GVSports Monthly Magazine

October - 2010

Rebeccah Rapin Volleyball

Rob Carlisle Football

Kristen Eible Soccer

LAKERS TO WEAR THROWBACK UNIFORMS FOR GVSU’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

IN THIS ISSUE 2 W. Soccer LAKERS READY TO DEFEND HOME FIELD The Grand Valley State women’s soccer team will look to use its home turf during the month of October to finish out the 2010 regular season strong ...

(Pictured: GK Chelsea Parise)

3 Volleyball A MIX OF EXPERIENCE WITH YOUTH Like many college athletic teams or any reality television show, the Grand Valley State volleyball team has several storylines following them throughout the 2010 season ...

(Pictured: Sasha Gill)

5 W. Tennis DOUBLES TEAM ADVNACES TO NATIONALS When Grand Valley State senior tennis players Chelsea Johnston and Darylann Trout knocked off Wayne State in the doubles portion of the USTA/ITA Midwest Region championship on Sept. 19, the tears coming from both girls were those of happy tears...

(Pictured: Chelsea Johnston)

10 Homecoming A GRAND WEEKEND Homecoming weekend is a special time for every university as it welcomes back alumni from all around the country to showcase how it has grown. This year at GVSU, homecoming isn’t just a normal annual event, but a celebration of the school’s first 50 years ...

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 1

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 3 4 EDITOR IN CHIEF Tim Nott MANAGING EDITOR Doug Lipinski EXECUTIVE EDITOR Doug Witte ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Charlie Read STAFF WRITERS DJ Foster Kelsey Deacon CONTRIBUTORS Janine Freeman Andy Fry Sharon Kowalczyk Sandra Jennings Kyle Schwerin 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

Lakers Ready to Defend Home Field The Grand Valley State women’s soccer team will look to use its home turf during the month of October to finish out the 2010 regular season strong. The Lakers will return home after being on the road for the first half of the season and will play six of their eight games at the GVSU soccer field.

Grand Valley State will have some tough matchups, but hopes to use home field advantage to make a push into the post season.

Head coach David DiIanni knows the pressures it takes to win on the road and is ready to get his team back on their home field. “Road wins are always more difficult to achieve in this conference and so it is important for us to take care of business with these six games at home,� DiIanni said. “Coming off a stretch where we had five straight games away from our home turf, we are very excited to play in an environment that is more comfortable.�

GVSU will continue its home campaign on Saturday, Oct. 3 when it will face the Panthers of Ohio Dominican. This marks the first year the Panthers have joined the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and the first time the Lakers will play Ohio Dominican.

The Lakers will then face Northwood on Oct. 8 before hosting two tough games. On Oct. 10,

Kelsey Deacon Staff Writer Grand Valley State will face GLIAC rival Saginaw Valley State at 12:00 p.m. Earlier this season the Lakers and Cardinals battled to a 2-2 tie that ended after the second overtime period. This was the third tie in just two years for the squads, but DiIanni hopes to use the competitiveness between the rivals to push his team to get better . “SVSU has become a nice rivalry in our conference the last few seasons and that is why you play collegiate athletics, however, each and every team has made it a point to play their best soccer versus us this year so far,� commented DiIanni. “I think that is what comes with playing for GVSU and especially the defending National Champions. We need to not only understand, but embrace it so we can find our own reasons to compete and be successful this season.�

Oct. 10 is also throwback day honoring the 50th anniversary of Grand Valley State University. The Lakers will be wearing throwback jerseys representing jerseys from the 2004 season.

GVSU will then have to prepare for the Wildcats of Northern Michigan on Oct. 15 at 4:00 p.m. The Wildcats handed the Lakers their first conference

and regular season loss since the 2006 season, breaking an unbeaten streak of 65 regular season games and 43 conference matches. Northern Michigan defeated Grand Valley State on Sept. 19 1-0 in overtime.

The final game of the regular season will be a first for the GVSU soccer program as the game will be televised on Comcast in Michigan. The Lakers will host Ferris State on Oct. 30 starting at 12:00 p.m. DiIanni is excited for his program and the university for the publicity throughout state of Michigan. “Exposure through the television market for our school and soccer program can only benefit all of us here at Grand Valley State University,� stated DiIanni. “We look forward to putting on a good show.�

The Lakers may have started the first half of the 2010 season on the road, but now GVSU needs to focus on ending the season strong and getting healthy with the help of being at home. “I like how we have been playing to date, however, we have yet to have a practice where the entire team was there due to injuries,� DiIanni said. “So, we need to get healthy and continue to try and get better each and every day in order to build momentum through the season. We want to peak at the end, rather in the middle.�

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Volleyball Mixes Experience With Youth Like many college athletic teams or any reality television show, the Grand Valley State volleyball team has several storylines following them throughout the 2010 season. Whether it is about the team playing in an opening-season tournament full of teams ranked in the Top-25 (and GVSU not being one of those ranked teams), to having its best player surpass a significant milestone, to starting two players that graduated high school just a few months ago, there is plenty of intrigue and interest in the 2010 Lakers.

The beginning of the storylines start with the first matches of the regular season, when Grand Valley State traveled to Florida for the Tampa Classic in early September. GVSU head coach Deanne Scanlon knew how tough the tournament would be, as all four of the Laker opponents were ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25, none ranked lower than 13th.

“Going down there (to Florida), we just wanted to compete,” said Scanlon, in the midst of her 16th season at Grand Valley State. “We really didn’t know if we were going to come away with any wins.”

For the first time since 2000, GVSU was unranked in the AVCA Preseason Poll and, just the way these things work, the Lakers were paired against Concordia-St. Paul, the #1 team in the country and the three-time defending national champions. Those accolades are lofty enough, yet the Golden Bears also had won a Division II record 75 straight matches entering the contest with Grand Valley State on Sept. 3.

The Lakers sparked a huge buzz in the Division II volleyball landscape, however, as GVSU upset Concordia-St. Paul in a 3-0 sweep (27-25, 25-18, 25-17). The win put Grand Valley State at 1-0 and seemingly on top of the world.

“Getting them (Concordia-St. Paul) the first match of the year was probably the best time to get them,” said Scanlon. “They had lost a lot to graduation, they lost the two-time Player of the Year, but even with that, they’re still a very, very good team. It was a quality win for us.”

While most volleyball people around the country knew of Concordia-St. Paul’s dominance, it may have served Grand Valley State well that some of the Lakers were unaware as to how good the Golden Bears really were.

“I don’t think we went into the match thinking about their win streak. I don’t even think some of our kids knew about it,” Scanlon noted.

“After the match though, I let our kids know and they were really happy with their accomplishment.

It was a quality win over probably the top Division II program certainly of the last five years.”

It was Grand Valley State’s first win over the nation’s top-ranked team since defeating #1 Nebraska-Kearney on Dec. 3, 2005 to clinch the program’s first-ever national championship.

Another prestigious milestone came that

DJ Foster Staff Writer weekend in a loss to Central Missouri, as senior Rebeccah Rapin became just the 12th Laker in program history to achieve 1,000 career kills.

“The days of 1,000-kill players are going to be few and far between because of rally scoring and only 25-point sets,” Scanlon explained. “It really speaks of Rebeccah’s consistency and how she was able to come in as a freshman and contribute right away. It’s something we definitely wanted to recognize so that her teammates can understand that if you come in, work hard, and do things the right way, good things will happen.”

Rebeccah Rapin recorded her 1,000th career kill this year.

Rapin, who ranked fifth in the GLIAC in blocks last season and, as of press time, was eighth in the league this year, continues to get blocking help at the net, all in the form of three players standing 5’11” or taller. Fellow senior Krysta Kornack, junior Nicole Whiddon, and sophomore Eno Umoh have put together quite a fearsome foursome of Lakers that can completely swing a match in GVSU’s favor, as evidenced by the team’s 12 total blocks in the victory over Concordia-St. Paul.

“It is going to provide us with a consistency that we didn’t have so much last year, even though we were a good blocking team,” noted Scanlon.

“It’s something we always emphasize; I recruit that way. I try to get good size or players that have potential to be good blockers. I think it can control so much of the game by always being in your opponents’ face and slowing down their offense.”

The Lakers have done a very good job at the net so far in 2010, as GVSU was fourth in the league in blocks per set at press time. In the team’s first nine matches, Grand Valley State had four matches of 10 or more blocks, including a seasonhigh 13 rejections (on 24 block assists) against Northern Michigan.

Traditionally a strong blocking program, GVSU has finished in the top-three GLIAC teams GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 3

in blocking every year since 2004. This season, Umoh and Rapin rank sixth and eighth in the conference in blocking, respectively, but there is plenty of balance across the front line. In the team’s opening nine matches, all four players had tallied five blocks in a match at least once.

One tiny quirk to this year’s team is the dual-setter lineup that Scanlon utilizes with senior Meghan Scanlon and sophomore Olivia Kohler.

Last year, Meghan Scanlon led the Lakers in assists (580) and service aces (34), while Kohler was second in assists (416). Using this type of offense actually allows for Grand Valley State to employ a stronger defense, which Scanlon obviously favors.

“The advantages are we get a bigger block in the front row,” Deanne Scanlon said. “We don’t have to put a smaller setter in the front row, so we can be big at the net. The disadvantages are in the substitution rules; we have fewer substitutions to work with. It’s harder to get people into the games, so we don’t have any substitutions to spare. It doesn’t give us a lot of flexibility. You have to be able to score points and be concise in your rotations.”

Two young players who have been able to crack that rotation are a pair of true freshmen - outside hitter Stacey Catalano and libero Sacha Gill.

Both players started in the season-opening victory over Concordia-St. Paul and each has shown flashes of brilliance early in their careers.

“When we decided to go to Florida for the opening tournament, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take it easy on them or put their feet to the fire right away against the caliber of teams we would be playing, “ Scanlon described. “It was the right decision because they were both solid all weekend.”

In the 3-0 victory over the Golden Bears, Gill had a match-high 13 digs, while Catalano was second on the team with nine kills and added three blocks. They haven’t looked back since.

“I have not had to handle them with kid gloves,” remarked Scanlon. “I’ve basically been able to coach them and treat them like any returning players with my expectations of them. They’ve responded greatly and I don’t think they’ve played their best volleyball yet.”

If Catalano and Gill have not played their best volleyball yet, the rest of the GLIAC better take notice. In a five-set win at Northwood on Sept.

17, Catalano recorded a team-high and career-high 15 kills, including five huge kills in the pivotal fifth set that GVSU won 15-11 for the victory.

“Against Northwood, Stacey did not have a good match for four games and come game five, she got it done for us. She’s a competitor,” Scanlon pointed out. “And Sacha is the same way. She has the ability, maybe if she’s off, she can turn it back around and make a key play for us.”

The Lakers play home contests against Ashland and Lake Erie (Oct. 7-8) and take on Saginaw Valley State, Tiffin, and Ohio Dominican from Oct. 26-30 in GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Where Are They Now?

Football Radio Show Every Thursday at 6:00PM head to Main St. Pub in Allendale for Matt Mitchell’s coaches show. The show, hosted by Dick Nelson and Steve Lloyd-Jones, features a review of the previous week’s game and a preview of the upcoming opponent. You can also listen to the live broadcast by tuning to WTKG 1230 AM.

Bill Sheridan was named the Dolphins linebackers coach on January 19, 2010. Prior to joining the Dolphins he had spent the previous five seasons with the New York Giants (2005-09).

The Selgo Stop Grand Valley State Athletic Director Tim Selgo has launched a blog on GVSULakers.com titled “The Selgo Stop”. From time to time throughout the academic and athletic year, Mr. Selgo will write about the Lakers, sports in general, GVSU, leadership, life and many other subjects. You can find the blog on GVSULakers.com and clicking on “The Selgo Stop” box.

Sheridan joins Miami after spending the 2009 season at the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.

He spent the previous four seasons as the team’s linebackers coach. Prior to joining the Giants, Sheridan spent three seasons at the University of Michigan, the first as linebackers coach and the last two as defensive line coach. He was also the school’s recruiting coordinator in 2002-2003 and netted a pair of classes that were rated among the 10 best in the country.

Sheridan began his coaching career at Shrine High School in Royal Oak, Mich. from 1981-84. He was then a graduate assistant at Michigan for two seasons before coaching linebackers at three schools - Maine, Cincinnati and Army - from 1987-95. In 1996 and 97, Sheridan coached the defensive backs at West Point. He then put in a three-year stint as the linebackers coach at Michigan State. Sheridan spent the 2001 season at Notre Dame, where he coached safeties and special teams. He moved to Michigan the following year.

A native of Detroit, Sheridan earned four letters as a linebacker at Grand Valley State University. He graduated from De La Salle High School in Detroit. Sheridan and his wife, Jaycine, have four children: Joe, GVSU Lakers Fan Page Nick, Mark and Natalie.

Become a fan of Grand Valley State Athletics (Profile courtesy of Miami Dolphins/miamidolphins.com) on Facebook! You can find the fan page at www.facebook.com/gvsulakers, or search “Grand Valley State Lakers”. You’ll get all the latest updates on GVSU athletics, along with interactive content such as videos and photos.

GVSU Basketball Tip-Off Madness Basketball season is right around the corner. In less than a month the Laker men's and women's basketball teams will officially begin their preseasons. That means it's time for Tip-Off Madness, which is a special practice for fans to come and see the teams before the season starts.

The event will begin at 5:00 pm on Saturday, Oct. 16 in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena along with Kids' Club Day presented by Krispy Kreme. Come out before the football game and enjoy Kids’ Club Day along with the first open basketball practice of the season.

Kids’ Club Day GVSU Kids’ Club Day will take place on October 16th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. The event will be taking place in the Fieldhouse Arena before the nationally ranked Laker football team gets ready to play Lake Erie. There will be a variety of events and giveaways for members of Kids’ Club, including a free ticket to the football game. If you’re not a member, you can sign up by visiting www.gvsulakers.com or you can sign up at the event!

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 4

Johnston and Trout Become First GVSU Players to Advance to Nationals When Grand Valley State senior tennis players Chelsea Johnston and Darylann Trout knocked off Wayne State in the doubles portion of the USTA/ITA Midwest Region championship on Sept. 19, the tears coming from both girls were those of happy tears. The duo had made school history and were not afraid to show their emotions.

“After we won, I looked at Chelsea and I just started balling,” described Trout, with a laugh.

“It was just really exciting to do something that nobody had ever done before at Grand Valley State.”

What Trout was alluding to is the fact that she and Johnston are the first Laker tennis players -- men’s or women’s, singles or doubles - to ever make it out of the United States Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional tournament and advance to the national tournament, which will be held in Mobile, Alabama on Oct. 14-18.

“It is such a great honor for Chelsea and Darylann,” said GVSU head coach John Black. “In the finals, they played a Wayne State team that had beat them pretty handily the week before. But Chelsea and Darylann came out intense and focused and from the first point to the last point, they just played amazing tennis.”

After being one of four teams to have a

DJ Foster Staff Writer first-round bye, Johnston and Trout won four matches over a three-day span to claim the Midwest Regional championship. On Friday (Sept. 17) against Missouri-St. Louis, the Laker pair earned an 8-3 win, which advanced them to Saturday’s quarterfinal competition. Johnston and Trout won a pair of contests on Saturday, defeating both Rockhurst and Drury by 8-5 scores.

The wins on Saturday placed GVSU in the doubles championship against Wayne State’s team of Sharon Gill and Kristina Goranskaya. When the two teams met on Sept. 10 in Detroit for a GLIAC regular season match, Gill and Goranskaya defeated Johnston and Trout by an 8-4 tally. Clearly, Johnston and Trout earned their revenge by winning the regional title over their conference rivals.

“We, as a whole team, had already won the dual match when they beat us, so that wasn’t a big deal,” Johnston explained. “We definitely got them when it mattered.”

As the representatives from the Midwest Region, Johnston and Trout are one of just eight doubles teams in the country that will compete in

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Alabama in mid-October and they will play at least three matches in the non-elimination tournament.

The national champions from Division II, III, community colleges, and the NAIA will also play each other for a chance to face the Division I national champs in one final ‘winner takes all’ match.

While Johnston and Trout were thrilled to be the first Lakers to ever advance to the national competition, Trout said there is even more of a reason to celebrate, as they are the only doubles team where both girls are American-born players.

“It’s really exciting to be the only team that is made up of two American players,” Trout said.

“Chelsea and I are just two regular girls from southeast Michigan that were able to advance this far. A lot of the other girls are highly recruited or foreign-born players. In tennis, it’s rare to have a successful doubles team of just American players.”

“Making the Sweet 16 as a team was really awesome, but this is my greatest individual accomplishment,” remarked Johnston, who went 24-10 with Trout in doubles competition last year. “It was shocking. My first thought was ‘I can’t believe we made it this far’. It’s going to be so much fun.

Grand Valley State is finally making a name for themselves in tennis and Darylann and I are proud and excited to be a part of that.”

Lakers Ranked Third in The Sporting News Preseason Top-10 Poll In the first poll of the 2010-11 basketball season, Grand Valley State was picked third in the DJ Foster country, according to The Sporting News in the via gvsulakers.com publication's Preseason Top-10 Poll. GVSU, which finished the 2009-10 year with a 22-9 record and point mark last season on his way to being named returns a dozen letterwinners, is one of three teams to the All-GLIAC North Division First Team and from the Midwest Region ranked in the poll, all of a member of the GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team. which are the top three teams listed.

Joining Ringler on the Preseason AllGrand Valley State was chosen third and America Second Team is Jet Chang sits behind top-ranked Findlay and (BYU-Hawaii), LaMarshall Corbett second-place Bellarmine. The Lakers (Angelo State), Chris Hall (Lynn), and defeated Findlay in the quarterfinals Nick Wolf (Rollins). The All-America of last season's Midwest Regional First Team consists of Chris Banchero Tournament, while both GVSU and (Seattle Pacific), Gage Daye (BloomBellarmine advanced to the semififield), Justin Keenan (Ferris State), nals before ending their seasons.

Darryl Webb (Indiana PA), and DaunThe publication also offered tae Williams (Central Oklahoma). its Preseason All-Americans, as The Lakers begin the 2010-11 camLaker senior forward Justin Ringler paign with an exhibition game at Daywas tabbed as a Second Team Allton, winners of the 2009-10 National America selection. In 2009-10, Invitation Tournament (NIT), on NoRingler started all 31 games and avJustin Ringler and the Lakers return to vember 1st in Dayton, Ohio. GVSU eraged 13.4 points and 6.9 rebounds the court after advancing to the regional semifinals last season. will then play two games at home per game, as he ranked fourth in the conference in rebounding, seventh in minutes (33.9 against Marygrove (Nov. 13) and Spring Arbor mpg.), 12th in assists (87), 13th in scoring, and (Nov. 16) before facing a tough test versus St. 14th in steals (42). Ringler surpassed the 1,000- Joseph’s on Nov. 23 at 6:00 pm in the Fieldhouse.

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The Sporting News 2010-11 Preseason Top-10 Poll 1. Findlay 2. Bellarmine 3. Grand Valley State 4. Arkansas Tech 5. Cal Poly-Pomona 6. Indiana (PA) 7. Seattle Pacific 8. West Liberty State 9. Winona State 10. Bentley

WR Jovonne Augustus caught a pass between three West Texas A&M defenders and broke free to score a 70-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The TD helped spark the Lakers’ come-from-behind win on Sept 2.

Photo by Doug Witte

A GRAND WEEKEND Homecoming weekend is a special time for every university as it welcomes back alumni from all around the country to showcase how it has grown. This year at GVSU, homecoming isn’t just a normal annual event, but a celebration of the school’s first 50 years. At Grand Valley State this homecoming celebration won’t just be to show off how the campus has changed, but to thank all the students, faculty and staff who have helped shape the university as well. For the athletic department, this will be a weekend to join with the university to show off the tradition that has been built in the first 50 years. One special feature of the weekend will be the throwback games, where the football, volleyball and soccer teams will all be wearing special uniforms.

Doug Witte Executive Editor

Hall of Fame One of the highest honors that can be earned at GVSU is to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. On June 30, 2010, athletic director Tim Selgo announced six new members will join the elite group in 2010. The 2010 class will include: Curt Anes (football), Ed Crisman (basketball), Chara Fehsenfeld (volleyball), Jennifer Mackson (softball), Dewey Newsome (swimming and diving coach) and Melissa Sneller (golf).

Curt Anes (99-02) finished his career atop almost every offensive category and still owns a number of records at GVSU. Recently he was named one of the best quarterbacks of the decade by d2football.com. He also led the football team to its first national title in 2002.

Ed Crisman (66-69) played on the first three men’s basketball teams at Grand Valley. He played a key role in building the program to what it is today. He was the first player to join the 1,000point club as he averaged over 17 points per game during his career.

Chara Fehsenfeld (99-02) was always known as one of the hardest workers on the team during her time at GVSU. She helped lead the volleyball team to an impressive 119-19 record. Those teams also advanced to the NCAA Division II final four two times.

Jennifer Mackson (01-04) is the most decorated softball player in GVSU history. In a sport that depends on dominate pitching, Mackson led the program to its first-ever national championship game appearance. She compiled a 103-16 record over her four-year career.

Dewey Newsome (84-07) built the men’s The Lakers have been wearing a special 50th anniversary patch and women’s swimming and diving program from on all of their home uniforms. scratch when he was named the head coach. NewThis year homecoming weekend will begin some earned conference coach of the year honors on Oct. 8, 2010. The weekend kicks off with two seven times during his career and coached six stuevents on the first night and will run through Sun- dent-athletes who were later inducted into the day, Oct. 10. For tickets to any of the homecoming GVSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Melissa Sneller (01-05) becomes the first weekend events, call (616) 331-3200 or visit gvsuwomen’s golfer to be inducted into the hall of lakers.com.

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HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2010 HOME ATHLETIC EVENTS FRIDAY W. Tennis vs. Ashland 3:30 pm Soccer vs. Northwood 4:00 pm Hall of Fame Dinner 5:00 pm Volleyball vs. Lake Erie 7:00 pm SATURDAY W. Tennis vs. Ohio Dominican 10:00 am Swim & Dive Intrasquad Meet 1:00 pm Football vs. Northern Mich.

7:00 pm SUNDAY W. Tennis vs. Lake Erie 10:00 am Soccer vs. Saginaw Valley State Noon W. Tennis vs. Davenport 1:30 pm fame. She claimed golf’s highest individual award in 2005 by winning the national championship. She was also named an all-american twice in her career.

The hall of fame dinner will be at the Kirkhof Center on Oct. 8, 2010. For tickets to the dinner, call (616) 331-8800.

Volleyball Match Also on Friday night, the women’s volleyball team will face GLIAC newcomer Lake Erie College in the Fieldhouse Arena at 7:00 pm. The Lakers have already made headlines this season by defeating the No. 1 team in the nation in their first match of the year. The win over then top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul ended the Golden Bears’ 75match win streak which is the longest in NCAA Division II history. Lake Erie is in its first year of GLIAC competition and will be looking to make a name for their program with an upset win over the home team. Grand Valley’s volleyball program has reached the NCAA Division II playoffs for 10 consecutive years and they’ll look to stay the course

A Grand Weekend (continued) as they prepare to make a run at another GLIAC title and an 11th straight playoff berth.

Football Game The Laker football team will take the field on homecoming weekend with light blue jerseys and a special retro helmet design to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school. Even if there wasn’t a special anniversary celebrated this year, the game versus Northern Michigan always carries plenty of

history along with it. While there is no specific rivalry, NMU is one of Grand Valley’s oldest conference opponents. The animosity started in 1973 when Northern Michigan was the defending national champion and the No. 1 team in the country.

The Wildcats travelled down to Allendale, with their 18-game win streak in tact, to take on the Lakers. GVSU would shock Northern Michigan with a 31-14 victory. That win would become GVSU’s signature victory in the early days of the program and helped propel it to what it has become today.

Naturally, Northern Michigan will take their best shot at the Lakers to try to even the score while GVSU sits near the top of the rankings.

A New Tradition The football program will begin a new tradition during homecoming weekend. The “Laker Walk” will take place for the first time. At 5:00 pm the team will start walking along the Fieldhouse through Lot C and then down Stadium Drive towards Lubbers Stadium. Fans are encouraged to line the streets and cheer on the team as they get prepared for the game. Check out the map on the left to see the route the team will be taking.

Soccer Game On Sunday, the soccer team will face one of its biggest rivals from the past few years. After battling to a 2-2 tie in University Center, Mich., Saginaw Valley comes to Allendale for a match

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 11

that will carry conference ramifications. A win for either team could set them up to host the conference tournament on their home field. A GVSU win over SVSU could also give the Lakers much needed momentum as they look to get healthy and finish the second half of the season strong.

Other Home Contests There will be plenty of action to catch on campus during homecoming weekend. Including the events already mentioned, there will also be swimming and diving and women’s tennis.

Saturday, Oct. 9 marks the beginning of the swimming and diving season with a scrimmage.

The annual Blue and White Intrasquad Meet will take place in the Fieldhouse Pool at 1:00 pm.

The women’s tennis team will also be in action throughout the course of the weekend with four home matches in three days. They will face three GLIAC opponents on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then cap it all off with a match against Davenport.

The Tradition Continues At GVSU this homecoming weekend there will be a great deal of tradition for alumni and fans to enjoy as the Lakers celebrate the past 50 years.

There will also be new traditions, such as the Laker Walk, which will allow everyone to take part in the beginning of new traditions.

Q&A With Sports Information Director Tim Nott As sports information director, give us a run down of your responsibilities.

Our department is responsible for all of the public relations efforts for Grand Valley State athletics. We promote all aspects of GVSU athletics through a wide variety of media forums. We promote GVSU athletics state wide, regionally and nationally.

Our department is responsible for all statistical record keeping, editing and publishing all athletic department materials, both printed and electronically. It is extremely important to have a positive working relationship with not only the local media, but media state wide.

How has your job changed in the 13 years you have been sports information director?

Virtually every aspect of my job has changed in some form or fashion during my time at Grand Valley State.

Technology is the most prominent change, but the forms of promoting Grand Valley State athletics has also changed. The internet became a prominent part of our industry in the late 1990’s and from that point on the electronic aspect of public relations took over.

Today you have facebook, twitter and a host of other public relations avenues. However, through all of the

changes in technology one area has remained a constant; dealing with people. The aspect of public relations that goes unnoticed is that of dealing with individuals and or groups with a personal touch. You must have strong interpersonal skills in order to be effective in the public relations industry.

Tell us how you ended up at Grand Valley State/why you chose to work at GVSU? I began working as a student in the Central Michigan sports information office. I worked about 40 hours per week my first year as a volunteer. From CMU I did internships with the Amateur Athletic Union and the University of Florida. I was hired as an assistant sports information director at Michigan Tech in 1994 and began my career at Grand Valley State in July of 1997. Grand Valley State had the look of an up and coming college under new athletic leadership.

What’s your favorite part about working in collegiate athletics and working at Grand Valley?

I really enjoy working with the student-athletes and you have a new and exciting crew every year coming into college. It is very enjoyable to watch our studentathletes grow in every facet of life. Our kids grow as people and as athletes and it is a lot of fun to watch that growth. We are fortunate at Grand Valley State to attract the very best student-athletes.

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 12

Describe your favorite memory or proudest moment from your job?

Watching our student-athletes grow and compete on the playing field, but also grow into successful college students. I enjoy watching our student-athletes mature, knowing that we might have had a role in that maturity. Athletically, I have so many great memories of watching our teams and/or individuals compete.

The success that the Grand Valley State athletic department has enjoyed over the last 12 years is incredible. Spending time with our coaches is something that I will always remember and we are fortunate to have a great group of coaches.

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

Don’t get outworked and take pride in everything you do. I want to do the very best in everything I do and I am going to follow through to finish the task to the best of my abilities.

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

I like to spend time with my family. My family is the most important thing in the world to me and I enjoy every minute I get to spend with them. I am also very thankful that I can incorporate my family into my job as my kids get to see the great role models in our student-athletes at Grand Valley State.

The Grid I know it’s October because ...

Hot chocolate or hot cider?

Best halloween costume you have ever seen?

How many games will the Detroit Lions win this year?

Song that you are embarrassed to like?

Rebecca Mailloux

Philipp Claus

Meghan Berry

DJ Foster

Head Women’s Golf Coach Grand Rapids, Mich.

Men’s Tennis Player Allendale, Mich.

Assistant Athletic Trainer Grand Rapids, Mich.

Assistant Sports Information Director Allendale, Mich.

The leaves are in full foliage and fall golf season is coming to an end.

My brother’s birthday is on the first.

The weather is amazing and the trees are changing.

It’s sweatshirt weather and time to plan halloween costumes.

Hot cider

Hot chocolate

Hot cider

Hot chocolate with marshmallows

Allie Tyler’s biker chick costume in 2008

I saw someone who went as a shower. That was pretty awesome!

The three blind mice

A group of girls dressed up as the American Gladiators

I’ll go with a hopeful five

They have to win one first, but five would be nice.

Three

They’d win more than three if they threw the ball to Calvin Johnson

Weak by SWV

Just the Way You Are Bruno Mars

We Built This City by Jefferson Starship

I may or may not have a case of ‘Bieber fever’

Laker Word Search

E H R L Z Z I H F X U W L V S

V V L U V K R V D O E V F L V

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G \ O Q V N G U R I G D U E N

J J V D J H O Q I X I V N H E

Q K G L L O Q V J L O Q H L G N L V Q Q H R X U DZ U D PJ

D U U O U H I Q R I L H Q F R

N U D F E D G K V U V N D G G

Q V F U V V D E X N Q N Q R X

Z U U G N P U X H D L D H J V

N H E F L R L P F F D Q E F Q H U U D I K D E D F U V N K D

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Crossword answers available on page 14

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 13

October Home Events Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2 M. Tennis GVSU Invitational 9:30 a.m.

W. Tennis vs.

Ferris State 3:30 p.m.

M. Tennis GVSU Invitational 4 p.m.

3 W. Golf Laker Fall ClassicSoccer vs.

Ohio Dominican 1 p.m.

4

5

6

W. Golf Laker Fall Classic

10

11

8

9

6 p.m.

W. Tennis vs. Ashland W. Tennis vs.

Live at Main Street 3:30 p.m.

Ohio Dominican Pub Soccer vs. Northwood 10 a.m.

Volleyball vs. Ashland 4 p.m.

Football vs.

7 p.m.

Volleyball vs.

Northern Mich 7 p.m. *FB Radio Show Lake Erie 7 p.m.

Homecoming

12

13

W. Tennis vs. Lake Erie 10 a.m. & Davenport 1:30 p.m.

Soccer vs. SVSU 12 p.m.

17

7

14

15

16

W. Tennis vs. SVSU *FB Radio Show 2 p.m.

6 p.m.

Soccer vs.

Live at Main Street Northern Mich 4 p.m.

Pub

Football vs. Lake Erie 7 p.m - Kids’ Club Day

M & W Swimming vs.

UW-Milwaukee 6 p.m.

18

19

20

Soccer vs. Mich Tech 12 p.m.

21

22

23

29

30

*FB Radio Show 6 p.m.

Live at Main Street Pub

24

25

26 Volleyball vs. SVSU 7 p.m.

27

28

*FB Radio Show Volleyball vs. Tiffin Soccer vs. Ferris State 12 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

M & W Swimming vs.

Live at Main Street Ashland 2 p.m.

Pub

Volleyball vs.

Ohio Dominician 4 p.m.

SANDRA’S SNAPSHOT

*The Football Radio Show can be heard on the radio on WTKG 1230 AM

Crossword Puzzle Answers

E H R L Z Z I H F X U W L V S “evolving” Sandra Jennings is an Administrative Assistant in the athletic department. This photo shows a small portion of the Fieldhouse lobby that has undergone a face lift this past summer.

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 14

V V L U V K R V D O E V F L V

V U O DZR PD H E O F X O Q RZH U U U Q DZ U S D R L O D Q R D U L W H N H Q Q Q I R

G \ O Q V N G U R I G D U E N

J J V D J H O Q I X I V N H E

Q K G L L O Q V J L O Q H L G N L V Q Q H R X U DZ U D PJ

D U U O U H I Q R I L H Q F R

N U D F E D G K V U V N D G G

Q V F U V V D E X N Q N Q R X

Z U U G N P U X H D L D H J V

N H E F L R L P F F D Q E F Q H U U D I K D E D F U V N K D

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PLAYER PROFILES Nick Gunthorpe

Name

Darylann Trout

Junior

Year

Senior

Business

Major

Health Professions

Ovid, Mich.

Hometown

Clarkston, Mich.

Men’s Golf

Sport

Women’s Tennis

Because of the great winning tradition and it’s a great school. Why did you choose I knew the day I came for my official visit that I had to come to Grand Valley, it to become a Laker? offered everything I wanted academically and athletically. Grand Valley had a really well known tennis program and I knew the team would be the perfect fit.

My father, he has always encouraged me to do what I wanted and taught me everything I know.

Who has had the biggest impact on your sports career?

My entire team, but more specifically my doubles partner Chelsea Johnston.

We’ve been partners since our very first match as freshmen and have experienced everything together.

Graduated from GVSU with a degree in Business and using what I’ve learned to Where do you see I see myself living on the east coast working as a nurse and possibly coaching a further myself in life. yourself in five years? high school tennis team.

Favorite ...

Caddyshack

Movie

Tommy Boy

Lobster Bisque Soup

Food

Pickles

‘Till I Collapse by Eminem

Song

Up Up & Away by Kid Cudi

Michigan State basketball Sports in Society - PED 315

Sports team

Detroit Lions

Class for the fall semester

Archaeology

GVSPORTS Monthly Magazine • 15

Recipe of the Month

Frosty Pumpkin pie

Directions: Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, and spices in a bowl. Mix them thoroughly.

Slowly blend in ice cream. Pour into shell and put in the freezer until it is firm.

Ser ve frozen garnished with whipped cream and walnut halves.

(You can also just make the ice cream part and freeze it if you just want pumpkin ice cream!)

Ing redien ts: 1 (9 inch) pie crust bak ed 1 cup pum pki n puree 1/2 cup pac ked bro wn sug ar 1/2 tea spo on sal t 1/2 tea spo on cin namon 1/2 tea spo on ginger 1/4 tea spo on nut me g 1 qua rt van illa ice cre am , sof tened

Five firsts from the first 50 years ...

First Team National Championship • Football in 2002 First Individual National Champion • Jason VanElst in 2002 in the weight throw First Conference Championship • Volleyball in 1973 First GLIAC Presidents’ Trophy • 1972-73

About the Recipe This month’s recipe was provided by Hannah Jordan. Hannah is a freshman at GVSU 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

First NACDA Directors’ Cup • 2003-04

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