Katie Flynn Flannery (Inducted 2005)
Katie will go down as one of GVSU's finest student-athletes. She was a true student-athlete and garnered numerous honors in both the pool and the classroom. Katie was Grand Valley State University's first ever recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award. She was also nominated as the 1997 NCAA Woman of the Year in Michigan. Katie was 61-12 in dual meet competition. She set 28 individual varsity records, 17 freshman records and was a member of 7 record setting relay teams during her four year career! She qualified and made finals all four years at the NCAA II National Championships earning 15 All American awards! She placed fifth in the 100 free at both the 1996 and 1997 NCAA National Championships and six in the 50 free at 1997. Katie also anchored four relay teams that scored at the 1997 Nationals. Katie was a four time recipient of the College Swim Coaches Association Academic All American award and was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team three times. She was a second team GTE/CoSIDA All District honoree, was named to the GVSU Dean's List for six semesters, and earned the GVSU Academic Excellence Award eight times..
Charlotte Snyder Higgs (Inducted 2004)
Charlotte garnered virtually every honor and award that a Grand Valley State diver could earn. She earned five NCAA All American awards in addition to three College Swim Coaches Association Academic All American honors. She qualified three times for the NCAA II National Championships and made finals three times. Charlotte was the Lakers first All American diver. She was Grand Valley's nominee as the NCAA Woman of the Year in 1993. Charlotte broke 16 diving records during her career and as of her induction still holds the GVSU varsity and pool records on one meter for an 11-dive competition score. During her career Charlotte won 31 out of 41 dual meet 1 meter contests and 35 out of 42 dual meets in 3 meter events. In 1991 she received the Laker award from her peers. Charlotte was recognized for Academic Excellence 6 semesters by the GVSU Aquatic program and was named to the GVSU Dean's List three times. She was named to the GLIAC All Academic Team three seasons. Charlotte also worked as a Resident Assistant in housing and was the Assistant Director of Living centers II in 1993.
Brian Swanson (Inducted 2004)
Brian is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Grand Valley Swimming and Diving history. He was a three time Academic All American and earned four NCAA All American awards during his tenure with the Lakers. He was GVSU's first ever male diver to earn All American honors. Brian earned the Captain's Award in 1991 and was a team captain in 1992-1993. Brian captured the GLIAC one-meter title in 1993 and was runner-up to his team mate on three-meter. He qualified for the NCAA II National Championships three times and placed third on the one-meter in 1992. He set 9 records during his career and, as of his induction, still holds the varsity and pool records on the one-meter board for an 11-dive competition score and the varsity record for an 11-dive competition on three-meter. Brian was recognized for Academic Excellence every semester by GVSU Aquatic program. He was also named to the GVSU Dean's List every semester. Brian was named to the GLIAC All Academic Team three times. In 1992 he was selected to the GTE All Academic Team. He was the GVSU Irwin Scholar-Athlete of the year in 1993.
Rich Kramer (Inducted in 2001)
Rich transferred to Grand Valley after reading about the special hair cut Dewey received in 1985. Rich swam two years for Grand Valley as a middle distance and distance freestyler. He had a won/loss record of 42-11 in dual meets (never placing lower than 2nd). During his two seasons, Rich set 19 individual records in 6 different events and was a part of 7 relay records. His records in the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyle events still stand in 2002. Rich was Grand Valley's first GLIAC Conference Champion winning the 500 and 1650 freestyle events in 1988. His 500 time missed NCAA II National qualification by 1 second and the 1650 time missed by 3/10 of a second. Rich was selected Men's Most Valuable Athlete in both 1987 and 1988. He was elected team Co-Captain 1987-88. He was recognized for Academic Excellence one semester. He graduated with a degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Marketing and in Real Estate.
Kristen Campbell Suran (Inducted 1998)
Kristen was a member of the very first GVSU Varsity Swimming and Diving teams. In her four year career, she set 12 GVSU team and pool records in diving and had a won/loss record of 50-21 in dual meets. Kristen qualified for the NCAA II National Champion-ships both her freshman and sophomore year, finishing 24 in 1984 and 20 in 1985. She was selected as Women's most Valuable Athlete in 1985 and was elected Team Co-Captain in 1987-88. Kristen was recognized for Academic Excellence all eight semesters and was named to the GVSU Dean's List four times. She graduated in 1989 with a degree in Psychology/Special Education.












