedicated game.

“It’s a really great opportunity to stop and pause for a second,” said head coach Dominique Hamman. “We talk about how we can support each other and raise awareness not only for a community, but for this team.”

Junior defender Kylie Waeghe agreed, adding she feels the competition is a “great game.”

“It really highlights focusing on our mental health and prioritizing that you’re not alone, and that you have the entire team of people and everybody here at Grand Valley you can lean on,” Waeghe said.

Starting the match, the Lakers capitalized early when senior midfielder Ashleigh Rothe found a gap in the Cardinals’ defense and scored her 29th goal of the season. 

Getting a quick turnover, GVSU’s lead was extended by junior attacker Gracie Bancroft, who scored her 16th goal of the season. The momentum from the Lakers’ offense continued with back-to-back goals less than a minute later by both freshman midfielder Kendra Swope and senior attacker Zoe Ziegler. Forcing another turnover, Ziegler gained possession of the ball and made the most of it by scoring her second goal of the match.

Saginaw rallied back into the game and pushed the ball down the field, where they were able to score their first goal of the game on senior goalie Kaylyn Carter. Carter, a longtime starter for the Lakers, achieved her 200th career save in the team’s previous match. She is the fourth player in program history to reach this mark.

The Lakers responded to the Cardinal’s goal by putting pressure on the net, which led to a pair of goals by Rothe and Bancroft. Swope was also credited with an assist.

Keeping their dominance, junior attacker Grace Maddox, with an assist from Ziegler, maneuvered through the defense and put the ball past Saginaw’s goalie to score her fifth goal of the season. With 30 seconds left in the first quarter, Rothe achieved a hat trick, scoring her third goal of the game.

Heading into the second quarter, the Lakers led 9-1. However, Ziegler quickly extended this lead with a hat trick of her own, scoring her third goal of the game. After only a few minutes, Bancroft joined the club with her third goal, becoming the third Laker to score a hat trick in the match. Now leading by 10 points, a running clock was activated. Once again forcing another turnover, Bancroft was able to get possession of the ball and scored her fourth goal of the game.

With a minute left until halftime, Saginaw finally stopped the Lakers’ seven-point run with a goal of their own. This shortage of time did not deter the Lakers’ offense, as junior midfielder Ella Boose made her way to the net and scored her 12th goal of the season.

Controlling a strong 13-2 lead entering the second half, the Lakers spent no time getting into the game, as Ziegler scored her fourth goal of the match off an assist by Rothe. Snatching the ball out of the air, Rothe showed off by making an impressive behind-the-back shot, which began her run of three-straight goals, with assists from Bancroft and redshirt junior attacker Jillian Bingman. The rest of the Lakers’ offense continued to build from this with a pair of goals by Ziegler and Swope.

Leading 19-2 entering the fourth quarter, Saginaw again stopped GVSU’s seven-point scoring run with their third goal of the match. Despite this goal, a breakaway by the Lakers led to a goal from Bingman, her first of the match and 16th of the season. Regaining possession of the ball, Boose got into position and scored her second goal of the match from an assist by Rothe. Getting the quick turnover, Rothe once again put the ball in the net to score her seventh goal of the game. With this, Rothe scored her 100th career goal.

The Lakers were not done yet, as Boose was able get her own hat trick after scoring her third goal of the game. This was immediately followed by goals from freshman midfielder Emerson Holthouser and sophomore midfielder Ella Manfred. This was a special moment for Manfred, as this was her first career goal for the Lakers.

Although the Lakers scored 25 points, the defense was just as dominant as the offense, allowing only seven shots on the goal compared to the Lakers’ 41 total shots.

“Today, they (the players) wanted to focus on us, and not only did we know we were gonna win, but it was more so, what does that win look like,” said Hamman. “We’ve got to work on some things for us, but I told them it’s always nice when you get to celebrate big moments.”

Rothe stated the team had a great day, both offensively and defensively.

“Being aggressive defensively helped us win, so continually being consistent with that will help us in the future,” said Rothe. 

Along with scoring seven goals in the game, Rothe was coming off being awarded the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Offensive Player of the Week.

“I don’t pay attention to accolades too much,” Rothe said. “I wanna focus on myself and then obviously my team and the season up ahead.”

The women’s lacrosse team will play at home on Friday, April 11, for their next matchup against Northern Michigan University (7-4).

The meet kicked off with sprints and hurdles, where GVSU saw plenty of success. In the 110m, two men and three women for the Lakers qualified for finals. In the finals, senior Ethan Smith finished first with a time of 14.60. For the women, all three runners finished in the top five. Junior Destini Dorkins led the way by running a 14.35, beating her personal record. 

In the 100m, GVSU had five men and three women competing in the finals. Graduate student Myles Rhodes led the way for the men with a first place finish. Rhodes ran a 10.48, which tied his personal record. Second and third place also belonged to the Lakers, thanks to freshmen Jacob Machiniak and Desmond Chapa, respectively.

Women’s first, second and third place all belonged to the Lakers. Freshman Claire Neumann ran a personal best, which placed her first. Sophomore Catherine Guckenberger placed second and senior Melia Williams rounded it out at third. 

The 200m saw 14 total runners between the men and women representing GVSU. Not only were there many Lakers competing, numerous of them succeeded. For the men, seven of the nine runners placed top 10. For the women, all five athletes placed within the top 15. 

GVSU concluded this portion with 400m and 400m hurdles. Between these two events, 12 total Lakers competed. Sophomore Dominik Balenda placed first in the 400m. The women’s first place finish came in the 400m hurdles by Dorkins. 

The distance events saw 16 athletes representing GVSU, and four competitors finished first in their respective events. The long-jump events and junior Alaina Diaz headlined the day.

Not only did Diaz place first after her 6.19m score, but she is now the University’s record holder for the event. Diaz said her first jump was a personal best, which surprised her. However, she felt she had more in the tank, but the weather was not ideal. Her coaches gave her the option to go for it or be done for the day.

“My first jump of the day felt decent, but not amazing,” said Diaz.

Diaz broke down the exact moment by moment of her final, record breaking jump.

“I began my approach, (and) everything felt great (from the) takeoff (to the) flight,” said Diaz. “But, I (still) wasn’t sure. Then I heard, ‘that’s it.’ My jaw dropped (and) emotions hit me all at once.” 

This just about wrapped up day one of the meet, as the last event were the throws. The throws saw no first-place finishes for GVSU, however there were still several impressive performances that resulted in personal records. 

Day two may have had less events, but records were still shattered. Senior Erika Beistle had an all-time performance in discus. Beistle threw for 66.63m, which is not only a GVSU record, but is the fourth-best in Division II history and second-best among current athletes in the entire world. Graduate student Maggie Stevenson placed second in this event and sophomore Sophia Snellenberger placed seventh. 

The men had two throwers in this event as well. Redshirt senior James Mackey Jr. placed second and graduate student Nathan Spitzley earned third. 

Day two wrapped up with pole vault and javelin. Junior Will Gaston was the lone Laker in the javelin event, and placed number one on the podium. The pole vault competition included 12 total student-athletes from GVSU. This event rewarded plenty of podiums and personal bests, much like the rest of the meet for the Lakers. 

“With this being our third weekend of competing in the outdoor season, we are simply trying to make steady progress and compete to the best of our ability,” said the teams’ head coach, Jerry Baltes. 

GVSU’s track and field teams hope to break even more records when they head to Tampa, Florida for their next meet on Friday, April 11.

After a weather delay held Friday’s game back, senior Jayden Dentler took the mound for the Lakers. The Lakers first put the ball in play in the fourth inning with back-to-back hits from junior Evan Morrison and senior Ryan Dykstra. GVSU scored first off a single from senior Brendan Guciardo, which brought Morrison and Dykstra home. Davenport responded in the following innings with a couple runs of their own to tie things up.

The lead returned to GVSU with a triple by Dykstra and a flyout by junior Jovan Gill, which scored two more. Dentler and the Lakers’ defense took down the next six batters to secure the win.

“When pitching, batting and fielding are all working for us, that’s when we click and get on a hot streak,” said Dysktra.

Assistant coach Jarret Olsen agreed with Dysktra.

“Well, we’re just playing good, complimentary baseball right now,” added Olsen.

Dentler was credited with his sixth win of the season, completing all seven innings with 97 pitches.

Pitching in game two was redshirt sophomore Owen Avery. Down 1-0, the Lakers got on base in the fourth inning with singles from senior Jonas Gulbrandsen and Guciardo. A hit up the middle by sophomore Ryan Stimac scored two, pulling the Lakers ahead, 2-1.

Allowing six hits and giving up five runs in the fifth inning, Avery was substituted for senior Colby Phipps. In the sixth inning, a triple by Caleb Estrada and a wild pitch brought him home to bring the score to 6-3. Three more hits by the Lakers led to scoring two runs, but despite bringing things close, Davenport pushed back with a home run in the seventh inning. 

In the ninth inning, Dykstra brought it back to a one-score game with a home run to right center. However, the Lakers were unable to close the gap, losing game two. Phipps finished with 59 pitches, while Avery threw 84 pitches and was credited with the loss.

Starting on the mound in Saturday’s game three was junior Collin Bradley. Davenport obtained an early lead in the first inning, scoring one run, and later extended it with two walks and three hits in the second inning. This scored the Panthers three more runs.

Down 4-0, the Lakers rebounded with hits by junior Nick Krstich and Morrison, as well as a walk by Estrada. With bases loaded, Dykstra was able to get a ground out RBI. A double hit down the right field line by Gill brought home the remaining runners, bringing the score to 4-3.

After giving up a solo home run in the fifth inning, the Lakers fought back with hits from Guciardo and junior Ayden VanEnkevort. A sacrifice fly from Krstich scored one run, putting it back to a one-run game.

Freshman Sebastian Talaga took over on the mound for Bradley in the sixth inning, where he held Davenport scoreless in the next two innings. In that time, the Lakers were on a roll, scoring from a sacrifice fly from Dykstra and a hit from Krstich that scored two more.

Heading into the ninth inning, VanEnkevort was brought in to close out the game. Unfortunately, chaos struck with the final batter up. With bases loaded, a wild pitch was not able to be controlled by the Lakers’ defense. Davenport took advantage and was able to send three runners home for the win, 8-7.

At the plate on Sunday, the Lakers capitalized early on a RBI double from Gulbrandsen. By the third inning, the score was tied, 3-3. Stringing together more runs throughout the game, GVSU held onto a small lead into the eighth inning. However, Davenport pulled together two runs to take a one-score lead, 7-6, and held this for the remainder of the game.

Upcoming for the GVSU baseball team is a long streak of home games that will last through the end of April.

“We got a new turf field this year, so just knowing how it plays and feels will help us out,” said Dykstra. “The last two home games we’ve had, we’ve had pretty big crowds, so (it’s) kind of cool to have at a home field again.”

The team will next take on Saginaw Valley State University (18-6) in another four-game series from Friday, April 4 through Sunday, April 6.

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.”

The two days of golfing were split into three rounds, with rounds one and two both being played over the first day, and round three filling out the second day.

In round one, junior Charlie Cooley and graduate student Drew Coble led the Lakers, both shooting 69 (-3). Juniors Manuel Cue Vargas and Bryce Wheeler followed, both hitting even par with 72. Freshman Ryan Gallagher was close behind after hitting a 74 (+2).

Cue and Gallagher improved in the second round, carding a 67 (-5) and 70 (-2). Coble also had another impressive outing with a 70 (-2). Wheeler and Cooley closed out round two for the Lakers, carding 73 (+1) and a 76 (+4).

Ending a successful day one, GVSU held the lead, shooting rounds of 282 and 280, overall ending -14. Coble and Cue stood out throughout day one, both hitting 10 birdies, as well as being tied for third place and leading their team at five under par.

With one round left to play on day two, the Lakers held a four-stroke lead over second place.

Making five birdies and an eagle, as well as hitting a 68 (-4), Cue was able to jump two spots and finish with the best overall score of -9. This final round success won Cue the title of individual champion. Along with winning his second individual title of the season, Cue was awarded the GLIAC Conference Men’s Golfer of the Week.

“Manuel showed a lot of positive signs this week,” said head coach Gareth Lappin. “He got off to a slow start, but managed to keep his composure and stayed patient and he was rewarded. He is learning fast and there is no limit on how far Manuel can go this season.”

Coble was the next ranked Laker, tied at 13th after carding a 75 (+3) with three birdies, and finishing two under par. Tied for 26th place was Cooley, who finished his round with 73 (-1), hitting four birdies and an eagle. Wheeler followed, shooting a round of 74 (+2) and tying for 31st place. Wrapping things up for GVSU was Gallagher, who tied for 38th, carding a 76 (+4).

“As a team we are close,” said Coble. “We just have to put everything together for three solid rounds. Going forward, I think it is the same mentality, trying to clean everything up. We are just now getting to play outside in Michigan, so that will definitely help us build more confidence going forward.”

Lappin added that despite the team showing “good signs,” the Lakers still have a couple skills to work on.

“We need to continue working on our putting speed, and some guys have technical things to work on,” said Lappin. 

Since this event was the 12th-straight top-five finish for the Lakers, the GVSU men’s golf team looks to continue their winning on the green at the Tennessee River Rumble in Lenoir City, Tennessee from Monday, March 24 through Tuesday, March 25.

“We are a very process-driven team and we treat each event the same,” explained Lappin. “Putting guys in high-pressure situations is the most important thing at this time of year to prepare us for championship play.”

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.

The home game naturally brought pressure of its own, however, with over a thousand spectators in the stands, the energy was palpable. Redshirt senior Rylie Bisballe remarked that the stands “were packed.”

Both teams took a few minutes to settle in. In the first quarter’s five minutes, both universities each made a field goal. The other half of this quarter saw back-and-forth shot-making. GVSU went on a seven-to-three scoring run before the end of the opening quarter. This resulted in the University having an 11-9 lead at the close of the quarter.

The second quarter was the Lakers’ highest scoring quarter of the game. GVSU really started to show off their strength and size in this quarter. Eight of the Lakers’ baskets came from inside the paint. Only two points came from outside the paint, with the basket having been thrown at the free throw line. Not only that, GVSU was scoring extremely efficiently. To go along with the highest scoring quarter, the Lakers shot 47% from the field. The Lakers held a double-digit lead multiple times in the second quarter. However, just before halftime, Ashland was able to go on a quick, 4-0 run. Despite this run, GVSU still led at the break. The scoreboard read 29-26.

Coming out of the half, GVSU’s rhythm on the offensive side of the ball continued. The Lakers were consistently able to keep Ashland at a comfortable distance. After the dominant second quarter, Ashland started to get more aggressive with their defense in the paint. This led to more free-throw attempts than the first two quarters combined for the Lakers. GVSU went to the charity stripe six times, and knocked all six down. 

The Lakers had another good scoring quarter in the third, largely led by redshirt junior guard Paige Vanstee. Out of the Lakers’ 17 points in the third quarter, Vanstee scored eight points.

Toward the end, Ashland began to chip away at GVSU’s lead. The closing quarter saw the game get as close as five points. However, the Lakers were able to extend the lead right back to double digits. GVSU beat Ashland 62-50, and advanced to the Elite Eight.

The Lakers’ depth played a huge factor in this ball game. The University boasted five players in double figures, while on the other hand, Ashland only had one player.

“It (the game) was a really fun atmosphere to play in,” Bisballe said.

Redshirt junior Nicole Kamin agreed, adding that the ball game was nothing like she’s seen this season.

“The environment was great (and) the fans were awesome,” Kamin said.

The road to the championship title won’t get any easier for GVSU. Up next, the Lakers will travel to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, the Lakers will battle with the eighth-ranked Gannon University for a spot in the Final Four. These two programs don’t play each other often. The last time GVSU and Gannon faced off was a decade ago, in 2015– the same year that Mike Williams started coaching the Lakers.

The matchup will take place on Monday, March 24, and the tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Representing GVSU in the tournament were juniors Chris Donathan, Josh Kenny and Carter Blough, along with redshirt freshman Brayden Mirjavadi and senior Wyatt Miller. To qualify for finals, each wrestler had to place within the top three in their weight class at regional competitions.

The first wrestler to compete for the Lakers was the No. 1 seed Donathan in the 149-pound class. Ranked first heading into the tournament, Donathan snuck out a close win by decision, 6-4, in his first match. In the second round, Donathan scored quickly, gaining enough points to give him the win by technical fall, 20-4. However, in the third round, Donathan was up against No. 4 ranked Nick James from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Despite scoring fast and keeping it close, Donathan took his first loss of the season.

This loss did not knock Donathan out of the tournament, as wrestlers were put in the Wrestleback bracket after their first loss. Donathan rematched against Brennan Watkins. However, Donathan medically forfeited the match, ending his season with a 14-1 record.

The next Laker to compete was No. 2 seed Josh Kenny in the 174-pound class. Winning GVSUs first national title in 32 years during the previous season, Kenny kept a consistent mentality going into the match.

“My mindset stays the same, (which is to) go out, try my best and have fun,” Kenny said. “The only thing I can control is my effort and my attitude.”

In a slow and low-scoring first match, Kenny won his first match, 2-1. He followed this with another low-scoring match against the seventh-seed Matt Ortiz from McKendree University. This time, however, Kenny took his first loss from decision, 4-2.

Kenny then claimed an 11-1 win by major decision in the first round of the Wrestleback bracket. Moving on, Kenny faced off against No. 3 seed Bryce Dagel from St. Cloud State University. The night unfortunately ended for Kenny, as lost by a major decision, and finished the season with a 20-7 record.

Although he was unable to repeat his previous successes, Kenny still reflected positively on this season.

“One thing I think about a lot from this year (are) the outcomes of each match, and all the factors that only I can control,” expressed Kenny. “(I think) about how I have eaten good, managed my weight and worked hard at practice. (I try) not to think about outside factors because of the target on my back that I made last year at finals.”

Seventh-seed Mirjavadi was up next for GVSU, representing the 184-pound class. He began his run in the tournament with a strong outing, winning the first round by major decision, 14-3.

Next, he paired against No. 2 seed Matt Weinberg from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Facing a tough opponent, Mirjavadi lost 9-0, which moved him into the Wrestleback bracket. In his first match of the bracket, Mirjavadi took on and lost 4-1 to Damon Ashworth from the University of Central Missouri.

The next Laker up was the 197-pound Wyatt Miller. In his first match, he faced No. 4 seed Max Ramberg from Augustana University, where he lost in a low-scoring battle, 5-0.

Being bumped down to the Wrestleback bracket, Miller quickly started with a win by fall, pinning his opponent in just over a minute. No. 6 seed Dakoda Rodger from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown was up next, where a win by decision, 5-1, gave Miller another victory. This run continued for Miller, as he won his next match, 7-1. In his following match, however, Miller’s run ended with an 8-7 loss against the No. 5 seed Jackson Kinsella from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. 

Due to the amount of wins he racked up, Miller had one final match for fifth place. Competing against the No. 7 ranked Nicholas Johnson from Glenville State University, Miller took his second loss by decision, 10-3. 

The final wrestler representing GVSU was No. 3 seed Carter Blough in the 285-pound class. A transfer from the Divison I Michigan State University, Blough started strong with a close overtime win, 7-5. In the second round, Blough once again went into overtime, but lost 2-1 to the No. 6 Jake Swirple from Minot State University.

In the Wrestleback bracket, Blough managed to take his opponent to overtime again, and won, 9-7. For his next match, Blough faced the No. 1 Crew Howard from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Taking his second loss by major decision, Blough ended the season with a 28-7 record.

Although no Lakers were able to bring home a title this season, the team didn’t leave completely empty-handed. Donathan, Kenny, Miller and Blough all received All-American honors for their seasons on the mat.