There’s almost always a key element that fuels every success story, but that isn’t the case for the women of Grand Valley State’s swimming and diving team. Instead, GVSU’s success lies in the team’s bread and butter: teamwork and perseverance.

The lady Lakers have won their last six meets up until their invitational against Ball State University this weekend where they placed second and the men took first.

Names like Samantha Postmus and Sarah Roeser have been at the top of event leaderboards at meets along with many of their peers. Postmus and Roeser have come up big against opponents like Lewis University where they each won three events out of a total of eight that the team competed in.

Postmus has been named GLIAC Swimmer of the Week twice already this season while setting new pools records as well. Roeser was honored for her performance against Lewis University, while Taylor Wiercinski earned top honors in diving against Calvin College and Hillsdale University.

Head coach Andy Boyce attributes the team’s strong performances to the rigorous training and depth of the talent that comprises the GVSU roster. As a co-ed team the men and women practice and train together, attending morning practices outside the pool in addition to their regular practices. Those morning workouts focus on weight training as well as specific exercises for diving or distance and sprint events.

“We don’t consider the men and women separate teams,” Boyce said. “The men and women push each other and work hard at practice and in the weight room”.

The team’s motto is ‘One Team, One Dream’, a motto that is embodied by the team’s members in the way they treat each other. Roeser, a senior, said it’s a team effort and everyone holds each other accountable.

Roeser also said upperclassmen have helped the younger players with weight training, while the younger players have taken initiative in the pool, going first in practice or jumping in the fast lane.

“We’re very supportive of each other and we’ve been coming together as a team more so this year than before,” she said.

Whether the Lakers are ahead or behind they are there for each other, picking each other up and cheering each other on every step of the way. Postmus said if the team is down in a meet they come together to try and change their mentality.

“The seniors and upperclassmen always tell the younger players that we need to stay united,” Postmus said. “We always try to keep moving forward”.

Like Postmus and Roeser, swimmers such as Kathryn Culver, Hannah Deak, Meghan Falconer, Julia Suriano, Emily Eaton, Elise Tatchell, Olivia Schultz and Emily Gallagher have been impressive for GVSU this season. Meanwhile divers like Wiercinski, Kayla Marquardt and Anna Barry have been dominant on the 1- and 3-meter boards.

The Lakers have put in the time to reap their rewards so far this season, but they still have their eyes set on a conference title and national title after that. Regardless of who wins the events, they know their success is a team effort.

“We’re competitive with one another but in the end it’s about the team more than anything else,” Roeser said.

The Lakers return to action at Calvin College on Dec. 4.