GV rowing team celebrates sixtieth anniversary - Grand Valley Lanthorn
GV rowing team celebrates their sixtieth anniversary, an article posted by the Grand Valley Lanthorn.
Sep 19, 2024
GVSU Club Sports bridges the gap between Intramurals and Varsity Sports. Club Sports provide a team environment for students who are looking for a more competitive and intense experience with a balance of time commitment. Our over 35 clubs offer opportunities in women’s, men’s, and coed sports teams. Club Sports teams are run by students, for students, with the help of GV administrative staff and club-appointed coaches.
Getting involved with club sports is the best way to continue playing the sport you love and building a community here at GVSU. Being a club sport athlete provides opportunities to meet new people, find a support system, and get involved in positions that develop career skills and resume builders. Come join one of the best programs in the nation at GVSU Club Sports!! Anchor Up!
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GV rowing team celebrates their sixtieth anniversary, an article posted by the Grand Valley Lanthorn.
Sep 19, 2024
After qualifying in the 2024 Bassmaster College National Championship, Max Schweikert and Trevor Young finish 5th at the Bassmaster College Series in Saginaw Bay.
Jun 6, 2024
The College Club Swim National Meet brought together 1622 athletes from 118 clubs, including Grand Valley's Club team, who showcased their skills and camaraderie amidst fierce competition over three days.
Apr 24, 2024
The stage was set in Orlando, FL, as dancers converged at the Orange County Convention Center for The College Classic. Among them, the Laker Dance Team stood poised to showcase their skill and passion in a display of triumph and unity.
Apr 24, 2024
The Grand Valley State University Wrestling Club, focusing on growth,
displayed grit and resilience over the weekend as the men's and
women's teams took to the mats for early-season tests. The men
competed in the Ben McMullen Open at Muskegon Community College, while
the women headed to the Tiffin University Women's Open in Ohio.
Although the competitions were tough, the Lakers walked away with
valuable experience, showcasing a season of growth and hard work.
In the 125-pound division, freshman Zach Koenig made a notable
impression with a fiery start. Koenig opened with a fall over Liam
Castricone from Niagara CC, followed by an impressive 41-second pin
against Mott Community College's Keenan Pake. His aggressive style
propelled him into the semifinals, where he met Muskegon CC's Jack
Guerrero. Despite a valiant effort, Koenig fell to Guerrero by a
technical fall. In the consolation semis, Koenig was pinned by Ayden
Downing of Niagara CC, rounding out a hard-fought day.
At 141 pounds, Jacob Bathas won his opening about in a close 9-7
decision over Muskegon CC's Owen Cruden. Batha's journey was cut short
by a technical fall loss to Dylan Phelps of Olivet College in the
quarterfinals, and his day ended with a loss in the consolation rounds
against Brennan Bolen from Western Michigan's club.
Ellery Smith, competing at 165 pounds, began his day with a pin
over Sonny Gilbert from Marian University Ancilla. Smith advanced to
the quarterfinals but was stopped by Alma College's Carter Melonio. In
a close consolation about, Smith fell to Calvin Huggler from Alma
College with a 7-2 decision.
Heavyweight Jason Smith led the men's team with a fourth-place
finish. After a first-round bye, Smith advanced due to an injury
default by Olivet College's George Daniel. He was defeated by Jayson
Roy from the University of Michigan's club in the semifinals but
bounced back in the consolation semis with a major decision win over
Dennis Weston of Marian University Ancilla. In the third-place match,
Smith was pinned by Brody Miskimon from Alma College.
Head Coach Ryan Lancaster praised the men's team's determination
and relentless effort. "Every match, every minute on the mat,
these young men are learning and growing," Lancaster remarked.
"Wins and losses don't just measure success; it's about the
fight, the resilience, and the constant pursuit of improvement. I'm
proud of the grit they showed out there and excited to see how this
experience shapes them for the rest of the season."
The women's team competed intensely at the Tiffin University
Women's Open, with wrestlers Ayla Lipscomb, Krysta Luce, and Sophia
Sunior stepping onto the mats against tough opponents.
Despite the early exits, Lipscomb's determination underscored her
potential as she took away valuable lessons to fuel her future growth.
In the 180-pound division, Luce faced Jordan Torres-Carrillo from
Tiffin University in a closely contested match, ultimately falling
8-6. In the consolation rounds, Luce met Mia Gaetjens from Adrian
College, who secured a technical fall. Luce's performance demonstrated
her resilience and promise as she continued to build her skill set in
collegiate competition.
Sophia Sunior, competing at 207 pounds, faced a formidable
first-round opponent in Mount Union's Lyndsee Young, who claimed a
10-0 technical fall. In the consolation rounds, Sunior advanced with a
bye but was defeated by Kiley McClain from Bluefield State, who won by
fall. Sunior's performance highlighted her willingness to compete and
grind it out against strong opponents.
Reflecting on the women's performance, Coach Lancaster noted,
"Every time these women step on the mat, they gain critical
experience to fuel their growth as wrestlers. The Tiffin Open was a
reminder that while the scoreboard may not always reflect the effort
and heart these athletes put in, each match is a building block in
their journey. We're not just looking for winsýwe're building
resilience, grit, and skills that will pay off in the long run."
Both the men's and women's teams showed flashes of potential and
moments of growth that will set the stage for the season ahead. The
Ben McMullen Open and Tiffin Open gave the GVSU Wrestling Club a
glimpse of their strengths and areas for improvement, laying a solid
foundation. These teams are ready to push their limits and bring
intensity to each upcoming tournament, leaving the audience hopeful
for future performances.
FLINT, MI ý The GVSU-WC entered the 2024 Fall Brawl Open at Mott
Community College with a determined spirit and a point to prove.
Despite the fierce competition, the Lakers displayed remarkable
resilience, delivering promising performances in a day filled with
challenges and triumphs.
At 133 lbs, sophomore Zach Koenig turned in a gritty effort to
snag a fourth-place finish. It wasn't an easy road, as Koenig was
caught in the second round by Vicente Navarro of Henry Ford College,
losing by fall at 6:30. Undeterred, he bounced back. He delivered a
29-second pin over Keenan Pake from Mott Community College, giving
GVSU a big lift. Despite dropping his other two matches, Koenig's
persistence shone through.
"Zach's got that scrapper mentality," head coach Ryan
Lancaster said. "He took his lumps but came back and showed what
he's made of with that lightning-fast pin."
Unattached wrestler Zach Egan had a rollercoaster ride at 157
lbs, but his win was hard-earned. Egan got off to a rough start,
getting caught by Dayveon Rupert of Southwest Michigan Community
College in 3:51. He bounced back strong, putting Alex Daniel of the
Michigan Club on his back in just 40 seconds in the consolation
bracket. Egan's day ended with a loss to Carter Simota of Henry Ford
College, who scored the fall at 3:28.
"There's no quit in Zach," Lancaster remarked. "He
got right back up after a tough loss and took care of business. He's
got the potential to be a real force for us."
In a remarkable women's folkstyle exhibition match, Krysta Luce
made quick work of Alex Anguina from Michigan, pinning her in the
first period and electrifying the GVSU bench. The exhibition might
have been outside the official bracket, but Luce did not doubt her talent.
"Krysta went out there and dominated," said Lancaster.
"She's setting the tone for our women's program, and I can't wait
to see where she goes from here."
Freshman Jacob Batha had his work cut out in the 141 lb bracket.
He started against Henry Ford's Daniel Gonzalez-Cancel, who took the
match via technical fall, 15-0. Batha received a consolation bye but
fell short in the semi against John Hurley, losing by a major decision (15-7).
"Jacob's day didn't go as planned, but he kept
swinging," Lancaster said. "He's learning with each match,
and that's what matters."
The day's highlight for GVSU came from Luke Lyons, who took
second place in the 197 lb division. Lyons narrowly lost his opening
match to Lionel Baldwin of Michigan, 2-1, but came back with a
vengeance, pinning NCWA National Qualifier Anthony Janowski of Akron
in 3:50 to secure the runner-up spot.
"Luke's a warrior," Lancaster said proudly. "He
didn't let that one-point loss rattle him. He regrouped and delivered
a statement pin."
At heavyweight, Blake Wilson's first taste of collegiate
competition didn't come with a win, but it did provide plenty of
learning opportunities. In the opening round, he dropped a tight 13-8
decision to Lance Gray of Henry Ford. After a consolation bye,
Wilson's day ended with a fall to DeAngelo Williams at 1:27.
"Blake showed flashes of what he's capable of,"
Lancaster said. "He's got the tools; with more experience, he'll
be a difference-maker."
Coach Ryan Lancaster, while acknowledging the difficulties faced
at the Fall Brawl, saw plenty of reasons to be hopeful. "It was a
challenging day, no doubt, but we showed heart and glimpses of our
potential. Our team fought hard, and that's what I'm excited to see."
As the Lakers look forward to the rest of the season, Lancaster
and his squad will sharpen their skills, focus on conditioning, and
fine-tune their techniques. The results may not have gone their way
yet, but GVSU is ready to grind.
"We're laying the foundation for something bigger,"
Lancaster said. "Every match, win or lose, brings us closer to
where we want to be. The important thing is to keep pushing and
growing as a team."
The Fall Brawl may not have ended with the Lakers at the top of
the podium, but their grit and determination suggest brighter days
ahead for the Grand Valley State University Wrestling Club.