The first Grand Valley State University sporting event I attended was in 2005 when our family visited my sister, who was currently attending GVSU, and we decided to take in a football game.

Just from that visit, I knew I was going to attend GVSU. I didn’t bother applying to any other places for probably the same reasons you all chose to become a Laker.

We all have taken our own unique and different paths to get to this point. Mine started with that football game and was eventually followed by three years of classes that were filled with lectures and class projects. I also managed to cover every sport at GVSU from football to equestrian, and to top it all off, I experienced my own run in with the Ottawa County Police and a visit with Judge Kenneth Post.

This will be my third year at the Lanthorn, and my second semester as sports editor. I won’t lie to you, the fact that GVSU has strong athletic programs from top to bottom makes doing this job a lot more fun. Losing is no fun and can be depressing, and as a Cubs fan, I have to deal with losing enough as it is.

Football might be the more popular fall sport around here, but that doesn’t mean GVSU doesn’t have any other sports that aren’t worth your time.

The women’s soccer team enters this season with the No. 2 preseason ranking and has been a model of consistency over the years as it aims to make its fifth consecutive trip to the Final Four, while the women’s cross country team is looking to defend its national title and earn its third championships in four years.

Many of you know the football team opens up its season on Sept. 7, but it’s the women’s volleyball team who kick-starts the fall sports season for GVSU the day before the football opener. The team is coming off a runner-up finish in the Midwest Regional Tournament, but sported a young roster last season as it had only six upperclassmen.

The swim and dive, tennis and golf programs all have individuals who are some of the best in the conference, and the teams are always in contention for a GLIAC title.

However, most eyes will be on the football program this fall. It’s been three years since GVSU has seen the playoffs, and the expectations are always high at this time of the year. The only guarantee is that half of the students will leave the home games by halftime.

It’s surreal to see everything come full circle. From my first GVSU football game to now covering that very team. Saying “time flew by” is really cliché, but you realize as you enter your final semester, it couldn’t be truer.

Whether you’re a freshman nervously planning how to “play it cool” when you walk into your classes for the first time, or a senior planning the next part of your life, we’re all after the 15 second span when we hear our name announced (probably still butchered even though we wrote out the pronunciation), get our diploma and shake President Haas’s hand.

Just don’t forget to take the time and relish this part of your life. You don’t want to feel like you missed out on anything.

“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them,” Andy
Bernard explained on The Office.

We’re in the good old days, so go out and enjoy it.