While the Grand Valley State University swimming and diving programs leapt into their season this past weekend, Friday night’s match against a Division I oppenent in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee proved to be a challenging season-opener — and that’s just what head coach Andy Boyce wanted.

“Scheduling Milwaukee early into the season will really push us,” Boyce said. “Their a tough team that is going to test us right from the beginning.”

The meet was the first competition in a GVSU uniform for many athletes, and the opener provided a time for the underclassmen to prove what they can bring to the table.

“Friday’s meet gave a lot of our kids good experience,” Boyce said. “This will give them somewhat of a feel of how the rest of the season will go.”

The Lakers men’s team fell to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 153-89, and the GVSU women’s team also fell, 142-100.

On Saturday, the Lakers men and women’s programs kicked off GLIAC play with wins against conference foes Lewis University and Hillsdale College.

“It was nice to get started off on a good note in GLIAC competition,” said junior Katie Vulpetti. “We were faced with good competition right from the start, and we performed to our expectations that we have early in this season.”

If Friday’s opener was a time for some of the younger athletes to gain competition experience, Saturday showed fellow GLIAC teams what that competition would be like this season.

“Our openers were a great time for the younger guys to get experience and calm their nerves,” Vulpetti said. “Saturday, beginning GLIAC competition is more mental. More focus goes into it and less room for error as well.”

Milan Medo was key to success for the men’s team, bringing in big points in the 200-yard breaststroke.

“It’s good to see Medo get off to a good start,” Boyce said. “He, with many other people, is a big key to our success.”

After this weekend the Lakers will have more of a feel of what they need to do as they prepare for the upcoming GLIAC season.

“Fine tuning, hard training, and just pushing our body’s to the next level,” Boyce said. “If we work on those particular areas, we are going to continue to improve not only as individuals, but as a team as well.”

The Lakers men’s and women’s season continues when they jump back into the pool this Friday at Calvin College at 5 p.m.

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