More than three-quarters of the target goal has been raised, but
additional funding is required to support the department’s mission of
building teams ready to compete for conference and national championships.
“The rich and successful tradition we enjoyed with men’s wrestling,
coupled with the new growth of the sport make for an exciting
opportunity to expand our varsity lineup of sports,” said Director of
Athletics Keri Becker.
The fundraising effort will help with the recruitment and retention
of a top-level coaching staff, create and provide a competitive
environment to recruit top student athletes, support an athletic
training staff with expertise in wrestling and fund necessary equipment.
“Intercollegiate athletics at GVSU seeks to enhance the educational
experience beyond the classroom,” said Becker.
“Bringing men’s wrestling back and adding women’s wrestling will
attract quality prospective students, who will help continue to build
the brand of championship excellence.”
The Lakers’ first stint as a varsity program began with the 1967-68 season.
Over the next 26 seasons, the program achieved national recognition
competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA) then at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Division II level.
Grand Valley won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(GLIAC) championship five times and finished runner-up 10 times. On
the national level, the Lakers finished runner-up twice and in fourth
place three times at the NAIA national tournament
In its 26-season span, more than 50 Lakers were named All-Americans,
including Harris, who was a two-time NAIA All-American and a 1988
inductee into the Lakers Hall of Fame.
To learn more and help support the programs, visit gvsu.edu/giving/wrestling or call (616) 331-6000.
