Carter nominated for 2016 Harlon Hill Award

Martayveus Carter, a sophomore running back for the Grand Valley State football team, was nominated for the 2016 Harlon Hill Award. The award is presented to the top player in all of Division II football.

Carter is one of 11 players to be nominated from the region, and one of 42 players nominated nationally. In GVSU program history, only five players have ever been nominated for the award. The last player to be nominated was former quarterback Brad Iciek in 2009. The only player to win the award was former GVSU quarterback Curt Anes in 2002.

As a sophomore this season, Carter has rushed for 1,807 yards and 19 touchdowns on 238 carries. He broke the single-season rushing record for GVSU (1,633), and his 7.8 yards per carry ranks first among running backs in the nation with over 200 touches. His performance this season has already earned him GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year.

Of the 42 candidates this year, there are 20 quarterbacks, eight running backs, five wide receivers, six defensive players and one offensive lineman, tight end and kicker each. The list will be narrowed down to eight players when voting closes Nov. 28. The winner will be announced Friday, Dec. 16 via webcast.

Foley and Baltes win postseason awards

Grand Valley State track and field and cross country coach Jerry Baltes and runner Kendra Foley both won awards following the NCAA Division II National Championships. Foley was named the winner of the 2016 Doris Brown Heritage Award for the top women’s runner in all of Division II. Baltes was named the winner of the 2016 Duane Vandenbusche Award for the top women’s coach in Division II.

This season, Foley became the first woman in Division II history to win individual national championships in non-consecutive years. Foley finished first in 2014 and again this season. This year, Foley beat defending 2015 champion Alexis Zeis from the University of Mary by 25 seconds.

Baltes led the Lakers to a fifth national championship in the past seven seasons this year. Four of his runners placed inside of the top 40 at the NCAA Division II National Championship to secure a 116-139 victory over Adams State. GVSU went undefeated in the regular season against DII opponents and won the GLIAC Championship.

Carlson and Mencotti named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

The Grand Valley State women’s soccer team earned two spots on the CoSIDA Academic All-American team for both players’ work on the field and in the classroom. Senior defender Clare Carlson and junior forward Mencotti both earned a spot on this year’s team.

For the second consecutive year, Carlson has been named to the First Team. The dynamic defender has helped the Lakers to a 22-1-1 record. She leads a defense that has recorded 19 shutouts and allowed only five goals this season. Carlson holds a 3.92 GPA in biomedical sciences.

Mencotti, a first time CoSIDA Academic All-American, leads the NCAA at the Division II level in goals (29) and points (69) this season. She was named the DIICCA All-Midwest Region Player of the Year for her efforts in her junior campaign. Mencotti holds a 3.73 GPA as a finance major.