>> Hi, everybody.

And welcome back to an all-new episode of the Grand Valley State Sports report here on WGBA you.

I'm your host, deploy Jones.

And here's what we have coming up for you tonight.

The issue softball ends their incredible season as the national runner-up at the College World Series Laker lacrosse closes out the season in the NCAA semifinals.

Issue track and field competes at the NCAA championships in Colorado.

Both men's and women's golf and their seasons on a high note at the NCAA championships as well locking in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.

>> Give us your softball.

Put together a thrilling postseason run as the Lakers advance to the national Championship Series for only the second time in program history to win over Indianapolis in Indy punch their ticket to the World Series and multiple walk-off wins would follow his head.

Coach Dan account with more force than a welcome.

Thank you.

And I mean, it's a congratulations.

Cause a great season and didn't quite end the way you wanted it to.

But what a run guys have.

>> It was.

It was so fun.

You know, once we hit may, and then, you know, we lost a couple of the conference tournament that were unexpected.

And so that kind of sparked I'm a little bit to make sure that didn't happen again.

And we took it as far as we can take it without one bringing home the trophy.

But I'm so proud of this team and then what they accomplished in the way they handled themselves and and the respect that they earned on the field.

>> Not that you had to change much and sometimes and softball.

You can do all the right things and you don't get the result you wanted.

Did you guys change anything after that ugly Act tournament?

Did you tweak stuff coming into the postseason?

Because you seem to be at your absolute zenith of all year, just your performance level?

>> You know, we didn't really change anything.

I think it's sunk into the players that we can take anything for granted, you know, because we lost to a team that that we thought we should have lost to that we did it twice, you know, so in the conference tournament.

So I think that was the part that that really sunk in as is the can't take anything for granted because every team is good enough to beach if you don't play well and they took that to heart and they followed up with that.

>> Sure to OK.

So when we last are talking with you in the last ahead, John, the show you guys were going into basically the regional championship with Indianapolis, their home field up to 3, 1, 4, to 3 to advance to the 6th World Series in program history.

So you're getting in the play touch.

I'm just how big those were.

Those winds are on the road to literally a road game.

You're playing them at their home field.

>> Yeah, and we face in the several times over the years and we've play them on their field and they always come in as the higher seed seems like an umpire because they get more games and then we do.

But that never seems to faze our team.

And now we want and in the and you know, we took control the first game, the second game.

We got ourselves down.

We're down 3, nothing.

I think after the 3rd or 4th inning and then they rallied for 4 runs.

And, you know, it was very non-traditional and in the way that we were scoring are runs.

We were not hit the ball out of the park.

We're not just, you know, just driving the ball.

The big gaps and stuff.

We were scratching out things.

We're making things happen with our feet, you know, base running and that kind of stuff.

So that was the part that was really cool because we need everybody hit wasn't just one player to players that we were relying on it.

Everybody we have every game had a new hero and that was the part that was really fun.

Yeah, you know, because you've got to see all of them.

And it's that that elation and joy and that was fun.

It was a lot of fun.

>> Yes, 2 wins over Indianapolis and in DC are on to the World Series opening round Wilmington.

A 10 to 2.

Maybe not.

I don't know.

Again, I will say it was an easy game but certainly had more by way of the run.

Differential that one.

>> Yeah, Wilmington, the you can tell they were a little nervous those in their first time in the World Series and they didn't have any seniors.

They were very young team.

So I anticipate they'll be back next year with a vengeance, but they're very good team, very good team.

And I think we just had them from an experience standpoint.

And now we've got some things are all in when we needed to and can open the flood gates up late in the game.

>> That was a 10 to win over Wilmington.

So that was the start of the World Series for the Lakers.

Now kind of the real excitement builds 2 straight walk-off wins.

UT Tyler to the one you get to walk off as Olivia goal.

He singles to win it.

>> Yeah.

Why they pitch, sir?

I don't know.

But they did.

And now we we took advantage of it.

And again, we're not hitting the ball out of the park.

You know, like a lot of the teams that were down there, they relied on the home run and things like that.

And and that just wasn't our makeup.

We were relying on everybody contributing getting those singles making somethings happened on the bases.

And in the defense, we played just phenomenal defense behind Hanna and those those 2 wins in.

You know, that's what it was going to take on.

UT Tyler was the one seed I'm going into the tournament.

Other pitcher hadn't had lost a game yet.

She ended up 42 in on whatever and we pushed her out of the game.

And those are the things that a lot of our players were just, you know, salivating on those kind of things.

Those are some of the goals that we pushes.

There's a pitching change in the middle of the game.

And that's what you know, we relied on and they made it happen.

And 2 of the biggest games of the season.

>> That's what UT Tyler you down 2 to one.

The walk off, as we say in through these winds, head of IATA says fantastic pitching.

She would end up with 30 wins of the year, by the way.

So after UT Tyler, its central Oklahoma and 3 to 2 you when this talking about the new heroes all the time, walk-off Caitlin Lynch, she singles home Hollister with 2 outs and you want it?

>> Yeah, I'm highly was on second base and I thought anything to get through the infield.

I wasn't stopping or she is the fastest one on our team and and I was going to roll the dice and take the chances on it.

We were tied at that point.

We were the home team.

So it really wasn't that big of a risk in my mind because if we didn't get it, then we're just going to another inning and then have another chance.

So I'm just I wanted to take the opportunity if we had it.

And now we sent her home and technically she was caught out before she got to the plate.

But there was an obstruction call.

And and that's all part of the game that, you know, you just take those risks and sometimes it rolls your way.

>> Certainly did the Lakers winning that advancing to the second National Championship Series?

This is out of the World Series second time in program history, North Georgia, very good team.

They get you a in into these games here, but you're battling hard.

It just, you know, I didn't go your way.

>> Yeah, you know, I mean, when you get to this level and you play teams that are as good as as they are, you need to have a couple breaks.

And, you know, Hannah would make a great pitch and they didn't get in Hamburg upon or hit their hands on the bat.

And that would just float over top of somebody, you know, so they they found the holes.

We would hit hard shots and they'd snag him, you know, so it it just we kind of ran out of magic.

So to speak is what I keep saying.

But at the same time, the players left everything out there.

They did.

They did everything that they could physically and mentally do to be ready for those games.

And it just think point Gore way.

But but it was a very special season.

And, you know, you can't take that away from us as far as what they accomplished now.

But stick your second time ever national championship series.

>> 48 in 8 the overall mark, before we let you go, obviously we want to let you talk about seniors.

Players who may not return in this COVID type of thing isn't impacts and players different points in their life.

You know, they may decide to move.

I who are living here.

>> Will actually lose 6 off of this team.

I'm Hannah beyond us.

Obviously are our starting pitcher main picture shoot.

You wrapped up 6 years with us and we couldn't find another waiver for her.

So she's moving on to it.

She's already got a job lined up in some things.

Olivia Goble, obviously one of the best offensive players at Grand Valley has ever had.

And that's going to be a big hole.

Morgan Wagner starting catcher, Caitlin Lunch centerfielder Joanna Surrency only the outfield as well.

So our top 4 hitters, you know it in Hanna and then Alexis McCall, who was a graduate transfer for us.

We didn't see a lot of playing time but brought a lot of character to our team in energy and and things like that.

So there are some some big players that we are going to miss, but their big people as well.

And that's probably going to be the bigger hole, just the leadership and the experience that they brought.

But I'm so proud of them and what they accomplished and what they're going to do moving forward.

I'm just unbelievable individuals.

>> And it literally played to the last day of the day, but all they had.

48 in a record for the of the Lakers softball team second time ever national Championship Series.

So just a tremendous year, obviously.

Well done.

Congratulations on all of that data.

Thanks so much for joining us.

Thanks for having us updated throughout the year.

Appreciate it.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here.

Wgu.

>> The most successful season in GVSU men's golf history came to a close in the NCAA Tournament quarter Finals this season.

The Lakers won a program record 10 tournaments claimed their 9th Gliac title won their first regional title in the history of the program and recorded their highest finish in the NCAA Tournament ever.

Coble won his match up by one stroke.

Carting around.

75 couple sank a 12 foot putt on his final hole to claim the matchup victory for the Lakers.

Charles, the longtime his matchup with the score.

76 Nick Krueger had the best round of the day for TV issues scoring 71 but fell by one stroke.

Charlie Cooley shot a 79 in his matchup falling by 5 strokes in the final match.

A price we work harder than 83 as he dropped his match up by 7 strokes.

Well long Krueger and Coble were all All-Region honorees.

And the long was named an all American head coach Gary Bissell was the glee at Coach of the Year and one of the 5 finalists for the division 2 coach of the year.

So after the season, Charles, along with named the 2023 Division to Jack Nicklaus Award winner, the Jack Nicklaus Award is presented to the National Player of the Year in any level of college golf.

The long as the first player in program history to earn the Jack Nicklaus Award and the first player from Ugly Act.

The the 16 Year history of the award would you use to women's golf team finished off their season that the NCAA National tournament placing 11 call of a dino end of the tournament in a tie for 4th place as she ended the tournament at one under Megan near ended in a tie for 47th his up.

This was tied for 77th while Olivia stole and Julia Sanchez both tied for 79.

The Lakers ended the season with 3 tournament wins and they advance to the National Tournament for the 7th consecutive season.

Once the season concluded Paladino capped off or sophomore campaign for the Lakers by being named the WGC 8 All American team.

We took home honorable mention accolades for that.

This is the 25th time a Laker has earned all American honors.

And you know, is the 12th player GVSU history to achieve this award.

>> Give us your lacrosse made history.

This postseason as the program advance to its first ever Final 4.

The Lakers took down 2 top seeds to get their being Regis in Indianapolis.

That coach McKenzie Lawler's here to give us the details of an incredible season McKinsey.

Welcome and congrats.

Obviously a great year here with some first ends in the semis.

But let's look back as we have a talk with you here for a while.

So just to kind of your thoughts quickly on how the season ended as a team, what that meant to you, guys.

>> Yeah, I'm obviously was so exciting to get to our first ever Final 04:00AM.

But I think the 2 weeks, you know, leading up to the regionals were really difficult for a program.

I'm Maggie Hammer who is a 5th year captain for us, unfortunately tore her ACL and the clia championship game.

And I think that really, you know, kind of took the wind out of our sails.

And we've had so many injuries throughout the season.

And she's just such the heart and center of our team that it was kind of that breaking point of how are we get to respond?

And I think the team really rallied behind her injury.

And instead of that being the last injury, that kind of made people throw in the towel, I think it really ignited the team that let's do something special for, you know, this amazing senior class who has given so much to the program over 4 years.

And I'm really proud of our team for trusting in an organized game plan going into regionals.

We ran a zone both games for the first time, all season a move.

My Libor singer from midfield, 2 attacks, a lot of changes, but the team really put their trust in us and put their trust in each other.

So it was just so great to beat Regis in Indianapolis, who we have had close games, but had losses earlier on in the season and to get that first regional championship for the program was the milestone we wanted to get this year and it was an amazing experience to be able to compete in the Final 4.

No question you down, Regis, you beat Indianapolis 11 to 10.

>> Some late drama in this because this one would get you into the final 4 for the first time.

So many champagne.

She wins it in overtime, but you're down 10 to 8 in regulation.

So in the 4th quarter, yet less than 3 minutes to play.

You're down 2 goals in the 4th in Sydney Stone.

She really stepped up here.

>> She did before the regional we had after junior class that they needed to act like seniors heading into this weekend, you know, with so many of our seniors being injured and not being able to compete, we really needed that leadership.

And she had a fantastic weekend, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

And she's very calm.

She's always focused on the next play.

And I think that really gave the trust your teammates that she would be able to finish those 2 shots inside.

And so that was great, you know, tie it over time.

You know, it's just first goal wins.

And so we actually lost that first trial, which was tough.

But our defense came up with the shot clock violation and got the stop.

And I think that was really special to win in overtime.

But it be a true team win that the defense did their job and then many Champagne was able to finish honoree meter shot.

>> Yeah, the golden goal in OT, but huge cause 11, 10, you when you're out of the Final 4, you would face Westchester here.

They would down you 18 to 10.

So that would end the season.

But again, you would get some really good contributions, even different players this time stepping up Big Haley Crittendon with 3 goals, my lover singer with 3 goals.

And so you are especially 1st half.

You're putting the pressure on them.

>> We were right.

I think we were right there.

You know, it's disappointing.

We had an opportunity to take the lead at the end of the 1st quarter.

And we, you know, had a turnover.

We've got a yellow card.

They capitalized on that play.

And I just always felt like we're wanted to to play that are each made a great push in the 2nd half to close it.

You know, 10, 15 and we had a offensive opportunity to get that, you know, 15 to 11.

And I think that really could have swung the game and put the pressure on them at the end.

But just never quite got that goal when we needed it, you know, with so proud of our effort in the regional to get there.

But I think we just needed a few more of those players who had their injuries earlier in the season to be able to compete, you know, against Westchester at that level.

>> Yeah, Grande Valley throughout the year.

You're dealing with those injuries but on it so well, one of the things that happened over the course of this year, you're playing goal of saves that were made by Sarah Crop.

She was really important, particularly in the postseason.

But as you went and found her spot and really solidified that.

>> She did, as we've mentioned before, you know that our goal is have rotated between Audrey Kalen, Sarah throughout the earlier part of the season.

And each of them had fantastic games that we're really proud of and heading into, you know, postseason.

We really needed to find who was going to be the most confident with get bring that voice in the leadership to the defense.

And Sarah did a great job in practice leading up to that.

She actually didn't start in the first game of the regional.

We started with Aaden.

Audrey did a very solid job.

But we just look for a little bit of a change based on the type of shots that Regis was taking.

And for Sarah to come in and have back-to-back record-setting performances as a freshman, that just really, I think ignited our team every time we needed a big save.

She came up with one and just so proud of her performances, especially as a freshman.

>> So you have a lot to build out here and you I know you and your team won't rest on any laurels in the season, but it is these accomplishments are first Evers in some cases.

So what does it do for you?

The program itself?

What does it do for you guys know?

>> I think it's a reflection of the last couple years as well.

You know, last year making it back to the NCAA Tournament.

My first time as head coach here, only the second time in program history, but then winning that game.

You know, that was a great legacy for, you know, Sophie Khan, Ryan, Levy Esposito, Leah Jackson, to leave.

And that really motivated this year's senior class that they wanted to make the next step, you know, which was winning that second game in the regional and punching their ticket to the Final 4.

And so I think, you know, our current juniors now going to be seniors in the fall.

You know, they want to make it to the national championship game on Sunday.

And so it was a great experience for our team to see the gap between, you know, where we were in the regional, what it's going to take.

Westchester was an incredibly disciplined team.

They had amazing speed on the field, very well, balanced offense, great goalie play.

And so it showed some holes that we need to work to get better.

But I think our team is knows that that's possible for us to reach next year.

And I'm definitely to be motivating through the summer and through the offseason so that we can be there on Sunday.

>> Before we let you go, talk about seniors and people who may be leaving the program and what they meant to Grand Valley.

>> As I referenced Maggie Hammer earlier, I mean, she has just given so much to this program.

She's been an amazing leader for our team.

She's been a great mentor every single year since her sophomore year.

She's always taking the freshman class under her wing.

And I think she is just really embodied what it means to be a leader in to be successful on and off or field in the program.

You know, my Libor singer, her name is all over.

The record book should be one of the best players to ever play a Grande Valley and sell.

It was so exciting that she despite all this adversity this year was able to compete in the Final 4.

And then that was a big goal for her.

And then we just that class has been, I think, really special tenure.

And I have of the class that's been, you know, with our coaching staff the whole time here and really helped to change the standard of what it means, you know, and what our expectations are as a program.

You know, they've been with us every way and they have set those standards.

And so it's been great to see.

You know, Anna Reynolds, come on her senior year.

You know, Katy Young has gotten better and better each year.

She's been here and had an awesome season before she unfortunately got injured.

Audrey Maloney has been a part of so many amazing, you know, games for us.

I think of the Tampa game last year was just outstanding and a huge win for our program.

And she was such a key piece to that.

And, you know, Claire Johnson came in as a graduate transfer and unfortunately got hurt our first game of the season.

But her experience from playing in the Big 10 at Ohio State has been just in measurable.

You know, she's had such wisdom for younger players, you know, really helping them understand what it takes to compete at a high level and just has brought a great IQ to our offensive unit and sell.

They're all going to be missed it.

It was a little bit of a weird dynamic with all of the injuries that, you know, we kind of played those last couple games of almost what the roster will look like next year, because unfortunately, you know, a lot of them were injured.

But I just think, you know, their heart, you know, everything they get been.

Shay was a phenomenal captain for us this year after getting injured in the fall.

She's a 3 year starter before.

And you know her just keeping that commitment, even though she wasn't able to play, you know, on the field, all of those things where huge contributors for us to be able to make it to a final 4.

So just really proud of them of not giving up and not losing that focus even now for a lot of them this year didn't go quite as you know, smoothly year as they would have liked with an injury.

>> Yeah, pushing through a lot of adversity but that reward there with a great year first-ever trip to the Final 4, 16 5 overall.

Thank you, McKenzie.

Thank you for your.

We'll be right back of the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here on WTVO.

>> The news you men's and women's track and field competed at the 2023 outdoor track and field national championships for both teams would finish in the top 5 and see if you athlete went individual national titles.

>> I think we all know that we probably weren't our best throughout the whole 3 days.

And and, you know, really, really close and the women's side to get back on the podium.

There's no doubt in my mind we have the the pieces that out the potential to not only get both teams back on the podium but to compete and win a national championship down the road and win a national championship.

You've got to have a lot of things go well, all 3 days.

>> We can do that moving forward.

I truly believe we have the pieces.

We have the infrastructure.

We have the talent to do that 4th and 5th in the country and it's still very, very good there.

Be a there's a lot of people that would love to be in our shoes, right?

But we have the ability to improve and we've got a lot of people coming back.

>> The Grand Valley State men's track and field team place for the NCAA Division, 2 national championships with an overall score of 34 and a half falling shortly behind.

Adams stayed in 3rd with a total of 44 points taker been brought home Grand Valley State's first national title for the men in the hammer.

Throw been through a new personal best distance, scoring the lake and their first team points of the weekend.

>> Pretty tough about like 3 weeks through to prior to the national meet.

I was dealing with some injury like a sports hernia, strained abdomen.

So we had to we had to be really cautious with what we're doing with take very minimal throws and I was unable to lift.

So going into the meet, I like that kind of that kind of messed my confidence just because, you know, you have been put to other the regular work.

I mean, obviously goes to show having a great coaching staff.

You're going to you're going to see better awards.

You're going to see more people 16.

So really it's just it's it's been extremely vital and my success and a lot of my teammates success.

>> They can spit sleeve, recorded huge personal best for to finish 3rd place and then this gets thrown well.

Teams Mackey Junior 7 that this is about on the track.

Kayla fighter finished in 4th place in the 3,000 steeplechase to pull the men spot up to 3rd place is headed in the final debate on the final day of the meet Miles could finish it out.

The Lakers throws group taking home 3rd place in the men shot put across the field.

The high jump through will consist of the Lake receiver Jonathan rankings.

James plane to go to spots to round out the Lakers men's overall score.

See the tie for 5th Place Ball rankings.

James, for the insight.

The Laker women finished 5th with the NCAA Nationals with a total score.

35 points falling behind Winona State and forth with 38.

>> Tune in tomorrow to find her 2022.

National outdoor title and cleaned her 3rd career national title as a Grand Valley State Laker the women's hammer.

Throw.

That's I was probably a national champion with a new personal best throw breaking the school record previously held by yourself and 2021.

>> He appeared to be seeing up to nationals are fantastic.

Oversee all the work is hit on the right.

It's a month before that we prepare for nationals is not the day of a confident I knew I could been but they of is absolutely horrible.

But it wasn't this out.

The pair enough prior still unknown but still pull it off.

So she happy about that.

It's not a question of the COVID myself over the coaching Obama trading know that I worked hard to get to that point.

So I know that because I tried so hard that I will be competing about something.

So but why am, as a person knows because of what I did prior to getting here.

>> The leading Lakers went 4 for 4 in the women's discus throw as they clean 3rd 5003th, 6005003th and 7th place and Richards led the squad taking home a 3rd place finish followed by Kelsey Hewitt 4th with a new personal best throw Margaret Stevenson in 5th and Erica Vestal in 7th Natalie Graber finished in 4th place in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.

The round out the Laker women's final day to score on the final day of the meet Claudie O'Malley finished 6th when 1500 meter.

>> Karen Chapeco and Natalie Graber.

He the Laker women.

Their final points of the day.

Most finished 8th respective events, 800 meter and the 5,000 meter.

Both the men's and women's track and field teams and their successful 2023 outdoor season placing within the top 5, the NCAA national championships and as the 2023 react to it.

>> I want to I want to thank everybody who was a part of this journey.

And I mean, I finally did.

I finally finally won a national championship.

>> The coaching staff to team, you know, to admin a lot of people.

>> It's a love going behind the scenes.

Look at the don't know about and he's oldest club.

Helping a lot is not a woman.

Teammates love to help you.

So, yeah, Kristie, make a lot to me much the team, but the whole, you know, well, that staff at Nina, let people help help me to come here and become the person that you come in his past 5 years.

And a lot of them said to be appreciated for that.

>> We learn learn.

Learn live live live.

Love.

Love.

Love.

Was she a deal?

>> Well, that's all the time that we have this week of a Grand Valley State sports report.

Be sure to head over to Judy issue Lakers dot com the summer for updates on all things Grande Valley and for information as the fall sports season gets underway just a few months time.

This has been a great season for Grand Valley Athletics.

>> And we've enjoyed the time we've been able to spend with each of you each week.

The entire crew here.

Wgu I'm Steve Lloyd-Jones have a great summer Laker nation and as always, hey, corrupt.