GLIAC names two Lakers to Scholar-Athletes of the Year honor

Issac Harding and Hannah Becker, both runners for Grand Valley State University’s men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams, were given the GLIAC Scholar-Athletes of the Year award. 

Earned by exhibiting exceptional leadership on the courses and in the classroom throughout the 2021-22 academic year, both Harding and Becker were recognized for their efforts. The award is presented each season to one athlete from a men’s and women’s team by the GLIAC Commissioner’s Award honorees.

Becker maintained a 3.97 cumulative GPA while recently winning the individual national championship in cross country (20:22.0 – a personal record). She received the USTFCCCA National Women’s Athlete of the Year award, the Doris Brown Heritage Award and was named to All-America and All-GLIAC honors.

Harding finished his final season with the Lakers being honored with the USTFCCCA National Men’s Athlete of the Year award, the Doug Watts award, and earned first team All-America and All-GLIAC honors. He also won the individual cross country national championship with a 10k personal record time (29:25.3) while finishing second in the 3000m at the indoor championships and fourth in the 10,000m at the outdoor championships.

Both athletes were a part of the historic run by the Lakers in the previous season, as the programs went on to win the 2021 NCAA Cross Country National Championship and the 2022 NCAA Indoor Track National Championship.

GV men’s golf set to tee off fall season in Arendsen Invitational

The Grand Valley State University men’s golf team will look to open the new season with a first-place finish as they face off against GLIAC conference rivals in Allendale on Sunday, Sept. 4.

Head coach Gary Bissell was named the 2022 Division II Midwest Region Coach of the Year as the team finished 16th overall in the NCAA DII Championships.

In the 2021 season, the Lakers were able to finish the Arendsen Invitational in first place with a score of four under par. The Lakers earned two First Team All-GLIAC honors and two Second Team All-GLIAC honors while also placing within the top-three on five different occasions throughout the regular season.

Sophomore Charles DeLong will be a significant contributor to the team’s overall success as he was named the GLIAC Player of the Year, earned NCAA DII Ping All-American and All-Region honors, and won three tournaments during the 2021-22 regular season.