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.

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.

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.

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.

Of the 38 competing Lakers at the championship, six student-athletes competed on day one. Freshman Brooke Bowers kicked off Thursday in women’s pole vault. Bowers placed seventh in the event, and grabbed two points for the Lakers.  Following this, senior Maria Mitchell placed fifth in the women’s mile. With a finishing time of 4:45.80, Mitchell qualified for the final. Junior Lauren Kiley closed out the day for the women. Kiley, who competed in the 5000m run, placed sixth with a time of 16:16.51. 

On the men’s side of the track, two GVSU athletes competed on Thursday. Graduate student Caleb Futter and sophomore Owen Westerkamp both ran in the men’s mile. Westerkamp placed 17th with a time of 4:09.12, and Futter placed fifth, earning himself a spot in the finals.

Day two was a tidal wave of wins for the Lakers. GVSU had 24 total participants throughout Friday’s events. Not only did the teams have a large number of competing athletes, but their successes were undeniable. The Lakers’ biggest highlight from day two came from the men’s high jump. Here, it was a clean sweep for GVSU on the podium. Graduate student Eli Kosiba, senior Jonathan Rankins-James and sophomore Jaivon Harrison all took the top three spots. With this placement, Kosiba was awarded the title of national champion.

Moments after receiving the hardware, the high jump team was feeling extremely confident. 

“Grand Valley is not just jumping against the NCAA, we (are) jumping against the world,” said junior Marcus Gelpi. 

Harrison echoed a similar sentiment.

“Name someone better (than us),” Harrison stated.

The women had major successes on day two as well. Graduate student Alaina Omonode and senior Shelby Ulven competed in the women’s weight throw. Both had impressive throws, and advanced to the finals. The women also had four athletes competing in the distance medley relays. There were several strong performances, which resulted in a third place finish in the event. 

Saturday was the conclusion of the championship. The University saw its athletes represented on 23 total podiums. The men fell just one spot shy of winning the national championship with a final score of 61.5. They ended up finishing runner-up to Pittsburgh State University, who tallied around 15 points more. While the women’s side was able to finish third in the finals with 47 points, first place was awarded to PSU and Minnesota State University, Mankato took second.

The championship marked the end of the University’s track and field indoor season. The teams are now looking ahead to their outdoor seasons, which will begin on Saturday, March 22 in Marion, Indiana with the Polar Bear Classic.

On Thursday, the Lakers took to their home court against the Warriors in matching pink sneakers and socks to commemorate their annual PINK Game to support cancer research efforts. As soon as the clock started, GVSU got the jump on the Warriors with Laker Kathryn Schmidt bolting into the paint and sinking a layup for the Lakers. GVSU continued to score two more back-to-back layups, taking an early 6-0 lead against WSU. The Warriors retaliated with a 3-pointer from Alyssa Leister. However, the Lakers refused to give up control and matched the Warriors with another 3-pointer by Abrie Cabana.

Throughout the duration of the game’s first quarter, the Warriors played catch-up with the Lakers. Whenever WSU got close to tying, GVSU doubled down offensively, closing the door on the Warriors. By the end of the quarter, GVSU was up by five points, 27-22.

Only three seconds into the second quarter, Rylie Bisballe was already to the net with a layup for the Lakers. Just moments later, Rylie Bisballe was back in the paint, driving another one into the basket. Six minutes in, Cabana sank a 3-pointer, marking a 13-point lead for the Lakers. WSU began to gain some momentum, as Gabi Lutchka drilled a 3-pointer for the Warriors, which was followed by a layup and another 3-pointer. 

Just as the Warriors began to catch up, the Lakers were awarded free throws, cutting their momentum short. With Ellie Droste behind the line for the Lakers, she was off the mark for the first. Quickly regaining her composure, she calmly sank the second with ease. Following Droste’s free throw, Cabana wasted no time getting to the basket, leaving WSU’s defense scrambling as she made a fast-break layup. By the end of the quarter, GVSU managed to keep a tight hold on their lead with a 46-39 score.

Coming back from halftime, the Lakers dominated the third quarter. Schmidt set the quarter’s tone, making a 3-pointer with pinpoint accuracy. GVSU kept their momentum going through the quarter, with MacKenzie Bisballe slicing through WSU’s defense to sink a layup, bringing the Lakers’ lead to 10 points. The Lakers closed out the quarter with a 16-point lead and a score of 67-51.

In the final quarter, the Lakers were unstoppable. Starting off the quarter, the Warriors fouled the Lakers, awarding GVSU free throws. Once again, Droste was back behind the line. This time, she made both shots with ease. WSU fought hard to bridge the gap, cutting GVSU’s lead to 11 points. However, the Lakers refused to let up, and closed the door on the Warriors. With a minute and a half left on the clock, MacKenzie Bisballe made a layup, bringing the Lakers to a 21-point lead. Refusing to give up without a fight, Lutchka drilled a 3-pointer from downtown, bringing GVSU’s lead down to 18, and closing out the game, 85-67. 

The Lakers’ victory over WSU secured them the GLIAC regular season championship title and earned them the number one title in their seed. Following their victory against the Warriors, the Lakers faced off against SVSU on Saturday in the Battle of the Valleys.

The Lakers started strong against the Cardinals with an early nine-point lead. From there, the Lakers were able to stretch their lead to 14 points from a 3-pointer and layup by Droste and Paige Vanstee. Both teams continued to fight for momentum until the end of the quarter. GVSU led by 12 points, heading into the second with the score of 24-12.

The Cardinals started off the second quarter with renewed vigor. Scoring seven consecutive points from the start, the Cardinals were able to slice the Lakers’ lead down to five points. The Lakers quickly regained control of the quarter with a layup and two, back-to-back free throws, bringing their lead down to 10 points. By the end of the quarter, the Lakers were up 15 points, 42-27.

After halftime, the Lakers left the Cardinals in the dust with a commanding 29-point lead by the end of the quarter.

GVSU continued to apply pressure onto the Cardinals’ defense, leaving them scrambling to catch up. Molly Anderson barreled a quick 3-pointer into the basket from downtown, bringing the score to 51-27. With one minute left on the clock, the Lakers were able to dish out two more 3-pointers from Cabana and Droste, finishing out the game with a final score of 66-39.

During the game, Rylie Bisballe reached 1,500 career points, becoming the seventh player in GVSU program history to ever do so.

“I think today’s win was a team effort,” said Rylie Bisballe. “We have definitely been trying to help each other more, especially in the defensive end. We need to continue being confident and consistent heading into the next two games and the GLIAC tournament.”

In less than a month, the GLIAC Tournament is set to begin on Wednesday, March 5.​​ The Lakers are set to enter the tournament as the top seed, following their regular season championship title.

“GLIAC is a tough conference and we respect every team, so playing our game to our (best) ability will help us a lot,” said Vanstee.