November- 2010
RIC WESLEY LO O KS T O L E A D THE L AKERS BACK TO THE NCA A TOURNAMENT
BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEWS The Women’s Basketball Team Takes the Court with a New Focus
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IN THIS ISSUE 2 Cross Country XC PREPARES FOR FALL FESTIVAL The NCAA Division II National Championships for the 2010 fall sports will be conducted as a festival in Louisville, Ky. Nov. 30-Dec. 4. The 2010 Festival will host men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, cross country and field hockey... (Pictured: Men’s Cross Country Team)
3 W. Basketball LAKERS RETURN FOUR STARTERS Heading into her fourth season at Grand Valley State, Laker women’s basketball head coach Janel Burgess has won just under 63 percent of her games in three seasons, compiling a 54-32 record, with 41 of those wins coming in GLIAC play... (Pictured: Jasmine Padin)
5 Swimming and Diving LAKERS TAKE TO THE POOL Head coach Andy Boyce and his Grand Valley State men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams are coming off record-setting years... (Pictured: Lauren Dorsey)
10 M. Basketball COMBINING EXPERIENCE WITH DEFENSE For Grand Valley State men’s basketball coach Ric Wesley, it has to be a good feeling to know that your team is coming off of a 22-9 season which included a GLIAC North Division title and a trip to the Midwest Region semifinals... (Pictured: K’Len Morris)
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VOLUME 2, NUMBER 5 EDITOR IN CHIEF Tim Nott MANAGING EDITOR Doug Lipinski EXECUTIVE EDITOR Doug Witte ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Charlie Read STAFF WRITERS DJ Foster Kelsey Deacon CONTRIBUTORS Adam Ingraham Janine Freeman Andy Fry Sharon Kowalczyk Sandra Jennings GV Sports Marketing GVSU Sports Information PRINTER Jenison Printing 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 Prepares for NCAA Division II Fall Festival The NCAA Division II National Championships for the 2010 fall sports will be conducted as a festival in Louisville, Ky. Nov. 30-Dec. 4. The 2010 festival will host men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, cross country and field hockey. This will be the fifth time the festival has been used in Division II and the second time for the fall season. Division II is the only NCAA division to host a multiple-championship festival. The first festival was held in spring 2004, followed by the first fall festival in November 2006. The event will host more than 800 student-athletes from 70 teams who will compete for championships in six sports. The reasoning for using the festival approach is to give student-athletes an opportunity to compete for NCAA National titles, but to also support and cheer on their fellow student-athletes competing in other sports. The NCAA Division II created this approach as part of its strategic-positioning platform. This approach is designed to enhance the student-athlete college experience by creating and increasing awareness and exposure for Division II athletics. The festival approach also increases attendance by hosting multiple championships in one location. The festival will feature many events that fans and student-athletes can take a part in. There will
Kelsey Deacon Staff Writer be an opening and closing ceremony, along with social opportunities for student-athletes and community-outreach events. Student-athletes will also be housed in centrally located hotels, which will allow for an athlete-village atmosphere. This Olympic-style event will be hosted by Bellarmine University, along with the community of Louisville. Bellarmine’s athletic facilities will be used for practice and competition venues for volleyball and soccer. The cross country championship site will be held at the Tom Sawyer State Park, which is located on the University of Louisville’s campus. Earlier this year, Grand Valley State’s men’s and women’s cross country teams had the opportunity to race on the Tom Sawyer State Park course. The Lakers competed at the Greater Louisville Classic on Oct. 2, preparing the teams for the Midwest Regional Championships and the NCAA National Championships. “The Greater Louisville Classic was a great meet for our program to see the NCAA regional and national course,” said head cross country coach
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Jerry Baltes. “We ran well and ran some very fast times on this course. We look to get better over the next few weeks and will be excited to hopefully be back to Louisville two more times this year.” At the Greater Louisville Classic, the women’s team claimed the team trophy at the meet with 106 points and ran the fastest team time in school history. GVSU was led by senior Katherine McCarthy’s 10th place finish with a time of 17:23 on the 5K course. Senior Megan Maceratini followed in 14th (17:29), while sophomore Monica Kinney crossed the finish line 22nd (17:39) and senior Kylen Cieslak in 32nd (17:44). The men’s team also claimed success at the meet with a third place finish (172 points). The Lakers ran the fastest team time in GVSU history and was led by junior Tyler Emmorey. Emmorey finished the 8K course 19th with a time of 24:10, which set the fastest time in school history. Teammate Anthony Witt followed in 26th (24:19), while junior Ryan Toth crossed the finish line 32nd (24:27) and junior Jeff Nordquist in 39th (24:35). The cross country Midwest Regional Championships will be held on Nov. 20, followed by the NCAA Division II National Championships on Dec. 4.
Four Returning Starters Set to Carry Women’s Basketball Heading into her fourth season at Grand Valley State, Laker women’s basketball head coach Janel Burgess has won just under 63 percent of her games in three seasons, compiling a 54-32 record, with 41 of those wins coming in GLIAC play. How does Burgess plan on keeping this trend going in 2010-11? Returning a pair of seniors who started 27 of 28 games last season, the school’s all-time single-season three-point leader, and the reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year should help. The Lakers return eight letterwinners and four starters from last year’s team that finished the year 18-10 overall, 15-7 in league play, and hosted a GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinal game. Three of the four starters - and the Lakers’ only upperclassmen - were given the title as team captains. Seniors Kara Crawford and Elizabeth Van Tiflin, along with junior Jasmine Padin, are GVSU’s tri-captains entering the 2010-11 season. “I think we have great leadership with all the returners, but especially the three captains we named,” Burgess explained. “The kids are energized, focused, and really working hard to get better every day. We want to continue to get better and see where and when we can be the best we can be.” GVSU’s captains are unique in what they each bring on the floor, whether it be Crawford’s toughness, Van Tiflin’s defense, or Padin’s playmaking ability. Burgess is very pleased with the trio that will be leading the team this season. “Each one of them brings such a different quality to our leadership tier,” described Burgess. “Biz [Van Tiflin] and Crawford are blue-collar kids that are willing to sacrifice and do whatever they need to do in order to be successful. Jasmine has paid her dues and is learning how to be a balanced communicator, motivator, and all those intangibles that are so valuable on the court. All three of them are quality kids that are here for the right reasons and are committed to getting this team to reach its full potential.” Crawford and Van Tiflin each started 27 games last season for Grand Valley State, while Crawford put up 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and Van Tiflin tallied 5.0 boards and 4.9 points per contest. The duo has plenty of experience, with Van Tiflin making 61 starts in her colle-
DJ Foster Staff Writer giate career, while Crawford has been a starter in 60 games in three years. Another player with a wealth of experience is Padin, who has started all 58 games of her Laker career. In 2009-10, the point guard led GVSU in assists (117), three-pointers (51), and steals (51), while ranking third in scoring (9.6 ppg.). Padin’s 4.2 assists per game over her first two seasons ranks as the second-best figure in school history, while her 124 made three-pointers is the fifth-most triples all-time at Grand Valley State. The centerpiece of the GVSU’s offense (and defense) is exactly that - the starting center. Sophomore Alex Stelfox begins her second year in Allendale after putting together a tremendous rookie season that earned her GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors. Stelfox led the Lakers in scoring (12.0 ppg.), field goal percentage (.562), and blocked shots (40). Her .562 field goal shooting was the fifth-best in a single-season in team history, while her 40 blocks are the most at GVSU since 2003-04, paving the way for her to be named
Sophomore center Alex Stelfox
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to the GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team. “Alex had a heck of a summer. She has gotten stronger, faster, motivated,” Burgess noted. “To see how she came in as a sophomore, it’ll be very exciting to see where she can end as a sophomore. She just brings a solid inside presence for us. Alex is somewhat finesse, somewhat physical in some aspects, but mainly she gives us that nice 6’2” presence that we really enjoyed having last year.” Joining these four players are four sophomores that will be important factors to the team’s success this year. Point guard Lauren Stodola will be counted on to be another playmaker and ballhandler, while the Taylor twins (Briauna and Brittany) bring toughness and athleticism, and Jessica Trambley returns from an injury to give the Lakers another big body in the middle of the paint. “Lauren is a backup point guard, kind of a combo guard, that has had a good summer and we’re looking forward to seeing what she can do this year,” Burgess described. “The Taylor twins are obviously bringing in versatility and have the potential to be special players in this conference. Jess is a 6’0” solid, physical post player that will give us some great low-post presence this year.” Burgess fills out the roster with six new faces - four freshmen and a pair of sophomore transfers that look to compete for playing time and helping the team fulfill its expected potential. GVSU is ranked #20 in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top-25 Poll. “We’ve got some athleticism in Tori Klewicki-McNutt and Dani Crandall that will help us immediately in the guard department,” said Burgess. “We also have some nice size presence that we brought in with Lindsay McCarty and Emily England. Our two transfers, Kellie Watson and Breanna Kellogg, bring that maturity factor that maybe we haven’t always had as newcomers.” The Lakers travel to Michigan State on Nov. 7 to take on the Spartans in an exhibition game and open up the regular season on Nov. 12 at Urbana. GVSU’s home opener is a 1:00 p.m. contest with Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 20.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Where Are They Now?
How you remember him: Matt Yoches manned the middle of the defensive line for four years from 2000-03. He was a part of back-to-back national championships WMUS-106.9 and GVSU Basketball in 2002 and 2003, which were the first team Can’t make it to a basketball game? Listen all season long to get play-by-play action of the men’s basketball championships for GVSU. Matt recorded 38 games. Steve Lloyd-Jones will be broadcasting live at tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five quarterhome and on the road. back sacks during his senior year. He also earned All-GLIAC and CoSIDA District Four All-Academic honors in his final season. Yoches graduated from GVSU in 2004 with a movement science degree. Women’s Soccer Hosts First-Ever Televised Game The women’s soccer team hosted their first-ever televised game on Comcast (900 or 901) on October 30 against the Ferris State Bulldogs. Come watch the ladies during November as they try to defend their national title. The game schedule can be found on gvsulakers.com 131 Showdown on Facebook The 131 Showdown has been announced. Ferris State will come to Van Andel Arena to take on the Lakers on January 29, 2011. To get some of the latest news as the game gets closer, search for 131 Showdown on Facebook and click “like”. Watch Videos on gvsulakers.com Missed a game? You can catch up with the latest game highlights as well as interviews with head coach Matt Mitchell for football, Dave DiIanni for soccer and Deanne Scanlon for volleyball in the video player on gvsulakers.com
What he’s doing now: Yoches is currently the defensive line coach for the GVSU football team. He served as a graduate assistant after his playing career and was hired as a full-time assistant by Chuck Martin in the spring of 2006. Since being hired he has also served as the linebackers coach for one year, but has primarily been in charge of the defensive line. In his four years as a full-time assistant, Matt has coached allamericans Dan Skuta, Mike McFadden and Danny Richard. Yoches current resides in Allendale with his wife, Adrienne, and two kids, Sam and Danielle.
Basketball Radio Show Begins on Nov. 15 The Ric Wesley Radio show is a weekly look at the men’s basketball program broadcasted live every Monday at 6:00 pm from Peppino’s Sports Lounge. The show will be broadcast on WTKG AM 1230. Rapin Named Player of the Week Women’s Volleyball Senior Rebeccah Rapin earned GLIAC North Division Player of the Week honors on Monday (Oct. 18) for her play at the GLVC-GLIAC Crossover Tournament. This is the second time this season that Rapin has won the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week award.
Louie’s Locker Room Want to get some authentic Adidas apparel like the Lakers wear? Stop by a Louie’s Locker Room stand at any Soccer, Volleyball, Football or Basketball game to pick up your gear! Two Foot Pizza Peppino’s Sports Lounge introduces their new two foot pizza deal. The special will debut after the Nov. 6 football game vs. Northwood. Fans can get the two foot pizza for only $10 with a ticket stub from the Nov. 6 football game. See you after the game!
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Lakers Take to the Pool for 2010-11 Season that estabstandings. Tim Nott Senior Kim lished varEditor in Chief sity records Baughman a year ago, returns for her senior year as a key contributor in has earned two all-america awards the sprint free/backstroke and all five for GVSU. Senior Erin Kinney enters relays. Baughman, who has earned her senior year as the varsity recordseven all-america awards during her holder in the 500 (4:59.15), 1000 career, has been a part of two relays (10:24.23) and 1650 (17:31.95) that currently hold the varsity record. freestyle and the owner of three allSenior freestyler Katelyn Childers america honors. Sophomore Kelsey earned four all-america honors a year Vermeer, a sprint free/butterflyer, talago and has seven in her career, while lied six all-america plaudits and set junior Lauren Dorsey, who competes two freshman records a year ago. A pair of junior divers, Rachel in the breaststroke and butStrom and Karen Verbrugge, terfly, has earned six alleach earned two all-america america honors in her two honors last season. Veryears with the Lakers. Childers’ 200 and 400 free brugge set two varsity records on the 1-meter board relay teams currently hold the varsity record, while and one on the 3-meter. Sophomore Marissa DoepDorsey holds the varsity ker (freestyle/butterfly), junrecords in the 100 (57.37) Katelyn Childers ior Toni Musto Women’s Team and 200 (2:04.46) breastBoyce returns a strong contin- stroke. Junior Carly Bush, a (Breaststroke/IM) and sophomore gent that will again compete for a freestyle/butterflyer who holds the Marissa Orr (spring free/backstroke) GLIAC Championship and look to varsity record in the 200 butterfly each collected all-america honors last move up in the NCAA Championship (2:04.14) and was a part of two relays season. In addition, freshman diver Katie Vulpetti, junior transfer Sarah Kosmak (sprint free) and freshman Caitlyn Madsen (butterfly) are expected to make immediate contributions. Head coach Andy Boyce and his Grand Valley State men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams are coming off record-setting years. The Laker men notched a school-best fourth place finish at NCAA Championships, while the women’s eighth place finish a year ago was also a school-best performance. The Lakers return 11 women who received 25 allAndy Boyce america honors, while seven men return that earned 28 all-america honors at the NCAA Championships. The Laker women have added eight student-athletes, while the men welcome 19 newcomers.
Men’s Team The Laker men, who are coming off their second GLIAC Championship in the last three years, will again push for a league title and look to move up in the national standings. Junior Aaron Beebe is a freestyle/butterflyer that holds varsity records in the 500 free (4:31.78), 1000 free (9:24.88), 100 fly (48.32) and 200 fly
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(1:46.33). Beebe, who notched a pair of second-place finishes and tied for the team lead in all-america honors a year ago with six, now has eight all-america honors in his career. Senior Justin Pattermann recorded six allAaron Beebe america plaudits in 2010, giving him 10 in his career. Pattermann enters his senior year as the varsity record holder in the 200 IM (1:50.88) and 400 IM (4:02.60). Junior Raphael Santos made an immediate impact a year ago, recording six all-america honors. Santos also established varsity records in the 100 (48.63) and 200 (1:48.03) backstroke, as well as being a member of the 400 medley relay. Senior Jordan Schrotenboer returns as a freestyle/backstroke performer that earned four all-america honors last season and has 10 in his career. Jordan holds the varsity record in the 200 free (1:39.60) and was a part of the 400 and 800 free relay teams that established varsity records a year ago. Junior Joe Sayre earned a pair of allamerica honors in the freestyle, while senior diver Patrick VanDommelen earned all-america honors on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. Boyce also expects three freshmen to make an immediate impact. Leo Dumbovic (breaststroke) from Croatia, Erik Aakesson (breaststroke) from Sweden and high school state champion Robbie Biskup (backstroke/butterfly) are newcomers that will be expected to produce for Grand Valley State.
Grand Valley State Announces 131 Showdown Grand Valley State University announced that the Lakers will host Ferris State University in men's and women's basketball at Van Andel Arena January 29, 2011 in the 131 Showdown presented by Amway. Tipoff for the women's tilt is set for 6 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 8 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Van Andel Institute as part of the Community for a Cure Purple Game. "We were looking for an opportunity to get a Grand Valley State athletic event in downtown Grand Rapids and with an incredible venue in Van Andel Arena available, it seemed like a natural fit that we have West Michigan rivals Grand Valley State and Ferris State meet in the 131 Showdown," said GVSU Director of Athletics Tim Selgo. "We are also extremely excited to have Amway and the Van Andel Institute join us in the presentation of the 131 Showdown. Amway and Van Andel are preeminent names in West Michigan and it shows their commitment to the West Michigan communities," added Selgo. Amway is one of the world's largest direct selling companies. Founded in 1959 and headquar-
Tim Nott via gvsulakers.com tered in Ada, Michigan, USA, Amway offers the opportunity for people to have a business of their own based on retailing beauty, nutritional, wellness and home products. "We're proud to join forces with two of the area's finest universities for this exciting community event," said David Madiol, manager at Amway. "This sponsorship exemplifies Amway's commitment to building relationships with the community, and our efforts to make a positive difference in West Michigan." The Van Andel Institute has been extremely involved in the Community for a Cure Purple Games since the fall of 2009 and more than 30 college and high school sports teams have raised nearly $150,000 to support cancer research. The 131 Showdown will be the first time that Grand Valley State and Ferris State have met at a neutral site in a regular season matchup. The Grand Valley State men, who enter the season ranked #3 in The Sporting News, return all five starters and 12 letterwinners for the 2010-11 campaign. GVSU is coming off a 22-9 season in which
it advanced to the NCAA DII Great Lakes Regional semifinals. The Laker women, who return four starters and seven letterwinners, enter the season ranked #20 by the DII Bulletin. Fourth-year head coach Janel Burgess led her squad to an 1810 mark during the 2009-10 season. Ferris State senior center Justin Keenan (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa Hills) is the DII Bulletin's preseason Player of the Year and leads a group of four starters back from a team that finished 16-13 overall a year ago. Senior Andrea Clancy looks to lead the way for the Ferris State women after missing the 200910 campaign due to injury. Tickets for the 131 Showdown can be purchased by calling 1-800-745-3000 or by going online at Ticketmaster.com. Lower bowl tickets are $15.00, while upper bowl tickets can be purchased for $10.00. Grand Valley State and Ferris State students can purchase student tickets with a student ID for $5.00 at either Grand Valley State or Ferris State. Courtside seats are $50 per seat and must be purchased in pairs through the GVSU ticket office (616-331-3200). For additional information on the 131 Showdown please go to the official web site for the game at www.131showdown.com.
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Louie the Laker and Brutus the Bulldog pose in front of the Van Andel Arena to promote the 131 Showdown that will take place on January 29, 2011. Photo by Doug Witte
Men’s Bask etball Combines Experience With Top -Notch Defense For Grand Valley State men’s basketball coach Ric Wesley, it has to be a good feeling to know that your team is coming off of a 22-9 season which included a GLIAC North Division title and a trip to the Midwest Region semifinals and you have almost the exact same team as last season. Such is the scenario facing Wesley and the Lakers as they enter the 2010-11 season. Grand Valley State did not lose a player to graduation and brings in a pair of recruits that look to immediately help the current cast of Lakers. “When you have so many guys coming back, you can move a little faster in practice and you don’t have to go through all the fundamentals,” explained Wesley, who enters his seventh year at GVSU with a record of 153-39 (.797). “Also, you’re not completely starting over, so the continuity is a nice feeling. Hopefully, it’ll help us get off to a faster start.” All in all, Grand Valley State returns its entire starting five and 12 letterwinners from last year’s team that dropped a heartbreaking 78-76 overtime contest to Saint Joseph’s in the regional semifinals. The Lakers were on the verge of appearing in the regional championship game and just one more win away from the NCAA Elite Eight, but falling short may be some extra motivation, even if it is unspoken, for this season. “I think our guys were a little disappointed, obviously, in how the season ended. You always want to end the year on a win and not many teams get to do that,” Wesley said. “To get as far as we did, you could really see there was an opportunity to go on further; it just didn’t go our way. It’s not something we talk about, but I know it’s there and it’s something that drives them and motivates them. We’d love to get a chance to get back to that point again this season and see if we can’t do better.” While Wesley and his staff hopes the team can do better and move further in the postseason, some early prognosticators are already counting on Grand Valley State being a force into late March. While the Division II Bulletin ranks the Lakers #9 in its preseason poll, The Sporting News put an even bigger bulls-eye on GVSU’s chest with a preseason ranking of #3 in the country. When asked about being ranked so highly before a game is even played, Wesley says it’s good for the program, but ultimately it doesn’t mean as much as people might think. “We don’t really talk about them [preseason rankings] much. It’s a nice testimony to our
DJ Foster Staff Writer program and to our school. I just don’t know how much validity the preseason rankings have.” The Lakers’ #3 ranking should be taken with a grain of salt, considering that the teams ranked first and second (Findlay and Bellarmine, respectively) are regional foes, while the Findlay GVSU rivalry seems to grow each and every year. “Even if you’d like to get excited with a #3 ranking, you’re not even #1 in your conference because Findlay is #1,” Wesley pointed out. “And we’re not even #2 in our region because of Bellarmine. So it’s kind of a good news-bad news thing. You’d like to feel good about it, but quickly your enthusiasm is sort of stifled by the fact there are so many other good teams around. Hopefully at the end of the year, we’ll be up there in some of those polls. That’s our goal.” One surefire way to give Grand Valley State a chance to end up near the top of the polls is to get the ball to its top player and one of the best players in the region and perhaps the country, in senior forward Justin Ringler. The 6’4” Ringler is coming off a splendid 2009-10 season in which he led the Lakers in points (13.4 ppg.), rebounds (6.9 rpg.), and assists (87). He ranked fourth in the GLIAC in rebounding, 12th in assists, and 13th in scoring, all while
Senior Justin Ringler enters his senior year after being named First Team All-GLIAC and All-Midwest Region
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playing the second-most minutes of any player in the conference last season. “He’s a tremendous kid and just an awesome competitior. He’s quietly had a great career,” Wesley acknowledged. “I hope people will come out and support and see him this year because he really is one of the very best players we’ve had in our program and certainly throughout the Midwest, if not the country. He’s got a great chance to be an All-American this season.” For his efforts, Ringler was rewarded with First Team All-GLIAC North Division laurels and named an NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) All-Midwest Region First Team choice last year. A strong offensive player, Ringler may be even better defensively, as he was named to the GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team for the second straight year by finishing seventh in the conference with 42 steals. “He scores the ball, he’s our leading rebounder, he often times will guard the other team’s best player,” said Wesley. “And he does it all with a great attitude and a competitive spirit that is really unusual, one that you don’t get in many kids. We’re really proud of him and we hope he goes out and finishes his career in a way that is going to be memorable for all of us.” During his junior season, Ringler eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career and his 1,101 points puts him at 28th all-time in Laker history. If he duplicates last season’s scoring and rebounding totals, Ringler could easily move into the top-10 in scoring and become one of just seven GVSU players to ever grab 800 rebounds in a career. Who will join Ringler in the starting five is a toss-up for now, due to position battles, players returning from injury, and a couple new fresh faces. But it is interesting to note that seven other Lakers (besides Ringler) started at least two games last year, including seniors Toreau Brown and Mike Przydzial, junior Wes Trammell, and sophomore Tony Peters all starting in at least 19 games each. That figure also doesn’t include junior guard Alvin Storrs, who was used as a super reserve, as Storrs started only a dozen games, but played the third most minutes and became the team’s top defender. “Mike gives us a strong inside presence and he’s another great competitor,” Wesley mentioned of the 6-7 big man who averaged 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, but led the team in field goal percentage (.584) and finished second in blocks (20). “He’s coming off of a tough ACL injury, so
Men’s Basketball Combines Experience With Top-Notch Defense (Continued) he’s probably going to be slowed early in the year. Getting him back in full strength will be a real key for us heading into the year.” “Toreau is another senior who’s been a starter,” Wesley says of Brown, who averaged 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting .489 percent from the floor in 2009-10. “He’ll be ineligible in the first semester, but will join us at the mid-year and certainly give us a big boost.” Finishing first on the team last season in steals (63) and third in blocks (12) and assists (37), Storrs is looking like he could have a breakout junior campaign. “Alvin is a lot like Justin, in that he’s a great leader, a great competitor,” Wesley describes. “He does so many things offensively and defensively to help our team.” At the guard spots, the Lakers have a good number of options, whether it be point guards (Trammell or sophomore Breland Hogan), threepoint shooters (senior K’Len Morris or sophomore Nick Carreri) or glue guys like Storrs and Peters. “Wes has been a solid player for us for two years. Going into his junior year, he’s played a lot of significant minutes for us, and we look for that to continue,” remarked Wesley. “Breland had a tremendous freshman season in the backcourt. We look for him to really solidify himself as one of the top point guards in our conference.”
Getting Defensive Since Ric Wesley took over at GVSU in 200405, the Lakers have been the most dominant defensive team in the GLIAC every year. Scoring Field Goal Pct. Year Defense Defense 2009-10 1st (60.0) 1st (.406) 2008-09 2nd (63.5) 1st (.395) 2007-08 1st (54.3) 1st (.363) 2006-07 1st (57.5) 1st (.370) 2005-06 1st (57.6) 1st (.380) 2004-05 1st (63.2) 1st (.395) *Stats include GVSU’s ranking in the GLIAC “K’Len is sort of the tough-luck guy of the program with some major injuries, but he’s persevered and rehabbed and stay committed and now he’s as healthy as he’s ever been. We’d love to see him put a full year in of good, solid work for us,” Wesley commented. “Nick is one of our tri-captains who was a very consistent performer for us off the bench last year and looks to be in better shape and improve this year. Tony also played a bunch as a freshman and should come back better with the experience he’s had.” GVSU also boasts a pair of young big men and two incoming players that the coaching staff is excited about, starting with sophomore center
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Corey Jones and redshirt freshman Asauhn Tatum. “Corey is an excellent shooter for a big guy and he got a little experience at the end of last season, which is something he can build on,” noted Wesley. “Asauhn is still a little bit of a work in progress, but he gives us a dimension with his shotblocking and inside presence that maybe we didn’t have at times last year.” Two transfers, guard James Thomas and center Nick Waddell, have plenty of intrigue and upside when looking towards this season. “James is a hard-nosed, aggressive perimeter player that can really shoot the ‘3’ and is an excellent rebounder for his size,” said Wesley. “Nick is a wide body who has great hands and is comfortable handling and scoring the ball. He gives a strength factor around the basket that we needed.” Regardless of who is on the court for the Lakers, GVSU has been the best defensive team in the conference each of Wesley’s previous six years. Grand Valley State has owned the lowest opponents’ field goal percentage all six seasons and the stingiest points per game totals in five of the six years. “We put a lot of emphasis on defense and it’s obviously a big part of who we are. Certainly it’s what we emphasize, “ Wesley notes. “The fact that we’ve gotten good results is gratifying, but it’s clearly a big reason why we’ve been successful.”
Q&A with Jason Jamerson games. There are other memories from Grand Valley but I don’t think any are as great as having the best record in school history and having a chance to play all the guys from that team!
Thinking back to your high school career, what made you want to come play for the Lakers?
In high school I wasn’t recruited that hard. I only had a few NAIA and Division 3 schools looking at me. Grand Valley didn’t start recruiting me until much later in the off season. About the same time GV started recruiting me Saginaw Valley started showing some interest. I visited both schools and really liked GV but was not a fan of Saginaw. I was hurt when I visited both schools, so I didn’t have a chance to play with the other players. A week after my visit Coach Wesley and Coach Paddock came to my hometown to see me play for the first time. They offered me the scholarship after we went to my house and I signed without much hesitation. I really liked the coaches, players and the school itself, so choosing Grand Valley wasn’t a really hard decision for me. Describe one of your favorite memories or highlights from your GVSU Basketball career?
My favorite memory of my career at Grand Valley is my whole senior year. We were 37-1 that year and our only loss was in the elite eight. As a team we all got along well and though we had six seniors and several underclassmen, we still found a way to make everything work. Practices were fun and very competitive, sometimes more competitive than our
After graduating in 2008, you went on to play basketball in France for the Saint Vallier Basket Drome team, and you averaged just about 10 points per game, as well as 44% shooting from both two-point and three-point range. What are a few things you attribute your early success to in such a competitive environment?
Well the biggest reason why I was able to play well was my four years at GV. Though GV is only Division II, there are very good teams at that level. Teams like Findlay, Barton and Winona State were very competitive teams. Findlay was in our conference and the other two teams we played in the NCAA tournament. I think playing Michigan State three of my four years and Michigan once really helped build confidence. We played Michigan really tough my sophomore year and the following year we lost to Michigan State by four points in the Van Andel Arena. Beating Michigan State my senior year in the preseason I think helped me and our team realize that we could play with most teams. After my senior year I also played with other guys that had experience playing professionally overseas. What's one of the biggest differences between college Basketball here at Grand Valley and European basketball with Saint Vallier, or your current team, the Saar-Pfalz Braves in Germany?
I think the biggest difference is just the style of play over here. All these guys are professionals and can really play but at the same time its not always as intense every second of the game. I feel like in college, coaches “coach” every possession. They call out every play and yell at you on both offense
GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 12
and defense the entire game. In the European leagues coaches rely more on the point guard to call the plays, and rely on the team as a whole to make sure they are matched up on defense. I think players get more freedom here but more responsibility as well. What is one way that playing basketball here at Grand Valley prepared you for such a competitive level of play in Europe?
Playing at GV helped me prepare for Germany by allowing to play at a very high level of competition. Our conference, the GLIAC, was very competitive during my career. Along with playing in the GLIAC, playing against Michigan and Michigan State in the preseason really gave us a challenge every year. Outside of playing basketball, what are some of your favorite activities?
I don’t have many activities that I do besides basketball. I’m usually trying to play ball whenever I can. But I do enjoy playing video games, euchre and poker. I like watching movies and playing games with friends as well. If you had to pick, what is one of your favorite parts about playing basketball overseas? My favorite part of playing overseas is just that, the fact that I can do something I love and enjoy and make it my profession. I love every part about it! Meeting new players, practices, seeing different parts of the world, living in a different country. Maybe I don’t like all of it all the time, when we are losing or maybe I don’t like the country or city that I’m in. Either way like or dislike I’m getting to do something most people can’t and getting to experience something that I never thought I would be able to.
Jeff Bauer
Craig Vlietstra
Kim Baughman
Justin Sherrod
Assistant Basketball Coach Newaygo, Mich.
Assistant Volleyball Coach Allendale, Mich.
Swimmer Allendale, Mich.
Football Player Allendale, Mich.
What are you thankful for?
The start of basketball season
My wife and family
My family and friends
Having such a great family
Pumpkin or sweet potato pie?
Pumpkin pie, not even close
Pumpkin pie
Pumpkin pie
Neither, apple pie only!
What one item will you be shopping for on Black Friday?
Whatever my girlfriend tells me to shop for
I won’t be going out. I don’t like big crowds.
A Christmas tree
Nothing, practicing for the 2nd round of the playoffs
NFL Live
NFL Live
NFL Live
NFL Live
No
No way
I think so
I hope so with all that talent
The Grid
T.Ocho Show or NFL Live? Will the Miami Heat win the NBA Championship?
Laker Word Search X H G V E G Q X R E H U H V
U G R U U X E V X U N N U V
G G L Y G X H L O V K Q H W W V J L P U R U F R KP G O
U L Q J O H U N W Q W O O H
G Q N W U R O V O Y V E D N
U J U I N U N \ D E W N L E
R O O R U F W Q W E V I ] H
L \ O O D E W H N V D E G J
Z F E U H D EZ L I L R P U H G G G O S H U \ H \ ] O X
U R H O U Q R V U H E R U R
V K ZQ L H PH PV L V Q Y JP E L NP \ R H W S U I V
%DVNHWEDOO 6ZLPPLQJ 'LYLQJ 6KRW %ORFN 5HERXQG 'XQN )UHHVW\OH %DFNVWURNH )RXO %XWWHUIO\ %UHDVWVWURNH 0HGOH\ 5LQJOHU &UDZIRUG 9DQ7LIOLQ %URZQ 0RUULV 3U]\G]LDO 5REHUVRQ
Crossword answers available on page 14
GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 13
November Home Events Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4 *FB Radio Show 6 p.m. Live at Main Street
Saturday
5 Volleyball vs. Northwood 7 p.m.
6 Football vs. Northwood 7 p.m.
Pub
7
8
9
10
Volleyball vs. LSSU 2 p.m.
11
12
*FB Radio Show M & W Swimming 6 p.m. vs. Michigan State 6 Live at Main Street p.m. Pub
14
15
16
17
*Ric Wesley Weekly M. Basketball vs. Radio Show Spring Arbor 7 p.m. 6 p.m. Live at Peppino’s in Allendale
21
22
23
*Ric Wesley Weekly M. Basketball vs. Radio Show St. Joseph’s 6 p.m. 6 p.m. W. Basketball vs. Live at Peppino’s in Rochester 8 p.m. Allendale
28
29
18
M. Basketball vs. Marygrove TBA
19
*FB Radio Show 6 p.m. Live at Main Street Pub
24
13
20 W. Basketball vs. St. Joseph’s 1 p.m.
25
26
*FB Radio Show 6 p.m. Live at Main Street Pub
27 W. Basketball vs. Wis-Parkside 1 p.m.
30
*Ric Wesley Weekly Radio Show 6 p.m. Live at Peppino’s in Allendale
SANDRA’S SNAPSHOT
*The Football Radio Show and Ric Wesley Weekly Radio Show can be heard on the radio on WTKG 1230 AM
Crossword Puzzle Answers
X H G V E G Q X R E H U H V 2010 Hall of Fame Class: (L-R) Ed Crisman, Melissa Sneller, Dewey Newsome, Chara Fehsenfeld, Jennifer Mackson and Curt Anes. Sandra’s Snapshot comes from Sandra Jennings, who is an Administrative Assistant in the athletic department.
GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 14
U G R U U X E V X U N N U V
G G L Y G X H L O V K Q H W W V J L P U R U F R KP G O
U L Q J O H U N W Q W O O H
G Q N W U R O V O Y V E D N
U J U I N U N \ D E W N L E
R O O R U F W Q W E V I ] H
L \ O O D E W H N V D E G J
Z F E U H D EZ L I L R P U H G G G O S H U \ H \ ] O X
U R H O U Q R V U H E R U R
V K ZQ L H PH PV L V Q Y JP E L NP \ R H W S U I V
%DVNHWEDOO 6ZLPPLQJ 'LYLQJ 6KRW %ORFN 5HERXQG 'XQN )UHHVW\OH %DFNVWURNH )RXO %XWWHUIO\ %UHDVWVWURNH 0HGOH\ 5LQJOHU &UDZIRUG 9DQ7LIOLQ %URZQ 0RUULV 3U]\G]LDO 5REHUVRQ
PLAYER PROFILES Alvin Storrs
Name
Alex Stelfox
Junior
Year
Sophomore
Political Science
Major
Sports Management
Northville, Mich.
Hometown
Bowie, Md.
Sport
Basketball
Basketball
The success of the program and the welcoming response I got when I visited Why did you choose I wanted to go out of state. GVSU has the best D2 athletic department in the nacampus. to become a Laker? tion and I got along great with the coaches and the team. I am a great cook.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I can make the best guacamole
Reggie Miller Who should play you Kate Hudson in a movie about your life? Favorites ... Chicken leg
Thanksgiving food
Stuffing
Michael Vick
Athlete to watch in another sport
Brett Favre or Santana Moss
Not a fan
Fast food
Subway
The Usual Suspects
Movie
Big Daddy and Taken
Photo Shoot by Gucci Mane
Song
No Love by Eminem Ft. Lil’ Wayne
Miami Heat, always been a fan Deal or No Deal Hampton, VA at my grandparents
Sports team TV show Vacation spot
Washington Redskins Real Housewives Ocean City, Maryland
scale.
On a
Small classes. Big thinkers. Raise your hand if you prefer personal attention. At Grand Valley, we keep class sizes small to provide students with individual instruction from the highly qualified faculty who teach all of our classes. It’s just one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report has named us one of the “Best in the Midwest” three years in a row. gvsu.edu/GRAND | (616) 331-2025
GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 15
Recipe of the Month
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE 3cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (which equals 1 40oz. can of yams drained) 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1/2 stick melted butter, 1/2 tsp vanilla Direct ion s: we ll. Com bine all ing redien ts and mix togeth er top wit h the foll ow ing mix . Put in a 1 and 1/2 qua rt cas serole dish and
1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1/3 stick butter melted Bak e at 350 deg ree s for 35 min ute s. ENJOY!
Top five reasons to look forward to the month of November ... 1. The NCAA Division II Football Playoffs begin on Nov. 20. 2. The first home basketball game is on Nov. 13 at 7:00 pm versus Marygrove. 3. The swimming and diving teams will take on Michigan State at Jenison High School on Nov. 12. 4. Volleyball and soccer conference tournaments begin.
About the Recipe This month’s recipe was provided by Rene Daihl. Rene is a mother of two GVSU students and submitted her recipe after seeing a request on facebook. To find the Lakers on facebook, just go to facebook.com/gvsulakers and click “like”.
GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 16
5. Kids under 12 eat free at Burger King on Nov. 20 (see ad for details).
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