Eighteen Lakers Named Scholar All-America

Eighteen Laker swimmers and divers have been named Scholar All-America by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. To qualify for this award, the athlete must have achieved a 3.5 GPA and earned an "A" cut for NCAA Nationals. Honorable Mention is awarded to those athletes with a 3.5 GPA and an NCAA "B" cut.

Scholar All-Americans:
Kim Baughman
Katelyn Childers
Erin Kinney
Marissa Orr
Allison Scholz
Kelsey Vermeer
Melissa Faletti
Antonia Musto
Joe Sayre
Patrick VanDommelen
Aaron Beebe
Justin Pattermann

Honorable Mention:
Amy Akers
Erin Lynch
Kaci Swieter
David Hayhow
Jon Bardsley
Jeff Pauza

Congratulations to this outstanding group of Student-Athletes!

GLIAC Championship rings are in for those who ordered one. See Andy to pick up yours.

Lakers sign six men for 2010-2011

Head Coach Andy Boyce announces the signing of six men for the 2010-2011 season. Erik Aakesson of Loddekopinge, Sweden will join the team as a breaststroker. Erik has competed in Swedish Nationals. Jason Bergsma of Grandville, Mich will come in as a backstroker, butterflyer and sprint freestyler. Jason was All-State and All-America at Grandville High School. Collin DeHaan is also a graduate of Grandville High School. DeHaan teamed with Bergsma to lead Grandville High School to a State Championship in the 400 Freestyle Relay.

Leo Dumbovic from Zagreb, Croatia was a Croatian National Champion in the 50 meter Breaststroke and also competed in the 100 meter Breaststroke. He was the MVP of the meet between Croatia and Slovenia. Dumbovic will concentrate on breaststroke and IM events for the Lakers. Matt Lederer of Farmington Hills, Mich earned All-State honors while competing in butterfly and sprint freestyle events for Farmington. Ben Scheurich is an All-Conference sprinter from Rensselaer Central High School in Rensselaer, Ind.

Coach Boyce describes the incoming classes of both men and women as one of the strongest ever at Grand Valley State.

Coach Andy Boyce Signs 5 women for the 2010-2011 season

Head Coach Andy Boyce announced the signing of five women to next year's Laker swimming and diving team. Sarah Kozmak (Grandville, MI) a transfer from the University of West Virginia will compete in the sprint freestyle events. Sarah was an All-Conference, All-State and All-America high school performer. Caitlyn Madsen (West Chicago, IL) swims the butterfly, freestyle and backstroke events. Caitlyn was All-Conference and All-America at Community High School in West Chicago.

Jenny Root of Lakeview High School (Battle Creek, MI) was a three time All-State diver. Katie Vulpetti (East Grand Rapids, MI) is also a diver and earned All-State honors her junior and senior years. Ellen Wiese (Downer's Grove, IL) earned All-State honors at Downer's Grove South High School and will swim the breaststroke and IM events for Grand Valley.

Coach Boyce and his staff look forward to the contributions these five athletes will make to the Laker Swimming and Diving team.

Invictus

I enjoyed the Clint Eastwood film with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, Invictus. The title comes from a poem by William Ernest Henley. A great thought on overcoming adversity and taking ownership of our futures. Below is the text.

INVICTUS
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

When I watched the film, I was reminded of how much I like the passage when I first read it many years ago.