Varsity, club teams excel on national level

Grand Valley varsity and club athletic teams compiled another championship season, bringing home national titles, NCAA individual titles and the GLIAC’s President’s Cup for the 30th time.

The women's cross country team claimed their seventh NCAA Division II national championship, dominating the field at the national meet in Joplin, Missouri. The Lakers finished with four of their seven runners in the top-15.

Seniors Natlie Graber and Klaudia O'Malley had the squad's top performances with Graber placing third in a personal best time of 19:50.3 and O'Malley taking eighth with her personal best of 20:07.6.

The men’s and women’s track and field teams had several student athletes excel on the national stage this season. The men’s track and field team finished as the national runner-up at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in March. Myles Kerner (shot put), Jaivon Harrison (high jump) and Caleb Futter (mile) won individual national titles at the meet while Jonathan Rankins-James (high jump) placed as runner-up behind Harrison.

On the women’s side, Erika Beistle placed first in the shot put while the distance medley relay team of Maria Mitchell, Kate Zang, Taryn Chapko and Klaudia O’Malley finished as national runner-up at the meet.

Beistle, Kerner and Harrison continued their dominance by placing first at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May. Beistle won national titles in shot put and discus, Kerner earned his in the shot put and Harrison won the high jump event.

After a 32-year hiatus, the wrestling team claimed its first individual national champion. Josh Kenny, the No. 4 seed in the 174-pound division , defeated Anthony Des Vigne of Central Oklahoma to become GVSU’s first national champion since 1988. Kenny finished his season with a 32-5 record. 

At the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships, Maddie Kooistra won the national title for her performance in the 1-meter springboard event.

At the club level, Grand Valley was represented by four teams at the national level. The Grand Valley Dance and Cheer teams earned several national titles at the College Classic National Championships . 

The Laker Dance Team brought home three national titles — Division II Jazz Champions, Division II Hip Hop Champions and Super Spirit Showdown Champions — while the Laker Cheer Team claimed several as well — Super Spirit Showdown Champions (a collaboration with the dance team), All Girl Cheer Division, Small Co-ed Cheer division and Pyramid Battle winners.

The top-seeded women’s basketball team finished as runner-up at the National Club Basketball Association national tournament. No. 3 Boston College upended the Lakers in the title game, 67-62.  

The men’s Division 3 hockey club also finished as national runner-up after Lawrence Tech edged the Lakers, 4-2, in the American College Hockey Association Division 3 national championship game.

For their overall performance in the GLIAC, Lakers teams captured their 25th consecutive GLIAC President’s Cup , awarded to the athletic program in the conference that displays general excellence. It’s the 30th President’s Cup awarded to the Lakers in school history. 

Grand Valley women won GLIAC championships in cross country, volleyball, indoor track & field, basketball, swimming & diving, lacrosse, softball, golf and outdoor track & field. Grand Valley men won GLIAC championships in football, cross country, swimming & diving, indoor track & field, golf, baseball and outdoor track & field.