More than 3,000 people packed into the Laker Turf Building Thursday to celebrate the opening of the 2010 athletic season with the university’s second annual FanFest.

Hosted by the GVSU athletics department and presented by 48 West Apartments, the students and area residents on hand were able to interact with the members of the football and volleyball squads.

“I think this event is awesome,” said junior Annie Laurie Medonis. “It’s a great way to meet the players and the coaches. I had a lot of fun.”

Attendees were able to participate in several drills that the student-athletes regularly undergo. Each drill had student-athletes available to demonstrate and assist the participants.

Several student-athletes joined together at roundtable sessions, signing autographs and becoming better acquainted with their fans on a more personal level.

“FanFest really creates the perspective that the student-athletes are talkative and easy to get to know,” Medonis said as she waited in line for signatures.

The night marked the first time students were able to pick up their free tickets to Thursday’s home football opener against West Texas A&M. According to the GVSU athletics department, more than 1,500 student tickets were picked up in the first 45 minutes of FanFest, an increase from the total of 1,200 picked up at last year’s event.

GVSU head volleyball coach Deanne Scanlon turned out with several of her student-athletes as well, commemorating the first FanFest to feature another sports team alongside the football players.

“The turnout was so good last year, and I had asked about doing it last year,” Scanlon said. “I thought it would be a great event that our girls would be excited to participate in.”

Scanlon said she was looking for new ways to promote the Laker Strikers and is especially interested in targeting GVSU’s new first-year students.

“I’m not sure that everyone on campus knows we have a volleyball team, so we’re out here meeting people and connecting with them,” Scanlon said. “The girls being out here will hopefully translate into these new freshmen coming to our matches. We want to create that connection, rather than just handing out a schedule and hoping they’ll show up.”

Students were not the only attendees. Several young families came out, bringing even the youngest GVSU fans to partake in the evening’s events. Aaron Haight, the assistant director of the Office of Student Life at GVSU, went with her son Jacek, 4, to the occasion.

“FanFest was a great experience for him,” Haight said. “For someone who’s 4 years old to see the athletes, it’s a really good feeling for everyone. They were very welcoming and wanted him to have a good time. It was a wonderful experience.”

Haight echoed many fans’ sentiments, adding that the amiable nature of the student-athletes made for a very enjoyable experience for all.

“We will definitely be back next year,” Haight said. “It was a really good experience. Next year, I am bringing my youngest, too. They have fun wearing their jerseys and meeting all of the players.”

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