The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s swim and dive teams hosted Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday, Oct. 14, and the Panthers posed a great challenge for the Lakers in the first meet of the year.

The GVSU men’s swimming and dive team won 151-92, and the Laker women fell to the Panthers 151-92.

To kick off the day for the men, the Lakers GVSU A team that consists of Harry Sholaman, Marius Mikalauskas, Liam Little and JD Ham won their 200-yard medley relay (1:34.72).

The GVSU B team of James Zetka, Tim Harris, David Nunez and Grant Borregard took third in the same event (1:38.76). Michael Hudson earned GVSU another first-place finish in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:56.38). Hudson also finished second in the 500-yard freestyle (4:49.72) and third with the GVSU B team in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:17.40).

Brien Moffett earned third in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:13.51).

Ben Walling finished second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.07), second in the 100-yard freestyle (47.57) and first with the GVSU A team in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:09.88).

Danny Abbott took the 50-yard freestyle (21.51) with JD Ham finishing third (22.04).
Grant Borregard claimed second in the 200-yard individual medley (1:57.24) and also earned second in the 200-yard butterfly (1:59.01).

Marius Mikalauskas took third in the 200-yard individual medley (1:59.00) and first place in the 200-yard breaststroke.

GVSU took first and second in both diving events with national champion Brad Dalrymple in first in both the 3-meter dive (361.95) and the 1-meter dive (318.07). Jared Gregory took second in the 3-meter (285.89) and the 1-meter dive (283.65).

As for the women’s team, the Lakers took first, second and third in their second event of the day, the 1,000-yard freestyle. Melina Goebel took first (10:32.55), Megan Shaughnessy took second (10:39.89) and Caroline Brereton claimed third (10:44.13).

Goebel also took first in the 200-yard butterfly (2:10.64) and second as part of the GVSU A team in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:37.84)

Shaughnessy also took second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:15.54), and third as part of the GVSU B team in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:39.67).

Sam Postmus ended the day after finishing third in the 400-yard freestyle relay with the GVSU B team (3:39.67), and finished third in the 500-yard freestyle (5:19.65) as well as first in the 200-yard individual medley (2:07.92).

Diving for the GVSU women was more of a struggle. Kayla Marquardt took third in the 3-meter dive (246.87) and second in the 1-meter dive (248.17). Jessie Adams took third in the 1-meter dive, also (237.97).

In the 200-yard freestyle, two-time national champion Leonie Van Noort took first (3:37.84). Van Noort also took second place as part of the GVSU A team for the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Van Noort, after coming off a spectacular junior season last year, expects nothing but the best out of herself this season.

“For myself, high expectations. I want to win nationals again this year,” Van Noort said. “It’s going to be hard though, I have some good competition really close by. I just have to keep going and make sure I’m on top of things.”

GVSU coach Andy Boyce had some words of acclamation for Van Noort’s leadership.

“She’s coming back as a national champ in two events,” Boyce said. “It’s nice to have her coming back with that experience at a national level.”

Speaking of outstanding swimmers, the men’s swim and dive team lost an outstanding swimmer last season in Gianni Ferrero. Ferrero’s name is all over the record board in the GVSU pool, and he won the second men’s individual national championship in GVSU history last season.

“We’re going to have to have some of our freshmen and sophomores step up to the challenge,” Boyce said. “We’ve got some talent with some new swimmers coming in and one new diver on the men’s side. It’s laid out for them a little bit more.”

However, returning for the men is Brad Dalrymple. He won the Division II individual national championship for the 1-meter dive (540.45) as a freshman last year, and he has his sights set on improving.

“My goal this season is to win nationals again and hopefully both boards,” Dalrymple said. “I want to see how far I can get with my diving ability and hopefully push not only myself, but also my teammates.”

Last season, the GVSU men’s team won every regular season meet. The women only dropped one, and it happened to be against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Next up, the Lakers will host the Lewis Flyers Friday, Oct. 21.