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.