by Dana Schmunck, Class of 1997

I am one of the luckiest GVSU alumni here at the GVSU rowing team’s debut in the San Diego Crew Classic. I was happy to also be racing and to be there to watch the team race so well. The women raced in the toughest event of the women’s category, working hard and from our perspective, making it look easy, to come in second in their race, beating Radcliffe (Harvard) and UC-Davis. The GVSU men also put on an excellent performance and were first in their heat. I have to say, as an alumnus, this is an amazing feat for these athletes, one that makes me very proud of my heritage. I give my thanks and my praise to John Bancheri, Mark McIlduff, and the entire coaching staff, and to what they have achieved in their few short years at Grand Valley.

On Sunday racing, I was very proud of how the women carried themselves and pushed hard right from the start of their race. I know the extra effort they put forth in the first thousand meters cost them and they didn’t place as well as they would have liked, but I think looking back on how well they competed, they should be proud of how they did in their debut at San Diego. On the men’s side, their final was great, with great racing neck and neck with Trinity College throughout their event. Trinity had an amazing start and pulled ahead, but our boys fought right back, edging into the Trinity crew, coming down to the line and placing second in the American Health Specialty Cup.

I have always been proud to be an alumnus of GVSU rowing. However, today, I was especially proud for all the athletes on how well they raced and represented our university. The announcers for the races may have said it best, when they said, “Grand Valley is probably the best overall club program in the country.”

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