The Lakers Showcase Speed at 2012 Lubbers Cup Regatta
Senior Writer: James Wilkie ’12,
Major: Health Communications
The 17th Annual Lubbers Cup Regatta was an all around success for the Grand Valley Lakers. Having great racing at the Spring Lake venue gives athletes, parents, and alumni a chance to showcase some speed and that is exactly what the GVSU crew did.
The women’s team claimed the Women’s points trophy by a landslide as they claimed victories in the Women’s Novice 8+, Women’s 2V 8+, Women’s Novice 4+, Women’s Varsity 8+, and the Women’s 2V/ Lightweight 4+.
The Grand Valley Men took second in the Men’s points trophy behind the University of Michigan Men by one point. The GVSU men’s team had a very promising showing as they took 1st place in the Men’s Varsity 8+, Men’s Novice 8+, Men’s 3V 4+, and the Men’s Varsity 4+.
From a senior’s perspective, this is the fastest that I have seen the Grand Valley Crew as a whole. The Women are yet again at Dad Vail medal speed and have fantastic depth. There are going to be challenges ahead for the women but I truly believe that once they hit Philadelphia, there is a heck of a chance that they will be leaving with hardware around their necks.
For the first time since 2004, the Varsity Men have defeated Michigan in the Spring season and matched the powerhouse crew across the board by having three Varsity 8+’s that are competing at a high level; giving us a depth that I believe has never been achieved at Grand Valley. Along with three Varsity boats displaying excellent speed, the Novice 8+ is looking fast and I could see them in the top boats in the
Dad Vail National Championship Regatta.
It is a weird feeling to see an ENTIRE crew do so well, so early in the season. I personally have never had so much pride when saying that I am apart of the GVSU crew. Standing on the awards stage with the Men’s V8+ and being able to take a picture with my arm around Don Lubbers is going to be a an unforgettable memory. However, I know that there is work to do and speed to gain and only a month to do it. Coach Bancheri is going to kick our butts in the coming weeks because for the rest of the season people are will be coming after Grand Valley.
