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

I'm your host Steve Lloyd-Jones.

And here's what we have for you tonight.

GVSU women's cross-country finishes as the national runner-up Laker Football Falls in the division.

2 quarter-final as their season comes to a close issue.

Men's cross-country landed a 4th place finish at the national championships and GVSU Women's basketball continues their season undefeated with 2 more wins locking in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.

>> He beats you football battle.

Fair state in the regional championship Saturday.

In Allendale the Lakers fell.

24 21 soccer season come to an end with a record of 12 1 overall said coach Matt Mitchell joins me now.

Talk about this game of the season as a whole Mitch.

They're tough.

I mean, that's that's tough loss.

No question about it.

Regional championship.

What a great season you guys had.

And by way of talent, this may have been the national championship game.

>> Yes, certainly very tough region.

We talked about that.

And if a face, you know, these 2 teams really good in a regional championship, you know, in just a first reflect upon the game, got off to a horrible start, you know, not start start to want to try to win a championship, but I really credit our players after that would battle back.

Yeah.

So good at halftime, Steve.

It was 14 to 7.

We've been moving.

The ball defense has been playing great.

Really, really pick some stuff up on special teams of the fake field goal and, you know, feel confident.

Half-time came out.

I chose the wind in the 4th quarter.

We relief say some tough field field position there in that 3rd quarter.

You know, we we just couldn't couldn't get the ball out of their offensive.

Lee were backups.

We had to go to Tiger Ponte couldn't quite swing the field with the pun team, especially in the win of the vote.

Actually, you know, the dam broke and they scored came back in the 4th, though, you know, we're able to get that touchdown felt so good.

But at the end of the day, like down the stretch, you know, defense to get stops needed, had a couple opportunities on 4th down to get off the field and the offense was unable, extend the drives and even on the last kick off return, the second last kickoff return.

We had a little bit a mistake with some execution.

So it was things it's not a specific player.

It's not a specific side of the ball.

You know, we lost as a team.

And, you know, it's tough given just given the circumstance all for you come how hard it is to get to those games, right?

The difficulty.

And that is so it was frustrating and disappointing.

But you know what that taught him?

What time is that?

If you're going to beat yourself up your failures and and really be h#*#*#* o#* yourself about the things you don't accomplish, also to give yourself credit for the things you do.

And so I really do appreciate this team for winning an outright gliac championship for putting us in a position to be in that football game for regional championship.

We have a lot of trophies that are in our building.

We want more.

But there are a lot from this previous season and we want to take a take a little bit of a sense of accomplishment for some of the things we did do not beat ourselves up too much.

People are seniors a lot of credit for that.

And so now the work is done to with coaches, start with our coaching staff again within this week and our players and the work is done as we start to look for here soon for the 2020 to 3 season.

And I think we all understand what it takes to be in that game.

I think we understand what it takes to win that game and get yourself a past that.

>> It's better.

It's hard.

But like you said, good perspective.

A lot of good things.

What fuels you more with year and the positive, the the bitterness?

>> I think that, you know, yeah, I know right there.

Yeah, no doubt.

Yeah.

I think there's a balance and all that.

I mean, I'm energized, I'm energized because and they start to the foundation that people have in that building.

You know, they handle themselves with incredibly high character, incredible class.

We do well and and academically and have some great coaches and some great players are just a high care to people as they bring a lot energy.

To me, it's a flip side is leader that, you know, I'm motivated to get the people in that in that building com for some of the things we did this year, check some of those boxes, but then try to check more boxes and that that drives me that feels me and it's not necessarily about me.

It's more about the people in the building because we have some people.

We have great kids.

We have great coaches and they display that every single Saturday with the level sportsmanship they have and the way they handle cells on campus and what they do, it's a it's a very unique group of people and so motivated should be the best for them.

>> Seniors work to talk about them again.

Kind of interesting with COVID year who could come back, who may not whatever, but.

>> But what do you say to that group?

How do you remember that?

Well, I mean, they deserve a ton of credit.

The last 2 years were in or 22 3.

Haha, 23.

Now the 3 losses are our first, you know, and we have to try to better.

But I mean, we're 22 3, but the outright conference championship in much of trophies in the building and they deserve credit for that, especially coming off the 2019 season and the COVID.

They deserve a lot of credit.

A lot of respect.

I have utmost respect for him.

The child had different roles.

I will go through a mall will have the time, but they'll have different roles that have been impacted.

Some of these impacts were seen on the playing field.

But there's also some things that have behind the scenes.

The people impacted our culture.

And I think that they work to strengthen the culture.

The program.

It provided a great template for future generations coming up in the building of showing how it was to be done.

>> How do you approach this offseason?

Probably some time to refresh, but then how do you get into?

>> Well, the floor this week, we're going to be a lot of time with the people the building.

I spent time with my son coaches, and we spend one-on-one exit interviews with all of our players.

And then you're right.

We have Finals coach is going to get on the road recruiting here at the end of December.

And then we do need to some time, everyone to step back, reflect, you know, energize and we get to work.

You know, we get to work as coach is trying to be better.

Take a look at the cut up.

So what we need to be done and then look at recruiting with its high school recruiting or look at the transfers.

Other guys get back to work with straight conditioning, skill development, go through that in spring practice and really start to build the foundation for the 2023 season.

>> Though, that there's so many good things about the season about your guys, what you've accomplished.

And yeah, you don't want that to get lost, really.

And in the hardship of the of this one loss in the game.

But what an incredible year, 12 wins an outright conference championship.

That's that's one of the best seasons for for Laker football.

>> Yeah.

And and again like it to its credit or coaches and players.

And and you know, we have great support to I want also recognizing our administration University athletic department really support this program and we had great crowds, including Saturday.

Yeah, we have a site rep from the UN says that that was one of the better playoff atmosphere as they've ever been at.

That was a great atmosphere, you know, didn't go our way.

But we've but throughout the course of season, we've got believable support from our fans, from our students, all those things.

And so we want to recognize that, too.

Yeah, absolutely.

Will Mich. >> Fantastic year.

Just want you to hear that from me.

You coaches or players.

Unbelievable job.

I know it did.

And the way you wanted it to what doesn't take away from a fantastic year.

Appreciate you coming up.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here in Wgu.

>> And we keep making progress.

We can get back on top.

If we keep learning and figuring out we can get back on top and that's not the end.

All be all the most important thing every day.

But it's fun.

Leaving this me being on top, right?

But the most important thing you guys are awesome human beings.

So that's probably the most important thing to me is what you get to the program in each other.

So winning is important, but being a good person beats every foot.

So I appreciate everyone being who you are and trust and believe in being part of this.

I got to know.

>> The Grand Valley State Lakers conclude the 2022 cross country season at the NCAA Division.

2 national championships in Seattle, Washington claiming a second place finish for the women and a 4th place finish for the Met Laker.

Women wins their 7th Division.

2 national runner-up finish with a team score of 126 points of the day.

Well, American cloudy O'Malley led the way with 3rd place finish followed by Lauren.

Kyra, Cross the finish line.

In addition, highly was the first freshman to cross the finish line and the only place in the past.

Rounding up the Lakers team score was Natalie's bravery.

38 PC, right?

But it for you and the band poison.

46.

The Grand Valley State women's team close their season is Glee.

Actor Champions League West Regional champions and NCAA Division 2 National Robert.

>> Yeah, we're pretty sound up and down maybe for a little better and couple spots.

We clean it up a little bit closer.

But you know, great performance.

Runner-up Wise for ladies.

You know, I competed well.

>> I'm just really proud of our women in and how much they've competed and fought throughout the year.

Spectacular performance by Claudia again, following a runner-up finish last year, finished 3rd, just really, really strong.

And Lauren Kylie, a true freshman to step out there and its 7th.

I'm just really, really impressive.

So real pleased with that.

You know, Natalie was in the mix after 5 games, Cetera, flask 1000 meters, you know, similar to Tanner.

Now someone that gives everything to our program.

So really proud of everything she does for our program and our teammates over time.

So Casey Remo is really strong and consistent to build up move a race.

Abby van der Coy.

>> Ran a real strong race is a true freshman.

I'm Karen Chapeco adding brighter.

Worse, had solid runs.

But now we're really pleased the overall and a runner-up finish second.

The countries a lot to be proud of it.

>> I think the race when hot, which I expected.

So I just kind of try to keep my composure, keep my other 2 teammates and my side of vision and just kind of just like get out strong but not to over my head.

So they are set off unlike 30th place.

And then after we hit that first curve and I think was the first 600, I'm like, okay.

Now I can start moving kind of settle in a little bit.

And then after that, I just kind of just kept.

I'll let you make insight and just kept moving up because the PAC behind you was moving as well.

So I kind of got the meme momentum and just kept going up.

I felt really good throughout the race.

T means everything.

We've gotten second place, 3 years in a row.

So we're proud of second place.

I mean, we're not just put it all looks like a play second place like this.

Could any to one won second place.

I love this team.

This team is the reason why I came here like we work hard to tell the in and out every day we do workouts together and honestly the team is see what got into the race to like.

They're the reason why I'm as good as I am right today.

So, yeah, I love this team.

>> Yes, you know, last year she sort of was in the shadow of Hannah, you know, off-season, Natalie, sort of let us in to start a sort of sat back and let not setback.

But we alert and she's someone that always shows up at the big races, though, if you look at her career, she's always been really, really good.

And and CA Championship Day.

So, you know, when she came through a couple weeks ago at the regional with the win, you know it we we knew she was starting to round into shape in turn a corner.

So just a competitor and that, you know, the type of person you want towing the line in your uniform.

>> In the big races.

>> On the men's side, Tanner Chad led the Lakers to a top 4 finish for the second consecutive national runner-up finish.

In addition, Cheddar reporter personal best then came time to me capping off an incredible cross-country career.

The Lakers finished with 3 runners in the top.

40 also included Caleb Father 12th and Brock Waterson and 34 it TV issue men and their season as we act champions, Midwest regional champ.

And for that, the NCAA Division 2 national championship.

>> Certainly, you know, you want to get on the podium, bring home some hardware, bring a trophy home.

But, yeah, you know, I would you have high expectations.

And and you know, both from a coaching standpoint, your student athletes.

Yeah, we're expecting hope and what a little bit more than that 4th place finish job.

You know, we've had a tough last 4 to 6 weeks with some injuries and banged up in training.

Not going perfectly.

So, yeah, it probably affected us a little bit today.

And, you know, we still have some great performances.

Can a chat to finish and a runner-up for the second year.

>> All right.

A spectacular racing was just for throughout the whole way.

And Kayla fighter just outstanding.

You know, Fish 14th was really, really impressive.

So real pleased with that racing and Brock worsened redshirt freshman was just outstanding.

The I think there's a 39 there somewhere in the top 40 overall.

So that was really, really good, very proud of our student athletes and what they've the work in and a commitment they put in over the course of the season.

The still get on the podium.

>> Yeah, I mean, you know, it's a beautiful day to, you know, beautiful opportunity to get to come out here and run nationals.

It's always, you know, we we sit there and our vans and beforehand where very shaken you feel like you can stuff it, then you're going the race.

You realize that that's that's what you live for.

That's the that's the race that the moments that you love and just cherish so much and train so hard for so very thankful to be able to come out here today and put it best after that.

We got out there.

Yeah, this team means everything to me and >> says it's amazing.

You have, you know, Kobe and rock with us and brought to you know, I have an amazing race being all American for the first time as a freshman.

And we've come a long way.

You know, we've gone through a lot this season.

We've really had a lot, a lot of points for leave, you know, had to get through a lot of bad things, injuries.

We'll pull hamstrings, Achilles everything.

So I'm just so proud that our team is here and we talked early in the season about being a team that deserves to win.

Can't control winning.

Talk about the in thing that just deserved day.

We're working.

That serves to win, you know, and only one can at the end of the day and it wasn't us today.

So being able to share that moment, the guys on the ground afterwards, that's that's that's what it's about.

You know, not placing the trophies.

So.

>> Yeah, I just a coup.

>> I-10 is just a great leader.

Great teammate.

Great competitor.

Ahead.

This a great human being.

Yeah, well, you know, we're going to miss him on the course.

What you miss him, you know, as as a leader and your team and just being there as a friend to everyone on the team.

So good thing is we've got an indoor and outdoor season with them and he's done so much for our program over the years.

Yeah, just outstanding human being.

I think that's when it's all said and done.

You want to have great results in and have success racing wise.

But you know, you want to leave here.

They needed it the right way.

Tanner's down and direct way.

The Lakers will now transition into big indoor track and field season.

First, the being held this weekend at the Kelly Family Sports Center.

He did issue holiday Open will take place on Friday, December 9 at 1 o'clock.

Yeah, you know, we'll we'll enjoy this and celebrate that the success of the team in the program through the weekend and then had the indoor season starts next Friday, h#*#*#*#*.

And some of these athletes total line and try to get some stuff done for the indoor season.

Then take a break and summer to start some down time.

Get some rest and >> focus on Finals and get ready for coming back in January.

Ready to roll with the indoor season.

>> The GSU women's basketball team traveled to fare State Lake Superior State this week.

Mike Williams team won both and now stand at 7 overall 2 and O in conference play.

Coach, good to have you.

>> Welcome.

Great to come out here again, especially after get a couple wins on the road.

Yeah, it's nice to be here.

>> No, absolutely.

So 2 road wins.

The first of which will get into here in the moment is Ferris State.

The hard fought game on the road in Lake State make that trip.

But both of them, I mean, you don't overlook those road winds.

Those are hard to get.

>> They are.

And, you know, for some a tough place to play for us last few years.

And so to go up, there was a great atmosphere.

You know, the football team, the band back not not packed house but big crowd.

I thought we had a great following.

A lot of fans that traveled parents, friends, some of them cards to Grand Valley came up.

And so it was a great atmosphere and I thought our players did a good job handling that never affected in.

Come into play.

And I thought we did.

We had to do to to get the win up there.

>> Yeah, you you get going early when it's 78 70.

The final score don't ruin this game.

That's amazing on the road.

In fact, you had a lead at one point of 17 course.

They will things down but I'm really good.

Consistent play.

>> Yeah, we jumped out.

I thought we did a great job early.

You're kind of locked in defensively.

I thought we get to the rim the let's get to the rim.

We we completed, though when we score on that basket hit some free throws.

And then obviously we knew that, you know, things won't stay that way.

You know, you're up there.

You can see good team, but maybe around us.

And I think it was in that, you know, the 3rd quarter, they Cal within 2, my gut, I can't remember.

And then I thought it was a great job kind of, you know, not going up.

You want to say it.

And you know, they they did a good job responding.

We've got a couple baskets that we've got some stops.

Cloyd only get some foul trouble, which I thought help that she really a great job against Sweden.

We we are only prepared for what you brought to us.

Made some adjustments that thought in the 4th quarter it did help in our in our players carry them out both teams.

>> Fair amount of turnovers in this game even in terms of rebounding.

And you're looking at those.

Mike is key stats, but you're right.

Great job at the foul line in this game.

Your team.

25 of 31, that 81% of the team.

Great job at the free-throw line.

And how about your bench points while you outscore for us?

41 to 9 in bench points.

Yeah.

And we've talked about that.

We talked about our bench.

>> Not necessarily having a bench coming stars, but just a lot of parity.

You know, one through, you know, 15 right now, the couple with 14 with a couple injuries.

But we feel comfortable throwing players in there a point in time.

And, you know, even with Hannah Coolest being a 5th year, senior first team all-conference players coming off the bench this year that saw it.

It gives us a little boost in the arm when she comes in.

You know, he's a veteran coming with some of these younger players.

She's and she's great offensive lay.

She's a kind of instant offense can get this or you can score around the basket.

And I thought, you know, in her part might be on the best defensive game.

She's had 5 years here.

And I know what you look and see.

Cloyd had 26 points, but I'm not a lot when she was on or and I just thought you did a really good job in that game.

>> Well, that's a key road when I have played early in the season.

But you get it.

78 70, the final score Grand Valley gets that done.

4 players in double figures there as the Lakers win that on the road so than you would have another trip.

The Lake Superior State puts time into the up first time this year and you win this handily.

89 48.

>> Yeah, we we came out and we played some pressure on the full court.

Yeah, it's there in the tough spot.

They were down a good 6 or 7 players.

One of the players to play again fall told that 1st half and, you know, they're just they've been hit by injuries when fortune situations.

And you know, there there were there were point, well, they beat the only be Devon Court.

They had a big winner Hillsdale.

It said another way and there can't remember who before that.

But they've been playing good basketball.

And but we felt if we could get after the full-court apply some pressure, you know, wrote in our players that that might catch up to him.

And I think it did.

And then we kind of separate in that 2nd quarter.

Pull back a little bit and just kind of play that play the game out.

2 and half court man.

>> Yeah.

Rebound them by 12.

So double digits in that category.

Forced 22 turnovers by Lake State.

And Emily Spitz Lee leaves you with 19.

This Grand Valley wins at 89.

48 so look ahead to the games coming up.

You're back home.

This coming weekend.

Central State Mike and Davenport.

>> Yeah, we were supposed to play central state last year and it comes.

COVID issue is right after the break coming back.

And so the Coachella, upstanding person, you know, didn't have to say, hey, we can return.

We come back this year.

And, you know, we play them a couple times.

We went down there.

They came up here, this company, little rivalry, you know.

So I think what we'd like to continue that.

But, yeah, they're coming up here.

It's kind of odd to back to back.

But it's really the only time they complain we can play.

And so we're going to play them on that Saturday and then play Davenport on Sunday.

And, yeah, they're very a team that they like to put pressure on you.

They like to get quick.

Shots are extremely I'm not physical, but they're just active on the glass.

You know, they they want to send 5, 4, 5, players that offensive glass all the time.

I'm going to push the ball there.

They're not afraid to take chances.

So it's it's going to be a a look at the scores.

And you know, when state being canned within a couple close games gets really good team.

So it we're excited for you when we get the point home, which is kind of nice not to travel, but yeah, it will be a good, good game.

Central state.

>> Yes, central state on the Saturday and then Sunday.

It is Davenport.

That's Ugly Act matchup as you go into that.

But the overall record 7 and o 2, 0, in conference play as you get set for those 2 home games this week.

Mike, good to see you again.

Thank you, Steve.

Thank you.

We'll be right back as the Grand Valley State Sports report continues right here in WGN news.

>> Well, that's all the time that we have this week here in the Grand Valley State Sports report for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program is a GPS you Lakers dot com for more of the show.

Head over to our YouTube channel at YouTube Dot com Slash Wgu.

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Well, this is our last show in 2022.

Will be back on 1/9/2023 with more coverage of the best athletic department in the country for you.

The entire crew here Wgu I'm Steve Lloyd-Jones have a great week Laker nation and as always and corrupt