Seventeen Lakers earn All-GLIAC honors

After an undefeated regular season, the Grand Valley State football team was well-represented in the GLIAC regular season awards. Sophomore running back Martayveus Carter won the 2016 Offensive Back of the Year honor. On the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive end Alton Voss won the 2016 Jack McAvoy Award.

Carter led the nation in rushing with 1,590 yards and 18 touchdowns on 205 carries. His performance this season broke the GVSU record for total yards and ranked seventh all-time in the GLIAC. Along with leading the conference in rushing yards, he finished first in all-purpose yards with 1,646. He accumulated three games with 200 yards or more, a GVSU record, and tallied seven runs of 50 yards or more. He was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week three times and set a GVSU single-game rushing record with 298 yards against Northern Michigan.

On the other side of the ball, Voss ranked fourth on the team with 52 tackles and tackles for loss with 8.5 (34) and first among lineman. He is third in sacks with 4.5 and forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and deflected four passes.

Both Voss and Carter earned All-GLIAC First Team honors. Joining Carter on the offensive side was senior wide receiver Matt Williams and senior center Aaron Cox. Joining Voss on the defensive side was senior linebackers Marquez Gollman and David Talley. Senior kicker Joel Schipper also received a first-team plaudit.

Earning All-GLIAC Second Team honors were senior safety Donte Carey, senior defensive end Sydney Omameh, junior linebacker Collin Schlosser and redshirt freshman offensive guard Nate Brady.

Earning All-GLIAC Honorable Mention honors were defensive linemen Mark Rosenquist, DeOndre Hogan and Dylan Carroll, safety Garrett Pougnet, wide receiver Nick Dodson and quarterback Bart Williams.

GVSU has a league-high 17 players represented in the All-GLIAC awards.

Mencotti named D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year

The leading goal scorer for the Grand Valley State women’s soccer team and the rest of the nation Gabriella Mencotti was named the D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year. Mencotti has scored 28 goals this season as a part of the second-highest scoring offense in the nation.

Mencotti has lit up the scoreboard this season, tallying two hat tricks (four and five-goal games), eight game-winning goals and eight multi-goal games. She leads the team in points, but seven other Lakers were represented in All-Midwest teams.

All-Midwest Region First Team honorees were forwards Jayma Martin and Kendra Stauffer, midfielder Marti Corby and defenders Shannon Quinn and Clare Carlson. All-Midwest Region Second Team honorees included defender Erika Bradfield and midfielder Dani Johnson.

GVSU led all schools with eight selections, four more than the next highest school (Rockhurst). All six first-team selections are eligible for the DIICCA All-American ballot.