>> I get everybody.

And welcome back to an all-new episode of the Grand Valley State Sports report here in Wgu.

I'm your host deploy Jones and here's what we have coming up for you tonight.

TV issue women's basketball continues their run in the NCAA Tournament.

Laker track and field competes in Virginia Beach at the NCAA Division.

2 national championships.

But GB shoe swimming and diving.

Also competes in the national championships.

Our future this week highlights student athletes on the lacrosse team this year locking in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.

TVs you women's basketball place for the regional championship.

Tonight the Lakers have beaten Kentucky West Linn and dreary to advance into tonight's championship game against Ashland.

I'm joined now by head coach Mike Williams with the latest for us.

Coach, thanks for joining me.

And congrats to this point here.

I know you've got even bigger things hopefully in store.

But boy, what an accomplishment to get to this national and the regional championship game.

>> Well, you know, it is especially the strength of our region.

And you talk of the committee had to see the teams and you know what a heck of a job they get.

You know, my former Mister Graham was chair the committee, which is pretty cool.

And, you know, she can feel good about the job she did because you've got every game was close.

One through 8 was down to the wire to do 7, you know, down the line or 3 through a 6 or time in 4, 5, 5, e to force.

It's been an unbelievable region.

Just sitting at the table watching the games after, you know, also the ones we played and thinking, wow, this is a this is good basketball.

>> Yeah.

As you're a lot of good teams and you're going to need to advance some games that will be a slim margin for sure.

You guys experience said a little bit.

Then union opener, Kentucky, West Linn able to advance in overtime.

>> We did.

And we knew they were on point.

We knew the routine that could come down and they're there.

They told that they don't carry a they're not.

They're not coming here.

You can see, by the way, they play the more fun to watch.

It's like this team is they've got veterans.

They've got players that play with bounce.

You know, they're confident that they do.

They didn't they didn't shoot the ball.

Well, a look at the conference, the last of the constant 3 point shooting percentage, but we knew they could make shots.

We knew that they could be a role.

And and that's what they did.

They came in a study this in conversion.

We get back.

We didn't match up the open shots to get your confidence all and they attack the rim, had a couple easy ones and some that are tougher that when the end, you know, they came out just kind of, you know, kind of kind of punched us in the nose a little bit.

And then I thought our players did a great job, kind of hang in there, stay with it.

And I'm not giving.

And they just kept battling and no credit to our team down the stretch to to pull that one out.

And that was a heck of a way.

My players.

>> Absolutely.

Grande Valley winning that.

81 77 in overtime.

You had a big 4th quarter.

Mike, I want to ask you about that in a moment.

But yeah, talking about 3 pointers.

They hit a you guys had 3.

So they have an advantage in that category.

But I know near and dear to your heart, the rebounding in favor of you guys.

43.

35 10 offensive boards for the Lakers and a great job at the foul line, which would be a theme really through the couple of games here in the region.

But tell us more about that.

The 4th quarter, a really big one for the Lakers.

>> Well, you know, like I said, we we had some players.

Obviously, the free throw line was big.

We I think age we got because they follow us and he won the overtime, obviously, 10, 4th quarter.

But, you know, we're all in a couple of big shots.

And so we've got some transition baskets, you know, and I thought we got some stops.

We need to get some stops.

In the 1st half, we may stops.

They scored taking on the Florence court and until we finally get stops and that halfway through that sorry quarter going in the 4th, we start to get some stops.

So we do a better job.

We did get a second chance opportunities.

And then we came we got downhill that we play downhill at 4th quarter.

Got to the room was kind of opened things up and then got to the free-throw line.

And just, you know, he dressed up to 2 left hand finishes big, big finishes, you know, going outside a really, really clamped in Emily, not like you're good, really in the space in our shots.

And so they were, you know, a little tougher.

But then with some of the players step up.

>> Absolutely trashed the lead with 25 Rylie Bisballe with a 17 8 boards.

You get it done to advance out of that.

The 3, 6, matchup so that it was dreary.

Mike, this historically between Grand Valley and Re tough matchup.

Always a big one.

And you guys again victorious in the 61.

53.

It was the 4th quarter.

Again, Ali drops the again.

But tell us about this matchup because this was a big one.

>> Well, it was, you know, we told our players is really your plan a the final 14 right now, the second round, you know, not not really a fair thing.

And that's something you really is ideal.

But it's it is what it is.

And, you know, Dre's just they got all the pieces.

They've got great cars are on point.

The shooter, well, they get downhill.

Their athletic long think it's going to block.

And so, you know, we knew we had hands full.

We knew we'd be watching the day before when they beat a very good Lewis team to beat us.

And so we know they're a good team.

And I thought our players one point from the start.

I really did.

I thought we the things that we kind of talked about.

You know, we've we've got right thankfully, and we did those things.

And then, you know, we have some players just we had great performances for the stretch as they win their new.

You talk about, you know, like the ones we just had to make free throws.

They become an coming in a six-point swing to the big 3 moving the ball.

You know it and call asking them to stress involved the basketball because she doesn't turn it over a chance.

The she saved the ball.

She was Dennis Rodman style saying the ball kind of kind of Bangor, Maine.

The South a little bit was little may not didn't get a chance to get back in.

But, you know, Carly Charlene had limited minutes in the West.

Again, just the way the badges for would be in came in was really big in this game.

So, you know, just a lot of green, Stuart stretch performances.

You know, it's like you don't have to have the major impact on the game.

Help the team win.

And that's what these kids really bought into that in the industry.

>> Yeah.

A collective effort.

9 free throws down the stretch for the Lakers.

They hit 18 of 22 at the stripe.

Unable to hold on and defeat Drury.

Who was the number 2 seed.

So, Mike, that sets up.

But tonight's regional championship game with Ashland there, the home team Laker fans know all about Ashland and another another big one.

>> And yeah, so during the Final 4 team announced Saturday, know him say in the next to me were not enough to see where the 2 best teams.

But when the rankings mashed up, you're playing a national championship team right here now with the country undefeated.

We're all along like a a a base steamroller.

Not even a small on their offensive efficiency is is clearly about anybody else.

The country, 1, 2, or 3 and defensively.

They get after a little bit to put pressure on them, can make plays players get a chance to see a little bit their crown.

You know, when we watch him play on Saturday and it's going to be jam-packed are not going to get a if the issue hard to get this gem and it's going to be a great atmosphere.

It I think, you know, they're great team.

I think we're pretty good team.

So, you know, hopefully we can do enough on both ends of the ball to stay in this game.

A bit of a chance to it, winning it.

>> Well, great job thus far.

We wish you the best here tonight.

Grande Valley at Ashlan, the regional championship there.

The Lakers now with the overall market.

31 and to Mike, thank you for your time.

>> I know you're very busy.

We appreciate it.

All right, Steve, thank you.

Appreciate it.

>> We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here.

Wgu.

>> Lakers, I'm Nicole Stoner with the Grand Valley State Sports report.

GBS you swimming and diving competed at the NCAA Division 2 championship this past week in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The teams on both the men's and women's sides saw some great individual performances across the 5 day.

Meet the Laker.

Men finished 6th in the team.

Race scoring 239 points and crowning an individual national champion with Erick Aybar winning the 16 50 freestyle.

While slur map Bosh finished as the NCAA runner-up in the men's 200 yard.

Freestyle, the Laker Women's Team finished 14th in the team race with 109 points.

Many coy stretch took 3rd in the women's 3 meter dive championship final while Grace and Seager took 4th in the finals of the one meter dive.

We caught up with head coach Andy Boys after the meet via zoom to get his thoughts on the team's performance.

>> Yeah, the meme really pulled together really well.

>> Matt, Nagy air here are young pass and on throughout the week topic for months for all 3 of those guys that relays week and couple, it meant only due to individuals so they can do all 5 relays and performed very well in the relay specially the 800 free relay which broke the all-time conference record school record.

It was 3rd in the nation for for really broke our school record.

So nice to see that.

And, you know, really capped off by here.

He every being a national champion in the mile.

We first reported diving is well within the fields in his last diamond event.

The top 8, you know, one meter board.

>> Yair Israel focused individual.

He really wants to succeed and works hard in practice every day.

And if you're consistent with your training and your for keep that focus throughout the year.

>> Good things are going to happen.

You're going to get better and that he continues to get better each year.

And, you know, 3 years now he's been conference or of the year.

And now he's a national champion in the mile end on the last couple strokes.

But he timed it perfectly.

And that came with a national championship.

And I'm really proud of them.

We are women.

A national really led by our divers.

Is that many course Tribune, a top 3 finish your family of 3 meter recency guard.

I think it was for me a one meter.

So we are in so many events and 100 butterfly trapping finalist and we've got some salary.

That is the last really of the night.

We were able to break the school record and the fish knife.

And there's a all 4 of the women of the really put together some great effort to really pass on it.

Yeah, Steve are tied in coach does an excellent job on them all together.

We've got 7 female divers this year.

And I think they really a question each other in practice every day and the learning.

And I'm speaking of over here and now it makes it so that when they misdiagnosed her quite as badly hit the water.

So I think that helps a little bit, too.

We have some some other equipment that they use throughout the year to make us think it's easier for them to learn dives to those higher degree of difficulty guys.

And when he's on pace at the end and we have a a lot of points coming from diving at the national championships.

>> Welcome to the Laker Lowdown where we take a deep dive and everything Grande Valley Athletics.

I'm your host Molina.

Tantino March is national.

Reading Month I got the opportunity to tag along with some of our student athletes as they went to the Allendale Early Childhood Center to read some of the students.

Plenty of members from both men's and women's basketball teams along with volleyball.

We're eager to go teach the kids that reading is more than just school work, ATVs, you we take great pride and community engagement.

A perfect example of our tight knit community.

Here is the principle of Allendale early Childhood center.

Blake small Lynn who is a former GVSU football player.

>> Here's principle small and talking about the importance of the relationship between Grand Valley Athletics and the Allendale community.

My name is Blake song.

I'm the principle of the Annandale.

Early Childhood Center.

Grande Valley along graduated 2007 undergrad 2017 with my master's.

This informs me to have these grandma soon.

Athletes come to our building, especially interact with the Wilson airliners because it can show them that while athletics are important, honestly, they are student athletes and then the really stress the student peace first, especially joining us.

Liars is extremely important to me because I think he's especially for you guys.

>> Crew rose from various cause.

Well, Mister, all the answers here.

Here's one simple question.

>> Don't feel that some tensions just don't work out for one reason or another.

>> We hope you are marching into reading month with the same excitement as us be sure to keep an eye out for more episodes of the Laker Lowdown coming our way soon until next time I'm going to tell an Tino bankrupt.

>> Yes, you track.

And field competing at the NCAA Division.

2 national championships in Virginia Beach on Friday and Saturday with both teams having a handful of fantastic individual performances along the way.

>> The Laker women finished 6 of the NCAA nationals with a total score of 35 and they won and what some might consider one of the most electric Greece's and GVSU track history.

The women's distance medley relay team claim the national championship in record-setting fashion.

Body O'Malley, Kate Zang Teran Chapeco and Natalie Graver Cross the finish line first in a school record time.

In addition to a first-place finish, this group of Lakers broke 3 records at the NCAA Championships.

The Meet record facility record and the division.

2 all-time record.

>> Yeah, you know that we didn't have a great meet from top to bottom.

We have a lot of things that, you know on paper, we probably sure been a little better, but we did have some really positive things.

And certainly that damar, you know, all 4 legs are just on on on their on and, you know, Graber an incredible liaison and to run a fast time in school history.

Fastest time in NCAA meet history.

And you know, the best time ever.

So just outstanding performance and all 4 legs.

O'Malley coming off that Mile program and saying the freshman run and the pass a square Katko ran the fastest split and engraver and the fastest.

But so just as outstanding effort there for the 4 latest.

>> Yeah, I knew what their girls ahead of me.

We're going to be good but to go out and compete for a national title and getting a stick.

In fact, it was kind of, you know, the best place to be and let the other girls do some work.

And I think you look at me with about okay to go in migration told me to take it in, you know, try to measure perfectly and, you know, close it out.

Hardin, the really good cross the finish line in first last night.

It's pretty is owned and most the time and this, you know, making sure, you know, you've got that girl be, but I think it was coming off.

The final turn last night could help to hold the file that, you know, when you've got one.

>> The men's track and field team placed 3rd with an overall score of 29 points.

Sophomore Myles Kerr brought home an individual national title in the men shot put for the Lakers and day 2 of the NCAA championships for placed first with a new personal best distance in addition to breaking the Virginia Beach Sports Center facility record.

>> Yeah, you know, we missed and some things on day one not not scored some points advancing to finals, but alternately we had the last 3 prevents going with the shot put and that the high jump in the 4 by 4.

And, you know, a couple guys not have great days.

You know you I was focused on when he did have one of its a great day, Zers, best day.

But JJ stepped up and performed really well.

So that was great to see and Myles Kerr, which is outstanding.

You know, you had a great throw to start the competition and then got better and better.

So to have the series he had was just outstanding.

So, you know, he's a great athlete, but is a better teammate.

So and in the 4 by 4 to close it out to, you know, we had to run a conference made 2 weeks ago, a big race to get in.

>> Without Fowler, who is sick.

So, you know, it's a it's got a shout out.

Steven Harris who ran our second fastest put 2 weeks ago to get this year.

And we had a coach.

Graham had tough decision making and a credit to Steve handled it with class and maturity and not, you know, the race, but about those 4 guys stepped in and stepped up in, you know, finish to come in ranked that.

I think we're 8th and the finish 3rd that, you know, if we don't do that, we don't we don't get on the trophy.

You know, it's really close there.

So, yeah, a lot of positive things.

Certainly a lot of things we can work on grow on.

But the great thing is the good and bad of our sport is a outdoor season starts on Monday.

So those that had a bad weekends are in and the way they want to get another opportunity for those that had a great opportunity.

A great weekend.

We get to keep it rolling on to the outdoor season.

I came in ranked first which is new for me.

I was having a pretty good season and I knew basically in the first free throws I had to get it done.

I to win.

The competition is I'm not always the best like final $3.

Really good beginning and Swagg thankfully got the job done today, followed the plan.

We had 3 really good throws a very happy with it.

Yeah, you know, it's really just being a little bit better.

And I said that our team meeting is is we need to be better.

I need to be better.

Our coaching staff need to be better.

There's a lot of little spots over the course of preparation season meet here, you know.

>> So we just got to do a little bit better across the board.

And I think you come out there, we'll have both teams on the podium.

You know, the team is it's it's hard to explain what it's like.

You know, it's a family and >> I I have no words his growth every day and our practice in beyond, you know, they got your back and hard work out the long run and then just in life in general there for you.

And it makes it that much easier to come out here and, you know, want to run hard, 4 points for the team.

You know, they just keep going.

So it's really saying come here like do that within their bill to say to, you know, we're just trying to carry some good momentum going into outdoor, you know, keep doing some good things, got some big goals and hopefully will help some.

>> Oh, yeah, I mean, no one stands alone.

It would have only one person on the podium if it takes a village.

You know, everybody needs to help each other out, whether it's a training partner partner in the weight room or just even the moral support.

And again, that crowd cheering, it will help more ways you can even put into words.

Banks always for the constant support, a corrupt.

>> As the Laker lacrosse team is now a few weeks into their season and just play their home opener this past weekend against the University of Indianapolis.

We'll take a look at some of the athletes that make up this team as they look to compete again for Ugly act championship time.

Cleary has the story.

>> Since McKenzie Lawler arrived in Allendale to take the reins of women's lacrosse, a Grande Valley.

There have been very few bumps in the road that change before the 2023 campaign started with a raft of injuries, robbing her lineup of a half dozen of the team's biggest talents as they try to negotiate a difficult schedule.

>> This is my 5th season being here.

And we've never had a list of injuries like this before.

And so it's definitely been tough.

You know, probably if you asked me who was in our starting lineup and rotation in September.

>> We're probably missing about 6 of those players randomly began it.

You're on the road with 2 games in Florida and 2 more in Colorado.

And while it was disappointing emerging from those trips for the 2, 2, Mark Lawler's players have found a silver lining in playing big games early without many regular.

>> I like to fish it because we've played tougher competition.

And I feel like it's really charging us for later in the season.

So I think even though we've already we had 2 losses, I think it's definitely good learning experience about help us later on down.

I'm not has been done such a great job, bringing such good younger players.

They've really been stepping up and that's been really like.

It's such a huge help.

Some teams out definitely they help.

>> Champagne and stone each provided 10 goals in the first 4 Lakers contest away any to bounce back from seasons last spring where they were the ones fighting off injuries that reduce their effectiveness.

One player who is being counted on heavily to replicate her production of the last 2 campaigns is midfielder, Molly, her singer whose prodding her younger teammates after the close to beach early to rank powers, Rollins and Regis.

>> I think that like those games have been good learning experience for us.

I think with the players that we lost, I think those games to be good indications of things that we need to work on in practice and kind of maybe the flaws that we have and what other teams might attack.

So I think those games have been a good opportunity for us to say, like, hey, this is what we need to improve on.

And it's going to Paris better for some bigger games coming up in the season was captain for us this year.

>> He's also you are 2 time, all American.

And so I think she's earned a lot of respect from teammates in terms of around the field to play.

You know, Sophie Khan, Roy and Leah Johnson were great leaders for us last year.

And so she's really tried to step up.

>> Into that role this year, while Grand Valley hit double-digit scoring totals in all their road games before Friday's David Finley, the team structure in back took a real hit early on with injuries to key defenders Chase Trail and currently Rauf, along with goalkeeper Aubrey Maloney with 17 2 a year ago in her 19 starts while Maloney Miss 2 are teams early 4 games.

It's still possible.

Shooter teammates can reach their goals and Ugly Act title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament in May.

>> Maybe we don't get you know, the scene in the region all are hosting the regional like we might have initially wanted.

But I think our team is going to be really, really tough and a team that you don't want to mess with come postseason.

>> Well, this year's home opener with number one ranked Indianapolis might appear to be the last big regular season challenge.

McKenzie Lawler points to non-conference home games in Maryville and Mercyhurst as being as difficult as what her team faced early and short-handed in Florida and Colorado.

And despite all the Lakers still believe their offensive fire part, which includes midfielder Maggie Hammer an attacker, keep the young we can help heal the disappointment and the injuries the team has faced really out the Grand Valley State sports report.

I'm Tom clear.

>> And that is all the time that we have this week here in the Grand Valley State Sports reporter Reminder G issue women's basketball will take on national and at 07:00PM Tonight right after the show airs the game is available via live stream online via Ashlynn or you can follow along and GB issue.

Lakers dot com with live stats.

Laker lacrosse will host Maryville on Friday March 17th in Allendale.

They'll wrap up the weekend from the GB issue.

Lacrosse field with a game against 18th ranked mercy hers Sunday March 19 for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program.

He's a GB issue.

Lakers dot com for more of this show head over to our YouTube channel.

YouTube dot com Slash Wgu.

35 make sure you hit the subscribe button to get updated videos and highlights all year long for the entire crew here.

Wg vu.

I'm Steve Lloyd-Jones have a great week.

Laker Nation and as always and corrupt.

>> I thank you for fighting competing preparing.

It's a long season.

I appreciate you.

I love you, Kate.