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

I'm your host Jake Lee, the GSU women's basketball fell in the glee actually am paean ship this week but gets locked in as a 2 seed in the N C a a tournament GSU men's and women's tennis look to continue their strong start to the season Lakers softball leans on its veteran student athlete to continue their good form this month men's basketball wraps up their season on this episode.

Also on this episode, we highlight the GSU men's swimming and diving program and our weekly feature lock in Laker nation as the Grand Valley State sport report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> GSU women's basketball fell just short ugly act championship this weekend.

They would win their first 2 rounds against northern Michigan, a Michigan Tech before falling in the finale against para state.

Still, the team has only 2 losses on the season and now looks ahead to the N C a a Midwest Regional this week as they play Wayne state in the first round on Friday in Ashland, Ohio.

Just how to talk about steam as head coach Mike Williams and coach tournament.

I'm always a one and done situation will only get 3 chances here.

And you won the first 2 rounds this week she was a little bit short on Sunday.

>> You know, again, it's like you said, Jake, we like to call body were the consideration.

What we've done throughout the season of the other players done a good job.

You get a chance.

Go into the tournament.

Any could happen, especially our conference.

You know, it's such a of a bounce conference.

I think a good conference.

You look at the ratings were number 2 in the country.

So you've got a lot of good teams in there who are likely and we talked about all year.

Anybody can beat anybody thought we played really well against northern that first game put up 71 haven't done that while against them and came back the next night, played Michigan Tech.

And I thought again, you know, played.

Well, you know, you know, next game the next night that we play well against CA that we defended got baskets.

We need to get a chance to play for us in the final.

And again, we think Theres really talented team and and a good team and it was was not down draymond games and I thought they made it is stretch in there.

We kind of we became and discipline that though, here in the states that you can't make a tight game if you're a good team, we made them.

They separate and we could catch up.

And so hopefully we can learn from that.

It will learn what, what happened that stretch and happen that game we can we can grow from that move on and have a chance.

You know, Nancy tournament.

>> Coach and I don't like to call them a young team anymore.

Now they have 2 years under their belt.

But winning is a process right to last or this young team gets to the postseason has some struggles in their first very first game in the postseason this year.

You win a couple of games.

You get to that championship Sunday.

Now there's a little bit extra of an emphasis on it and maybe that's the next step that you see it.

You see a process like that with this team.

Is that something that you can look at the scene as well.

>> Well, I think that's true.

You know, I think there's there's no doubt, you know, and again, those games in a season we could have lost.

You know, when we do it, we want to.

So you know what, I'm going to panic too much of a one win.

I mean, one loss, but it's the same time, you know, when you do the job these guys have done.

These ladies have done all year.

The event consistent it won games.

One big games and won close games.

And with that expectations role in the new that you got to continue to meet those expectations.

And so, you know, it's a it's a double edge Ward.

And so we didn't do it that game.

And and that's OK, and now we get another opportunity to do that.

>> Coming up his next weekend.

Obviously no moral victories.

But the fire self down by 12 with 4 minutes left.

Will it back to a three-point game with about a minute left to go.

The fight that your team show down the stretch shows that this team is truly in that next play mentality which you need them to be.

>> Well, I think they've done that all year.

You know, I think we caught we get too big of a gap with 2 shorter time period to come back.

But you know, nonetheless, we did.

We did battle back a little bit, you know, threw some punches down the stretch.

And then, you know, they've got Lea said they've got 4 or 5 really good players.

They put on the floor in Anderson made a great step back.

3.

You know, we've got it down to 3 and it was kind of the day are, you know, was it was a great move, great shot it.

When we did come back and now the financial with having no.

But at the end the day.

That's that's a that's a wide gap to to close that short period time.

>> She wasn't as big of a factor on Sunday.

But to me Johnson Brennan off the bench this week for you.

Offensively coach was massive.

She had 13 points and 14 minutes in the win over northern Michigan s#*#*#*.

6 points in 7 minutes in the 1st half alone against Michigan Tech to see some other options become available in the post for your offense.

Seems like now in tournament.

Time could be really big for your team going forward.

>> Well, exactly.

Especially Riley out.

You know, we need some kind of feel that space.

I thought just get that it stretches again, she's not in that a position where she can play a lot of total minutes, but it stretches.

I thought become added that in stretches.

That's not Haley swing did that and stretches.

So it kind of tried to feel Riley's position.

My committee and I think they've done a good job in again.

It's it's hard to ask.

It will Haley a re just going to do that game in and game out because they have they're not is battle tested as other players.

And so it's unfair that heat that on them.

But but again.

>> They've done that they did it against northern Michigan.

They do.

It's Michigan Tech and they can do it again.

So it is big.

It's big to fill those minutes.

>> We start the nca Turner with a familiar opponent.

He just faced Wayne state last Thursday.

Take them on again in this first round was a great game at their place and turning almost had a triple-double.

She was phenomenal.

So, you know, this is a really good team.

The up to face now in his first round.

And it's a conference opponent open up nca tournament.

Play.

>> Yeah, it is.

And it's it's always tough, you know, like to see teams of playing 3 times, 4 times.

And but but that same time, you know, we have played it's been about 3 weeks.

Little bit unfamiliar.

But yeah, you buckle up and you prepare again for ways.

Stay there are leaks adjustments.

We're going make some adjustments get a chance to play on a neutral floor go play in a national in the nice thing is it's nice to a gym.

You get big crowds.

It's a good atmosphere.

And you know, you get to play, you get a chance to play in the postseason and hopefully you play good basketball in to get a chance to move on.

>> Coach 2 seed in the toughest region in and see a division.

2 should be really fun week.

Thanks much for your time.

That's a look this week looking for to call that game on Friday.

Let's get some wins.

Look at.

All right, Jake, thank you.

We'll be right back with more of the Grand Valley State sports bar continues here on WDTN [MUSIC] [MUSIC] GSU men's and women's tennis both started off the season strong.

The men find themselves at 7, 1, while the women currently set at 5, 2, just now to break down all things D vsu Tennessee's head coach Samantha shawl and coach Moser.

You're joining us a little bit warmer climate that we're enjoying right now here in the West Michigan.

But off to a great start for both your programs.

Are you doing.

Thanks for being here.

>> Yeah.

Thanks, Jake, for having me.

Doing good.

Can't complain down here in Florida where in Pensacola for for spring break into some good competition down here before we come back up to snow in Michigan.

>> Well, while you're getting some warm weather teams have been hot as well to get things started tells me that starts on the men's side.

7, 1, that rattled off 4 consecutive wins.

2 things are going really well.

Thought that was it meant so far.

>> Yeah.

It is going well.

They and in fact, both teams are undefeated against division.

2 opponents.

I'm off to a good start.

We have slept everyone in our region that we have played so far on the men's side.

And we're getting ready for some tough tougher competition now down here in Florida and then we get back up there for for conference play.

But but a hot start never hurt.

So we're excited for it for conference.

Coming up.

>> How much of the help to get some of those Southern teams that we know are pretty early in the national championship meet and how good they've been your and your doctor.

They can play all year round.

How much does it help to get some of that competition here during this week before you go back to conference.

But.

>> Yeah, exactly.

It's it's great to get a good level down here and get a lot of matches and also the plan tours were open.

You never know a spring in Michigan, but we're hoping that a startling outdoors when when conference starts in and into the postseason.

So it's good to get the experience here as well.

>> How would you see really impressive from the men's side of things as you kind of see them kind of develop their doubles partnerships have been really, really good for you as well as building up to that singles rotation.

>> So yeah, we've got we've just got a strong team, a deep team.

We're a little bit stronger at the top of the lineup.

Now some new players coming in this year.

And also some some guys stepping up.

So we have a 5th year transfer who has been playing at the at the top spot for us.

He's doing quite well.

He's playing one singles and one doubles.

So and just improve the team by one position all the way down, which which helps a lot couple other guys are stepping up playing a higher position than they were last year.

And then the guys that are are planned lower in the lineup far haven't, you know, comfortable matches because that they are so strong, they are so deep.

The man it's hard for teams to deal with our debt.

Still, it feels good right now.

Top to bottom.

It seems like we can limited at any spot each.

>> Having that kind of depth.

What does that do for you in terms of training as well being able to play against a quality opponent day in and day out preparing for matches.

>> Yeah, exactly.

Some of the guys, you know, the mess that best matches of the play to have been in practice and training in and we try to emphasize that to really put the importance on, you know, competing every day to get ready for for when those moments come that we put do play the deeper stronger teams that the Blues will be ready to do that every day in training.

>> On the women's side to start out with 2 d one opponents had a couple of close matches with them.

An inch around have dug, you said but gone undefeated against everyone at the D 2 level.

So from your women's side.

But if you see here coming in now from the fall into the spring.

What we expect from the women this year.

>> Yeah, we just have a an experience to the team on the women's side, we have 3 seniors that are are kind of leading the way in our our lineup doing really well for the program and then our returners or are even better than last year.

We've got to a junior in a couple sophomores that are doing really well for us and for freshman who who came and she's playing, you know, 5 or 6 rest right now, but that she is comfortable winning every match and she got a lot of experience and heard in your career.

So she's she's doing really well for us to sell a similar in the women, you know, top to bottom.

They're pretty strong and and showing the matches as well.

>> What's nice to see you.

Wearing short sleeves.

What you want to see the teams work on here this week as you get your upper conference play.

>> Yeah, it really is.

It's all about competing.

It is a little bit of a challenge to go from playing indoors all season so far to playing outdoors, those different elements, those different factors to contend with.

So I'm just seeing them manage that compete with them of the player that in front of them.

Each point, not getting distracted or losing focus by things that that are different challenges are things we don't have control over.

And if we're able to do that out here than, you know, it should be pretty smooth sailing when we when we get back to competing in Michigan.

>> I'll tell you what, to be pretty easy for me to lose focus in Pensacola.

A good thing.

You guys are down.

There are not many coach congratulation a great start to the season.

Doesn't look down there this week and going for the comparable talk to you soon.

Thanks for joining us.

The state.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> The 50th season of GSU softball is off to a strong start after a 5 and opening weekend with 7 everyday starters back from last season's College World Series team and returning All American in the circle, the Lakers enter 2022 with confidence experience and talent under 8, your head coach Dana Callahan.

>> They're hungry.

They're very hungry.

We've been close several times to the end goal that we all have in place.

But at the same time they know they have to take it.

>> Day by day.

We have to get in the Manning case but hit.

So I think that's the mindset going into any game is that we just have to, you know, play our game with play Grande Valley standard softball.

>> The confidence starts with Hannah be honest to put this team on her back down the stretch of last season to lead the Lakers to ugly act, regular season and tournament title then through every inning of the Midwest Regional capping it with the dog pile on their home field as they clinched a second straight trip to the College World Series.

The honest was glee act picture of the year and a unanimous all American selection after leading the nation in complete games ranking 3rd in wins and 11th in strikeouts for the season.

He's already off to a great start in 2022 starting to and with a pair of shut out on opening weekend, including a no-hitter in her first outing of the season.

>> Yeah.

I think the biggest goal is on and I think it kind of is a collective goal to that.

We talked about as a team is we know that the skill is there just based off of the success that we've had.

And I think the next level up for us is just kind of the will to win is having a more competitive mindset than our opponent and just dominating.

>> Hannah's is a leader for sure for us.

I mean, she's the one that's so willing to hold people accountable.

She's the one that's willing to point out different things that make that we need to work on to me and to the play, there's a mandate, but she's doing it herself to she knows where she needs to improve and she's going after it every day in practice.

Make sure that she's as good as she can beat.

>> This season.

The honestly the deep and experienced a pitching staff that perhaps lighten the load on her and give the Lakers more options in the circle.

>> We've definitely built a very healthy competitive culture on our pitching staff of I'm pushing each other to get better in a kind of having that competition within our staff, which for us and he's super healthy because it's pushed us to that next level and to be that much better than the teams that we're playing it.

>> Offensively.

The biggest question will be replacing the production of all-region performer nekoma holmen who ranked 5th in the country and both hits and RBI last season to lead the Laker offense.

But this year's team returns.

A great blend of speed and power with some Blazers on the base paths at the top of the order and some big bat in the middle of the lineup.

This team can score in bunches and is never out of the game 2 time.

First team all glee actor former Lady Goble leads the way penned into the three-hole of this vaunted lineup.

>> I think we just go out there is trying to be aggressive.

And you know, we just want to jump on them early and I want to give him a coward and try to run around the bases.

But struck I was going to really push people out of their comfort zone.

It may come, you know, make those mistakes and those extra dose of the American.

>> In.

I just wanted to have good at-bats each and every time I don't expect home runs.

I don't expect, you know, stolen bases.

I just want to have as good at bats as they can have each and every time out.

If they do that, then we're going to come out on top more times than not.

>> The Laker offense opened up the season with 9 runs in their very first inning and racked up 48 runs across their first 5 games.

Goble drove in 8 runs to lead the way and ripped ugly act player of the week honors.

>> Pressures to a foot on yourself and it's good to have a little bit of that.

They don't want too much.

So to be able to spread that out there.

Everybody in our lineup.

It's comforting.

And it's it's really nice to be able to, you know, have a lineup for you.

Don't feel nervous when anybody from the box.

>> With back-to-back College World Series appearances, 4 straight plea act idols and a veteran team that returned several players from those runs there.

A lofty expectations on the Lakers in twenty-twenty to this is a program that not only can handle those expectations but crepes them.

>> Every single year.

People are bringing new strikes, the table and those strikes kind of fit into this puzzle piece that makes a successful teams.

I think just kind of finding the strength to not try to do too much on this kind of what we've been focusing on because each individual person brings something special to the group and trying to hone in on that like specialists that you have been adding as a collective to make something really great.

>> It's everything as a freshman when you walk in and you start learning about the culture and the way that people, you know, are held each other accountable during practices.

You know, it's just you.

You learn to do with air.

You're just not going to if you know where you want to be or not to 60 the way you want to see you there by an are you have to get out.

>> As they say.

No pressure, no diamonds.

But for now, this team is just focused on the Diamond between the lines.

The rest will take care of itself for the Grand Valley sports network.

I'm Jake leading.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> GSU men's basketball fell in the first round of the glee actor intimate last week the team finishes their season at 1711 overall to this.

Now to wrap up the men's basketball season as head coach Rick Wesley and coach of the year with ugly act maybe was a strong top to bottom as it ever has been so many tight games throughout the season.

A 1711 season for you guys.

A 5 seed in the gully act.

A tough loss on the road in the quarter finals.

But you have to be really proud of the fight.

Your team showed all season long.

>> Well, yeah, there's no question about it.

Was a great year for top to bottom in our league came down last game of the regular season had we won that game at that site in Raleigh with hosted the conference tournament.

We actually won the South division.

So it was that close all year and to see how the conference tournament play out with the 8th place team be able to come through.

It just speaks to the parity of our league and the challenge that it is.

But what a great group of guys we had this year is special group of older guys, the chose to come back in the covid world, so to speak.

And and this could be happy to have had the opportunity to coach these guys and see him through the end.

>> You talk about that 6 person, senior class and how much they grew not only as basketball players, this people and are you over these last few years.

You think about Jake than to bring a spent 5 years.

You think that is dangled the 17 year-old when he got here back in 2017 to a confident leader that he became a Christian, a rocket to get better and better de Leon Brown became such an outstanding young man throughout his time.

He said to be so proud of all at night and not mention anybody who did such a good job to be so proud of those guys individual.

Yeah.

I mean, that's you know, that's a lot of what coaching is.

You know, you certainly want to win every single game.

But it's the development to the.

>> The relationships, the trying to help these young guys along the road to be successful.

So, you know, to see each one of them make improvements and mature fight to their own little issues to get to the finish line, which is not easy.

And in athletics.

Again, it was a special group and, you know, Grande Valley will miss this group and we wish them well, appreciate their efforts and always want more.

But I you know, those guys gives all they had.

>> We talk about this game at Saginaw Valley last week.

First ball incredible atmosphere.

The second put their they really never been in that position to host ugly act tournament game and they really took advantage of it in that 2nd half just got so hot with Darnell Hoskins and Alanna Smith to miss much of that first act without trouble, but that he was chomping at the bit right from the get go in that 2nd half of their fire power.

A little bit too much that middle stretch of the 2nd half.

>> Yeah.

You know, it felt good at halftime right there.

You know, you're right.

It was a tremendous atmosphere.

Great crowd.

They've got a nice new facility.

But, you know, we just didn't quite have and 2nd half their guard play was outstanding.

I think as you look and you watch us.

Nobody tournament now guard play is really important.

And you know, both Haskins in Smith really got it going in the second have made some incredible shots.

So you got to give them a lot of credit.

We just didn't seem to have, you know, not getting de Leon Brown back to late season injury.

You know, that was a tough break for us and tower.

Another guard who you had my own.

He just got back to you in.

So, you know, I can't do anything about those things.

But it showed in their play.

How important that backcourt is in those guys certainly rose up to the to challenge it seem like.

>> Sag almost learned a lesson from your page book because once they took a double digit lead.

They dribbled out the shot clock every time down the floor and then they want making the shot of the huge piece of it as well.

But they really tried to shorten that game.

It seem like in the 2nd half may be learning from the fact that a double digit lead in a game like this.

Are we safe in the 2nd half.

>> Yeah, maybe I mean, they they just were, you know, very much in sync coming down the stretch.

They've had a good year.

They're good team.

You know, so that they made the right plays when they needed them.

And so again, give them a lot of credit.

You know, I felt like based on how we played the 1st half of the here we go.

We're going to get this done and yet they didn't know they didn't really opened the door to us in that 2nd half and they made the big plays down the stretch.

So, you know, hats off to them.

It didn't look like we had enough in the tank at the end.

Well, that makes a big difference.

>> Coach.

Yeah.

As you look back at this year and obviously didn't get the result we wanted.

But as you think about this season getting back to some normalcy.

Navigating this program through covid getting all these guys to take an extra year.

He could you just reflect back on the season.

What it meant to you as a coach as well.

Again, you know, this year it was nice the last couple years with covid has been, you know, really difficult for everybody, obviously.

And so this year was it was nice.

You know that it really appreciative of that.

>> Having our pep band backing of the work that they do.

You know, whether it's a and there's just that the girls game.

You know, it's it's spring break there they are.

And their dedication has just been outstanding.

The energy that they bring into the building is really appreciate.

I think we led the league in attendance again.

So, you know, hats off to our our good fans, our students, our families and our marketing people who do such a good job getting butts in the seats.

You know, there's just so many things like that that we're better this year in and really to see the parents there.

You know, it's it be difficult to be a parent of a player in the field to come watch him play.

And we've got a great group of parents have been super supportive.

So just to have the entire atmosphere back to normal this year.

You know, is if you miss that and to have this year certainly was a.

>> Lot more fun.

Lot more exciting.

Couldn't agree more coach.

You know the on the road with you guys throughout the season calling your games on the radio and then also doing a radio show with every week the TV show with you every week with a pleasure to be around.

This team is much.

That was the season.

Thanks for giving us the access all year long.

Congrats on a great season.

All right.

Thank you.

You're not a sports will continue after this break.

Don't go.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> After claiming another ugly act men's championship in swimming and diving last month sagging off some of the voices best school for former's move on to Greensboro, North Carolina for the NCAA Division.

2 meet in the coming days.

One of them is Keegan Hawkins, Chicago area standout who will swim in 3 individual races.

The 20400 individual medleys as well as the 100 breaststroke Hawkins medley prowess is powered by his training regimen.

>> And the desire to excel at all.

4 strokes.

>> I'm very competitive.

So I didn't like having a week stroker especially something I am.

I don't like seeing myself.

It followed behind in the pack.

So that releases.

>> A huge motivator for me to train all my strokes to be the best that they can.

It's been fun to see Keegan may each year, drop time.

And and all these events just keeps on getting better and better always seems reform well before I am at the national championships.

One of the top season, the country each year he puts in the work.

He knows what he needs to do and has the focus and the drive to get there in.

We're lucky enough to have him back for a 5th year next year.

So that will be nice.

>> While Hawkins claimed a pair of thirds last year at the NCAA meet including one in the 400.

I M any boy says a pair of national qualifiers in the freestyle distance races.

Sophomore Erick Aybar has set 3 pool records.

A Grande Valley in the 501,016 50 freestyles and could team up with freshman yon cats and Bach from Germany.

>> In the longest of those to give the Lakers an almost unthinkable one to finish.

>> Yeah.

We definitely pushed each other.

And you know, it's going to be good.

This one with Hamm will be in.

You know, my name is Sam races together.

>> So that will make it more fun.

And you know, it's good to go with your teammate.

I think good to see in the last 2 years.

Grow is a distant summer.

I had some jitters.

I think it is start out the National me last year and I think he's a little more comfortable this year and we came a full taper for nationals.

He's been able to stay healthy and we're excited to see what he can do it.

>> While Detroit area resident, Heber and Hawkins from Batavia, Illinois have differing styles and approaches their agreement on what's led to their standout seasons.

The presence of exacting coaches, tough training, regimens and teammates to help clear some of the obstacles on their journeys to success.

>> Kind of mentors early on like faster swimmers.

I'm just kind of filled me into that mindset of training hard.

The whole year round and just doing what you can get the competition that you have.

>> You know, we have probably one of the longest seasons of all sports fans.

You know, it's it's really hard.

You wake up early in the morning before school go after school and you got to do that for months, especially for the longer races like I do.

It's very important to be consistent with that.

It's not going to happen overnight.

>> Well, Grande Valley qualified divers this year for the National mi 5 women and 3 men this time around.

It could be the man who replicate or better at the women's 5th place finish a year ago in Birmingham, Alabama.

If that happens, it seems almost certain Keegan Hawkins and Erick Aybar will be 2 of the biggest reasons why.

[MUSIC] >> That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley State sports report GSU women's basketball will kick off the 2022 and see ad to regional tournament on Friday, March 11th against Wayne state in Ashland, Ohio.

GSU swimming and diving hits the pool for the D 2 national championships.

This Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The meat is 4 days long will wrap up on Saturday March 12 GSU track and field is heading for the nca championships in Pittsburg, Kansas this weekend.

The meat will start on Friday, March 11th and finish up on March 12 as the Lakers look for another national championship on both sides of the track for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program, visit GSU Lakers, dot com for more of this show head over to our youtube channel at youtube.

Dot com slash WGVU 35.

>> Make sure you hit the subscribe button to get updated video highlights all year long for the entire crew here at WGVU.

I'm Jake Levy.

Have a great week.

Laker nation.

And as always, thank are up.

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