What better way to prepare for the conference championship than facing some of the toughest competition ahead of the big day?

Grand Valley State men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams traveled to Indianapolis to compete against Lindenwood and home team Indianapolis on Saturday, Jan. 20. Both teams are ranked nationally in the men’s and women’s Division II category.

On the men’s side, GVSU just narrowly lost against Lindenwood at the end of the final relay with a score of 154-150 and could not bounce back against Indianapolis, taking their second loss by a score of 185-119. The losses did not phase head coach Andy Boyce, as he knows the real challenge is still ahead for his team. 

“You don’t get better by swimming against slow people or not diving against the best,” Boyce said. “It’s not going to be easy to win the conference title, and our team went against two of the best teams in the country.”

Boyce is expecting to see Lindenwood and Indianapolis make a splash at the GLIAC Championship, which will be held Wednesday, Feb. 14, through Saturday, Feb. 17, in Jenison, Michigan. He also knows that his team has the potential to rival anyone in the conference, and these next two weeks of preparation are going to help ensure that.

“The biggest thing coming down the stretch is coming together as a team and doing things together as a group,” Boyce said. “Encourage your teammates and remain focused, that’s what makes us strong.” 

In the last relay of the day for the men’s team, the Lakers showed their team spirit on the sideline, something uncommon in such an individual sport.

On the other side of the pool, the No. 14 nationally ranked Laker women’s team dominated No. 4 ranked Lindenwood 191-111 but could not repeat their success against Indianapolis, falling 161-143.

Boyce counted on the fact that some seniors would perform well, knowing it was their last dual meet with GVSU, and Sam Postmus answered the call.

The senior won not one, not two, but three events on the day, including the 200-meter freestyle, 500-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley. 

“This was the best dual meet that I think I’ve had,” Postmus said. “I just was feeling better than most for the past two meets that we’ve had.”

After her trip to Florida a few weeks ago, Postmus, along with her teammates, felt fatigued, and this past weekend was when she finally felt well enough to give one of the best individual performances wearing GVSU’s colors.

Postmus knows this season is far from being over. 

“It hasn’t really settled in that it’s my last year of swimming,” Postmus said, “but it drives me to end this season on a good note.”

Postmus knows it will take everything for GVSU to win the GLIAC title, and the two weeks leading up to that meet are going to be crucial. 

“I think that really staying focused on our strokes, really working on technique, will help even on a few seconds and get better times, and we’ll be able to see some really great scores on the board at conference,” Postmus said.