Matt Mitchell becomes second GV football coach to reach 100th win

This past weekend, Grand Valley State University football coach Matt Mitchell, was honored for his 100th win at GVSU (5-0), taking the victory from Northwood University (1-4) 70-9. Mitchell has been the head coach of the football program for 12 years, starting off as the assistant coach for six years prior following Chuck Martin and GVSU’s first head coach to hit 100 wins, Brian Kelly.

The overall record he holds is now 100-28 with an impressive five NCAA DII playoff appearances and two semifinal appearances. During his time at GVSU, Mitchell coached two NCAA DII Championship games and has successfully led this year’s team to an undefeated record overall and in the GLIAC. After a full season of COVID-19 hiatus, Mitchell has managed to bring a team out of quarantine and into the spotlight as the No. 7 ranked team in the NCAA DII.

Women’s Cross Country takes first place at Lewis Crossover

The Grand Valley State University women’s cross country team stole the show, ending the meet with their best team score this season (36). Sophomore Klaudia O’Malley took first place among 24 other schools with a time of 21.54.1. With three other runners in the top ten finishers, the GVSU women’s cross country team beat the runner-up, Lewis University, by a margin of 70 points.

Sophomore Kayce Rympa placed in fourth with a time of 22.16.3, freshman Sarah May came in eighth at 22.25.0 and sophomore Natalie Graber just making tenth at 22.28.6. The other Lakers that competed in the race were Lucy Karpukhno, Maria Mitchell and Emma Everhart-Deckard, all securing places slightly behind their teammates.

The No. 1 ranked Lakers are tailed by Southwest Baptist and Southern Indiana and remain at the top of the conference with two more meets to go before the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Championships and the National Championships in November.

Five lakers make GLIAC Player of the Week

Last week, two Grand Valley State University football players, two cross country runners and one golfer took the GLIAC Player of the Week honors. On the football team, sophomore linebacker, Abe Swanson took defensive player of the week and senior cornerback, Allante Leapheart took special teams player of the week after the Battle of the Valleys. Swanson leads the team this season in tackles with 34 and Leapheart leads the GLIAC with seven pass breakups.

Senior runner Issac Harding and junior Hannah Becker were both awarded the same honors after some successful races so far this season, after Harding taking first place at the Live in Lou XC Classic and Becker taking sixth in the Spartan Invitational and the Live in Lou XC Classic.

GVSU women’s golf’s freshman recruit, Megan Miron, has done exceptionally well this season, already having won first team All-American honors, WGCA All-East Regional team, and GLIAC Freshman of the Year.