CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2002
OXFORD, OH - A record setting day of performances put the Calvin men's swimming
and diving team in position for its best national finish at the NCAA III
Championships at the University of Miami of Ohio.
Calvin shattered four school records on Friday while producing three
All-America performances and one honorable mention effort. With one day of
competition left, Calvin has cracked the top-10 as the Knights are ninth with a
school record total of 110.5 points. Calvin is one of three MIAA teams among
the top-10 through the first two days of competition as Hope is fifth with 174
points and Kalamazoo is sixth with 158 points.
Freshman Peter Boumgarden of Naperville, Illinois, highlighted the second day
of competition for the Calvin men as he garnered a national runner-up berth in
the 100 butterfly, clocking in with a school record time of 49.25, less than
two-tenths of a second behind national champion Courtney Brooks of Kenyon who
took first with a time of 49.11. The second place finish by Boumgarden matches
the best individual finish by a Calvin swimmer at the national meet as Holland
Christian High School graduate Mike Lubbers took second for Calvin in the 100
backstroke at the 1996 NCAA III Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.
Boumgarden was part of all three All-America performances for Calvin on Friday
as he filled a leg on Calvin's 200 medley relay team that placed eighth with a
school record time of 1:33.75 and also a leg on Calvin's 800 freestyle relay
team that placed sixth with a school record time of 6:50.73. Joining Boumgarden
on the 200 medley relay team was sophomore Brad White (Traverse City), freshman
Ryan Preston (Richmond, IN) and junior A. J. Penninga (Grand Rapids Christian).
The 200 medley relay performance by Calvin was notable as the Knights came into
the meet seeded 19th in the event but reached the championship finals Friday
night with a seventh place finish in the Friday morning prelims.
In addition to Boumgarden, Calvin's 800 freestyle relay team consisted of
junior Dan Hekman (Calimesa, CA), Penning and White and lopped nearly three
seconds off of Calvin's previous school record. It also marked the second
straight All-America performance by the Calvin men in the 800 freestyle relay.
Penninga also sparkled individually as he took ninth in the 200 freestyle relay
with a school record time of 1:40.94 to earn honorable mention All-America
honors in the event. Penninga came into the meet seeded 12th in the 200
freestyle relay but moved up three spots in the consolation finals Friday
evening.
"We had nothing but spectacular performances this evening and I could not be
more proud of my guys than I am tonight," said Calvin swim coach Dan Gelderloos.
"Peter was terrific in the 100 butterfly this evening. For a freshman to come
that close to an individual national championship is remarkable. But I can't
say enough about the rest of my guys too. They are really at the top of their
game right now. Our hope is to finish off this meet with the same type of
enthusiasm we have displayed during the first two days."
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