Dave DiIanni Named Soccer Coach of the Year | Grand Valley State Lacrosse: In the Spotlight
February 2011
Junior • Outfielder
Cody GriCe
Preseason All-American
THe reTUrN oF
LAKer BASeBALL
Fi n d l ay
Wayne State
IN THIS ISSUE 5
WOMEN’S SOCCER Wenglinski, DiIanni Earn NSCAA National Awards Briauna Taylor sophomore guard
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Sophomores Play Big Role in GVSU’s Early Season Run
2 FEATURED PHOTO 3 FOOTBALL SIGNING THE SPOTLIGHT 4 IN Alicia Groveston - Coaching Lacrosse 6 NEWS IN BRIEF 10 The Green Zone 11 Q&A with Dr. Paul M. Leidig
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MEN’S BASKETBALL Balance and Depth Push Lakers to Another Successful Start
13 PLAYER PROFILES
Edward Dennis & Serena Black
BASEBALL
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GLIAC AWARDS Four Lakers Earn GLIAC Commissioners’ Award
pg. 8
Season Preview TheGrandValleyStatebaseballprogramhasbeen amongthemostsuccessfulintheDIIrankssince 2000...byTimNott editor in chief
FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Volume 2 Number 7
EDITOR IN CHIEF TimNott
EXECUTIVE EDITOR DougWitte
MANAGING EDITOR DougLipinski
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR CharlieRead
PRINTER JenisonPrinting STAFF WRITERS DJFoster KelseyDeacon
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14 CALENDAR Featured events for February 2011 14 SANDRA’S SNAPSHOT 15
CONTRIBUTORS JanineFreeman AndyFry AdamIngraham SandraJennings SharonKowalczyk KyleSchwerin GVSportsMarketing GVSUSportsInformation
GV Sports Monthly Magazine is a magazinethatfocusesonathleticsat GrandValleyStateUniversity.Copies ofthemagazinearefreetothecommunityandlocatedonnewsstandsin thegreaterGrandRapidsarea.Copies ofthemagazinearealsodistributedin AllendalebytheAdvanceNewspaper.
GV SportsMonthlyMagazine GVSU,192Fieldhouse
Women’s Cross Country
Women’s Soccer
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Alicia Groveston Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach
Commitment Thisspringourladiesareupat6am practicing without being able to playasingleintercollegiategame thissemester.Theydigdeepevery daytogetupandperform.Whatwe havetriedtotellandshowthemis howmuchthisyearwillpayoffnot onlyforthemasindividuals,butas ateamaswell.Mostteamsdonot get an opportunity like this and with how much they have improved in a short time we know theyareexcitedtoseehowfarthey cango. Keeping Things Fresh Part of our challenge is to make practice new and interesting. We havetakenthatchallengeheadon by implementing an intrasquad
gameschedule,incorporatingother sportssuchasbasketball,dodgeball andsoccer,andLacrosseOlympics (a combination of skill, fitness, competitionandspiritgames)during our practice times. We have foundthatifyouareanathleteyou will be competitive and strive to pushyourselfandyourteammates nomatterwhatyouareparticipatingin. Teachable Moments Not having intercollegiate games willbehard,buttherearemanydifferentsituationsinwhichwecan teach.Ourintrasquadscrimmages willallowustogetthosecompetitivemoments,butourotherdrills andactivitiesarealsodesignedto allowErikaandItoteach,critique andcoach.
Players Currentlythisisnotanissue,butwhilerecruitingtheclassof2010wereallyhadtogetthe recruitstofocusonthefuture.Wewantedthem tounderstandwhatahugehonorandprivilege itistostartanewprogram.Thesegirlsarean integralpartofthefoundationofthisprogram. Theyhavethechancetodosomethingamazing andcreateallofthetraditionsforGrandValley StateLacrosse.Whowouldn'twant totakethatopportunity? Growth Lacrosseisgrowingexponentially notonlythroughMichiganandthe Midwest,buttheUnitedStatesas well. With more youth lacrosse programs picking up throughout Michigan, more high schools are abletofindmoreplayersandinteresttocreatetheirownteams.More
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t i p s about coaching a team with no games
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tournament play, whetheritbe3v3,5v5,7v7 orfullfieldcompetition,allows potentialcollegiatelacrosseplayers togetnoticed.Inturnmoreandmorecollegesarefindingmeritinbeginninglacrosse teamsawell.Withthisincreaseinexposureat alllevels,lacrosseinMichiganwillcontinueto explode.
by Kelsey Deacon staff writer
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randValleyStatewomen’ssoccer team earned two national awards after claiming the program’s second NCAA Division II National Championship title this season. GVSU’sJennaWenglinskibecamethe secondwomen’ssoccerplayerintheprogram’shistorytobenamedtheNational SoccerCoachesAssociationofAmerican (NSCAA)NCAADivisionIINational PlayeroftheYear.HeadcoachDavidDiIanniwasalsohonoredonthenational levelforthesecondtimeinhiseightyear careeratGrandValleyState.DiIanniwas selected as the NSCAA National Women’sSoccerCoachoftheYearfor guidingtheLakerstoanimpressive221-2recordin2010. “Itissuchaprivilegeandhonorfor JennaandItoberecognizedwiththese prestigiousawards,”saidDiIanni.“As wesayinourprogram,awardslikethis areonlyearnedbecauseofthesuccessful seasonwehadandalotofthatcanbeattributedtotheeffortofourstudent-athletesandthecoachingstaff.”
Wenglinski, DiIanni Earn NSCAA National Awards Wenglinskiwaspartofanimpressive teamandtheMostOutstandingDefenbacklinethatdidnotallowagoaltheen- sivePlayerofthetournamentforthesectirehomescheduleandheldtheiroppo- ondstraightseason. Theseniorwasalsoapartofthemost nentstojustfivegoalsontheyear.The senior defender from Portage, Mich., successfulseniorclassintheprogram’s also helped the GVSU defense set an history.DuringWenglinski’sfouryears, NCAA Division II record and school theteamcompiledanastounding87-3-7 recordfor21shutoutsinaseasonandthe record,comingouttoawinningpercentbackline did not allow a goal during ageof.933. postseasonaction. Wenglinskicollectednu“Awards like this are only merous awards after helpearned because of the sucing the Lakers notch back-to-back national cessful season we had and a championships. The delot of that can be attributed to fender was named to the the effort of our student-athGreatLakesIntercollegiate Athletic Conference letes and the coaching staff.” (GLIAC) First Team and DiIannihasalsopostedanimpressive wasnamedtheGLIACDefensivePlayer oftheYear.SheearnedDaktronicsDivi- recordduringhiscareeratGrandValley sionIIMidwestRegionFirstTeamand State. During eight years he has comDaktronicsAll-AmericaFirstTeamhon- piled an overall record of 157-15-10, ors.ShewasalsoselectedtotheNSCAA whichisawinningpercentageof.890, All-AmericaFirstTeam.Wenglinskiwas rankinghimsecondamongactiveDivinamed to the NCAA All-Tournament sionIIcoaches.
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ThisseasonDiIanniguidedGVSUto itssixthstraightGLIACChampionship anditsthirdstraightGLIACTournament Championship.TheLakershavemade theNCAAplayoffseighttimesandhave played in the national title game three times, claiming two national championshiptitles. DiIannicoachedfourNSCAAAllAmericanstudent-athletesandfiveDaktronicsInc.All-Americansthisseason. TheLakersalsoplacednineplayerson theAll-GLIAC teams and claimed the GLIACDefensivePlayeroftheYearand theGLIACFreshmanoftheYear. GVSUnotonlysetdefensiverecords thisyear,butalsosetanNCAAtournamentrecordwith17goalsscored.The Lakeroffenseoutscoredopponentsbya 93-5marginandrecordedagoalin24of their25matches. DiIanniisathree-timeGLIACCoach oftheYear(05,07,08)andatwo-time NSCAAMidwestRegionCoachofthe Year (06, 07) and NSCAA National CoachoftheYear(06,10).
NEWS IN BRIEF GVSU Basketball Coach’s Radio Show TheGVSUBasketballCoach’sRadioShowis a weekly look at the Laker men's basketball programthroughoutthebasketballseason.The coach’sshowisbroadcast"live"everyMonday at6:00PMonWTKGAM1230fromPeppino's SportsLoungeinAllendale.HostedbySteve LloydJonesandjoinedbyheadmen'sbasketball coach Ric Wesley. Visit www.gvsulakers.comtolistentotheshowlive online.
Videos, Interviews, Live Games, and More CheckouttheGVSUMediaCenteratwww.gvsulakers.com/allacess.Youcancheckoutlive sporting events, the GVSU Sports Report, coachesshows,interviews,andmore!Youcan browsetheMediaCenterbysportandyoucan alsowatchpastgames.
Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings GrandValleyState,theseven-timedefending champions of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cuptrophy,isinfamiliarterritoryafterthefinal 2010fallstandings.GVSUisfirstplacewith 411points,followedbyShippenburg(264)and CentralMissouri(259).TheLakers'411points scoredisthesecond-highestpointtotalscored byGrandValleyStateduringthefallsportsseasonandits147-pointleadoversecondplaceis thethird-besttotalinthelasteightyears.GVSU helda215-pointleadin2005anda168-point leadin2004.
GVSU Lakers Social Media Following Ranked 73rd AccordingtoSportsFanGraph.com,awebsite ranking the social media following of sports teams,GVSUAthletics’socialmediafollowing isranked73rdintheNCAA.GVSUhasatotal followingof12,064(FacebookandTwitter), whichranksaheadofschoolssuchasStanford, Indiana,andWakeForest.“Like”GVSULakers on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/gvsulakers.Youcanalso followGVSUAthleticsonTwitterunderthe handleGVSULakers.
GLIAC Swimming and Diving Championships in Jenison JenisonHighSchoolwillbehostingtheGLIAC SwimmingandDivingChampionshipsonFeb. 9-12.Formoreinformationaboutthechampionshipsstaytunedtogvsulakers.com.
Sophomores Play Big Role in GVSU’s Early Season Run by DJ Foster staff writer
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tisoftensaidinsportsthataplayermakeshis orherbiggestjump(fromatalentstandpoint) betweenthefirstandsecondyearoftheircareer.TheGrandValleyStatewomen’sbasketball teamcertainlyfollowsthistheory,asthreeLaker sophomoreshavebeeninthestartinglineupallseasonlongandfiveoftheteam’stopsevenscorers aresophomores. TheGVSUoffense(rankedthirdintheconferenceatpresstimewith71.5pointspergame) starts in the middle with 6’2” sophomore center AlexStelfox,thereigningGLIAC Freshmanofthe Year.Afterputtingup12.0pointspergameasa rookie,Stelfoxisnearlythreepointsagamebetter thisseason,assheisaveraging14.9pointspercontest,goodforseventh-bestintheleague.Shealso ranksseventhintheGLIACinfieldgoalpercentage,making54.9percentofhershots,whileher 100 made field goals through 15 games is the mostintheentireconference. JoiningStelfoxin the top-15 in scoring to givetheLakersastrong12offensivepunchissophomore forward Briauna Taylor.Ayearago,Taylor was scoring 8.6 points a game off the GVSU bench,asshestartedjust one game in 2009-10. This season, Taylor has been a mainstay in the startinglineup(makingall 15 starts) and notched 13.7 points per game, placingher13thintheconference.Shehasalsoimprovedherfreethrowshooting,making79.4percentofherattemptsthisyear,upfrom57.1percent lastseason,andis12thintheleaguewith7.1reboundspergame. Taylor’stwinsister,Brittany,isfourthon theteaminscoring(6.8ppg.)andismaking52.4 percentofherfieldgoals,upfrom46.7percentlast year. In GVSU’s 77-62 victory at regional foe LewisonDec.11,theTaylorsistersnearlywonthe gamebythemselves.Brittanytotaledacareer-high (and Laker season-high) 25 points and eight rebounds,making12-of-20shotsin26minutes.Briaunawent9-of-18fromthefloorandnotched21
pointsandnineboards,givingtheTaylorduototals of46pointsand17reboundson21-of-38shooting fromthefield. Anothersophomore,guardLaurenStodola, leadstheLakerswithateam-high28.0minutesper gameandissecondontheteaminassists(32)and blocks(eight),whilerankingfourthinthree-pointers(11).ClassmateJessicaTrambley,a6’0”center, istiedforfifthontheteaminscoring(6.5ppg.)and shootinganeven50.0percentfromthefieldina dozengamesafterreturningfrominjury. Mix in a strong junior season from point guardJasminePadin,greatreboundingeffortsfrom seniorBizVanTiflin,andacouplepromisingperformances from freshmen and it is no wonder GVSUstartedtheyearwitha9-0recordandearned ashighasa#9nationalranking. Padinisputtingup10.2pointspergame, butmoreimportantlyranks first in the GLIAC in assists (5.6) and assist to turnoverratio(2.3),while her34stealsarealsomost intheconference.VanTiflin ranks seventh in the league with 7.7 rebounds pergameandissixthwith 5.1 defensive boards per contest. Head coach Janel Burgesshasdoneastrong jobofrotatingherplayers inandoutofgames,as10 Lakersareaveraging10.4 minutespergame,withthe five starters (Padin, Stelfox, Stodola, Briauna Taylor,VanTiflin)allnotchingatleast24minutes. Burgesswillneedthewholeteam-andthe sophomores(averaging47.0pointspergame),in particular-tocontinuetheirearlyseasonplayas theteamheadsdownthehomestretchtowardsthe postseason. Grand Valley State is home just twice in February.TheLakersbeginthemonthwithfour straightroadgamesbeforereturningtoAllendale forcontestsagainstFindlay(Feb.17,8:00p.m.)and WayneState (Feb.19,3:00p.m.).GVSUwillclose outtheregularseasonwitharoadfinaleatFerris StateonFeb.26beforegearingupfortheGLIAC TournamentonMarch2-6.
The five Laker sophomores averaged 47.0 points per game in GVSU’s 12-3 start.
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GVSU Baseball Season Preview by Tim Nott editor in chief
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he Grand Valley State baseball Joestartedateam-high12games,notchprogram has been among the ingfivecompleteoutingswith56strikemostsuccessfulintheDIIranks outsandjust21walks.Jablonski,whois since2000.TheLakershaveroutinely 19-6inhiscareer,limitedopponentstoa found themselves competing for the .292battingaverageand30earnedruns GreatLakesIntercollegiateAthleticCon- in 14 appearances. Junior RHP Cory ferencecrownandaberthintheNCAA Rademacher (DeWitt, Mich.) earned DII World Series. Head coach Steve Second-Team All-GLIAC honors as a Lyon,setforhis13thyearatthehelm,is sophomoreandisapreseasonall-region lookingformoreofthesamein2011. honoree. Rademacher was 5-2 with a The 2011 Lakers return seven 3.79 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched last positionstartersand11playersthatsaw season.Hetalliedfivecompletegames asignificantamountofplayingtimelast and51strikeoutsinhisninestartsonthe season.Inaddition,GVSUreturnsthree mound. Opponents recorded just 12 startingpitchersandonerelieverthattal- extra-base hits and 25 earned runs off lied a combined record of 23-9 a year Rademacher.JuniorRHPKyleSchepel ago. (GrandRapids,Mich./Christian)was6“Ireallylikethemakeupofthis 2withtwosavesinhis10startsand62.0 teamintermsofoverallapproachtothe inningspitchedlastseason.Schepel,who gameofbaseball,”saidLyon.“Wehave haspostedan11-3markinhiscareer, anicegroupofreturningpositionplayers notchedateam-best58strikeoutsin15 that started a significant number of appearances. Sophomore LHP pitcher gameslastseasonandalthoughwedon’t Brad Zambron (Rochester, Mich./ return a large number of pitchers, the BrotherRice)posteda4-2recordina pitcherswedoreturnhavealotofexpe- team-high22appearances,allinarelief rienceandsuccessonthehill.” role,asatruefreshman. Success Lyon on the diamond “I really like the makeup of willhavethe starts on the this team in terms of overall services of mound and the seven newapproach to the game of Lakers have a comers on strongnucleusto baseball.” head coach Steve Lyon the mound build around. for the 2011 LeadingthewaywillbeseniorRHPJoe campaign.Fivegainedexperienceatthe Jablonski(Temperance,Mich./Bedford) juniorcollegelevel,whileoneredshirted who earned first-team all-region and andonecouldseeactionasatruefreshFirst-TeamAll-GLIACplauditsasajun- man.RHPRyanGarman(CedarRapids, iorandentershisseniorcampaignwith Iowa/JohnsonCountyC.C.),RHPJake preseasonaccolades.Jablonskiwas8-3 Kent (Davenport, Iowa/Southeastern witha3.33ERAin81.0inningspitched C.C.), RHP Chris Whitney (Macomb, astheLakers’No.1starterayearago. Mich./Kellogg C.C.), RHP Jacob Cox
Cody Grace returns for his junior year after being the most productive batter for GVSU last season.
(Dowagiac,Mich./LakeMichiganC.C.) and LHP Brett Gwaltney (Rochester, Minn./Rochester C.C.) come in with qualitycredentialsandwillbeexpected to make significant contributions in 2011.LHPCodyWesterhuis(Allendale, Mich.)willtakethemoundafterredshirtingasatruefreshman,whilefellowlefty, BillyMaple(Kalamazoo,Mich./Vicksburg),couldseeactiononthehillduring hisfirstseasonwiththeLakers. “Wefeellikewehaveupgraded ourpitchingintermsofqualitystarters andoveralldepth,”saidLyon.“Wewere alittlethinondepthlastseasonandin the end that might have hindered our
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teamwhenweenteredthe GLIAC andNCAATournaments and played a number of games in a short period of time last season,”addedLyon. The Lakers must replace two individuals who earned postseason plaudits at first and second base in 2011, however, GVSU returns 11 position players, including seven starters, that playedasignificantamountofinnings lastspring. Highlightingthelistofreturnees is preseason All-American candidate CodyGrice(DeWitt,Mich.).Grice,who was a consensus first-team all-region choiceandaFirst-TeamAll-GLIAC performerasasophomorecenterfielderin 2010,turnedinoneofthemostproductive single-seasons in GVSU baseball history.Gricehit.455withaGrandValleyStatesingle-seasonrecord100hitsin 53gamesplayed.Codydrovein49runs, scored66runs,notched18doubles,five triplesandsixhomeruns.Inaddition, Gricetallieda.664sluggingpercentage,
a.506onbasepercentageandstole18 bases. “Codyturnedinanoutstanding sophomoreseasonandwasthecatalyst for us offensively as a leadoff hitter,” saidLyon.“Hisrolewillchangethisseasonaswewouldliketomovehiminto thethree-holeandtakeadvantageofhis abilitytodriveinruns,”statedLyon. JoiningGriceintheoutfieldwill bejuniorLFSteveAnderson(Northville, Mich.) and sophomore RF Chris Rudenga(SouthHolland,Ill.).Anderson, who garnered honorable mention AllGLIAC honorslastseason,hit.329with a team-high nine home runs. Steve recorded54hits,drovein32runsand scored 42 runs in 47 games played. Rudenga,whowassecondinthevoting for the GLIAC Freshman of the Year award, hit .338 with 48 hits, 34 runs scoredand31RBI.SeniorPaulYoung (London,Ont./GRCC)hit.325with37 hitsand29runsscoredin31starts. “Ireallyfeelwehaveoneofthe strongestcollectionofoutfieldersthatwe haveeverputonthefieldatGrandValley State,”addedLyon.“Thisgrouphasthe abilitytoproduceoffensively,butgiveus astrongdefensivepresenceaswell.” SeniorshortstopAndrewTrepel
(Joliet, Ill.) earned First-Team AllGLIAC honorsandwasanall-regionselectionlastseason.Trepelhit.360with 68hits,34runsscored,10doublesand fourhomerunsin50starts.Juniorthird basemanBrianRobinson(Troy,Mich.) earnedSecond-TeamAll-GLIAC honors asasophomore.Robinsonhit.441with 45hits,28runsscoredand25RBIin31 starts.Robinsonmissedthefinalthree weeksoftheseasonwithahandinjury. SeniorinfielderDanPonegalek(Bridgman, Mich./Lake Michigan C.C.) hit .397with25hits,16runsscoredand11 RBIin20starts,whilefellowseniorinfielder Cory Phillips (Bloomington, Ill./HeartlandC.C.)hit.267with21RBI. SeniorTorreAguirre(Rochester Hills,Mich./St.ClirC.C.)willbattlefor thestartingspotatfirstbasewithredshirt freshman Giancarlo Brugnoni (Grosse Pointe,Mich./DeLaSalle).Aguirrehit .436 in 18 starts as a DH and reserve first-baseman.Torre,whotallied34hits, scored 21 runs and drove in 15 runs, camethroughwithseveralkeyhitsfor the Lakers in the NCAA Midwest Regional.Brugnonistartedfourgamesbeforemissingtheremainderoftheseason withabrokenhand. Apairofjuniors,JaredCowan
(Davison,Mich.)andZachLaupp(Mattawan,Mich.)willhandlethedutiesbehindtheplate.Cowanhit.365with31 hits, 18 runs and 23 RBI in 26 starts, while Laupp hit .350 with 28 hits, 23 runsand20RBIin25starts. Junior transfer Garrett Yatch (Midland,Mich./KelloggC.C.)willtake overatsecondbase,whilejuniortransfer DerrikStrzalkowski(London,Ont./KelloggC.C.)willbattleforplayingtimeat firstbaseandcatcher.JuniorBlakeBatteast(SouthBend,Ind./GlenOaksC.C.)
thedepththatwehaveupthemiddleand at third base. We are a little inexperiencedatfirstandsecondbase,butIliked whatIsawinthefall.” Theschedulewillbechallenging asusual.TheLakerswillopentheseason at a national preseason tournament at LanderUniversityinGreenwood,S.C. GVSU will open February 11 versus Carson-Newman, followed by games versus Tampa (Feb. 12) and 2009 DII NationalChampionLynn(Feb.13).The Lakerswilltakeitsannualspringtripto FloridathefirstweekofMarchfor11 games, before opening the GLIAC portionoftheledgeratLakeErieCollege March 26. GVSU will play its first home game of the season Wednesday,April5vs.Hillsdale.The MidwestRegionwillbetoughasalwayswiththelikesofdefendingDII NationalChampionSouthernIndiana and perennial contenders Northern Kentucky,Indianapolis,Ashlandand WayneState. head coach Steve Lyon “Wewillhavetobereadytogo willprovidedepthintheoutfield. thatopeningweekend,”saidLyon.“We “Wehaveprovenplayersreturn- aregoingtobeplayingteamsthathave ing on the infield, including two that a history of playing for DII National haveearnedAll-GLIAChonorsinTrepel Championships and play in warm andRobinson,”saidLyon.“Ialsolike weatherclimates.”
“We are going to be playing teams that have a history of playing for DII National Championships and play in warm weather climates”
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QA &
Question
How big of a role do you thinkGrandValleyAthletics playsinthelivesofthestudentshereoncampus?The faculty?
Dr. Paul M. Leidig
Answer
Director & Professor School of Computing & Information Systems Assistant Dean Padnos College of Engineering & Computing Faculty Athletics Representative National Collegiate Athletic Association Question
AstheFacultyRepresentative fortheNCAA,whatareyourresponsibilities?
Answer
Hereisasynopsisoftheofficialdutiesofthejob: Ensure that student-athletes meetallNCAA,conferenceandinstitutionalrequirementsforeligibility forpractice,financialaidandintercollegiatecompetition. ApproveallWaiverrequests submittedtotheNCAAorGLIAC Arrange to have developed, periodicstatisticalreportsontheacademicpreparationandperformance of student-athletes. Be knowledgeableabouttheacademicpreparation andperformanceofeachsportsteam andupholdhighacademicstandards andexpectationsfortheseteammembers. Responsibleforinstitutional complianceactivitiesorresponsibilities. Beknowledgeableaboutthe NCAAandconferencerulesrelated to academic eligibility, transfer requirements,andrestrictionsandenforcementprocedures.Participate,or befullyinformedabout,institutional investigationsofallegationsofrules violations.Noinfractionsreporttoeither the NCAA or a conference shouldleavethecampusuntilithas beenreviewedbythefacultyathletics representative.Heorsheshouldplay amajoranddirectroleinmattersthat potentiallyinvolvemajorviolations ofNCAArules. Havedirectcontactwithstudent-athletesonasystematicandperiodic basis, participate in new student-athleteorientationactivities and should interact frequently with studentathleteadvisorycommittees.
Responsibletoadministerthe NCAAcoachesrecruitingcertificationtests. Responsible for NCAA or GLIAC scholarship applications or awardnominations. Beasenioradvisoroutsideof theathleticsdepartmenttothechief executiveofficeronmattersrelatedto intercollegiate athletics. Together, withthedirectorofathletics,thefaculty athletics representative should formulate and recommend institutionalpositionsonNCAAlegislation andothermattersaffecting,orrelated to, intercollegiate athletics on the campus. Represent the institution to the NCAA and to athletics conferences. Be an active member of the campus intercollegiate athletics board. ReportstothePresidentand providesanannualreportofactivities to the President,Academic Senate, andtheIntercollegiateAthleticsAdvisoryBoard.
travel as an accreditation evaluator forcomputingprograms,servingon national advisory boards, or for NCAArelatedactivities.AstheFAR, I try to attend athletic competition events, or practices, and talk with coachesoradministrators.
Question
What's the most rewarding partofworkingwithAthletics?
Answer
No question, the most rewardingpartofworkingwithAthletics is getting to know the students, coaches,andadministratorsonapersonallevel.Wehaveamazingpeople hereatGrandValley,andthemore yougettoknowthem,themorerewardingourjobis.Ireceivejoyseeing our student-athletes receive a national scholarship or award and recognition.IfIcanhavearolehelpingmakethathappen,itmakesmy jobmuchmorerewarding.
Question
Explainalittlebitabouthowyougot tobewhereyouaretodayandhow you became involved with GVSU Question Describe what a typical day Athletics. Answer lookslikeforyou. IcametoGVSUin1991asanAssisAnswer Ihaveahardtimedescribing tantProfessorofComputerScience a"typical"day,aseachoneseemsto andInformationSystems.Tenyears haveaverydifferentlistofactivities. ago,IwasnamedtheChairofthedeHowever,onanygivenday,Icould partment,andlaternamedtheFoundbe meeting with faculty about cur- ing Director of the new School of riculumissues,oraboutsupporting ComputingandInformationSystems. theirresearchandteachingneeds.I The person who initially recruited often meet with students who have andhiredme,Dr.DonaldVanderJagt, specialadvisingorpermitsthatthey servedasmypredecessorasGVSU's mightneed.MostdaysIambooked FacultyAthleticsRepresentative.He inmeetingswithotheracademicunits oftenexplainedhisroletomeandI aboutprogramchangesoradminis- founditquitefascinating.Whenhe trativediscussions,orIamoffcam- wasnearingretirementandnolonger pusmeetingwithindustrypartnersor abletoserveastheFAR,thenPresidonors.IncreasinglyIaminvolvedin dentMarkMurraynamedmetothe position. • 11
Althoughnotallofourathleticteamshave13,000fans turn out to support them, I often see students attend eventsinwhichtheirfriends or roommates are competing.Ithinkthesuccessthat ourstudent-athleteshavehad athleticallyprovidesasense of accomplishment and recognitionasanentirecampus community, and that adds to the outstanding accomplishments that all students, faculty, and staff have. Nationalrecognitionofourathletic success, and the awareness of who GVSUis,hasprovidedabenefitto thestudentsonthiscampus,faculty as they interact with colleagues aroundthenation,andinattractingan evenhigherqualityofstudentsand faculty.Soatleastindirectly,Iattributesomeofourbroadersuccessand accomplishmentsatGrandValley,to therecognitionthatwehavereceived athletically.
Question
Whyisitimportantthatthe facultyatGVSUbeinvolvedwiththe AthleticDepartment?
Answer
Atmostinstitutions,andespecially here at Grand Valley, studentsareheretoreceiveadegreeand prepare for a career. Competing in athleticsprovidesbothafocusedand disciplined environment that helps studentlearnwhatittakestobesuccessful.Thatappliesnotonlytoathletics,butevenmoresotoacademics, andlifeskillsingeneral.Thesestudent athletes put in an amazing amountoftimeandeffortbothinthe classroom,andintheirsport,inorder tobesuccessfulatboth.Asambassadorsorrepresentativesoftheuniversity while competing, they are helpingdefineandtelltheGrandValleysuccessstory.Ithinkitisnotonly the responsibility of all faculty to know what their students are involvedinonbehalfoftheuniversity, butalsotosupportandworkwiththe student to accommodate that joint role.Inaddition,thedisciplinethat the athletics program provides our studentsacademically,helpsfaculty inbeingabletobesuccessfulinthe classroom.Iwouldhopeallfaculty takeapartinthatprocess.
by DJ Foster staff writer
Balance and Depth Push Lakers to Another Successful Start
L
ate in January, the Lakers owneda13-3overallrecord, was8-1inGLIACplayanda perfect 9-0 at Fieldhouse Arena. However, the Lakers had just one player ranked in the top-30 of the conferenceinscoring(seniorJustin Ringlerwas16thwith13.7pointsper game) and one player listed in the top-20oftheGLIACinrebounding (again Ringler and again 16th with 5.5boardspergame).Whilethismay seemtobeaproblemthattheLakers arebuiltondepthandnotindividual dominance, that is clearly a team strengthandnotaweakness. While Ringler was the lone Laker averaging double figures in scoring, Grand Valley State had an astonishingnineplayersputtingupat least five points per game, which helpsillustratehowGVSUwassecondintheconferenceinscoring,despitejustone“elite”scorer. Head coach Ric Wesley is lookingmorelikeanNHL coachin thewayhesubstitutesdifferentshifts ofplayersonandoffthecourt.The onlydifferencebetweenaLakerbasketballgameandaGriffinshockey gamemaybethetemperatureinside thearenaandthelackofazamboni. Wesleyutilizesaconsistentrotation of 10 players, basically breaking downtheteamintoapairoffive-man shifts.All10playerswereaveraging at least 14 minutes per game, with onlyfourLakersseeingmorethan20 minutespercontest. Thatmayseemlikeapotential problem in the difficult task of jugglingminutes,buttheoldsaying of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” clearly applies here. Through the opening 16 games of the season, Grand Valley State was beating its opponents by an average of +21.2 pointspergame,easilythetopmark intheconference,oversixpointsper game more than nationally-ranked HillsdaleandFindlay. TheLakershavebeenasolid roadteamin2010-11,withthehighlight being a three-game sweep of Northwood,NorthernMichigan,and MichiganTechfromDec.9-19,winningthethreegamesbyeight,nine,
Justin Ringler and the Lakers face a daunting February schedule as they play for a postseason berth. When GVSU returns home forapairofgamesinmid-February, it will arguably be for two of the team’sbiggestcontestsoftheseason. The Lakers will take on Findlay at 6:00p.m.onFeb.17inwhatcould possibly be a match-up of top-10 teams.GVSUhasbeenrankedinthe top-20 all season long and Findlay hasyettodipoutofthetop-10,includingoneweekasthe#1teamin andninepoints,respectively. WhereGrandValleyStateis thecountry. TheonlyreasonthattheOilreallydoingitsdamage,however,is the friendly confines of Fieldhouse ersfelloutofthetoprankinginthe Arena.Thisshouldcomeasnosur- nation was because Findlay was prisetoloyalLakerfans,asGVSUis shockedontheroadina91-68drubanastonishing102-9athomeinthe bingtoWayneStateinearlyJanuary. lastsevenseasonswithWesleyatthe TheWarriorsthenwentontodefeat helm,whichisanincredible91.9per- anotherundefeatedopponentintheir centageinfrontofthehomecrowd. verynextgame,winningeasilyat#4 It is hard to tell which statistic is more outstanding when talking about the Lakers’ success at home this year. In its first nine home games, GVSU waswinningbyanaverage of 32.9 points per game and the team’s closestgamewasa9274 win over Saint Joseph’s,thedefending Hillsdale by a 66-52 score. Wayne MidwestRegionalchampion. After the schedule-makers State nearly knocked off Findlay were kind to the Lakers in January again in its next game (playing the withfivehomegames,justoneroad Oilerstwiceinaseven-dayspan,due game, and a neutral-site “home toanoddschedulingquirk),butfell game” at Van Andel Arena for the byjusttwopoints(73-71)andhaving 131ShowdownagainstFerrisState, alast-secondthree-pointattemptto GVSUwillspendadecentportionof winthegamemissitstarget. What does that all mean to Februaryinabus.GrandValleyState opensupthemonthwitharoadtrip Grand Valley State? The Warriors, toSaginawValleyStateandLakeSu- normallyadecenttoaboveaverage perior State (Feb. 3-5) and travels conferenceopponent,nowlooktobe overtoOhiototakeonAshlandand aforceintheGLIAC,asfourteams (GVSU,WayneState,Findlay,HillsLakeErie(Feb.10-12).
dale)allhadjustoneleaguelossasof mid-January. The Lakers and Warriors will square off on Feb. 19 at 1:00p.m.inahugehomegamefor GrandValleyStateandthesecondlastregularseasongameoftheyear. GVSUwillneedtoturntoits productive bench and 10-man rotation late in the season, when the schedulecontinuestoprovidewear andtearoneveryteam.ButtheLakers,asmuchasanyteam,looklike they’llbeabletowithstandthenormal rigors of a long season. Grand Valley State has had 10 different playersscoreatleast10pointsina game this season and six different playershaveledtheLakersinscoring inagame,includingRinglerwhohas done so eight times. Aside from Ringler,afoursomeofLakerguards - James Thomas (9.5 ppg.), Alvin Storrs(8.9),WesTrammell(8.6),and BrelandHogan(6.8)-haveallproven to shoot the ball and score well enoughtohelpcarryGVSU. Combinethoseguyswithan interestingcentercombinationofredshirt freshman Asauhn Tatum and junior transfer Nick WaddellandtheLakershaveoptionsdown low, as well. 6’11” Tatum is a long and lean youngster that leadstheentireleague with36blockedshots, whichincludedseven rejectionsagainstLake SuperiorStateonJan. 8.Waddell,at6’6”and 285 pounds, uses his muscle and post movestobullyhiswayto8.8points agameandeightdouble-digitscoring efforts,tiedwithTrammellforsecond-mostontheteam. AnotherconstantofaWesleycoached team is GVSU’s defense, whichranksfirstintheleagueat57.6 pointspergameandfirstindefensive fieldgoalpercentage(37.2percent). GrandValleyStatehasallowedless than40pointsthreetimesthisseason, includingonly38pointsinback-toback games against Lake Superior StateandNorthwood.
GVSU is a terrific 102-9 at Fieldhouse Arena in the last seven seasons u n d e r We s l e y.
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PLAYER PROFILES GVSU has Why did you choose an amazing athletic program to become a Laker? and they provide all the tools needed for success on the track and in the classroom. Favorite athlete to Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers watch in another sport?
QUINTON
DENNIS year
SENIOR major
HUMAN RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT hometown
LANSING, MI sport
TRACK & FIELD
My HS coach, Rex Wilkes, Jr. He was with me every step of the way providing encouragement, coaching, and really developed my love for the pole vault.
Who has made the biggest impact on your sports career?
GVSU was the right fit for me both academically and athletically. This was the place for me to grow and be challenged. Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls My brother. Anytime I felt frustrated or discouraged due to track, he has always reminded me to never give up and stay focused.
Will Smith Who should play you Sandra Bullock in a movie? I see myself having started my career and starting a family. Pole vault is a huge part of my life now and I’m positive it will be then as well.
Chicken Wings Star Wars Sunday Mornin’ by Brian Bromberg
Detroit Pistons MGT432 I’m not a cold weather being
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
FAVORITE... Food Movie Song
Having a successful career and maybe starting a family far from Michigan; it is way too cold here.
B L A C K year
JUNIOR major
Ben & Jerry’s Love and Basketball One Sweet Day by Boyz II Men
Sports Team Winter Class Snow Sport
SERENA
Miami Heat Movement 101 Tubing
C L I N I C A L
EXERCISE SCIENCE hometown
POR TAGE, MI sport
TRACK & FIELD
Spirit. Style. Tradition. Go Lakers! Shop and Save at UBS
20% off
One (1) GVSU Jacket Expires 2-28-11 Expires: 1-30-11 *This coupon is not valid with any other discounts or sales. One coupon per customer, per purchase, per day. In-store purchases only.
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CALENDAR FEB. 2
FEB. 11-12
FEB. 18
FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY Checkoutgvsulakers.comtofind moreinformationonthe2011 FootballSigningDay.
FEB. 9-12
SWIMMING & DIVING GLIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS TheLakerswimminganddivingteams willtraveltoJenisonHighSchoolto competeatthe2011GreatLakesIntercollegiateAthleticConferece(GLIAC) ChampionshipsstartingonFeb.9at 5:30p.m.Themen’steamclaimedthe conferencetrophylastyear,whilethe women’steamplacedsecond.
GVSU BIG MEET TheLakertrackandfieldteams willhostoneofthebiggest meetsinthemidwesttheweekendofFeb.11-12.Themeetwill showcasesomeoftheelitetalentsfromnumerouscolleges, alongwithprofessionalathletes. Themeetwillgetunderwayat noononFridayandwillresume Saturdayat9:30a.m.atthe LakerTurfBuilding.
GVSU TUNE UP Track&Fieldat4:00p.m. LakerTurfBuilding
FEB. 17
FEB. 19
BASKETBALL vs. FINDLAY MBBat6:00p.m. WBBat8:00p.m. GVSUFieldhouseArena
BASKETBALL vs. WAYNE STATE MBBat1:00p.m. WBBat3:00p.m. GVSUFieldhouseArena
Forticketscall616-331-3200.
SANDRA’S SNAPSHOT
SandraJenningsisanAdministrativeAssistantintheathleticdepartment.
“ C o l d Wa r m t h ” • 14
F
Y R A U EBR
What award would you win at the ESPY’s? For Valentine’s Day... Roses or Chocolate? I f y o u w rote a b o o k , w hat would b e t h e t itle?
Best ‘bromance’ in sports? Super Bowl XLV or NBA All-Star Weekend 2011?
Lauren Stodola Jordan Schrotenboer Women’s Basketball Jenison, Mich.
Best Team - GV Women’s Basketball
Chocolate “Top Ten Tips for College Athletes”
Men’s Swimming & Diving Holland, Mich.
Best Beard Chocolate: I’m not going to waste money on flowers... lol
“The Guide to Eating at Fresh Food”
Michael Jordan & Joe Sayre & Aaron Marken Scottie Pippen (2 members of the swim team) SuperBowl,because thegameactually meanssomething
Not too interested, but I guess I would rather watch the Super Bowl
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Erin Kinney
Breland Hogan
Women’s Swimming & Diving Grand Rapids, Mich.
Men’s Basketball Detroit, Mich.
Reddest Face
Best Dunk of the Year
ROSES
“I Love Louie”
Chocolate
“Dreaming”
IDK!!!
Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen
SuperBowlXLV
N B A A l l -S t a r Weekend
by DJ Foster staff writer
T
heGreatLakesIntercollegiate AthleticConference(GLIAC) announceditsFall2010Commissioner'sAwardrecipientsonTuesday(Jan.11),inareleasefromthe league office. Six male and six femalestudent-athletesearnedthisspecial distinction that was given to athletesthatexcelbothintheclassroomandonthefieldofplay.Grand ValleyStatehadfourstudent-athletes named as Commissioner's Award winners, including soccer player Kristen Eible and volleyball player RebeccahRapinonthewomen'sside andfootballplayerZachBreenand cross country runnerAnthony Witt earningtheawardonthemen'sside. "I am truly proud of the 12 student-athletes who were awarded the Commissioner's Award," said GLIAC Commissioner Dell Robinson. "Their hard work in the classroom and on the field is a true exampleofthestandardofexcellence that has been set amongst our student-athletes here in the GLIAC. They are truly the best of the best. TheGLIACgreatlyappreciatesthe supportofMeijerfortheirsponsorship of the 2010 Commissioner's Award. The award and continued supportbyMeijerisevidenceofour pursuitofacademicexcellence." Eible, a senior midfielder, wasamajorpartoftheNCAADivision II National Champions, as theLakersoccer team recorded back-to-back National Championships. She helped lead GVSUtoa22-1-2overallrecordthis season,whichfeatureda12-1-2mark inGLIACplay.Eiblestartedin23of theLakers'25matchesandplayeda totalof1,976minutes,asshetallied twogoalsandsixassistsfor10total points.Namedinthepreseasonasa teamcaptain,Eiblewashonoredasa FirstTeamAll-GLIACselectionand wasaNationalSoccerCoachesAssociation of America (NSCAA) AllAmericaScholar-Athleteforherhard
Four Lakers Earn GLIAC Commissioners’ Award workintheclassroom.Eibleholdsa 3.90cumulativegradepointaverage whilemajoringineducation.During her four-year career, Grand Valley Statepostedanastoundingrecordof 87-3-7 (.933), making her senior classthemostsuccessfulclassinthe program'shistory. Rapin, a senior middle blocker,wasnamedanAmericanVolleyballCoaches Association (AVCA) First TeamAll-America selection while leading GVSU in kills (380), hitting percentage(.344),totalblocks(140), andblocksolos(26)enroutetoa267 record and an NCAA Elite Eight berth.ShewashonoredastheDaktronicsMidwestRegionPlayerofthe YearandisjustthesecondLakerin program history to earn FirstTeam All-GLIAClaurelsinthreestraight seasons.AlsoanAVCAAll-Midwest Regionselection,Rapinfinishedher stellarfour-yearcareerasGrandValleyState'salltimeleaderin total blocks (525) and block assists (437), while ranking seventh in Laker historyinkills (1,364) and total attacks (3,184) and eighth in hitting percentage (.317). Owning a 3.88 grade point average in marketing, Rapin surpassed 300 kills for the fourthstraight season and wassecondin theGLIACin total blocks
andblocksperset(1.25),thirdinhittingpercentage,sixthinkillsperset (3.39) and sixth in points per set (4.16). Breen, a junior defensive back,earnedFirstTeamAll-GLIAC honors and was named to the CoSIDA AllAcademic District IV First Team.Heranked second on the Grand Valley State defense in totaltackleswithacareer-high101 stops. Breen tallied eight or more tacklesseventimesduringthe2010 season,whilealsorecording8.5tacklesforlossand3.5quarterbacksacks. InhelpingleadGVSUtotheNCAA DivisionIIplayoffsforarecord-setting10thstraightseason,Breenrecoveredtwofumblesandtalliedone interception.GrandValleyStatefinishedthe2010seasonwithan11-2 recordandclaimeditssixth-straight GLIACchampionship.Breenisthe ownerofa3.65gradepointaverage
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inbiomedicalscience. Witt,ajuniorrunner,helped the Laker cross country team to its best-ever finish attheDivisionII National Championship meet, as he recorded theteam'shighest finish, placing 15th with a timeof31:13.0.Hisperformanceled GVSU to a third-place team finish after the Lakers claimed both their ninth straight GLIAC and Midwest Regionaltitles.Witt'stimeattheNational Championship meet earned himUnitedStatesTrack&Fieldand CrossCountryCoachesAssociation (USTFCCCA) All-America status. The junior was named the GLIAC RunneroftheYearforcrossingthe finishlinefirstattheconferencemeet (24:47.4) and earned All-Midwest RegionFirstTeamlaurelsforfinishing second at the regional championship.Wittisapre-medicalmajor andholdsa3.82gradepointaverage.
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