Permanent link for Day 4 in Clemson filled with sunny skies, seat racing, scrimmage with Clemson, and a talent show! on March 6, 2024

Reece Thurston

Welcome back to Clemson! I woke up early around 7:30 and headed down to the hotel lobby for breakfast with the team before we headed out for our morning row. When we arrived at the water, we were met with perfectly flat water and sunny conditions perfect for rowing. I rowed in the single which I was super excited about because it’s been a couple years since I’ve been able to row one. Our morning workout consisted of steady state intertwined with some drills, focusing on a slow recovery and getting our oars in right away at the catch. I spent the drill time doing some bobs at the finish followed by catch placement. On our row back to the dock, we practiced some starting 5’s in anticipation for tonight's seat races.

After our morning row, the women’s team ventured into downtown Clemson for lunch and some sightseeing. We got steamed bagel sandwiches and smoothies to fuel ourselves for our afternoon practice. We finished our downtown trip with souvenir shopping where I bought a shirt and a sticker to put on my car.

We got back to the hotel and it was then time to begin getting ready for afternoon practice. Today was our first seat racing practice of the spring to begin making racing lineups. The women’s squad loaded up into two 8+’s and hit the water. Our workout was 6x1000, and we switched two people in each after every piece. Considering the short amount of time we’ve been able to spend working at a higher intensity on the water, the pieces went really well! The women’s team is making progress each day and it was evident in today’s practice that everyone is giving these spring break sessions their 100% effort.

As our day drew to a close, the whole team retreated back to the hotel where we participated in a team talent show! Whoever had a talent they wished to share with the team had the opportunity to show it off. The talent show rounded out the night and I spent the rest of my time relaxing in my room getting ready to get back at it tomorrow morning!

Michael Jeromsky

My morning started at the ripe hour of 4 o'clock. I awoke from my slumber to pounding on my hotel room door. It was Aiden Miller. He informed us that Nikolai had just landed in South Carolina, and we needed to go pick him up from the airport. Aiden, Miles, and I took one of the rental vans and got Nikolai from the airport. Once we returned to the hotel, we ate our breakfast. The meal consisted of scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice, banana nut muffins, and the most vile, gut wrenching, intestine killing, heart stopping, plague infected red skin potatoes that had ever been in my mouth. After breakfast, I changed and headed to the race course for practice.

Morning practice was steady state and we rowed by sixes and all 8 to mainly work on our technique. We also practiced our starts for the scrimmages that we had against Clemson and Villanova in the afternoon. Once practice was finished, Miles and I returned to the hotel room and ate 2 of our “Banquet Chicken Pot Pies”. This was by far the best financial decision Miles and I had ever made, being that the pies cost 1 dollar each. I then went with Amelia, Anna, and Joe to downtown Clemson to buy some souvenirs to take back home. Soon after, we headed to the afternoon practice where we raced Clemson and Villanova for three 1000-meter pieces. The pieces went very well as the GVSU men's varsity 8 won all 3 of the pieces. By the time the third piece started, the sun had already set, I was unable to see the man in front of me and was rowing purely out of instinct. I would like to commend Butters for not crashing into the shore or any of the other boats in those conditions, it was truly a miracle.

We headed to dinner directly after our scrimmages and dug into fresh tilapia, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, and tasty vegetables. The food review was an 8/10. Once we headed back to the hotel and showered, the team held its first ever talent show. Many people from the team showed their impressive and wide range of talents. Some notable acts were the Tik Tok dance, how to pog, how to get kicked out of practice, how to mew, how to griddy, how to start a pyramid scheme, types of rocks, and Ryan’s angelic voice.

Connor Wolfe

The day is Tuesday, March 5th- our 4th day on the water. After downing one chocolate chip waffle while making eye contact with Little Ryan, Van #5 took off for the beach. Today I was rowing with my fellow novice men in the Stoll, 8+, for our morning steady state before being joined by Nikolai and Sawyer later for evening AT. Starting off with some drills to fix out positioning and rush, we did two-part pauses in varying steps of the recovery Then, we continued onto our steady state where we were able to apply what we’ve learned. Practice concluded with a full-boat row back to the dock where we focused on set and timing as a boat. 

Today is laundry day so after stopping back at the hotel to grab clothes, van #5 once again departed for the laundromat where we pioneered the world’s first laundry basket race course (I was the fastest (credits to Jo Pat)). We then proceeded to head downtown where I purchased the world’s drippiest Clemson bucket hat and ate a french toast bagel for lunch. 

To wrap things up, we headed back to the water for our AT practice where Nikolai arrived just in time from his three hour flight. We made a ton of progress on set and rush during our 8x4’ pieces and ended the rowing day with a long steady state row back. 

Back at the hotel we had a talent show where I gave a presentation on Pogging and witnessed many feats of humorous strength before tending to my wounds and heading to bed. 

Categories: Rowing
Posted by Gavin Smith on Permanent link for Day 4 in Clemson filled with sunny skies, seat racing, scrimmage with Clemson, and a talent show! on March 6, 2024.

Permanent link for Another Day of Rowing and Team Bonding in Clemson on March 5, 2024

Sarah Lawrence

Today was day three in Clemson. This morning's practice I was in a women’s varsity 8+. We worked on having a proper lay back and pivot position and catch timing. Coach McKenzie was my coach this morning and she created a fund drill to make laying back at the finish and pivoting less scary for the new novices in the boat. I was sitting in 4 seat and was focusing on my blade and seat timing. I could feel and Coach McKenzie could see the improvement by the end of the practice. 

During the break between practices the women grilled hot dogs by the water and even though I can not eat hot dogs, I really enjoyed spending time with my teammates outside of practice. I did end up refueling for afternoon practice at a local Clemson business with a couple of other varsity women. After eating we walked around campus enjoying the amazing weather we had today. 

This afternoon we had the same lineups but Coach Troy was coaching my boat this practice. We did some drills to work on catch timing, having a good ratio at low rates and then transfer that to high rates, and we also put our start sequence together. I was focusing mostly on twisting round the pin and keeping my pivot the same through my stroke but my favorite part of practice was working on the start sequence. It felt so energizing to have everyone build power and speed together as one to move the boat. After practice we headed to the dining hall for dinner and everyone got to relax and hang out before we headed back to the hotel. My roommates and I watched a movie and then called it a night. Overall today was a great day of rowing and making memories and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the spring season holds.

Izak Sahutske

Today was a good day. We got a total of around 28,000 meters on the water in between our first and second practices both in 8’s. Today was also the first day where we spent most of our time rowing by all 8’s on the feather and near the end of the second practice we did some starts. They were a little bit rocky at first, but after a while we got the hang of them and they were a lot of fun. I rowed in the new men’s 8 for the first practice and oh my lordie is that boat fun. She can sing like Aretha Franklin. 

For lunch me and a couple of the other guys went to a raising canes. We went to zaxbys yesterday so naturally we needed to go to canes today to see which one is better. For my money, I’ll take zaxbys, but that was not the popular opinion amongst my teammates. 

Raising canes was on the Clemson campus so we walked around a little bit. The campus is beautiful and HUGE. A lot bigger than we thought it would be. We stopped by the bookstore and some of us got shirts to remember the trip by.

This trip has been so much fun and I have done everything I can to take it all in and live in the moment. But no matter how good of a job I do, I don’t think I could ever get it all. 

Arley Wagley

My third day in Clemson! This morning I woke up and another coxswain and I split a red velvet waffle! In the a.m. I was with Coach Kyle in one of the two men’s varsity eight. We started with a chalk talk and a demonstration on a slider led by Coach Kyle. We had a good warm-up of swing pick and once we got out there and lined up with the other varsity men’s eight, we worked on drive sequence, steady state, and dropkick drills. The dropkick drills were my favorite, because even though they are super helpful for the drive, they’re also a little bit of fun. They  include bobs, a men’s team favorite where they bob their blades in the water before returning to a named position. 

The men are constantly cracking jokes at appropriate times, which makes every single row with them hilarious and upbeat. I was focusing on blacking the blades into water, their blade depth, and we have been focusing on suspension a lot this trip. We had a lot of laughs in the a.m. and snuck in some more bob drills. After a quick dock, the men wanted to make it a competition to see how fast they could get the boat out of the water and off of the dock for the other boats (55 seconds!) Making small things like this into a competition or just seeing how fast they can go really adds a fun and competitive spirit into our practices every day. After putting the boats away I retired to my room for a nap, most people went out to lunch and some even stayed and grilled hot dogs! all plans sounded super fun but it’s important that I get my rest since the practices are fun, but it’s important that i’m alert and awake!! 

For the pm practice after my nap we had a new line up and returned to the water! It was beautiful and hot outside! We started with study state after a good warm-up, did some drive sequencing and legs only! After picking up by all eight and focusing on our set a bit we got to do some starts! Another team favorite where we simulate starting a race. This is great practice for me to use my coxswain voice and apply my voice to their rhythm. The men in my boat loved this, and absolutely killed the drill. We spent some time seeing how long we could glide with a good set after the starts. After the loss of my glasses in the Clemson reservoir and a nice smooth docking from yours truly, we all ran off to dinner where they serve lots of good food, but the highlight was the beignets served for dessert that were a hot commodity. Afterwards, we all returned and took showers and a lot of the team headed down to a public dock where we spent some time, laughing and having fun together before I returned to my room and talked a little bit about our day and some strategy for tomorrow’s before ultimately heading to sleep. One of my favorite parts of every practice is being able to ask everyone how the role was and getting to hear how everyone’s day in the boat went, It’s such a good way to bond and learn about my team.

Categories: Rowing
Posted on Permanent link for Another Day of Rowing and Team Bonding in Clemson on March 5, 2024.

Permanent link for Second day in Clemson filled with sunny skies and racework on the water on March 4, 2024

Anna Cleveland 

We started out the morning with a quick breakfast at the hotel and headed off to the practice course. When we arrived there was a light fog but shortly cleared after our land warmup. For morning practice I was bow seat in the Schintz. We did a steady state row followed by lots of bob drills. When we were rowing it back to the dock we went by all eight and were surprisingly set for just getting back out on the water. 

After practice a group decided to get lunch at Tropical Grille (very yummy rice and chicken and veggies!). Then we made a short trip to Walmart to grab some essentials. It was also nice to be able to take a short nap in between practices. 

We then headed to our afternoon practice to do some bungee resistance work. The day turned out to be very warm and sunny. While waiting to use the dock we decided to wet launch since we share the dock with several other teams also on spring break. I sat seven seat in the Schintz for this practice. We are starting out strong this spring season and doing lots of rate work. We also went by all eight for the last part of the pieces and it will be exciting to see how much we will improve even by the end of the week. 

After our afternoon practice we headed directly to dinner at the dining hall. It is nice to be able to eat dinner with the whole team and have more time for team bonding between the men and women’s squads. A few of us also went out for ice cream afterwards and I got banana ice cream with peanut butter and dark chocolate chips. Back at the hotel we played card games in the lobby. After that I headed to bed to be ready for another day of practice! 

Brendan Butterfield

Today marked our second day in Clemson where we had our second and third practice session. We started the day by waking up at 7 am for breakfast then shortly after left for the water for our first AM session of the week. I was coxing the new men's boat where we did drills to work on drive sequence and did the back it down drill. It's during the first few practices this week we are working on dusting the rust off and getting back into the swing of things. After practice, we headed back to the hotel and a group of the guys went for a little walk to try the local cuisine. We made the hike down the street to go to Zaxby's. Trying new restaurants we don't have back home is always fun. After getting lunch many of us went back to our rooms to rest during the downtime. After lunch, I took a short nap as I was still tired from the drive down to Clemson. When I woke up it was time for our PM practice. For today's PM practice, we did an AT workout at pace which was 4x8 min 1:30 on 30 seconds off. It was nice to see that we were still able to work our way up to higher rates while in the boat after being inside all winter. I feel pretty confident so far for the season and am eager to see how much we improve this week. After our PM practice, we headed to dinner at a local dining hall and made plans to go see Dune Part 2 afterward. A number of the men went and watched Dune which we all enjoyed and recommended. 

Sean Antone

I woke up this morning at 7am with a sore throat due to the dry air circulating the room at night from the AC. I thought I was sick which startled me because I would hate to be sick the entire spring break. I took a vitamin C booster and headed downstairs for breakfast. The lobby was quite comfortable as it had a modern design with the colors of orange representing Clemson. I had eggs, sausage, and potatoes with a dark roast coffee. 1 creamer. I headed back upstairs with Butters to chill until we had to leave for practice around 8:30am. 

We showed up at the site we unload the boats from. We warmed up and stretched before heading out on the water. we unloaded the boats off the dock and headed out on the lake. Around 11, we turned around and headed back to shore. It was a warm overcast, which was perfect weather to row in. After strapping down the boats and a post cap of practice, we headed back to the hotel in the van to grab lunch at Zaxby’s. I had a chicken sandwich with fries.

After the 15 walk back from Zaxby’s with Izak, I went back to the room to chill out until Bryce and Robbie returned. We all played Super smash bros. on the Nintendo switch. Shortly after that, I went downstairs in the hotel hospitality room to find Elliot, Ryan, and Daniel doing homework. I was tired watching them so I went back upstairs and took  nap before the afternoon practice.

After arriving at the site, we did our warmups and applied sunscreen on a high of 70 degrees today. As we attempted to get our boat in the water, many teams were clustered on the beach trying to do the same. Once we got our boat in, we were on our way. Our afternoon practice focused on AT workout meaning we train like we’re in a race. The piece was a 4x1:30 going at high stroke rates. 22,24,26,28 stroke rate. The sun was shining as our blades floated across the water. After a well paced row, we docked the boat and strapped it down on the beach. We were running late for the dining hall so we quickly gathered everyone and drove the vans away from the site.

Since the movie, Dune 2, starts at 7:30, we had to eat quickly so we could watch it. I was buying my ticket while I was waiting in line for food. The food that was being served was biscuits and gravy, corn, and green beans. I caught a ride with Mateo, Butters, and Robbie. As we made our way to the theater we listened to 90s rock. After watching Dune 2, we headed back to the hotel and went into the hospitality room to check if people were still playing poker. Since I was tired, I decided to head back upstairs to my room to go to bed. It was a very eventful day and I can't wait to wake up at 7am for hotel breakfast :) 

Categories: Rowing
Posted on Permanent link for Second day in Clemson filled with sunny skies and racework on the water on March 4, 2024.

Permanent link for GVSU Rowing Team kicks off spring break by unveiling a new men's 8+ named after former GVSU Head Coach, John Bancheri on March 3, 2024

Alyssa Cassie

Today was the first day in Clemson! After a long, courageous battle of driving through the night, we arrived at the course to rig boats and begin to knock the rust off. To quote one of our coaches who has been through this process themself, today is the kind of practice that puts hairs on your chest. After some projected rain, we were pleasantly surprised with some sunshine and warm weather. Before hopping on the water, as one of the clothing coordinators I was tasked with passing out our spring shirts for the season. After some team photos in our new merch, we got to work on the water. For being one of our first practices back on the water, it felt highly productive and we got some good meters in, rowing through a total of three bridges. Some of the main things I focused on today to prevent the resurfacing of old habits is opening my shoulders to prevent shooting my slide and backing in my blade. Too bad I was sitting bow so I didn’t have any teammates in the splash zone behind me.

After wrapping up practice, we all headed to the hotel and received our room assignments. I fell asleep on the floor waiting for my turn to shower and then took yet another nap post shower until it was time to leave for dinner. As an athlete, it’s important to get in sleep wherever you can, I consider it a form of self care. Thank goodness one of my teammates/roommates was awake to get us up and moving in time to head to the dining hall. Tonight we also had our Spring Break meeting where our Club President graced us with some gentle reminders as well as stern rules. As always, our spring break guides meant to keep things light hearted and fun did not disappoint. I can’t wait for all the adventures and memories to be had this week!

Bryce Drobnick

Today we arrived for our first day of break in Clemson, South Carolina. We left Allendale last night at 7 pm and arrived in Clemson around 9 am. My van had a blast on our travels and visited fun locations throughout our adventure. 

Once we got to Clemson we began to rig our boats, including our 2 new 8's. Once rigged up we grabbed lunch from Jimmy Johns and headed on to the water. It was a beautiful 70 degree blue sky day, much nicer than the 20 degrees we left in Michigan. 

Today we did mixed lineups of Varsity and Novices and did drill work, specifically at the back end of the stroke. We rowed about 12k today.

After practice, we headed to our hotel; relaxed, and headed to dinner at Southern Wesleyan University and returned to the hotel to finish the night.

I am super excited to continue my training this week and I hope you all enjoy the rest of the blogs.

Sydnee Ochs

We began our journey to South Carolina by leaving lot J in Allendale at 7pm March 1st.In complete honesty I was in and out of consciousness until we hit Kentucky, at around 2:30AM, when I was granted Passenger Princesses Privileges while Reilly drove. 

We arrived in Clemson right around 10AM on March 2nd, after unloading our trailer, rigging our boats and a quick lunch we were ready to launch our boats into Lake Hartwell. Our workout consisted of steady state rowing, to get us used to being back on the water. I was rowing in the Schintz 8+ boat and we did several sets of sprints.

After practice Beka, Jo, Anna, Sawyer and I decided to take a swim! It started as a way to decompress after a long night of driving and water practice, but quickly turned into several hours of games in the water to celebrate the warm weather. Not too much happened when we finally got to the hotel around 3PM, I took a well deserved shower and nap before heading to dinner with the rest of my team around 6. Once dinner was over we returned to our hotel for some very well deserved rest before our practice tomorrow!

Posted on Permanent link for GVSU Rowing Team kicks off spring break by unveiling a new men's 8+ named after former GVSU Head Coach, John Bancheri on March 3, 2024.

Permanent link for Grand Valley State University Wrestling Club Dominates Rivals in Spectacular Showdown at Home on February 26, 2024

In a clash that shook the rafters of the Jim Scott Wrestling Room in Allendale, Michigan, the Grand Valley State University Wrestling Club (GVSUWC) delivered a breathtaking display of dominance against their rivals from Western Michigan University. As the regular season drew to a close, these titans of the mat left nothing to chance, showcasing their grit, determination, and sheer talent in a spectacle that had fans on the edge of their seats.

From the opening bell, it was clear that GVSUWC meant business. Zach Koenig set the tone with a lightning-fast victory over Western Michigan's Luke Martin in the 125-pound championship round, igniting the crowd. Jake Aldi followed suit with a thunderous pin of Connor Steensma in just over a minute, sending shockwaves through the arena.

Under the guidance of Coach Ryan Lancaster, the GVSUWC executed their game plan flawlessly. "The wrestlers put on a great show for the fans tonight," Lancaster remarked with pride. "They left it all on the mat and showed why they're a force to be reckoned with." The intensity only grew as the matches unfolded.

Jack Sherman dominated the 157-pound division with technical fall victories against tough opponents, while Ellery Smith and Jeff Anderson secured hard-fought wins in their respective weight classes. Anthony Coleman displayed sheer dominance with a textbook technical fall victory and a lightning-quick pin, asserting GVSUWC's superiority.

Even in the face of Western Michigan's resilience, Grand Valley's Brandyn Khnanisho stood firm in the 235-pound category, securing victory and sealing GVSUWC's triumph. The Jim Scott Wrestling Room erupted in a symphony of cheers and applause as the final match concluded, signaling a resounding victory for GVSUWC.

Looking ahead to the postseason, Coach Lancaster expressed confidence in his team's abilities. "Tonight was a statement for our team. We're ready to carry this momentum into the postseason and show the world what we're made of." With their sights set on the Great Lakes Conference Championships at Bellarmine University in Kentucky, the GVSUWC is poised to leave an indelible mark on the wrestling world.

As they prepare to face their next challenges, one thing is clear: the Grand Valley State University Wrestling Club is a force to be reckoned with, and they're ready to conquer whatever comes their way.

Posted on Permanent link for Grand Valley State University Wrestling Club Dominates Rivals in Spectacular Showdown at Home on February 26, 2024.

Permanent link for Dominance on the Mats: GVSU Wrestling Shines at Akron Last Chance Scramble on February 19, 2024

The Grand Valley State University Wrestling Club made waves at the Akron Last Chance Scramble held on Saturday, February 17, displaying their prowess and leaving a lasting mark on the mats with remarkable performances. With a combination of skill, determination, and grit, the GVSU wrestlers showcased their dominance in various weight classes, earning victories and accolades throughout the tournament.

In the 123-pound weight class, Isobel Wharff, ranked 19th, faced a tough challenge in her opener against Slippery Rock University's Ava Nelson, ranked 4th. Despite falling short in the first round, Wharff bounced back with resilience, securing a decisive victory over Katherine Hilling from Duquesne University. Her determination and perseverance were evident as she showcased her prowess on the mat.

Maria Potrero, ranked 20th and representing GVSUWC in the 143-pound weight class, delivered a commanding performance, clinching victories in both of her matches. Potrero's technical finesse and unwavering focus propelled her to outmaneuver opponents from Duquesne University and Slippery Rock University, solidifying her position as a formidable contender in her division.

Zach Koenig, competing in the 125-pound weight class, proved to be a force to be reckoned with as he dominated his opponents from the University of Michigan with three consecutive wins. Koenig's aggressive style and superior skill set him apart on the mat, showcasing his potential as a standout wrestler for GVSUWC.

Jack Sherman, ranked fifth in the 157-pound weight class, demonstrated his mettle with back-to-back victories, showcasing strategic prowess and precise execution in his matches against opponents from Ohio State University and the University of Toledo. Sherman's impressive performance highlighted his capabilities as a top contender in his division.

In the 165-pound weight class, Ellery Smith exhibited unwavering determination and resilience despite facing formidable adversaries throughout the tournament. Though Smith encountered setbacks, his grit and sportsmanship were commendable, earning him recognition for his efforts on the mat.

Jeff Anderson represented GVSUWC in the 197-pound weight class and delivered standout performances, securing victories in both matches. Anderson's technical finesse and unwavering focus propelled him to triumph over opponents from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Akron, solidifying his position as a key player for the GVSU wrestling team.

Head coach Ryan Lancaster expressed pride in the team's performance, emphasizing their commitment to excellence and the anchored philosophy of maximizing bonus points in every match. The team's stellar performances not only earned victories but also made a statement, showcasing their talent and dedication to the sport.

Overall, the GVSU Wrestling Club's exceptional showing at the Akron Last Chance Scramble underscored their status as formidable contenders on the wrestling circuit. Their impressive performances brought pride and glory to Grand Valley State University, leaving an indelible impression on the competition and setting the stage for future success on the mats.

Posted on Permanent link for Dominance on the Mats: GVSU Wrestling Shines at Akron Last Chance Scramble on February 19, 2024.

Permanent link for GVSU Men's Club Volleyball Wins the 2023 Chip Classic on November 28, 2023

On November 18th, 2023, The GVSU Men's Club Volleyball team traveled to Central Michigan University to participate in the Chip Classic. Both A and B teams competed in this tournament, both playing exceptionally great.

A team: Took home the 2023 Chip Classic Championship with a win over CMU's A team 2-0.

B team: Made it to Gold Bracket after a great round of pool play, losing a hard fought match to the runner up, CMU A team in the first round.

With B teams loss, A team had their teams back and defeated CMU's A team to win it all.

We got to ask some of the players some questions, which you can check out down below!

How did you mentally and physically prepare for the tournament?

"We mentally and physically prepared for the tournament by being consistent in practices and communicating with our coaches. It is very easy to get comfortable in practice, doing the same thing, the same routines, the same drills. Our coaches have been a vital part in asking us what we want to work on, watching our film, coming to practice prepared with different plans that help incorporate a number of skills. I think this structure has led us to improving our game immensely as well as allowing us to be comfortable in chaos. There were chaotic moments throughout the tournament but we were prepared which helped us win the tournament." - Paden Rousseau

How did you work with your team to win the tournament?

"We just made sure to communicate throughout the tournament verbally on and off the court during timeouts, between and between games. We were prepared for everything and communicating that showed." - Jacob Fiandalo

What were your guys' best strengths in the tournament?

"Our best strengths this tournament had to be our team chemistry and our ability to rally with each other. As most of our team are returners, we've had a lot of experience playing together. Our three freshman this year have also been able to fit in perfectly with the team dynamic. When any of us made a big play the rest of the team was there celebrating the moment, and when we weren't playing well our teammates were there to pick our heads up and get us back in the game. We were able to string together great runs during the games and keep positive attitudes which let us win the tournament." - Mack Tyrell

Any thoughts on your performance specifically?

"We all played well. Our hitters put balls away, blockers blocked, there was good defense, just overall a solid day. Not really any moments of worry and if there was, we cleaned it up pretty quick. Our serve receive was for the most part consistent and cover defense helped us get points off the second opportunity." - Easton Upton

What do you look forward to after the conclusion of the Chip Classic?

"After the conclusion of the Chip Classic, I look forward to growing and touching on the little things. We are not too busy the rest of the second semester in terms of tournaments and games, which gives us a lot of time to work on small things. This includes things like hitter setter connections, passing technique, and repetitive style drills. It is oftentimes something we don't get time to work on when the season schedule is busy, but it helps immensely. We also have some time off for Thanksgiving as well as opportunities to do team bonding events. I think it is important to go into the second semester rested and in good mental health too. Second semester gets busy and it is when our conference play starts. We have more tournaments and games and i think winning the Chip Classic and going into a more laid back period gives us more incentive to work harder and want to win more." - Paden Rousseau

It sounds like the men are very excited to get back to work after the Chip Classic Championship win and look forward to improving along the way. The team has done a great job this season, winning their games and staying active within the GVSU community. If you would like any more information about the Men's Club Volleyball team, visit their Instagram page (@gvmensvb) or contact GVSU Club Sports through our Instagram as well (@gvsuclubsports).

Posted on Permanent link for GVSU Men's Club Volleyball Wins the 2023 Chip Classic on November 28, 2023.

Permanent link for Women's Club Soccer Finishes Regionals and Looks Forward to Nationals on November 8, 2023

On the weekend of October 28-29th, the GVSU Women's Club Soccer team traveled to Lansing, Michigan to play in the Regionals Tournament. The women drew against Wisconsin 0-0 and drew against Purdue 1-1. Pool play ended up being draws all across the board as Purdue and Wisconsin drew 2-2. Because of this, semi-final advancement was determined by goal differential. Purdue scored the most goals in the pool, therefore they moved onto the semi-finals on the weekend.

Though the Lakers didn't finish as they wanted, their hard fought effort did not go unnoticed from coaches and fans!

The women's team coming off of a strong effort now look forward to Nationals. The team will fly out to Round Rock, Texas on November 15th and will hold one practice that night to get acquainted with the fields. The schedule of their games has not been released yet, but pool play is always 2 games on Thursday, November 16th, one being early in the morning and one in the afternoon. Then, the team will play one game on Friday, November 17th. These are guaranteed games to play in. If the women win their pool, whether that be by winning all 3 games, goal differential, etc., they move onto the knockout stages where they will have another game that Friday. They will continue to have games through Sunday unless they lose before then.

We got to ask some of the women questions regarding their performance at Regionals and looking forward to traveling to Nationals.

What did you think about your performance at regionals?

"I think it was better than previous years but still not adequate to win. We have been struggling to execute goals and therefore we ended with two ties one being scoreless. We have the talent but we just need to play our skill level. Not moving on based on goal differential is a big bummer." - McKenna Chestolowski, Senior, Center Mid/Forward

What are some things you know you need to work on after regionals?

"After regionals, we were disappointed not moving on further, but it gave us an opportunity to reflect and discuss what we need to improve on to get the results we want.  First, we weren't as successful building out of the back to the final third so in our practices on November 1st and 2nd our assistant coach, Alex Pastor had us running drills focused on that.  Second, our first touches were lackluster and led to constant turnaways to our opponent, so getting that technique down has been vital for us. Finally, executing in the final third and putting our shots on frame was another thing we knew we needed to work on because the better team doesn't always win, it simply is the team that scores more goals." - Nicole Miller, Junior, Center Mid

What are you guys doing as a team to prepare for nationals?

"We are preparing for nationals by conditioning lots, continuing to advance our team chemistry, and creating good offensive opportunities." - Liberty Bleicher, Senior, Center Back

What are you most looking forward to as nationals approaches?

"We are most looking forward to playing against competitive teams and showcasing our skills and talent in the national tournament." - Sophie Stevens, Junior, Forward

What is an attribute that sets this team apart from the others?

"Something that sets our team apart is our diverse personalities and the way we harmonize on and off the field. We are a family with a shared passion. We push each other to be our best, but we also know how to celebrate our victories, no matter how small, and provide support when things don’t go as planned. We also genuinely have fun together and enjoy each other’s company." - Clara North, Senior, Center Mid

Categories: Women's Soccer
Posted on Permanent link for Women's Club Soccer Finishes Regionals and Looks Forward to Nationals on November 8, 2023.

Permanent link for Men's Club Rugby Looking Forward to Playoffs on November 6, 2023

On Saturday, November 11th, the GVSU Men's Rugby Club will be hosting the play-in game that would see them advance to the round of 16 in the NCR D2 playoffs in Knoxville, Tennessee on the 17th. Their opponent on Saturday will be the loser of the Allegheny conference championship, which will either be #3 ranked IUP or #20 Miami of Ohio, who beat the GVSU Men's Rugby Club in the playoffs last season.

The team is excited for the opportunity to compete at a national level and has been preparing all season for this moment. They have been battle tested with a tough 9 game schedule in the regular season with tough matches against D1 opponents like Purdue, Notre Dame, and Trine. Additionally, they swept the great lakes conference for the second year in a row, securing back-to-back conference titles. It's time to be excited about rugby at GVSU. The team can't wait for everyone to pack the stands at recreation outdoor field 1 for the home playoff match!

We got some players to share some of their thoughts as well.

Reinhardt Stipp: "We're not just chasing victory; we're forging a legacy of determination and teamwork - this is where champions are made".

Josiah Purdue: "I'm just excited to have the opportunity to get a potential rematch against Miami Ohio who knocked us out last year".

Joshua Jehnkins: "I hate losing more than I love to win". 

Categories: Rugby
Posted on Permanent link for Men's Club Rugby Looking Forward to Playoffs on November 6, 2023.

Permanent link for GVSU's Club PomPon Team Earns 2023 Collegiate High Kick Runner Up on November 6, 2023

On Sunday, November 5th, the GVSU Club PomPon team finished the MAPP Hip Hop and High Kick Championships in 2nd place for the first time 10 years!

The PomPon team stated that "our Poison Ivy routine challenged us physically, creatively, and mentally, but we could not be more thrilled with how it turned out. We would like to give a special shoutout to Coach Kikki for coming back to help us create and refine this routine. We truly could not have accomplished this without you, and we are so thankful for all of your help!"

Congratulations to the PomPon team!

Categories: PomPon
Posted on Permanent link for GVSU's Club PomPon Team Earns 2023 Collegiate High Kick Runner Up on November 6, 2023.