A Season to Remember

Grand Valley athletes shine on national stage

STORY BY BRIAN VERNELLIS

One of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division II competition added another season of accolades — both individual and team national championships during the 2024-2025 season.

The year was highlighted by two Grand Valley varsity teams bringing national titles back to campus, while another showed the nation its potential in its first season. GVSU teams have now earned 31 national championships.

Track and field

The women’s track and field team captured the NCAA Division II Outdoor Meet in May, edging Adams State, 60-59, to bring home its first national outdoor championship in 13 years.

Klaudia O’Malley (1500-meter run) and Erika Beistle (discus) won national titles in their respective events, helping the Lakers secure the national title.

In the men’s competition, Jaivon Harrison edged teammate Jonathan Rankins-James for first place in the high jump.

At the national indoor championship in March, the men’s squad earned runner-up honors. Four Lakers on either team won individual national titles: Myles Kerner (shot put), Kaylee Diamond (high jump), Lauren Kiley (3,000 meters) and Eli Kosiba (high jump).

The Lakers dominated the men’s high jump, sweeping the top three spots. Harrison placed second and Rankins-James took third to join Kosiba on the podium.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association named head coach Jerry Baltes its Division II Women's Coach of the Year, assistant coach Matt Conly as its National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year and Harrison as its Division II Men's Field Athlete of the Year.

Cross country

Lauren Kiley finished as the top women’s runner in the nation, winning the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in California with a time of 20:28.5. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association selected Kiley as its DII Women’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year.

two track athletes embrace and are smiling

Erika Beistle, left, and Maggie Stevenson react after finishing first and second in the discus throw. Photo by GVSU Sports Information

male track athlete without shirt on hugs a NCAA championship trophy

Jaivon Harrison won the high jump at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Meet. Photo by GVSU Sports Information

track athlete makes hand gestures after win, person in back holding NCAA trophy high above head

photo by GVSU Sports Information

Women’s basketball

Grand Valley’s win in March at the Division II national championship game marked its first title since 2006 and the 30th overall for the Lakers’ athletic program.

The Lakers dominated the competition, compiling a program-best 38-2 regular season record, surpassing the win total from the 2023-2024 Lakers. Grand Valley was 19-1 in GLIAC play, went undefeated at home and added GLIAC regular season and tournament championships en route to being ranked the No. 1 seed in the national tournament.

The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association selected head coach Mike Williams as its Coach of the Year while senior Rylie Bisballe was named to its All-America team.

Laker women's basketball team celebrates national championship

GVSU celebrates the 70-58 win over Cal-State Dominguez Hills in the NCAA Division II National Championship in Pittsburgh. photo by Cory Morse

laker basketball players laying on court filled with confetti

photo by Cory Morse

President Philomena V. Mantella holds a national championship t-shirt. photo by Cory Morse

Women’s wrestling

In their first season of competition, the Lakers delivered an impressive national performance.

Two Lakers, Sage Mortimer (110 pounds) and Katerina Lange (138 pounds), won national titles in their respective weight classes at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship, while Sabrina Nauss (180 pounds) placed second, finishing as a national runner-up.

Head coach Jake Short was also selected as the Women’s National Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Wrestling publication “The Open Mat” named Short its Women’s Wrestling Coach of the Year and Nauss as the Women’s Freshman of the Year.

women wrestler runs out to court, sparkler lights going off

Aspen Blasko runs out to face her opponent from Northern Michigan during the Lakers' inaugural dual meet in November. photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills

wrestling team puts hands in team huddle before matches begin

The women's wrestling team hosted its first dual meet November 16, taking on Northern Michigan at the Fieldhouse Arena. photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills

woman wrestler and coach who holds her arm up after she won a match

Rayana Sahagun flexes her muscles after winning a match. photo by Kendra Stanley-Mills

Football

The Lakers open the 2025 season against Lincoln (Pennsylvania) University on August 30 at Lubbers Stadium. Grand Valley will look for its third GLIAC in four seasons after claiming the 2022 and 2023 titles.

The Lakers face an early road test to the season, meeting one of the top powers in Division II, Pittsburg State, on September 13. Other key dates for the Lakers include: October 4, hosting Davenport; October 25, at Ferris State; November 8 (Homecoming), hosting Michigan Tech; and November 15 (Senior Day), hosting Roosevelt.

Laker football in light blue uniforms going through warm ups

The Laker football team warms up before taking on Central State at Lubbers Stadium last September. photo by Cory Morse

football players enter stadium under GVSU Football banner

Players enter Lubbers Stadium to take on Wayne State University during Homecoming on November 2. photo by Cory Morse

Swimming and diving

At the NCAA Division II Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, the men’s team earned three national titles — the 200 freestyle relay, the 400 freestyle relay and the 100 freestyle.

Evan Scotto DiVetta, Esteban Nuñez Del Prado, Aaron Dies and Matthew Bosch took first place in the 200 freestyle relay and DiVetta, Dies, Bosch and Carsyn Cristoffel also won the 400 freestyle relay event.

Bosch’s remarkable weekend also included a national title in the 100 freestyle relay.