By Kevin Lopez
The Grand Rapids Community College Athletic Department earned the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s most prestigious award, the Charlie Chanter All-Sports Trophy, named after the former GRCC coach and professor, after all eight departments had successful seasons and five of them competed in national tournaments.
The GRCC departments that competed in national tournaments were the women’s basketball, volleyball, golf and men and women’s cross country.
Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo wanted to highlight the success of each department and how well they performed this year.
“Congrats to all the coaches on a tremendous year. All your hard work has not gone unnoticed,” Ferullo stated in a news release. “I’m so proud of you and your athletes. This award is so deserved, and I’m honored to lead all of you.”
GRCC’s women’s basketball coach Dave Glazier wanted to also highlight the fieldhouse staff for also leading the way.
“The recognition of the program is more so about celebrating everyone who is involved behind the scenes, starting with our AD Lauren Ferullo, our Athletic Trainer Kenzie Ondersma, our statistician Ben Brown and the fieldhouse Staff,” Glazier stated in an email to The Collegiate. “Without support from Whitney Marsh, Sue Goeman, Tim Johnson, Bri Greenough and all the student staff, our athletes wouldn’t have the ability to focus solely on competing at the highest levels.”
The award has been around since 1958. This is the 16th time GRCC has won the award, only trailing Lansing Community College who has won the award 19 times.
