GVSports Monthly Magazine

July 2011

Greg Brown Tim Selgo GVSU Athletic Director

Tom O’Toole USA Today

C.E.O. Learfield Communications

August 2011 Volume 3, Issue 1

IN THIS ISSUE 4

5

8

Eighth Straight Director’s Cup

Athletics

Three for Three Women’s Track & XC

By: Tim Nott editor in chief

national championships in 2010-11.

By: DJ Foster staff writer

GVSU cross country/track & field win three

Women’s Tennis records its first undefeated regular season in 2010-11.

6

7

14

5 Things

Building Dedication

Baseball

To Know About Coaching Throwers

GVSU Unveils the Kelly Family Sports Center.

Cody Grice Drafted by the New York Yankees.

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 1

Q&A

with Charlie Read

6

News in Brief

10

The Green Zone

13

Player Profiles

15

The Grid

16

Sandra’s Snapshot

Tim Nott Doug Lipinski Doug Witte Christine Carson Courtney Zudweg DJ Foster, Kyle Scherwin PRINTER Jenison Printing CONTRIBUTORS Janine Freeman, Adam Ingraham, Sandra Jennings, Sharon Kowalczyk, GVSU Sports Information

EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR ASSISTING EDITOR ADVERTISING DIRECTOR STAFF WRITERS

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, Fieldhouse

Senior Allie Tyler helped the Lakers to a sixth place finish in the NCAA Golf Championships that were held at The Meadows Golf Course in May. Photo courtesy Doug Witte

Former GVSU and current Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly speaks to a crowd of over 400 at the dedication of the Kelly Family Sports Center on June 25 at GVSU. Photo courtesy Doug Witte

QUESTION & ANSWER

Charlie Read ti cket a nd reta i l s erv i ces d i rector

-QTell us about your background and how you ended up at Grand Valley?

-AWhen I started college here at Grand Valley State, I really had no idea what I wanted to do as a career. I had always loved sports, but I had never really thought or knew anything about the business side of sports. So I decided that accounting would be the way to go because I felt it was the best way for me to get a job after graduation. It took two years and a couple of accounting classes to realize that I could never go into accounting. The turning point came when I took the Sports Promotion class taught

by Doug Lipinski, GVSU Associate Athletic Director for Marketing. That class really opened my eyes to the possibilities of working in and around sports. I always believed that if you loved what you do, you’ll never “work” a day in your life. I loved sports, so I contacted him about a possible internship, which is how I ended up here.

-QTell us a little about your time at Grand Valley before you became the ticket and retail services director?

-AI started as a marketing intern, which lasted through my senior year of college. Upon graduation, I enrolled in the MBA program here at GVSU and was able to stay within the marketing department as a graduate assistant which mainly dealt with event planning and corporate

relations. After graduating with my MBA, I became a full-time staff member and oversaw the launch of Louie’s Locker Room, our gameday reatil store.

-QAs the ticket and retail services director, what are your main responsibilities?

-AMy main responsibilities are summed up pretty well with my job title. I oversee all aspects of the ticket operation for athletics with a focus on all ticket sales: E-Ticketing, ticket packages, group ticket sales and football season tickets.

My ticketing responsibilities also entail overseeing the ticket staff to ensure our fans receive excellent service. The other half of my position is tied to Louie’s Locker Room, the merchandising arm of Grand Valley State Atheltics. I am responsible for the operation of Louie’s Locker Room which includes venue and website sales, along with overseeing the Louie’s Locker Room staff.

-QWhat are the different ways fans can go about getting their tickets to athletic events?

-AWe have gone through some exciting and significant changes in relation to how our fans, and students, can get their ticket/s to our sporting events. First, fans, including students, will be able to get tickets to GVSU Athletic events at both University Bookstore locations on the Allendale and DeVos campuses. Second, we have dove head first into online ticketing. Fans, students, and faculty/staff will be able to secure tickets to our athletic events at our website, www.gvsutickets.com. Students will be able to get their 1 free ticket to any sporting event and GVSU faculty/staff will be able to purchase their discounted tickets (GVSU F/S receive a 50% discount on tickets), online. The most exciting part of our online ticketing is our fans will have the options to print their tickets at home or even have the tickets sent to their smartphone. Fans will still be able to get tickets by calling or stopping by the Athletic Ticket Office inside the Fieldhouse arena and purchasing tickets at the event.

-QIf fans are interested in purchasing authentic GVSU Sports gear, where can they find it?

-A•4

Louie’s Locker Room is the official Merchandise Retailer for GVSU Athletics and is the first place our fans should look for authentic GVSU Athletic gear. There are 3 ways fans can shop at Louie’s Locker Room. First is our gameday locations. At football, Louie’s Locker Room has locations inside and outside of Lubbers Stadium on gamedays that fans can shop at. During the basketball season, Louie’s Locker Room has a location inside the Fieldhouse Arena. Louie’s Locker Room will also be at various other GVSU sporting events, including volleyball, soccer, track & field, etc.

A second place fans can find authentic GVSU merchandise is at the Allendale UBS location.

The last place that fans can shop at Louie’s Locker Room is on the web. Fans will no longer have to wait for gameday or come to campus to find authentic GVSU athletic apparel. In July, we will be launching our webstore, www.louieslockerroom.com, which will also be the official team store on www.gvsulakers.com.

-QWhat have been some of the highlights during your time at GVSU? -AWow, that is a tough question. There are so many different things and memories from my time here that it makes it difficult to pinpoint any that stand out. If I had to choose I would say one of my favorite memories is the first ever Chuck-a-Palooza (which is now Mitch-aPalooza). Former Head Football Coach Chuck Martin really gave us the idea to have a midnight madness event for football; however, I don’t think he expected us to take it and run with it. Before the event I really thought Chucka-Palooza would either be a smashing success or a complete dud. We put a ton of work into coordinating this unique event, but it was still a football practice at midnight. It turned out to be an unforgettable night with about 1,000 people and is now an annual event.

-QWhat do you enjoy most about your job?

-AThe answer to this question can be summed up with one word: everything. Working around sports, with great people, and in a fun and challenging position; it doesn’t get much better than that.

Grand Valley State Wins Eighth Straight Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Title

By Tim Nott via gvsulakers.com

G

All eight of GVSU’s Directors’ Cup Trophies reside in the Fieldhouse Arena Lobby at GVSU.

rand Valley State claimed top honors in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings for the eighth consecutive year it was announced today by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in Orlando, Fla. Grand Valley State scored a DII record 1,057.50 points, outdistancing second-place Central Missouri (779.75) by 277.75 points. Augustana (S.D.) finished third (761.50), Abilene Christian (Tex.) fourth (718.00) and Adams State (Colo.) fifth (696.00). Ashland finished ninth (624.00) as the GLIAC was the only DII league in the country to have two teams finish in the top 10. The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup trophy, which is commonly known as the all-sports trophy, is presented to the top athletic department in the country. The scoring system is based on the national finishes of seven men's and seven women's sports.

"This is an accomplishment that really reflects on the quality of the student-athletes, coaches and support staff we have at Grand Valley State," said athletic director, Tim Selgo. "This is a school award and we are proud to represent Grand Valley State University," added Selgo.

GVSU finished with 1057.50 points and was able to tally points in the maximum of 14 sports (7 men's,

try, fifth in volleyball, sixth in women's golf, seventh in both baseball and men's swimming and diving, ninth in football, softball, women's tennis and women's swimming & diving. The men's outdoor track & field team finished 16th, while the men's indoor team claimed 20th.

Men's golf was 21st and women's basketball was 33rd. GVSU did not count the points scored by softball (64), women's tennis (64) and women's basketball (25). Grand Valley State also claimed six NCAA DII Great Lakes Regional crowns.

GVSU's eight Learfield Sports Directors' Cup titles are tops among all NCAA DII school's and the 2010-11 campaign marked the fourth straight year that Grand Valley State has eclipsed the 1,000-point total. GVSU now owns the top six point totals in DII Directors' Cup totals.

Grand Valley State also claimed the GLIAC's President's Cup for the 13th straight year, winning 12 GLIAC Championships.

Directors’ Cup Rankings Fall Sports Sport . . . . . . . . . . . National Finish W Cross Country . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Soccer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st M Cross Country . . . . . . . . . . . . 3rd Volleyball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5th Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9th Winter Sports W Track & Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st M Swimming & Diving . . . . . . . . 7th W Swimming & Diving . . . . . . . . 9th M Track & Field . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th W Basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33rd

7 women's). The Lakers placed a total of 17 teams in postseason play during the 2010-11 academic year, with a Spring Sports record 13 teams finishing in the top W Track & Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st 10 nationally. In addition, four teams W Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6th claimed NCAA DII National ChamBaseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7th pionships (women's soccer, women's Softball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9th cross country, women's indoor track W Tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9th & field and women's outdoor track & M Track & Field . . . . . . . . . . . . 16th field) and the Lakers became the first M Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21st school in NCAA history, regardless of division, to win the National Championship three-peat of women's cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field in the same academic year.

GVSU used consistency throughout each season, collecting 411.00 points in the fall, 292.00 points in the winter and 354.50 points in the spring. The Laker women scored 615.50 points, while the men scored 442.00 points.

GVSU averaged 72.50 points per sport, including an incredible 87.92 points per women's sport. The GVSU men averaged 63.14 points per sport.

In addition to the four National ChampiAthletic director Tim Selgo (left) led GVSU to its first Directors’ Cup Title in 2003-04 onships, GVSU finished after finishing second in 2001-02 and 02-03. third in men's cross coun•5

NEWS IN BRIEF Single Game Tickets are on Sale GVSU Football single game tickets are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.gvsutickets.com or by calling 616-3313200. Season tickets are still on sale, Packages start at just $60 for six games.

Website Redesign Visit gvsulakers.com to check out the new look of the website.

Laker Alerts Would you like to receive GVSports Magazine in your email box each month? Get a copy of GVSports sent directly to you by signing up for Laker Alerts. Go to www.gvsulakers.com and click on the Laker Alert icon on the main page and you’ll get a digital copy of the mag sent to your email.

Matt Mitchell Website Check out Mattmitchellgvsu.com the official site of head football coach Matt Micthell.

Marketing and Promotions Earns Awards The winners were presented their awards during NACMA’s 20th Annual Convention in June .

Grand Valley State University’s athletic marketing office earned awards in seven of the sixteen categories. GVSU won one gold award, three silver awards and three bronze awards. Since

5

T HINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GVSU THROWERS

BY CORY YOUNG,

TRACK AND FIELD

Throwers happen to be some of the best athletes on the entire track team.

Most people do not realize that throwers are some of the fastest and most explosive athletes on the track team, and maybe the entire athletic department. We have athletes that are capable of running faster than some of our sprinters and are able to jump higher than some high jumpers.

In the past 5 years we have had throwers that have beaten our top sprinters in 30m dashes and also jumped onto the 52” box.

Its not just about brute force.

Throwing is one of, if not the most technical event groups for the entire track team. We have 5 events: the discus, shot put, hammer/weight throw, and javelin. We spend many hours and countless amounts of throws throughout the season to perfect and hone each technique.

Throwing things far is just plain fun.

With each event the distance someone is able to throw is very different. We have had athletes that have thrown 20lb weights 67 feet, 16lb shots 63 feet, a 2 kilo discus 207 feet, and 4 kilo and 16lb hammers over 200ft. Having the ability to throw that far is great and the feeling of something flying from your hands is an awesome feeling.

We aren’t in the weight room lifting for the fun of it.

Our throwers are in the weight room anywhere from 1-2 hours 3-4 times a week. Our philosophy is that what we do in the weight room must translate into our throws and technique. Whether it is doing Olympic lifts like the clean and snatch, or plate twists and single leg step-ups, they will all transfer into our technique and throws.

2006, GVSU has taken home 34 NACMA awards. (eight gold, 15 sivler, 11 bronze) GVSU Lakers Fan Page Become a fan of Grand Valley State Athletics on Facebook! You can find the fan page at www.facebook.com/gvsulakers, or search “Grand Valley State Lakers”. Check out the new tabs for “Laker Update” and “sports” to get all the latest updates on GVSU athletics, along with interactive content such as videos and photos.

Not your average team The Laker throwers accounted for 4 individual national titles as well as 12 all-american honors during the 10-11 seasons. The women throwers accounted for 41% of the points towards the indoor and outdoor national championships.

•6

GVSU Unveils The Kelly Family Sports Center

T

he Kelly Family Sports Center was unveiled today in a building dedication ceremony on the campus of Grand Valley State University. The Kelly Family Sports Center, formerly known as the Laker Turf Building, opened for operation in the fall of 2008. Brian Kelly, the current head football coach at Notre Dame, was the head football coach at Grand Valley State for 13 years (19912003), leading the Lakers to a 118-35-2 mark with two NCAA DII Football National Championships (2002 and 2003).

The Kelly Family Sports Center dedication was held before an overflow crowd of more than 400 family, friends and supporters at the Kelly Family Sports Center.

In addition to Kelly's sterling 11835-2 overall mark, he guided the Lakers to a 103-22-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record. Brian guided GVSU to five GLIAC titles, six NCAA DII playoff appearances and his teams won eight or more games 10 times during his 13-year career. Kelly tutored 60 AllAmericans, including a single-season record 11 All-Americans during the 2002 championship season. Brian led GVSU to the NCAA DII National Championship

By Tim Nott via gvsulakers.com game in 2001, followed by back-to-back DII National Championships in 2002 and 2003. Kelly, who was named the American Football Coaches Association DII National Coach of the Year twice (2002-03), turned GVSU into an offensive machine as his 2001 squad averaged 58.4 points and 600.8 yards per game.

Grand Valley. Brian was an assistant football coach and Paqui worked in the Financial Aid Office where she served as a financial aid counselor from 1989-1992.

Paqui received her master's degree in education from Grand Valley in 1998.

Patrick, Grace and Kenzel, the three Kelly children, were born while Brian was the head football coach at "This is a tremendous honor to have our family GVSU and enjoyed parname adorn such an impressive building that serves ticipating in campus acwith their multiple departments on the campus." -Brian Kelly tivities parents.

"This is a tremendous honor to Grand Valley State President have our family name adorn such an im- Thomas J. Haas said Brian Kelly made pressive building that serves multiple de- great contributions to the success of Laker partments on the campus," said Kelly. athletics and also Grand Valley State Uni"Grand Valley State will always have a versity. special place in the hearts of Paqui and I "His teams and victories helped because of our history with the school and establish the future of athletics for Grand the way the community embraced our Valley," Haas said. "So it is only fitting family. Many of our fondest memories that this building, which serves all our stustem from our time at Grand Valley and it dents, should be named for the Kelly famis truly an honor for all of us to be associ- ily." ated with the university in this way," added The Kelly Family Sports Center Kelly. is a 138,000 square foot building that The entire Kelly family made an houses a regulation football field, a siximpact at GVSU as Brian and his wife, lane, 300-meter track, all of the amenities Paqui, met while both were employed at for field events, batting cages that drop

•7

from the ceiling, an athletic training room, lockerrooms, multi-purpose rooms, classrooms, bleacher seating for 800 in the grandstand and bleachers on the field level for another 260 spectators. In addition to intercollegiate athletics, the movement science department, campus recreation/intramurals and club sports also use the facility.

"Our success in Laker Athletics can be directly attributed to the standards set by Brian Kelly during his coaching tenure at Grand Valley State University," said Tim Selgo, GVSU's Director of Athletics. "Brian and Paqui have continued to express their support and love for GVSU wherever Brian's career has taken them.

We are honored to dedicate and name this facility for the Kelly family."

Kelly, who was inducted into the Grand Valley State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009, was the head coach at Central Michigan for three years (2004-06) and the University of Cincinnati for three years (2007-09) after leaving Grand Valley State. He led the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame to an 8-4 mark in his first year at the helm in 2010.

Grand Valley State Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Finish A Perfect 3-For-3 in 2010-11

C

all it a hat trick, a trifecta, or point that Baltes was named the Na- of Katherine McCarthy and Megan Nowak (27th) helped close out the the triple crown. Whatever tional Coach of the Year in all three Maceratini each registered top-10 fin- scoring for the Lakers. All five runyou call it, the Grand Valley women’s sports: cross country, indoor ishes, with McCarthy placing fourth ners (plus Monica Kinney and Jessie State women’s running programs track and field, and outdoor track and overall with a time of 21:10.6. Mac- Vickers) earned All-America status.

“Winning the championship eratini crossed the finish line with a (cross country, indoor track and field, field.

Baltes’ top two assistants also time of 21:34.3 for her top-10 tally. in Louisville was special because we and outdoor track and field) completed the feat at the end of May, as received some befitting acknowl- GVSU, which scored 66 points to were fortunate to share it with so many people,” Baltes comLaker head coach Jerry Baltes and his edgement. Joe Lynn was tabbed Women’s Indoor Track & Field mented. “Our entire team was staff coached GVSU to its third Divi- as the National Men’s Track Mar. 11-12 in Albuquerque, New Mexico there to add to the excitement, sion II National Championship in the and Field Assistant Coach of 1st - GVSU - 83 points (32-point win) our administration was present, the Year, while Cory Young 2010-11 school year.

1st - Monica Kinney (Mile) - 10 points our volleyball team was at the Not only did the Lakers cap- earned National Women’s 1st Monica Kinney (500m run) 10 points meet cheering us on, and a ture their third national title of the Track and Field Assistant 1st - Lauren Buresh (Shot put) - 10 points handful of alums, parents, and year with a 14.5-point margin of vic- Coach of the Year honors.

Perhaps an even more 2nd - Chanelle Caldwell (800m run) - 8 points friends were in attendance. The tory over Lincoln (the same team 2nd - Sam Lockhart (Shot put) - 8 points excitement and energy was just GVSU outscored in the indoor track incredible part of winning the and field competition in March), but triple crown is that the national 3rd - Monica Kinney, Julia Nowak, Madie Rodts, incredible.”

Fast forward to Albuquerque, Grand Valley State made NCAA his- championships in all three Kayla Vallar (Distance Medley Relay) - 6 points 3rd - Jocelyn Kuksa (Pole Vault) - 6 points New Mexico in the middle of tory with the win. The GVSU sports were the first national ti3rd - Liz Murphy (Weight Throw) - 6 points March, where Grand Valley women’s program became the first tles for each program. In securState picked up its largest win team in the history of the NCAA (Di- ing the hat trick, the GVSU 4th - Eileen Creutz (Mile) - 5 points (by margin) in its three national vision I, II, or III) to win the cross women were named the UST4th - Kristen Hixson (Pole Vault) - 5 points country, indoor track and field, and FCCCA Division II National 4th - Sam Lockhart (Weight Throw) - 5 points championship competitions.

The team’s 32-point victory outdoor track and field national Program of the Year for the 6th - Rebecca Winchester (Mile) - 3 points over second-place Lincoln championships in the same academic third straight year, this time 8th - Jamie Smith (Weight Throw) - 1 point (Mo.) gave GVSU the Division with a perfect score of three year.

“It is pretty special knowing points (one point apiece for all three outdistance second-place Western II Indoor Track and Field National State’s total of 95 points, also had Championship. no other NCAA women’s program titles).

In addition to the team trophy, “A year ago, we were talking three runners finish in the 20-30 has won all three in the same academic year,” explained Baltes. “I was about what it would be like to win range. Rebecca Winchester (22nd), the Lakers picked up three individual one (champi- Kylen Cieslak (26th), and Julia national championships, as Kinney so happy for Women’s Cross Country onship),” Baltes this team to Dec. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky described. “To win become the first ever to 1st - GVSU - 66 points (29-point win) all three means so do so. I felt 4th - Katherine McCarthy - 4 points much for everyone 9th - Megan Maceratini - 7 points involved in our our studentathletes had a 22nd - Rebecca Winchester - 16 points program. It takes a 26th - Kylen Cieslak - 19 points lot of hard work sense of con27th - Julia Nowak - 20 points and a little luck to fidence that win one in a lifethey were not going to be denied the final piece of time, so to win all three this year just goes to show how hard our staff and the puzzle.”

That puzzle was put together student-athletes have worked to get to by a terrific coaching staff, with this point.”

Grand Valley State’s quest for Baltes leading the way. The United States Track & Field and Cross Coun- three titles began in early December try Coaches Association (USTFC- in Louisville, as the Lakers fought CCA) recognized the through snowy conditions to claim accomplishments of Baltes, his staff, the Division II Cross Country NaMembers of the women’s track & field program with their national and the Laker student-athletes to the tional Championship. The senior duo championship trophy in Turlock, California •8

recorded first-place finishes in both the mile and the 5000-meter run. Kinney’s two titles coupled with Lauren Buresh’s national championship in the shot put gave Grand Valley State 30 big points towards the team total.

The Lakers also recorded a pair of second-place finishes, as Chanelle Caldwell was the runner-up in the 800-meter run and Sam Lockhart finished just behind Buresh in the shot put competition. Three more third-place tallies, three fourths, a sixth, and an eighth brought Grand Valley State’s point total to 83, well above the other 49 competing schools.

“The indoor championship was great because we did it in such dominating fashion, winning by 32 points,” said Baltes. “We had a lot to celebrate, highlighted by the 1-2 finish in the shot put by Lauren and Sam, along with Monica’s two individual championships.”

To cap off the triple crown, the Lakers continued their year-long dominance by tallying 82.5 points at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Turlock, Calif. on May 26-28. GVSU again bested Lincoln (Mo.), as well as the rest of the com-

ing the three longest throws in the entire competition. Joining Buresh with an individual national championship was Liz Murphy, who was the Division II champion in the hammer throw, winning the title on her very first toss.

Kinney tallied a runWomen’s Outdoor Track & Field ner-up performance in May 26-28 in Turlock, California the 1500-meter run, 1st - GVSU - 82.5 points (14.5-point win) while Kristen Hixson 1st - Lauren Buresh (Shot Put) - 10 points also placed second in the 1st - Liz Murphy (Hammer Throw) - 10 points vault. Totaling pole 2nd - Monica Kinney (1500m run) - 8 points third-place finishes were 2nd - Kristen Hixson (Pole Vault) - 8 points Lockhart (shot put), 3rd - Chanelle Caldwell (800m run) - 6 points (800-meter 3rd - Katherine McCarthy (1500m run) - 6 points Caldwell run), and McCarthy 3rd - Sam Lockhart (Shot put) - 6 points (1500-meter run).

4th - Eileen Creutz (1500m run) - 5 points Although it is clearly 4th - Chanelle Caldwell, Adrienne Chandler, Aileen a team competition, Lemanski, Kayla Vallar (4x400m relay) - 5 points Grand Valley State had T-4th - Jocelyn Kuksa (Pole Vault) - 4.5 points several student-athletes 5th - Jamie Smith (Discus) - 4 points 5th - Alyssa Zokoe (Hammer Throw) - 4 points record points at two of 6th - Rebecca Winchester (Steeplechase) - 3 points the three national cham7th - Karie McDonald (Steeplechase) - 2 points pionships. Baltes knows that it took these individ8th - Eileen Creutz (5000m run) - 1 point uals to get over the top, dozen top-five finishes, including two but feels the Lakers needed a great more individual national titles. Bu- mix of athletes to win all three titles.

“We had some great performresh again had the top throw in the shot put, garnering her second cham- ances over the three championships. pionship in three months, while own- Of course we try to keep the focus on petition, for its third Division II National Championship of the year.

Grand Valley State used a complete team performance at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as the Lakers turned in a

the team aspect, but these individual performances help the good of the team,” noted Baltes. “Kinney and Buresh were outstanding in both winning two NCAA individual titles, while Murphy won the first title of her Laker career. At the end of the day, we were able to win all three because we had the right mix of top-end scorers and depth to go with a great competitive mindset.”

For a program that was a perfect 3-for-3 in National Championship competition this past year, the obvious next question (with perhaps an impossibly difficult answer) is what do you do for an encore? Baltes believes he knows the answer.

“From here we keep about our business, keep working hard, and try to get a little bit better each and every day,” Baltes stated. “There is no magic to the profession. Success comes from having the right mindset, coupled with competitive and talented student-athletes that work hard every day, while being patient and persistent toward the end goal. We will keep working in this manner to try to help each student-athlete reach their full potential by the end of their career.”

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• 11

PLAYER PROFILES Outstanding academic Why did you choose to The campus, atmosphere, institutions and excellent become a Laker? success, girls on the soccer team athletic tradition. along with the coaches.

Who has had the My Mother (always supporting biggest impact on your My Mama :) me to participate in athletics) sports career?

Sky Diving

HEATH

PARLING year

SOPHOMORE

Summer

Steve Yzerman

Which do you prefer, summer or winter?

Summer

Favorite Pro Athlete?

FAVORITE...

SECONDARY EDUCATION

Plymouth, Mich.

I want to do both, but if I had to choose then I would rather go bungee jumping.

Traveling with the team to the What as been your most I have two. The ‘09 and ‘10 2009 NCAA D2 Championship memorable moment at national championship games. game.

GV so far?

major

hometown

Would you rather go sky diving or bungee jumping?

Food

Steak Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Movie Song

GVSU Fight Song

sport

FOOTBALL

Detroit Lions

Sports Team

Tim Howard - Professional Goalkeeper

CHELSEA

PARISE year

JUNIOR major

Criminal Justice Fettine-Italian Delicacy

hometown

Miracle

Sterling Heights, Mich.

I won’t let go - Rascal Flatts

sport

The GVSU Women’s Soccer Team!

SOCCER

TAKING IT ONE GAME AT A TIME We’re committed to helping athletes become stronger and more determined achievers. That’s why PNC is a proud sponsor of GVSU Athletics.

To find a location near you, visit us online at pnc.com or call 1-888-PNC-BANK.

©2011 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC COMMSERV AD FEB 2011 011

• 13

Cody Grice Drafted by The New York Yankees

by Kyle Schwerin staff writer

G

rand Valley State junior center fielder Cody Grice was a 12th round selection by the New York Yankees in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft on June 7th. Grice was the 389th overall pick, the fourth-highest Laker drafted in school history and the first GVSU player drafted since 2003.

Grice, who was named an American Baseball Coaches Association Second Team All-American and the GLIAC Player of the Year in 2011, hit .381 with 69 hits, 14 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 59 RBI and 23 stolen bases. Cody established a GVSU career-record for runs scored with 170 and led GVSU to a school-single season record for wins (52) and consecutive wins (32) in 2011. In addition, Grice was a key figure in the Lakers' making two appearances in the DII World Series.

"We are extremely proud of Cody and what he accomplished at Grand Valley State," said GVSU's alltime winningest baseball coach, Steve Lyon. "Cody worked very hard on be-

coming the best baseball player he could from the time he arrived on campus and he was rewarded for his efforts."

Grice was the fourth highest draft pick from GVSU, behind Matt Thornton (22nd overall, 1998), Greg Cadaret (267th overall, 1983) and Rod Brunelle (382nd overall, 1985). He's the first Laker to be drafted since 2003 when Joe Brunink was taken 445th overall.

Grice signed with the Yankees and was assigned to the Staten Island Yankees of the New York Penn League, one of New York’s Single-A affiliates.

After cracking the lineup as the designated hitter in his first game with MLB star Phil Hughes pitching for Staten Island on a rehab assignment, Grice became the focal point of a couple victories for his team. Grice drew a walk in that first game against Brooklyn and then collected his first career hit, run and RBI in the next game against Hudson Valley. Grice went 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI and a double in an 83 victory.

Following that performance,

Grice was a part of the game winning runs in the next two consecutive games. Against Hudson Valley, Grice had the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 12th inning of a 1-0 victory, hitting a fly ball to center field that scored the lone run. Speaking about the play, Grice said “I saw the pitcher walk the batter in front of me on four pitches, so I really thought all the pressure was on him. He fell behind me 3-0 and I took the next two pitches for strikes. I saw five straight fastballs, so I was ready to swing Cody Grice was drafted in the 12th round away. The pitch was a little up, (389th overall) of the MLB draft. but I put a pretty good swing on it. It felt great to help us get a tory. win.”

Through his first four career In the next game, Grice went 1- games, Grice is hitting .267 with two for-4 with one walk and one run scored, runs, two RBI and two walks with one the game-winning run in the top of the stolen base. He ranks third on the team 10th inning of a 3-2 win over Aberdeen. in batting average among players with After drawing a walk in the top of the at least 15 at-bats and is tied for second inning, Grice moved to third on a single on the team with his two RBI. and then scored on a ground ball. Grice also stole his first career base in the vic-

• 14

July Finish this sentence: Summer is...

Tim Selgo

Jamie Schlagel

Monica Kinney

Eno Umoh

Athletic Director Pettisville, OH.

Asst. AD Game and Event Ops.

Track and Cross Country Walker, Mich.

Volleyball Wyoming, Mich.

a time to enjoy the great summer weather and everything else Michigan has to offer!

way too hot.

Getting in some base mileage to establish an aerobic foundation that will carry me throughout the upcoming seasons

A lot of volleyball, cardio and lifting.

Spending time with family and friends at a pool or lake.

Golfing

Going to my grandparent’s cottage on Hamlin Lake in Ludington.

taking summer classes... jk.

The Lakers will put forth their best effort!

That all Grand Valley student-athletes will be successful on and off the playing surface.

I expect to start off where we left last year and hope to defend our national title.

We’re going to do awesome!

Beach

Mostly pool, but if I load up on sunscreen I can spend some time at the beach as well.

Pool, there’s no sand.

Preparing for our events beginning with the football game on Sept. 1 vs. Western Oregon!

What is your favorite summer activity?

Pool or beach?

a great time of year to spend with friends and a time to spend outdoors with family and friends. family.

Planning and organizing different aspects of game operations

What are you doing to get ready for the fall season to start?

What is your prediction on the upcoming season?

North Branch, Minn.

Pool, I’m not a big sand guy.

• 15

SANDRA’S SNAPSHOT

“Transforming one seat at a time!”

Construction of the South student bleacher section at Lubbers Stadium for the upcoming season.

Sandra Jennings is an Administrative Assistant in the athletic department.

• 16

2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 7:00 pm

Oct. 1

Western Oregon at Hillsdale at Indianapolis Findlay Tiffin

Oct. 8

at Northern Michigan

1:00 pm

Oct. 15

at Lake Erie Ferris State Michigan Tech at Northwood

7:00 pm

12:00 pm

Saginaw Valley State

1:00 pm

Sept. 1 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24

Oct. 22 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 Nov. 12

7:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

7:00 pm 7:00 pm

SEASON TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW STARTING AT JUST $60 FOR SIX GAMES