GV cross country prepares for championship repeat

The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s cross country teams will head to Calvin College to compete in the Knight Invitational Saturday, Sept. 10 to commence their 2022 season.

In the 2021 season both men’s and women’s programs were able to crown themselves as GLIAC Conference Champions, NCAA DII Midwest Regional Champions, and the men’s team was able to finish in first place for the NCAA National Championship, while the women’s team fell just short of securing the national championship themselves with a second place finish. 

Eager to continue what seemed to be an insurmountable measure of success, the men’s and women’s teams were also announced as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II Program of the Year during this past off-season.

Two Lakers, Hannah Becker, Isaac Harding, were also named GLIAC Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The award recognizes student-athletes throughout the course of an academic year for their hard work in the classroom and on the field. 

The Knight Invitational is scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. on Sept. 10.

GV tennis teams to face off against conference rivals at Davenport Invitational

Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s tennis teams are set to compete against Davenport University this upcoming weekend in a two-day invitational.

Both Lakers programs found success throughout the 2021-22 regular season, as the women’s team finished at the top of the GLIAC standings, had a 15-7 overall record (7-1 in conference) and were undefeated at home with an 8-0 record.

However, the Lakers were unable to continue the same level of play in the postseason, falling to Wayne State University 2-4 in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals and losing to the Southwest Baptist Bearcats 2-4 in the NCAA Regionals.

The men’s program was more or less much of the same, as the Lakers finished their regular season 17-6 overall, maintained a 5-2 conference record and were very successful at home with an 8-1 record.

Although the men’s team was able to advance to the GLIAC Tournament finals, the team would ultimately fall to Wayne State University as well in a 1-4 finish. Hoping to shake off the conference title and focus on the NCAA Regionals, the Lakers faced Wayne State once more in the second round of regionals but this time were swept in a 0-4 loss. 

The Davenport Invitational is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Sept. 9.