The Grand Valley State University wrestling team traveled to the National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Duals Championships in Georgia last weekend as a No. 4 seed with expectations of winning the meet.

However, the team finished third behind the University of Central Florida and California BaptistUniversity, which took home the title. Leading the Lakers, senior Corey Mellin and juniors Carl Worthy and Robert Hall each went undefeated.

In its third-place match, GVSU won the final six matches to roll to a 34-15 victory over the Apprentice School of Virginia. The Lakers faced an early deficit but took three pins during this string to rally.

Mellin, a former All-American in the heavyweight class who went 4-0 at the Duals, said he felt good about the team’s performance and believes the younger wrestlers gained valuable experience.

“As a team, there were some spots that we learned where we need to improve,” he said. “Our young guys had real close matches against some of the more experienced guys from other teams. Even though they may have lost, it was a good learning experience. I was proud of how our guys went about their business and wrestled.”

Worthy, facing his first competition of the year in the 197-pound weight class at the Duals and finishing 3-0, said he understands it is a long season and the team has to continue to focus.

“Individually, each of us has to keep working at conditioning and working hard,” he said. “We have to do this because the season isn’t over yet. We just can’t stop now. Instead, we must realize where we are at and understand that each meet is just one more team that we have to beat.”

The Lakers’ third-place finish at the NCWA National Duals shows them where they stand in comparison to some of the top teams in the country. As the season progresses and the team continue to work at practice and duals, the eventual goal is for a strong performance at the NCWA Championships.

Hall, GVSU’s points leader after finishing 5-0 at the Duals in the 165-pound weight class, said he realizes the importance of this meet and what it means for obtaining that goal.

“My main goal, just like many guys on the team, is to place at nationals,” Hall said. “Last year I was pretty confident that I could be an All-American, but I had a rib injury. Coach always tells us that if you get beat, you can’t lay down and take it, but have to keep fighting. He really stresses that. That’s our attitude for every match and hopefully our hard work pays off.”

Worthy said he realizes what has to be done to win and get to the podium at the Championships.

“At this point, if you’re not physically ready, you just may not ever be ready,” Worthy said. “You have to prepare yourself mentally and must be mentally tough to perform at the tourney in March. We have competed against the top teams who will be there, so it’s a reality check. You just have to figure out if you want to lay it all out there.”

This weekend, GVSU hosts the Laker Classic on Saturday, an open meet taking place in the GVSU Fieldhouse. The team will look to continue to strengthen and sharpen their skills in preparation for the NCWA Championships on March 10-12 on the campus of Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

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