GVSU Quick Hits 

By Lanthorn Sports ([email protected])

GVSU Softball ranks No. 16 in NFCA DII Preseason Coaches Poll

The Grand Valley State softball team was recently ranked No. 16 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Preseason Poll. Defending national champion Southern Indiana was the unanimous No. 1 selection.

The Lakers posted one of the top seasons in program history last season, finishing the year 44-9 overall and 24-2 in GLIAC play, earning the regular season and postseason tournament crowns.

Fifth-year head coach Dana Callihan, who has posted a 152-57 record at GVSU, returns 13 letterwinners and eight starters from last season’s squad that includes four All-GLIAC performers, two All-Region honorees and one All-American.

The Lakers open their season on Friday, Feb. 22, where they’ll travel to Rosemont, Ill. to play Lindenwood at 12 p.m. and Winona State at 4:30 p.m.

GVSU’S Mikayla Karasek named GLIAC Diver of the Week

Announced by the league office on Friday, Feb. 1, Grand Valley State junior Mikayla Karasek has been named the GLIAC Diver of the Week.

Karasek, a four-time NCAA DII All-American and defending GLIAC Champion on the 1-meter board, capturing a pair of first-place finishes and hit the 2019 automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA DII Championships at the 2019 Grand Valley State invitational.

Karasek tallied a 11-dive score of 460.95 on the  1-meter board to claim top honors, while her 467.05 11-dive score on the 3-meter board also resulted in a first-place finish.

GVSU will next be in action Feb. 20-23 at the GLIAC Championships in Cleveland, Ohio.

Track & Field’s Tiara Wiggins named GVSU student-athlete of the week 

Earlier this week, track & field athlete Tiara Wiggins was named GVSU’s student athlete of the week.

A senior competing in sprints and hurdles, Wiggins was named All-Region in the USTFCCCA in the indoor 60M hurdles and the outdoor 100M hurdles. She also earned GLIAC honors with a second place finish in the 100m hurdles during the GLIAC Outdoor Championships.

Wiggins also earned GLIAC Honors with a third place finish in the 60M hurdles at the GLIAC Indoor Championships last season, also setting a PR in the 60M hurdles (8.65) during the GVSU Open and posting a season best in the 100M hurdles (13.83) at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships.

Wiggins and the men’s and women’s track & field teams will compete again at the GVSU Big Meet, which will take place all day this Friday and Saturday at the Kelly Family Sports Center.

VARSITY SCHEDULE

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Home, Thursday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m., Purdue-Northwest

Home, Saturday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m., Wisconsin-Parkside

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Home, Thursday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m., Purdue-Northwest

Home, Saturday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m., Wisconsin-Parkside

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Home, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9, All Day, Kelly Family Sports Center