>> Welcome back to an all new episode of the Grand Valley State sports report on WGVU.

I'm your host Jake leading in this episode will highlight 2 huge road wins for the GSU women's basketball team as they continue their stellar season to get your football had national signing day last Wednesday.

We'll catch up with head coach Matt Mitchell as the Lakers welcome some new additions PSU men's basketball and one in 2 on the road this week and our feature highlights dsu distance runner Isaac Harding lock in Laker nation as the Grand Valley.

State sports report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] GSU women's basketball hit the road this week securing 2 huge wins.

They took down Lake Superior state and rival Thursday to stay atop the glee actor news now to talk about the team's head coach Mike Williams, a coach to go on the road this week to begin that second portion of the schedule now playing basically everybody a second time on the road to Lake state Thursday got 2 pretty impressive win for your team.

>> You know, we did.

I thought we played good basketball, especially that first game going up the lake state.

We tried something different this year.

We want the day of the game we stopped in a in a rec Center in G#*#*#*#*#*#*.

We'll shoot around and stretched out a little bit and had a pre-game meal and headed up and it kind of shorten it up, you know, kind of shorten up the trip in.

So to stay the whole, you know, stay the night before we sit on a hotel all day I thought was pretty good.

I thought it worked out well with other players.

You know, start of the game.

Obviously a lot of pop and got off to a young greatly than that and it and that 1st quarter and allowed us to to put a lot of different players.

So was it was really a good, good game going up to Lake state.

>> Yeah.

I was wondering how the team would come off the bus after that 5 hours on there on the short bus going up there to Lake state.

But you come off 33 to one after the 1st quarter did not allow a single made field goal against you.

The defense is really, really good.

And it looked like like they had a concerted effort to get the ball inside your post players.

A really nice job Walling that off.

>> I thought they did.

And I thought we did a great job lending assistance.

I thought we got around in front did when they tried to dump inside, when they did get it.

They got a pie were able to, you know, like you said, wall upon and get some some help in there.

And we wrote to you on the backside.

And you know, I think it's a combination to like say, just to make some shots to get some open looks early.

They didn't go in.

We risk going in a pretty good pace.

And I think it just it just kind of got away from that 1st quarter.

>> As you mentioned, you got to play a lot of bench players in that 2nd half, particularly after the first 3 minutes of the 3rd quarter don't think a starter of the Cordish Arlen play.

Another minute.

We saw everything that I give you 27 minutes on the floor and she and Joslyn Brennan really took over and started to shine for the first time.

>> Well, it's it's it's good to get these players in these games and give them a chance to play.

And I know, you know, I think they're ready when they again someday and find more of me, not me.

It's probably on me.

I don't get him in as much as they should because I think I read it.

I think they can play.

They did prove it.

That game.

You know, there was a great deal of pressure.

But still you got to go and perform night and I thought they did it and I thought they did on both ends of the floor.

>> Yeah.

Kelly Baker also gave a 24 minutes and a cool 17 Hadley Miller 17 a really balanced game for your team start to finish for the lopsided win.

Then you go to fare state, totally different environment right, to go to Lake that you have to bring your own energy.

You go to Thursday at the Pac environment and imposing environment really the first time that you're young teen has been in an environment like that and from start to finish, it was a grind.

It out game the teen again, found a way to win.

>> You know, we told before, you know, these are the kind of games you want to plan and we told the day before hope that things packed hope.

It's a packed gym hope.

They're loud.

Hope there in your face and you know, and see how we respond with that with that situation, that type of environment.

And I thought we responded.

Well, you know, I thought we you know, we had that.

We said we go up by about 8 or 9 that first 1st quarter and a lot of back in and then we kind of play that play them even though we've got that 4th quarter got up by 13.

And again, that's where we've got to learn built now too to to hold that or increase it.

And that one back in the game was to get back down to 4 will claim it's a big free throws got a couple stops and again, was where to get the victory.

>> You mentioned quite I want to talk about her demeanor in a moment, but she is your senior leader.

She's the facilitator for this team.

Ellie busting.

Meanwhile, you'll be able to be the score from the backcourt doesn't really have to facilitate because quite handles that that was quite in foul trouble.

Ellie comes through has 7 assists for your team in this game had a couple.

Those off the dribble balance.

Some of those want to kind of look like wait who's often to see her jump into a role that maybe she hasn't been asked to before in such a big moment into it so well.

>> She didn't have the best assist to turnover ratio game.

She has had 6 assists and one turnover and that's in a tie about that's by situation, the Queen foul trouble.

I should get a written there to get some minutes, get her in that situation.

She does have the ball.

Well and good value break.

I didn't do that.

But, you know, I thought Kelly responded.

Well, she got through that that 1st half you can run the show and then like you said, down the stretch.

We put the ball in his hands and she kind of finish it for us.

>> The big test comes your way on Thursday northern Michigan.

They're tall there lanky that they often the becoming carbon copies of each other with their side that they have in the Michigan Tech for Sawyer's day on Saturday.

So another tough test your team.

We've gone home for guns is UPI school district.

>> Well, it's it's it's it's good to get and out here.

It's good to be at home.

Good to have a home crowd.

And he said sorry and then Saturday.

But you know, they're both normally gives us trouble at all.

You look at the record and say there have a one in OT Tony games, but they're still really good team.

They seem that this have our number.

>> And there's always a battle.

We went up there and I think it would be that the 1112 point game at their place with to separate the 2nd half.

And then, you know, Michigan Tech is a team that can really put points on the board.

You know, they lost some games with they put up, I think 93 against northwood in 78 against Parkside.

And there's just a team that.

>> That can score.

They can all shoot the real balanced and it will have to do a little better job.

We did up at Farris defensively.

If we want to get, you know, another victory to this weekend.

Who can forget that overtime thriller at their place just a few weeks ago as well.

You know, Tech will be coming in with that one fresh on their minds as well.

It should be a fun week at home coach.

As we mentioned, Sawyer's day on Saturday.

Get that final out with you this weekend.

All right, Jay, thanks a lot.

We'll be right back with more of the Grand Valley.

State sports report continues on WDTN.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] The bsu men's basketball won their first game of the week against northwood on Tuesday before it fell twice on the road.

They would lose to Lake Superior state on Thursday followed by a loss of Paris on Saturday.

Both games in the loss column with and with the Lakers coming up, just 3 point short announce that 4th place in the glee act and join us to talk about his team's head coach Rick Wesley coach a long road trip for you guys.

A tough stretch of 6 games in 12 days.

All the final 3 on the road.

He come up just short in a couple of tough road trip this week as well.

But all in all, a good week for a team that had a lot of fight and spirit this week.

>> Well, they sure did.

I mean, it didn't quite go away.

We want.

But, you know, I could be more proud of my team.

It could be more proud of my staff.

You know, I I've been out year with covid this week and my staff is really, really done an outstanding job.

So, you know, I I still feel optimistic our team.

The is showing a lot of fight.

I think there's good things in store.

We just need to shuck stronger come down the stretch.

>> Yeah.

That was the message to the team.

Maybe after you weren't able to be with them for those 2 to close narrow losses but still yet to be really proud of you guys, as you said.

>> Well, that said, we talked to our guys all the time.

And this is your team.

You know, player led team is certainly what you strive to have.

We've got a veteran guys that think they've stepped up this week.

It's by the fact that we've lost the last 2.

I'm really seeing some signs of good things.

I feel like our back or is really coming into play now is really healthy.

Really started to play the best he's ever played.

I think George has had a good week.

So a Christian showed some real signs on Saturday of really getting into a better place.

Hike had a great shooting week.

So so, you know, there's a lot of good things there.

And you know, we know the competition is tough with our margin for error is not that great.

We just need to put it all together.

>> Yeah.

Isaac at 14.

3 pointers made across the 3 games.

To your point, as you come down the stretch, your coach.

It's going to be critical.

It seems to me to have something that can really be a threat from the outside to the sea.

Ice ties.

It getting that improvement as we've seen sort of see some shots fall.

That could be big for this team down the stretch.

>> Well, no question.

And what you know.

He really carried us at northwood, you know, came out just guns.

A blazing into, you know it a game when we were really have a tremendous office.

We were Elsa me.

He really carried the loads.

And I think it's carried over.

He's looking for shot.

He's he's more shot ready, as we say, as teams try to double down in jail.

Bin laden.

Jake and Christian.

You know, he's got to be that guy to keep the defense honest.

And so, you know, he had a good week for the best we could.

He's had this year.

So it certainly is a good sign.

>> Really balanced scoring as well.

In the second 2 games of the road trip against Lake Superior state.

Yet 4 in double figures against their state.

All 5 of your starters scored in double figures.

It seems like this team is really getting it into a rhythm of sharing the basketball and kind of like Steve Kerr talked about a couple weeks till the open guys finding the ball.

>> Well, that's you know, that's what you hope to have.

We have a good group.

They played together for a long time.

We do have kind of a balanced scoring attack.

You know, when you've got to take what the defense gives.

You go in the game thinking are we going.

They were J to get 30 points will be OK by what happens when they said 3 or 4 guys at him.

Every time he's got the ball.

Well, that's not going to happen.

So you can't really predetermine.

We always have a game player.

So certain style and strategy.

But, you know, other opportunities present themselves.

And and that's what's encouraging, Alex.

I think Dole is giving us another real threat offensive Lee both scoring wise in facilitating the take some pressure off both the scores and the facilitators.

So we've got to keep, you know, keep figure out how to best use that exact think Jordan is really played.

Well, as for game has really been solid years of late.

>> Yeah.

Jordan, just to highlight that point had 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 10 points in that game on the road at Ferris state coach was tied at 37 big crowd.

You knew was going to be imposing environment going in your team comes out that 2nd half Christian the ground led the way with 8 points in that 10 to 2 run early on.

You guys are going to shoot their way back into it.

You guys lined up down 13 with 4 minutes left for your guys to fight the way they did to get back to having a look at the buzzer to potentially tie this game.

Just the heart to your to your team to meet coach Johnson up a nominal job.

I was really, really impressed, not want to give you a chance to highlight even though to narrow loss to rival on the road.

There's a lot of really good things to take away from that final step back in.

>> Yeah.

Well, no question is, you know, talking to our coaches, a fellow it to look at our guys eyes at me.

They thought they could win this state and they weren't going away in to mention the start of the 2nd half Christian that stretch their first 5 minutes was as good as he's ever played is so, so, so so he can build on that hopefully and then coming down the stretch.

I thought you mentioned the coach Johnson Taylor Johnson, my assistant as well as Shawn mackay both those guys.

I I tell you, I just could be more proud of the job they did the tough environment to poke fun atmosphere.

They kept their composure.

You know, watching it obviously online.

You know, it is the way they handled themselves were so fortunate to have those guys on our staff and they they really directed to let our guys or guys did the work and they scrapped and clawed.

The next thing you know, we're right back in there and if were not for not you know, he gets down the stretch made his free throws to his credit.

If you missed the free throw here.

There they get could easily turn our way.

So, you know, it's certainly disappointing.

But there's again, there's a lot to come either with.

>> Feeling good that they're the number one team at this point.

Well, we show we're certainly capable playing right where there was some.

>> Toe to toe at their place.

3 weeks left in the regular season.

Now coach.

It starts at home this weekend.

You welcome in those UPI school that you just beat a few weeks ago at their place Thursday night.

Northern Michigan comes to town on Saturday at Sawyer's day.

We're really looking forward to having you back on the floor, but we can expect this week.

>> Well, you never gets any easier.

Mission is playing.

Well, you know, they're playing well and we beat them up there at their place.

We thought that was a tremendous victory.

They're there.

Well, the better offensive teams in the league really shoot the 3 pointer Hoyer.

Well, they have a lot of depth and they'll come in here ready to go.

And of course, Michigan Tech is Michigan Tech.

They went on the road and took Parkside who's been on the hotter teams here of late their front line of all those weight.

Is it read Bell is as good as it gets in the country.

So it does it just doesn't get any easier.

There's no easy games.

And there we just got to keep battling.

Just keep battling this thing is a marathon.

And we just got to keep put their best foot forward and hopefully get our bench going here a little bit this week.

It try to come out here with some W's.

>> Well, you're around in that corner coming towards the home stretch kosher beef and the rest of the way.

As we said, the plane's really good basketball right now.

Look for to see more of that this week on your home floor.

Thanks again for limit your time and best of luck this weekend healthier look for to see you back out there.

>> All right.

Thank you.

>> We'll be right back with more of the Grand Valley.

State sports report continues on WDTN [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] GSU football announced the signing of 32 new student athletes from across the country that will attend and play football for the Lakers in the fall of 2022 with 21 new offensive players 10 new defensive players and one specialist head coach Matt Mitchell will continue to grow the GSU football program this fall.

We caught up with him on Wednesday to take a deeper dive into signing day.

Take a listen.

>> It's 2022 national signing day for division 2 football.

Jake leaving here for the Grand Valley sports network.

Joined by head football coach Matt Mitchell coach.

A lot of excitement today over 30 brand-new Lakers.

Tell us about the exciting for you and your staff with that only class today.

Excited.

You know, I want to get a lot of thanks to know my coaching staff.

A lot of people in gravel athletics.

You know, that really kind of help to the throughout the course is process.

I think.

>> One big key for us is we have our entire coaching staff.

It's intact.

There's no big changes in our system coaches.

So we have that type of continuity from start to finish in the recruiting process.

I think allows you to not lose anybody late of some people kind of come in late.

A lot to build those relationships because the primary point person for most recruits as our assistant coaches and select Kanu has really helped us finish office class without going into too much detail on specific sky.

Describe this class for viewers and the expected of these, you need to commerce or very deep on offense.

You know, by design intentionally, you know, all of us are.

So my staff that when you have a offensive lineman that can help us win a championship that are available in the four-states recruit, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio.

We're going to take them and we found we found a lot of good guys, you know, from 11 recruits at that position.

And so I think one trend that we're seeing is that, you know, the transfer portal, you're seeing more skilled athlete of the transfer portal.

The necessarily o-linemen the numbers are supporting that.

I think it's very difficult to pick up a transfer line and that could be impactful.

I think that's a position where you're recruit, you grow, you develop them.

And so when we want to have an opportunity at those guys are high school want to get those guys out of high school.

We also have a great class of receivers paired with I think one of the best quarterbacks in the Midwest that had did have some access opportunities that are able to recruit.

And so it's a really good combination office with some guys up front.

They can get the job to run the ball, protect the quarterback and a group of receivers on the outside and a quarterback to cuddle virtual.

>> You mention the transfer portal.

This is a unique here as well.

Coming off covid.

They're basically 3 groups of freshman says these these guys come in.

What are you looking for out of these guys.

Obviously we have to wait their turn a little longer than some others.

>> Yeah.

I think we told the guys that everything Grande Valley's or nothing's given, but they will have the opportunity.

You know, they will have opportunities to go out play.

We had, you know, 2 freshman lot to freshman last year, the play Darryl Johnson, who was an early role be from Bellville.

He played at impact.

If you watch Laker football, you didn't did a really good job in another Seaver played a little bit as a freshman to.

And so it is it's not out of the realm of possibility.

And I don't want guys to get into the mindset.

Well, you know that whole recruiting that they're just going to redshirt.

I think that Chris lot of complacency.

I don't think that keeps them on attack mode.

Hungry try to grow and be the best it can be.

So they're all going to come into fall camp and they're going to opportunities are going to wraps.

And, you know, if they find themselves earning the right to be in the 2 deeper potentially playing the we're going to do what's best for Graham by football have always said, you know, we're going to play the guys are in the right to play.

I don't care if you're senior a true freshman, you're from Michigan State of Michigan.

A transfer could recruit a high school.

You're right.

The right to play you are what you put on tape.

And so we have that type of attitude and culture that the football program and people don't just assume they're being redshirted or seniors, just assume or Google play because I'm a senior.

I think that at least a lot of competition put our team in the best chance to compete for championships.

Obviously looking for talent.

When your crew football players.

But we've mentioned it.

Nobody transferred out of Grand Valley State to play football at another college institution after this past season.

Jobs looking for a particular type of person as well.

Talk about the people that you critic the ousted really critical.

We talk a lot about the tnt's, the things that kind of take no talent.

A lot of these intrinsic characteristics that lead to championships and fit this University athletic department.

It's challenging here academically.

It's it's not a school that if you just want to be eligible to play football that you can have.

You can succeed that and we understand that we're proud of our graduation rates or academic success rates were proud of the fact that guys get to Greece and Rabbi states.

We have to find first of all, individuals or education is important part of the experience and recruit to those and also try to find high care to people.

You know, we've led the nation in attendance the past 8 years and a lot of our best players are recognizable this community that with that comes responsibility for how they represent of themselves primarily.

But secondarily, our team, our athletic department and university.

And you know, I really told our guys to high standards in regards to that.

Want to try to recruit really hiker to men on the front of it.

I think if you're talking about a West Michigan.

Our players represent themselves extremely well in this community and we have not had really any legal issues at all with any of our players here on this campus or in Allendale West, Michigan.

I think some of the start of the recruiting process trying to find the right type of people that fit this community fit this educational experience and also have championship work ethic, championship goals.

>> Really appreciate that.

Candid response is an exciting week for you guys will not only signing day but conditioning for the 2022 season begins this week as well.

Spring ball is right around the corner.

Tell our fans, our viewers, what's next for Grand Valley State, football as we move forward in spring.

Sure.

We're excited.

We'll get back to work.

You know, got a lot of guys back from last year's team.

>> A lift in 4 days a week making some sacrifices 06:00AM to come into some difficult stuff.

And you know, the Kelly family.

So that's month of February.

As a staff.

We're really digging in on our cups from the previous season taking a deep dive and look at the things that we could be better at.

You know, there's something something's regards to your 3rd downs down the stretch.

We're great at turn the ball over some some critical ball games here defensively.

We were really lead on 3rd down really, really good top 25 in scoring defense and also total defense.

But words goes, we could be a red zone and we didn't create a lot of sacks.

And so those little details, Jake, trying to dig in on the tape.

The cups that when you get out of the season.

Sometimes you can kind of focus.

And as a coaching staff has spent a lot time was cut up.

So it's it's a balance of our current players, the development with them in dollars of their life right now of take a look at our cups and they're also starting to get a jump-start the class of 2023 the process for the next year.

Classes started going so well spent a solid month of February.

We're just right down here.

This building get to work in the spring.

Spring break.

I'm really excited.

Spring practice last year was last couple seasons.

We have not had traditional spring practices.

It has been to 2 years really coming up on 3 years since a traditional spring spring practices to get back to that.

I think it's going to be really, really critical is our players and really set a lot of these guys up.

We had a great freshman class that Richard.

And look at all opportunities to earn their stripes and earned the ability to play throughout the course of spring and just kind of puts us into the summer months.

And then, you know, we've got a tough schedule has been released.

Great schedule, great home game of the season.

Tickets are starting to discuss kill fat.

But, you know, I'm looking at the first game.

Karl school mine's the Final 4 participant on Thursday, September 1st.

I know the lovers will be rockin and our goal struck prepare our team for the moment.

>> A lot of excitement in the mirror and not so distant future as well.

Congrats on a great signing class.

Coach are looking for talking all spring into the summer as well and best looking for okay.

Thank you.

Don't forget, this was national signing day.

Go to G vsu Lakers, dot com or go to at GSU football on social media for all the info not only on signing day but also how you get those season tickets and the 2022 fault.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> As a sophomore out of nearby Rockford.

Michigan.

Isaac Harding has already won a national championship in cross country for GSU his sights now set on a track and field national championship as the Lakers look ahead to Pittsburg Kansas in a month.

Tom clear he has the story.

>> Perhaps there are a lot of people who will look back fondly of 2021 a distance standout.

Isaac Harding is certainly one of them.

The Rockford native began his career at the University of Michigan.

But you just try to Grand Valley last season winning ad to individual outdoor track title in the 5 K last spring in Allendale then leading the Lakers to the cross country, national championship in Florida, in December.

The team title there came after Jerry ball.

Just the squad had stunned a large field when the Spartan Invitational meet in Michigan State in September and demonstrating what might come later in the campaign.

>> And try not to get too ahead of ourselves with that performance.

But it was definitely a good indicator.

And yeah, kind of showing out through the end of the season with a winning national zoo >> nmsu it was 10 or Chatham who cross the line just ahead of Isaac in a 2, 3, Lakers finish.

But shortly after parting began hitting the finish-line tape in Louisville in October.

He was the individual winner in a meeting where camera was 4th and later, hurting anciana had won 2 finishes at both the glee at championship and the NCAA finals in Florida.

And while their partnership is paid huge dividends for their teams at Grand Valley.

Both runners are still intent on finishing first.

Each time out.

>> If you're still racing with each other.

But I think comes down to just you 2 and there's a little bit more racing on that.

It's really cool to have somebody like that to a trade with every day and learned when from that.

And I'm really trying to soak it in from him.

You know, I know he's got a lot of experience racing really, really good guys as fresh Eve coming from Michigan and sell just trying to like really take in everything that I can learn from them.

>> I think the best thing with Isaac and even their Tanner into that, just their competitive nature, their ability to when the gun goes off to put everything else aside and lock in to the task at hand and really not let anything get in their way.

>> Right now is Harding and Chad are focusing on team hardware again in 2000, 22 Isaac is also thinking about the meat coming up in Kansas in March and the chance to win at the indoor nationals, something it so far as a loon.

>> Yet to party have on an outdoor and cross country.

I haven't won the indoor national title yet.

So that's kind of like sort of the missing piece.

And I feel like I want to for anything short of it, you know, trying to win.

>> While he pursues his graduate degree in physical therapy Isaac carvings daily routine includes 8 hours of work each day during his clinical trials while his talented teammates like 10 or channel might still be him sometimes to the finish line.

They've also pushed and carried him to new heights as his college career begins to wind down in the Grand Valley State sports report and I'm Tom clearing.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley.

State sports report GSU swimming and diving is wrapping up.

The glee actually am paean ships on the campus of Saginaw Valley state has this program airs heading into today.

The men sit atop the glee act in first place at the meet the women currently sitting 3rd place.

We'll catch up with head coach Andy boys next week to recap ugly acts and preview the nca championships taking place in early March dsu track and field to host the big meet this week that today meet will take place on Friday.

February 11th and Saturday February 12th at the Kelly family sports center makes you get on out to Allendale to support the Lakers at one of the best track and field meet in the country.

GSU men's and women's basketball return home this week on Thursday, the team will take on northern Michigan with the women starting at 06:00PM.

But by the man at 08:00PM.

Then take on Michigan Tech on Saturday for Sawyer's day.

Atvs.

You game time for the women is scheduled for 01:00PM thought by the man at 03:00PM.

They're all for the other festivities around the games and make sure you head to GPS you Lakers dot com for more information on how you can get tickets to Sawyer's day.

>> Brooke, coming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program visit.

CBS you Lakers dot com for more of this show head on over to our youtube channel at youtube.

Dot com slash WVU 35.

Make sure you with the subscribe button to get updated video highlights all year long for the entire crew here WVU.

I'm Jake Levy.

Have a great week.

Laker nation.

And as always Anchor Up.

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