Last Saturday was the last regular season dual meet for the Grand Valley State swimming and diving teams – and the final chance for GVSU’s swimmers to compete in Allendale.

For the team’s eight seniors – Sven Kardol, Milan Medo, Nate Stoller, Emily Eaton, Lauren Foor, Sarah Roeser, Olivia Schultz and Erika Tribuzi – it was the last time they’d compete in the GVSU pool.

“It’s hard to pick a favorite memory; I love when we come together at meets and just get excited for each other,” Roeser said. “Some of the best times are when we cheer for each other at a tough meet or motivate each other at a hard practice. We all go through the same things, so we can laugh about it and enjoy ourselves even when it gets tough.”

Roeser said this team is really special, and she is grateful to spend her time on one of the best teams in Division II.

Kardol said some of his favorite memories are from the training trips down to Florida over winter break.

“The whole team is together and doing the same stuff,” Kardol said. “It’s nice to be together and not having to worry about school for a week and just focus on swimming.”

Kardol (Nuenen, Netherlands) said he was a “stranger” when he first started at GVSU, but, within days of joining the team, he made more than 60 friends.

“Our team is really close and welcoming,” he said. “We come together to do the sport we love while we are studying to succeed later in life.”

Schultz, also a senior, agreed with Kardol about the trips to Florida being one of her favorite memories.

“When you spend over five hours on a bus with your teammates, you become very close,” Schultz said. “I’ve had a lot of fun these past four years and have gotten the opportunity to travel to many places that without swimming I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Schultz said she is honored and privileged to have represented GVSU.

“We have one of the greatest Division II athletic programs in the nation, and to be able to compete on one of those teams is something to be very proud of,” she said.

Schultz said she has made bonds with more people over the past four years that she expects will last a lifetime.

“Having such supportive teammates is what gets me through practice every day and all of our meets,” she said.

Tribuzi said some of her favorite memories come from average days spent with the team.

“Whether it was eating dinner at Fresh with the team, or being on the bus to away meets or Florida – we always found a way to make the simple activities enjoyable and fun,” she said.

Tribuzi said she is not only thankful to have competed in a highly competitive conference, but also to have a chance to focus on her studies.

“Coach Boyce has pushed me and allowed me to achieve more than I thought I could in meets and practice,” she said. “I think the physical and mental challenges that come with swimming at the collegiate level will stay with me for the rest of my life and push me to achieve more and become a better person.”

The Lakers can make even more memories at the GLIAC Championships, which take place at the Jenison Aquatics Center from Feb. 11-14.