Four GVSU soccer players earn All-Region honors

Did you think the awards were going to stop coming in for this year’s Grand Valley State women’s soccer team? Think again. 

Four members of this year’s team dominated to the point that they were recently recognized with first team United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors in the Midwest Region. Three seniors were included in the nomination, including defenders Dani Johnson and Shannon Quinn, along with offensive powerhouse and Player of the Year nominee Gabriella Mencotti. Rounding out the list of honorees is freshman forward Ava Cook.

Johnson and Mencotti each won GLIAC Players of the Year, with Johnson earning GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year and Mencotti taking the Offensive Player of the Year honor. Mencotti led the nation for the second year in a row, totaling a staggering 30 goals, compared to last year’s 29. 

Quinn started all of GVSU’s 24 matches at the center back position as one of the many anchors of the team’s defensive back field. That effort wasn’t forgotten, as she has also been awarded first team All-GLIAC and D2CCA Midwest Region honors.

As the only freshman to earn first team honors, Cook, the GLIAC Freshman of the Year, led the GLIAC and midwest region with 11 assists, along with 13 goals. 

GVSU rifle club competes in Kentucky

The year-long grind hasn’t stop for the Grand Valley State rifle club, which headed to Morehead State in Morehead, Kentucky, to compete in the Eagle Open on Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 19. 

By the end of the competition, the Lakers had placed fifth overall as a team. In the smallbore match, the Lakers finished with a team score of 2,066 (out of 2,400), which was a season high for GVSU. The Lakers set another team record in the air rifle team competition, scoring 2,196 (out of 2,400).

Paving the way for GVSU in the smallbore category was Joseph Lentine, who tied a personal best score of 527 (out of 600). Ethan Potts also scored a personal best for the Lakers with a score of 516.

In the air rifle competition, junior Christian Yap shot a personal best score of 559 (out of 600), while Alexander Straith shot a 555.

The rifle club will compete next at the November Postal Match (air rifle/smallbore) on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Eight GVSU cross-country runners earn All-American honors

After both the men’s and women’s teams competed in the NCAA Division II National Championship Race, eight members of the Grand Valley State cross-country program were awarded with U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-American honors for this fall’s cross-country season.

The men’s team had five members earn All-American honors after all five of their scorers in the National Championship finished in the top 34 spots. Recipients from the men’s side included junior Zach Panning (finished runner-up), freshman Enael Woldemichael (finished sixth), and seniors Wuoi Mach (finished 11th) and Brady Selner (finished 26th). Rounding up the All-Americans was freshman Abe Visser, who finished 34th overall.

The women’s team came out with three total All-American recipients, including senior Kelly Haubert (finished sixth), sophomore Allie Ludge (finished 34th) and Gina Patterson (finished 39th). This was Haubert’s and Patterson’s second time receiving All-American status.