Remembering former Lanthorn Editor-in-Chief Brady McAtamney
Over the summer, Grand Valley State University, the Lanthorn and anyone who knew Brayden “Brady” McAtamney lost a remarkable individual. The former student and Lanthorn staffer passed away in his sleep June 23 at the age of 28.
Growing up in Troy, Michigan, McAtamney attended the University as a freshman in 2015, though he was not initially accepted. McAtamney displayed his tenacious personality by writing a compelling letter that convinced Admissions to accept him. Graduating in April 2019 and receiving a degree in multimedia journalism, McAtamney contributed to the GVSU community and journalism on campus. During his time at the University, he joined the Lanthorn, first as a sports writer, later becoming sports editor and editor-in-chief for the 2018-2019 academic year.
Click here to read more from Staff Writer Justin Stulpe about Brayden “Brady” McAtamney.
GV football displays dominance against Lincoln in 45-9 opener
The No. 3 Grand Valley State University football team took on Lincoln University Saturday, Aug. 30 in an opening matchup at Lubbers Stadium, where the Lakers dominated their way to a 45-9 victory.
Ranked third in the nation, this is the Lakers’ 54th season, and was their first time playing the Lincoln Lions. During GVSU’s last season, head coach Scott Wooster led the Lakers to an 11-2 record and a trip to the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II playoffs. Coming into this season with a revamped team, the Lakers look to build off past successes– starting on the first drive.
On the first drive, junior defensive back Josh Anderson intercepted a pass for the Lakers, shifting momentum early. With GVSU on offense, junior wide receiver Lynn Wyche-El opened up scoring with an 11-yard touchdown pass from redshirt-freshman quarterback Andrew Schuster, putting the Lakers up 7-0 with 10:18 to go in the first quarter.
The Lakers’ defense continued to show dominance, forcing the Lions to punt on their second drive. With the ball back in Schuster’s hand, he completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Kellen Reed, giving the Lakers a 14-0 lead with 6:41 left in the first quarter.
Click here to read more from Staff Writer James Herold on the GVSU football season opener.
Student-athletes maximize monetization, personal branding with NIL
Four years ago, the collegiate-athlete scene shifted completely when the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) legalized players making money based of their name, image and likeness (NIL). This was a substantial change that mainly affected Division I, but has left a butterfly effect that now impacts Grand Valley State University at the Division II level.
During the 2021 trial run of NIL, both Division I and II athletes received compensation from businesses to promote their product or service with no financial limit. Student-athletes also became eligible to sign autographs and appear at business events for compensation, while also becoming able to hire an agent to assist with NIL activities.
Since it is illegal for schools to directly pay student-athletes at the Division II level, GVSU athletes have turned to third-party websites like Opendorse and Influxer to expand their outreach. Opendorse is a website that allows student-athletes to get compensated for custom videos, social media shoutouts, and meet-and-greets. Influxer, which has a partnership with GVSU, helps student-athletes sell personalized merchandise like clothing, bags, chains and garden flags. These websites have been crucial for athletes who want to grow their brand at the Division II level.
Click here to read more from Staff Writer Pierson VanGorp on NIL in Division II.
GV Athletics welcomes 2025 Hall of Fame class
In early June, Grand Valley State University Athletics announced seven new members would be joining the University’s Hall of Fame as the 2025 class.
Following a detailed review process, the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors evaluated nominations for induction. Using specific guidelines and bylaws to narrow the field, the committee finalized the list of candidates and submitted names to University President Philomena Mantella for approval.
The chosen individuals represent more than just athletic excellence; what they have in common is their leadership, perseverance and a lasting dedication to GVSU.
The new members will be welcomed this fall at the University’s Raleigh J. Finkelstein Athletic Village for the 44th annual Charles H. Irwin Hall of Fame Reception and Induction Ceremony. They will be honored Friday, Oct. 17 for their achievements and the impact they’ve made on the field, in the pool, on the track, on the court and GVSU as a whole.
Click here to read more from Staff Writer Luke Shrake on the Athletic Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.
Men’s golf starts season strong at Folds of Honor Collegiate
The Grand Valley State University men’s golf team began its season with a trip to American Dunes Golf Club for the Folds of Honor Collegiate Sept. 15. The Lakers finished ninth overall in the three-day tournament, shooting a collective 20 over par.
American Dunes, located in Grand Haven, is known to be a tough course to post low scores, which can force golfers to play the course much differently than many others. The Folds of Honor Collegiate is one of the biggest Division I events of the year, and the Lakers’ placement marks their highest finish in the four years they’ve participated.
Competing against numerous Division I schools, GVSU was led in score by senior Manuel Cue Vargas, who finished tied for 11th, with seniors Bryce Wheeler and Charley Cooley, along with Conaway, all ending tied for 28th.
Cue tallied a final round of 73 (+2) with five birdies, and Wheeler shot a 73, as well, with four birdies of his own. Both Conaway and Cooley finished with a 75, with Conaway tallying an eagle and a birdie in the final round of play.
Click here to read more from Staff Writer Justin Stulpe on the men’s golf outing at the Folds of Honor Collegiate.
Women’s soccer defeats Ashland, Cedarville in season start
In a new era under head coach Katelyn Longino, the No. 5 Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team (2-0) started strong, winning 1-0 in a top-20 away matchup Sept. 4 against No. 16 Ashland University (1-1). The game was followed by a 3-2 away victory over Cedarville University (1-1) two days later.
Longino, a former associate head coach for the University of Iowa, was ecstatic to coach her first regular-season game with the Lakers.
“This first game as a head coach is really special,” Longino said. “It’s the culmination of all the work our staff and players have put in from day one. It’s not just about the result, but about the process and how we compete together, trust one another and start to build our identity as a program.”
In the season opener against the Eagles, it was a slow start for both teams offensively. However, the Lakers controlled the possession for most of the first half. Junior forward Alli French got off to a strong start with two shots, including one on goal. Junior midfielder Sonya Mehta, a transfer from the University of Iowa, had a team-high two shots on-net in the first half. The Lakers’ defense dominated the first half as they allowed one shot and no shots on goal.
Click here to read more from Staff Writer Pierson VanGorp on the women’s soccer season opener.
GV football narrowly loses 38-31 shootout to Ferris
Hitting the road to Big Rapids, the No. 18 Grand Valley State University football team (4-3) faced top-ranked rival No. 1 Ferris State University (7-0) in the highly anticipated Anchor-Bone Classic. Labeled as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Game of the Week, the Bulldogs came away Oct. 25 with the 38-31 shootout victory.
Playing in front of 10,089 people, the Laker community and pep band continued to support the team, despite the previous week’s loss. Head coach Scott Wooster said that support on the road was an incredible sight heading into the game. The Lakers won the toss and deferred the ball to the second half, allowing the Bulldogs’ number one offense in Division II to take the field, beginning the biggest matchup of the year for both teams.
“We get some plus-one-run game going, some zone read going, get it right down there and don’t put points on the board,” said Wooster. “(We) marched on down the field, felt like we had it dialed up pretty good, but then red zone turnovers halted everything.”
Click here to read more from Sports Editor Brady Kemmerling on GVSU football’s near upset over Ferris State.
