GVSports Monthly Magazine

August - 2010

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NEW DECADE. SAME DOMINANCE?

CROSS COUNTRY

• FOOTBALL • SOCCER • VOLLEYBALL

IN THIS ISSUE 2 Cross Country XC HOPES TO CONTINUE SUCCESS The Grand Valley State’s men’s and women’s cross country teams are looking forward to the 2010 season. After the women finished second at the 2009 NCAA Division II Championships and the men fifth ...

(Pictured: Women’s Cross Country Team)

3 Volleyball VOLLEYBALL LOOKS TO KEEP WINNING Just how good has the Grand Valley State volleyball team been recently? The 2009 Lakers had their lowest win total since 1989 and GVSU still made the GLIAC Tournament ...

(Pictured: Leslie Curtis

6 Soccer SOCCER BEGINS TITLE DEFENSE Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team looks to continue its success in the 2010 campaign after a stellar 2009 season. The Lakers won the programs first ever NCAA Division II National Championship title and claimed ...

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2 EDITOR IN CHIEF Tim Nott MANAGING EDITOR Doug Lipinski EXECUTIVE EDITOR Doug Witte ACQUISITIONS EDITOR Courtney Goldschmeding ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Charlie Read STAFF WRITERS DJ Foster Kelsey Deacon CONTRIBUTORS Janine Freeman Andy Fry Sandra Jennings Kyle Schwerin GV Sports Marketing GVSU Sports Information PRINTER Jenison Printing

(Pictured: Kristen Eible)

10 Football POSITION BATTLES TO WATCH The 2010 football season is just around the corner and firstyear head coach Matt Mitchell is set to make his mark on the Grand Valley State football program ...

(Pictured: Robert Carlisle)

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 1

GV Sports Monthly Magazine is a magazine that focuses on athletics at Grand Valley State University. Copies of the magazine are free to the community and located on news stands in the greater Grand Rapids area. Copies of the magazine are also distributed in Allendale by the Advance Newspaper.

GV Sports Monthly Magazine GVSU, 192 Fieldhouse

Cross Country Hopes to Continue Success in 2010 The Grand Valley State’s men’s and women’s cross country teams are looking forward to the 2010 season. After the women finished second at the 2009 NCAA Division II Championships and the men fifth, the Lakers have high hopes for the upcoming season.

Head coach Jerry Baltes, who was named the 2009 Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year, is looking to continue the team’s success in the fall season. “We are excited for the upcoming season and the quest to extend our GLIAC and Midwest Regional Championship streak and to improve on our national finishes,” Baltes commented.

The Laker women will lose three of their top runners, but will also be returning a group of athletes with three years of championship experience.

At the 2009 nationals, GVSU finished just eight points behind national champion Adams State and had five runners finish in the top 30. Senior Katherine McCarthy led the Lakers with a 15th place finish (21:18), while graduated Eileen Creutz followed in 16th (21:26.1), Lynsey Ardingo in 17th (21:26.9), Amy Kolin in 26th (21:39.5), junior Jessie Vickers in 38th (21:57.9) and junior Julia Nowak 55th (22:19.7).

The women’s squad also captured its ninth straight Midwest Regional title by a 50-point margin over Southern Indiana. Grand Valley State took

Kelsey Deacon Staff Writer four of the top six spots and was led by senior Megan Maceratini. She crossed the finish line third with a time of 21:52.5, while McCarthy followed right behind in fourth (21:59.3). The women also claimed their ninth consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) title with a team score of 20 points, outdistancing second place Ferris State by 47 points. Maceratini and McCarthy once again led the way with a second and third place finish respectively. Sophomore Kaleigh Carlson was honored with GLIAC Freshman of the Year for her 12th place finish (22:22).

On the men’s side, the Lakers are returning five of their six top runners, all of which will be juniors in the fall. Junior Tyler Emmorey was the top finisher for GVSU at the national meet. He placed 14th with a time of 31:45.8 and was also named the Midwest Region Men’s Athlete of the Year for his first place finish at the Midwest Regional Championships. He helped the Lakers capture their eighth straight Midwest Regional title. GVSU dominated with 38 points, while conference rival Saginaw Valley State finished second with 88. The Lakers placed five runners in the top 20, with jun-

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iors Nathan Knisely finishing fourth (32:31.2), followed by Anthony Witt in seventh (32:41.1), Jeff Nordquist 20th (33:45.8) and Ryan Toth in 21st (33:46.1).

At the GLIAC Championships, the Lakers claimed their eighth consecutive conference crown.

Emmorey led the way once again for the Lakers with a first place finish (24:38.6), while sophomore Stephen Fuelling placed fourth (24:54.9) and was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year. Witt followed in fifth (24:57.5), Nordquist in ninth (25:13.7), Toth in 10th (25:17.6) and Knisely in 13th (25:24.5).

Both teams will have prepared squads for the 2010 season and Baltes knows his student -athletes are prepared and determined to reach their goals.

“We feel we have a great balance of returning experience and leadership to go along with some newcomers that can hopefully step in and help add depth to our squad,” Baltes said. “Our focus will be on having each person prepared to the best of their ability to put them in the best position to help the team reach our goal of winning an NCAA Championship.”

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GVSU Volleyball Looks to Keep Winning Ways in 2010 Just how good has the Grand Valley State volleyball team been recently? The 2009 Lakers had their lowest win total since 1989 and GVSU still made the GLIAC Tournament, advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the 10th straight year, had three All-GLIAC performers (plus one honorable mention All-America), and head coach Deanne Scanlon earned her 400th career victory.

In what might be considered a good year for most programs - considering the aforementioned accolades and highlights - Grand Valley State is looking to build on last year’s positives, begin another streak of 20-win seasons (the Lakers had won at least 24 matches in each of the last 11 years), and advance to the postseason for the 11th straight season and 12th time in school history.

Grand Valley State fell in the opening round of the Midwest Regional Tournament last November to conference rival, Saginaw Valley State. The loss marked the first time in program history the Lakers had lost their first postseason match (out of 11 years), which is an accomplishment in itself. Considering only 64 teams advance to postseason play, the fact that the Lakers earned an NCAA Tournament berth even during a socalled “off-year” speaks volumes about where the program stands at the current moment.

The task at hand is to get GVSU back to the prestigious level in which conference titles and Elite Eight appearances are commonstance. Scanlon returns four starters and 10 letterwinners to the 2009 team that went 16-13 overall and posted an 11-5 record in GLIAC play, finishing second in the conference’s North Division. The graduating senior class featured a 2009 All-GLIAC Second Team honoree (Whitney Tremain), a two-time AllGLIAC Honorable Mention selection (Katey Crichton), and a strong defender who finished her

DJ Foster Staff Writer career fifth in school history in digs per game and ninth in total digs (Meredith Young).

Along with solid role player Kaity Gormley, the 2009 senior class finished their careers with an outstanding 109-25 record. While it will be no small feat to continue the program’s success, this year’s senior class is led by one of the top players in recent history in senior middle blocker Rebeccah Rapin. For the first time in her Laker career, Rapin will be the unquestioned number one offensive option, as she had been previously lined up next to hitting machines like Tremain, Danielle Alexander, and Erica Vandekopple during her first three years.

Rapin’s career resume is already filled with accomplishments and awards, while her name can be spotted several times in the school record book.

In a stellar freshman season in which she was tabbed as both the GLIAC and Great Lakers Region Freshman of the Year, Rapin’s 136 block assists and .350 hitting percentage were fifth and ninth best, respectively, in a single season in Laker history. She followed that up by being named AllMidwest Region and First Team All-GLIAC in both 2008 and 2009. The national recognition continued in 2009 when Rapin earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America laurels. She currently ranks seventh in GVSU history with 323 block assists (just 60 shy of tying Alexander’s program record), ninth in hitting percentage (.307), and ninth in total blocks (385), with a decent shot at passing Wendy Lesch’s school record 515 blocks.

Scanlon will continue to stack the front line next to 6’1” Rapin, as she can employ 6’2” Krysta Kornack (79 total blocks, ninth in the league),

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 3

5’11” Eno Umoh (96 block assists, third in the GLIAC), and 6’0” Nicole Whiddon (63 total blocks) as a very imposing foursome at the net.

This group helped Grand Valley State lead the GLIAC in blocks per set (2.57) in 2009.

GVSU will also have some familiarity at the setter position, as both senior Meghan Scanlon and sophomore Olivia Kohler return, as the duo split setting duties last season. Scanlon led the Lakers in assists (580) and service aces (34) and was third in digs (202) in 2009, while Kohler was second in assists (416), fourth in aces (16), and sixth in digs (132) during her true freshman campaign.

The senior class of Rapin, Kornack, Scanlon, and outside hitter Leslie Curtis will look to begin another long home-court winning streak, as GVSU’s school-record 37-match home win streak (12th longest in Division II history) that started in 2006 was snapped last season. Since 2000, Grand Valley State is an outstanding 138-15 at home.

In the opening weekend of the season (Sept. 3-5), Grand Valley State will have quite an opportunity to gauge the team’s potential, as the Lakers travel to Tampa for a six-team tournament dubbed the ‘Tampa Classic’. GVSU will open the 2010 campaign against the three-time defending national champions, Concordia-St. Paul, on Friday afternoon before facing perennial powers Central Missouri and Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.

The Saturday nightcap with the Lopers will be a rematch of the biggest match in Laker volleyball history, as GVSU defeated Nebraska-Kearney by a 3-1 score in 2005 for the program’s first-ever national championship.

Grand Valley State concludes the weekend with a match on Sunday against 2006 national champion and host of the tournament, Tampa.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Matt Thornton Named MLB All-Star Former Grand Valley State baseball player and current Chicago White Sox reliever Matt Thornton was selected to represent the American League in the 2010 Major League All-Star game. This was Thornton's first-ever appearance in the mid-summer classic, which took place on Tuesday, July 13 in Anaheim, California at Angel Stadium.

Allendale Boulevard Days Come out to enjoy some end of Summer fun and savings during the 3rd Annual Allendale Boulevard Days on August 20 & 21, with 3 miles of fun, community garage sale, tent sales, live entertainment, arts & crafts show, and much more.

GVSU Athletics will be at Allendale True Value with free giveaways.

2010 Hall of Fame Inductees Tim Selgo, Director of Athletics at Grand Valley State, announced that six individuals will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2010. New members will include: Curt Anes (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood), football (1999-2002); Ed Crisman (Grand Rapids, Mich.), basketball (1966-69); Chara Fehsenfeld (Grand Blanc, Mich.), volleyball (1999-2002); Jennifer Mackson (Pinconning, Mich.), softball (2001-04); Dewey Newsome (Grand Rapids, Mich.) swimming & diving coach (1984-2007); and Melissa Sneller (Zeeland, Mich.), women's golf (2001-05).

Where Are They Now? How you remember her: Dawn Plitzuweit coached at Grand Valley State from 2002-03 to 06-07. In her five years she won 20 or more games and advanced into postseason play four times. The 2005-06 team won a school record 33 games in one season. That team would also go on to claim the school’s first national championship in basketball. Her overall record in five seasons was 11739 (.750). She currently has a higher win percentage than any other coach in GVSU women’s basketball history that coached for more than one season, just surpassing Joan Boand who has a .733 percentage.

What she’s doing now: Plitzuweit was hired as the Associate Head Coach for the University of Michigan’s women’s basketball program in April, 2007 when Kevin Borseth took over the reigns in Ann Arbor. In their first season the Wolverines finished with a 19-14 record and finished in the quarterfinals of the Women’s NIT. This past season Plitzuweit helped direct the team to a 21-14 record after winning seven of their last nine games to push the program to the semifinals of the WNIT.

Marketing and Promotions Earns Awards The winners were presented their awards during NACMA's 19th Annual Convention, June 22-25 in Anaheim, Calif. The awards ceremony occurred Wednesday, June 23. Grand Valley State University's athletic marketing office earned awards in eight of the sixteen categories. GVSU won three gold awards, one silver award and four bronze awards. Since 2006, GVSU's athletic marketing office has taken home 27 NACMA awards. (7 gold, 12 silver, 8 bronze).

Nationally Televised Home Opener The NCAA and CBS College Sports Network announced a six-game football television package for the 2010 season and Grand Valley State's season-opener versus West Secondary - Full Color schedule.

Texas A&M will open Logo the 2010 television Kickoff versus the Buffaloes is set for Thursday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. in Lubbers Stadium. The 2010 football season is the fifth since Division II and CBS College Sports Network established a partnership to provide Division II schools live national television exposure for their football and basketball programs. For more information visit GVSULakers.com.

The GVSU Mobile Ticket Tour is a traveling ticket office that gives you a chance to buy season and single game tickets for the 2010 football season. You can also be one of the first to purchase the brand new All-Sports Pass.

Some of Font the tour stops include a chance to meet the foot-Colors Used - Orbit, 15will Black-Bold ball coaching staff, including head coach Matt Mitchell. There will also be giveaways and much more at every tour location. Just watch for the van and then join in the fun. For more information, check out ...

gvsulakers.com/tickettour10.html GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 4

2010 HOME OPENERS

Sept. 2 vs. West Texas A&M

Sept. 3 vs. Winona State

Sept. 11 vs. Michigan Tech

8:00 PM Lubbers Stadium

4:00 PM GVSU Soccer Field

4:00 PM GVSU Fieldhouse Arena

ticket s ( 6 1 6 ) 3 3 1 - 3 2 0 0 GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 5

Laker Soccer Begins National Title Defense Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team looks to continue its success in the 2010 campaign after a stellar 2009 season. The Lakers won the programs first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship and claimed its fifth Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) crown.

GVSU posted an impressive 22-0-4 final record, which included undefeated marks in the regular season (17-0-1) and in GLIAC play (13-0-1).

Grand Valley State looks to capture its sixth GLIAC title and defend its national championship in its 2010 campaign.

GVSU will face a significant loss this year with losing the most successful class in the program’s history. Last year’s senior class posted a record of 84-4-6 (.926) during their four-year career. The 2010 senior class looks to improve on that mark.

The Lakers will be returning five seniors this year, along with their championship experience and leadership roles. Grand Valley State will also be returning seven starters and adding eight newcomers to the 2010 roster.

From the forward position, leading scorer Ashley Botts and senior Jaleen Dingledine will be back in action for the Lakers. Botts, the sophomore from Beloit, Wis., led GVSU with 15 goals and 35 points. Botts recorded the lone goal in the champi-

Kelsey Deacon Staff Writer onship match over Cal. St. Dominguez Hills. Dingledine recorded 11 goals and five assists on the year, tied for second on the team. The senior also knocked in five game-winning goals and recorded the equalizer in the semifinal match, sending the game into overtime.

The Laker midfield will be returning two starters, senior Kristen Eible and junior Erin Mruz.

Eible started all of GVSU’s 26 games last year and scored the game-winning goal in the 3-2 overtime win against Saint Rose in the semifinal match.

Mruz played in 1,565 minutes and led GVSU with 14 assists. The junior recorded three games with two assists and notched an assist in 11 matches last season.

GVSU’s defense will return the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, senior Jenna Wenglinski and the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year, junior Megan Brown. Wenglinski and Brown were a part of a backline that only allowed 12 goals on the year and recorded 16 shutouts. Sophomore goalkeeper Chelsea Parise will return as the last line of defense for the Lakers.

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The native from Warren, Mich., notched 13 shutouts and 64 saves last year, including a goalagainst average of 0.47.

Grand Valley State will start its 2010 season at home Sept. 3-5. The Lakers will play two nonconference matches when they face Winona State, followed by Minnesota State-Mankato. GVSU has only played Winona State once, resulting in a tie back in 1997. This will be the first match-up between the Lakers and the Mavericks of Minnesota State-Mankato.

GVSU will then open up conference action on Sept. 8 when they travel to Big Rapids, Mich., to take on GLIAC rival Ferris State. The Lakers defeated the Bulldogs twice last year and currently hold an 11-3 advantage in all-time play.

GVSU will then be on the road for four more conference games before hosting its first home conference matches. First the Lakers will face new conference member Lake Erie on Friday, Sept. 24 at 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 26, GVSU will take on the Eagles of Ashland at 12:00 p.m.

The Lakers will end the month of September on the road. GVSU will travel to Fort Wayne, Ind., on the 28th to play Indianapolis in a non-conference match.

Greg Brown (left) from Learfield Sports and Randy Spetman (right) from Florida State present GVSU Athletic Director Tim Selgo (middle) with the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup at the 2010 NACDA Convention.

Photo courtesy of NACDA

FOOTBALL POSITION PREVIEWS The Lakers have advanced to Florence, Alabama for the national championship game in six of the last nine years, but last year’s 30-23 loss was the first time the Lakers have lost the title game since 2001. Prior to 2009, GVSU had won each of the four title games in which they appeared (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006).

The Lakers capped off the last decade with a 112-13 overall record and the 2010 senior class is 36-4 during their careers, including a 30-1 mark in regular season play and a 28-1 record in GLIAC play. The Laker seniors have won a conference championship and reached the NCAA regional title game each year during their careers.

Offense The Lakers are returning 23 lettermen on the offensive side of the ball, including seven starters. In addition, GVSU returns 20 of 21 players listed on the two-deep as an offensive lineman or tight end. However, GVSU will have to find replacements for several key offensive skill position players, including three-time Harlon Hill nominee Brad Iciek and one of the most productive offensive players in Laker football history in Blake Smolen.

Quarterback Senior Marquel Neasman, who had been backing up Iciek the last three seasons, is competing with Eastern Michigan transfer Kyle McMahon for the starting quarterback position. Neasman completed 15-for-19 passes for 145 yards as a reserve a year ago. McMahon started six games at Eastern Michigan last season, completing 56-of106 passes for 634 yards and four touchdowns.

Redshirt freshmen Heath Parling, Taylor Copacia and Isiah Grimes are competing for playing time and add quality depth to that position.

Running Back The Lakers lost three of their top four ground gainers from last season, but have a stable of talented replacements waiting in the wings. Senior Justin Sherrod enters the season as GVSU’s career leader in yards per carry, averaging 7.6 yards everytime he carries the ball. Sherrod gained 685 yards on 82 carries last year, an 8.4 yards per carry average, and had five touchdowns on the ground, tied for second on the team.

Pushing Sherrod for playing time this season is sophomore transfer Norman Shuford (Akron), and redshirt freshman Hersey Jackson

Kyle Schwerin Contributing Writer from Allendale High School. Jackson put up staggering numbers in high school, rushing for 4,147 yards and 60 touchdowns during his prep career.

Redshirt freshmen Michael Ratay and Billy Seiler, along with true freshmen Chris Robinson and Kirk Spencer, will all be competing for carries in the Laker backfield.

Wide Receivers The Lakers have to replace do-it-all receiver Blake Smolen who concluded his career as the all-time all-purpose yards leader at Grand Valley State. However, senior Ryan Bass, who was second on the team in receiving last year with 36 catches for 605 yards and eight touchdowns, returns and is ready for a breakout year. Bass led the team in receiving four times and had two 100-yard receiving games, both in the postseason. Bass had a big national championship game, catching eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown against Northwest Missouri State.

Also returning for GVSU is junior Greg Gay, who had 20 catches for 310 yards and three

Ryan Bass’ touchdown catch against Carson Newman in the NCAA semifinal was featured on ESPN’s Top Plays last season.

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 10

touchdowns last season. Gay made his presence known in the playoffs last year, notching his two highest receiving totals of the season with 68 yards and a touchdown on two catches against Hillsdale and 70 yards and a touchdown on three catches against Minnesota-Duluth.

Senior Cameron Bradford returns after sitting out the 2009 season. Bradford made his presence felt as an all around receiver, while fellow senior Carlos Clark also returns after totaling six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown last year to go with 57 rushing yards.

Also returning are sophomores Israel Woolfork (eight catches, 128 yards last year) and Chris Crawford, who is moving to the offensive side of the ball after playing defensive back last season.

Sophomore David Fox sat out last season with a lingering injury, while junior Jovonne Augustus joins the Laker receiving corps after two years at the College of the Canyons Junior College Augustus will provide the Lakers with a big target (6-5, 230), as will Eastern Kentucky transfer Charles Johnson (6-3, 205).

Tight Ends Juniors Tony Carreri and Andrew Lorman both return after starting every game for the Lakers last season. Carreri had two catches for 50 yards in two games before sustaining a season-ending injury, but Lorman stepped in with 22 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns en route to being named honorable mention All-GLIAC. Redshirt freshmen Tyler Moran, Ryan Ploetz, and Ed Vushaj all return to provide depth.

Offensive Line The experienced offensive line will be a focal point for the Laker offense this season as they break in a new quarterback. Four returning starters lead the way, including Daktronics Second-Team All-American Cameron Bradfield.

Joining him from last year’s starting offensive line are senior John Godush, junior James Hardy, and sophomore Matt Armstrong, who was an honorable mention All-GLIAC performer as a redshirt freshman.

Football Position Previews (continued) Sophomore Tim Lelito is set to replace GVSU All-American Nick McDonald at left tackle. Fellow sophomore Darris Sawtelle is looking to battle for playing time along the offensive front.

Senior Joey Teague, junior Ian Evans, and sophomores Andrew Biedenbender and Max Larson are all experienced linemen competing for playing time. Alex Ahee, Mark Morrison, Eric LaBuhn and Dominic Cundari also return for the Lakers and will provide quality depth on the line.

Defense The Lakers return 16 letterwinners on defense as well as seven starters, including two preseason All-Americans.

Defensive Line Daktronics and D2Football.com FirstTeam All-American Danny Richard anchors the defensive line after racking up 60 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss (-79) and 13 sacks (-62) last season.

Richard is only 4.5 sacks behind Dan Skuta as the career leader at GVSU, as he enters the season with 30 career sacks.

Senior Nick Lawrence, a GLIAC SecondTeam honoree, will patrol opposite Richard along the defensive line. Lawrence recorded 48 tackles, 13 tackles for loss (-69) and 7.5 sacks (-54) last year. Sophomores Brandon Allen and Ryan Pettis,

along with redshirt freshmen Lucas Kozuch and Denzel Rodgers will battle for playing time.

Senior Steve Gawronski and sophomore Ricky Thomas are set to take over the middle of the defensive front. Redshirt freshmen Hunter Charneski and Kenny McDaniel will push for playing time in the middle.

Linebackers The Lakers return all three starters at linebacker, including preseason All-American Justin Victor. Victor led the team with 111 tackles last season, including 13.5 for loss (-55) and 6.5 sacks (-37).

Junior Brad Howard returns in the middle after recording 82 tackles and seven for loss (-23).

Junior Zach Breen, who is a two-year starter as the nickel backer, notched 63 tackles last season en route to being named Second-Team All-GLIAC. Redshirt freshman Luther Ware was on his way to making a significant impact a year ago before a season-ending injury cut short his campaign.

Sophomores Mike Cuddeback and Chad O’Shell, along with redshirt freshmen Zach Galloway, Jordan Kaufman and Daniel Wanshon will provide quality depth.

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Defensive Backs Senior Robert Carlisle returns after being granted a medical redshirt. Carlisle was on his way to having a tremendous senior year before a season-ending injury in the third game ended his 2009 season. A pair of freshmen, Reggie Williams and Michael Hatcher, will battle for the corner opposite Carlisle. Junior Dominique Darden and redshirt freshman Suave Lavallis will push for playing time.

Senior Matt Bakker, a Second-Team AllGLIAC performer last season, returns after collecting 56 tackles and an interception last season.

Sophomore Jarrod Cox and redshirt freshman Erik Thompson return to compete for a safety position while sophomores Vince Beachem and Myron Puryear provide depth in the defensive secondary.

Special Teams Sophomore Jay Jandasek looks to capture both placekicking and punting duties this year after going 1-for-1 on field goals last year and averaging 40.6 yards per punt in reserve duty.

Also in the mix will be redshirt freshman Ryan Stokes and true freshman punter Chris Picano.

Q&A With Offensive Coordinator Eric Koehler As the new Offensive Coordinator tell us about your philosophy and how the offense will look in 2010-11.

If you look solely at what we are doing from a scheme standpoint, we will not change a whole lot on paper. I think the changes will come from how we administer our offense from a tempo standpoint and also our multiplicity when it comes to formations and different sets. We will try to put pressure on defenses with both the pace with which we play and how we spread people out.

We’ll use the entire field both laterally and vertically. We want to be go, go, go. The way I look at it we can always slow down, so lets start by being up-tempo. Plus, the offense will change a little bit with a new quarterback.

You have a big hole to fill at quarterback with three-year starter Brad Iciek having graduated. What are some challenges that you expect to face with a new quarterback this season?

The biggest and most significant challenge is that we will have to replace his game experience. After three years as our starter, Brad had seen most every situation that a game could present and he knew what we wanted to do offensively in those situations. All of our quarterbacks are blessed with physical talent. However, you get better at playing quarterback by experiencing game situations. The more experience you have, the better you can manage game situations and per-

form at a high level in those situations. That will be the challenge for whoever is our starter in game one. Manage the game, understand what we want to do offensively in every situation, and then perform at a level that allows us to score points.

What excites you about the quarterbacks that are competing for the starting position?

All of our quarterbacks are passionate about the position and constantly want to learn more about playing quarterback in our offense. They are willing to work to get better and have done a great job thus far preparing for the season. I’m excited because each one has his own strengths and it will be fun to mold our offense around whoever our coaching staff decides is the starter.

What’s your favorite part about coaching football at the collegiate level?

Hands down my favorite part is winning games. However, I really enjoy being around our guys every day. I think it keeps me young at heart. I especially love being around our players that have great energy and passion to play football for GVSU. Very seldom in life do you get to experience being a part of a group that is working together to achieve a common goal.

I am lucky that I get to work in that type of environment every day at GVSU. You were the head coach at Division III Wartburg (Iowa) College before coming to GVSU. What was the greatest lesson you learned while being a head coach?

There are two: 1. Surround yourself with people that you trust and are fully committed to make your program successful.

2. When you are the head coach, not a lot of people are coming to you with solutions. How you deal with that determines the success you have as a head coach.

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 12

What was your first impression of Grand Valley State as a university when you were hired two years ago?

I knew the school was good academically, so I was amazed at how much the entire university embraced our football program and athletics in general. Very few universities are committed to providing the resources necessary to have national championship athletics along with highly ranked academics.

Describe your favorite memory or proudest moment from your job?

The way I felt after the Carson-Newman game last year. That was an amazing experience to share with our team and my family. I can remember our team meeting the Monday after getting beat by Hillsdale in the regular season and it wasn’t fun. Going from that low point to making it to Alabama was something I’ll never forget.

What has been the best advice that anyone has ever given you?

My college head coach used to tell me these two things: It’s easier to be a great Xs and Os coach if you are a great recruiter. Hard work doesn’t always guarantee success. The lack of it guarantees failure.

Outside of football, what are some of your favorite activities?

I like to golf. I get out to the Meadows as much as I can during May, June, and July. My wife Heidi is fun to hang out with and we spend a lot of time boating during the summer.

We also travel when we can. Other than that, all my friends are on our coaching staff. So even if we are doing something socially, a lot of time we are still working in some capacity.

The Grid

Deanne Scanlon

Jerry Baltes

John Black

David DiIanni

Head Volleyball Coach Jenison, Mich.

Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Conklin, Mich.

Head Tennis Coach Dorr, Mich.

Head Soccer Coach Hudsonville, Mich.

I know the season is about to start because ...

I haven’t been to the grocery store or done laundry for a month.

It’s very, very hot all day, every day.

My free time suddenly disappears.

The campus becomes filled with students returning to school.

What do you do to prepare yourself for the new season?

I make lists. I also try to take a weekend off before it all begins.

Run a few days a week to make me think I can still run with the team.

I try to get in to top physical shape so that I can keep up with my teams.

I am very analytical. I go through lineups and scenarios all the time.

Prediction on how your team will do this year?

We have great leadership and talent. Should be a great year!

We will get to the starting line on time with our uniform on every meet.

If we reach our potential we can challenge the top teams in the country.

I predict that we will work hard to try to fulfill the potential that we have.

I’m addicted to ...

The Amazing Race ... it’s on my “bucket list”.

Gatorade

Oreo cookies

Competing

What’s your favorite part about August?

Not coaching an outdoor sport.

Going to preseason camp.

Having some free time to spend with my wife.

Welcoming the team for preseason to begin a new journey!

/DNHU :RUG 6HDUFK Laker Word Search

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Crossword answers available on page 14

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 13

2010 HOME VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE DATE

OPPONENT

TIME

Sept. 11

MICHIGAN TECH

4:00 PM

Sept. 12

NORTHERN MICHIGAN

2:00 PM

Sept. 15

FERRIS STATE

7:00 PM

Oct. 8

LAKE ERIE

7:00 PM

Oct. 10

ASHLAND

2:00 PM

Oct. 26

SAGINAW VALLEY STATE

7:00 PM

Oct. 30

OHIO DOMINICAN

4:00 PM

Nov. 5

NORTHWOOD

7:00 PM

Nov. 7

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE

2:00 PM

2010 HOME SOCCER SCHEDULE DATE

OPPONENT

TIME

Sept. 3

WINONA STATE (Championship Celebration)

4:00 PM

Sept. 5

MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO

12:00 PM

Sept. 24

LAKE ERIE

4:00 PM

Sept. 26

ASHLAND

12:00 PM

Oct. 3

OHIO DOMINICAN

1:00 PM

Oct. 8

NORTHWOOD (Throwback game)

4:00 PM

Oct. 10

SAGINAW VALLEY STATE

12:00 PM

Oct. 15

NORTHERN MICHIGAN

4:00 PM

Oct. 17

MICHIGAN TECH

12:00 PM

Oct. 30

FERRIS STATE

12:00 PM

SANDRA’S SNAPSHOT /DNHU :RUG 6HDUFK

Relax

Crossword Puzzle Answers

N Q X O V D F Z U \ Q V S D G U \ U HP R Q Q L PE Sandra Jennings took this photo on her vacation to Jamacia in June. The summer is a time to relax and recharge to get ready for the school year to begin. Jennings is an adminstrative assistant in the GVSU athletic department.

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 14

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PLAYER PROFILES Kristen Eible Senior Secondary Education DeWitt, Mich.

Soccer Center-Midfield

Name Year Major Hometown Sport Position

Kyle McMahon Senior (Transferred from Eastern Michigan) Criminal Justice Rochester Hills, Mich.

Football Quarterback

I loved the campus and how welcoming the coaches and players were. It was a Why did you choose I wanted to be involved in the winning tradition. huge honor to become a part of the already great tradition of GVSU Athletics. to become a Laker?

My dad. He got me involved and interested in every sport and has supported me my whole life.

Coaching and teaching somewhere down south.

I don’t know? My teammates call me Chuck Norris.

Everything on game day is a superstition from what I eat to what shoe I lace up first. I also do two knee tuck jumps before each game.

Who has had the biggest impact on your sports career?

My dad. He has always been there to motivate me and support me through failure and success.

Where do you see If things go well, as I would like, in the NFL. If that doesn’t work out, I plan on yourself in five years? working for the government.

Hidden Talent?

Do you have any superstitions?

Don’t have one.

No, I am not superstitious.

Being a part of the 2009 national championship team and bringing home the What has been your Leading an academic-based high school to the playoffs in high school as an 8-1 program’s first-ever championship. greatest accomplish- football team. ment in sports so far?

0,

WEST MICHIGAN CHEVY DEALERS GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 15

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Recipe of the Month

Mom’s Mexican Casserole Directions:

Step 1 - Brown meat, Ing redien ts: drain, and add package of 1 lb gro und bee f seasoning 1 pac kage of Me xica n sea son ing Step 2 - While cooking 2 can s of red enchilada sauce meat preheat oven at 375 Cor n tortill as Step 3 - In casserole dish Me xica n che ese put one layer or corn tor1 can of Bea ns (black or ref ried) tillas on the bottom, cover corn tortillas with enchilada sauce, add a layer of meat, beans, and sprinkle a layer of cheese.

Step 4 - Repeat Step 3 as many times as necessary to fill casserole dish (or as desired) Step 5 - Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes

The Sports News Preseason Top 5 D2 football teams ...

1. Northwest Missouri State

2. Grand Valley State 3. West Liberty 4. North Alabama 5. Minnesota-Duluth Lindy’s Preaseason Top 5 D2 football teams ...

1. Northwest Missouri State

2. Grand Valley State 3. West Liberty 4. Minnesota-Duluth 5. California (Pa.)

About the Recipe This month’s recipe was provided by Sarah Read. Sarah is married to Charlie Read, who is the Advertising Director for this magazine and also works in the athletic marketing department at GVSU.

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GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 16