CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 9, 2007 (PART THREE)
Weima Three-Peats as NCAA III Champion in 200 Free -- Women's Swimming and
Diving Team Holds on to Third Place
NCAA III WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
HOUSTON, TX -- Calvin senior Becky Weima captured the fifth individual national
title of her career including her third consecutive in the 200 freestyle in
helping the Calvin women's swimming and diving team maintain a hold of third
place at the NCAA III Women's Swimming and Diving Championships at the
University of Houston.
After day two of the national competition, Calvin remains in third with 214
points, 23 points ahead of fourth place Emory (GA) and 36 points behind second
place Amherst (MA). Kenyon (OH) holds a commanding first place total of 363
points.
A graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, Weima captured the 200
freestyle title with a season-best time of 1:49.73, just over two-tenths of a
second ahead of runner-up Lauren Preyss of Case Western Reserve. A strong surge
in the final 25 yards helped Weima secure the national title.
"Becky had a great performance," said Calvin women's swimming and diving coach
Dan Gelderloos. "When you're the top seed and the two-time defending national
champion in an event, the bulls-eye is squarely on your back but Becky handled
the pressure well. She has an incredible competitive drive inside her and that
drive is what helped her win tonight. We are thrilled to see her win another
championship." In addition to her three titles in the 200 freestyle, Weima also
owns national crowns in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle which she captured
last year.
Weima's national championship performance was one of four All-America
performances for Calvin on Friday as freshman Emily Roberts (DeKalb, IL) took
third in the 100 breaststroke with a school record time of 1:04.52 while
Calvin's 200 medley relay team took a surprising fifth and its 800 freestyle
relay team took fourth.
Seeded 14th in the event heading into Friday's prelims, Calvin's 200 medley
relay team of sophomore Jordan Scott (Oakville, ON), Roberts, sophomore Julie
Wolfe (Westerville, OH) and junior Kat Vinson (Kaneohe, HI) advanced to the
finals with the sixth-best time in the morning prelims and then ripped off a
school record time of 1:47.88 in the finals that was good for fifth place.
"Our 200 medley relay team set the tone for us tonight," said Gelderloos. "The
members of that relay had a ton of energy and when the rest of our swimmers saw
that, it motivated them too."
If Calvin's 200 medley relay set the tone, it's 800 freestyle relay team of
junior Stephanie Duncan (Long Grove, IL), Weima, freshman Laura Price (Warren,
PA) and sophomore Cara VanWoerkom (Calvin Christian HS) provided the final
flourish as the quartet clocked in with a school record time of 7:33.23,
lopping more than seven seconds off the previous school mark set earlier this
year.
"That was an incredible performance," said Gelderloos. "All four swimmers
brought their best stuff to that relay and made things happen."
Calvin also received points from Duncan who took 14th in the consolation finals
of the 200 freestyle (1:54.76) and senior Alex Wilson (Ellsworth, OH) and
freshman Katie White (Grand Rapids Christian HS) in the 100 breaststroke as
Wilson was 10th (1:05.47) and White 11th (1:05.79).
"Our depth is paying off," said Gelderloos. "Our goal is to finish in the top
four and bring home a (top-four) trophy. If we want to do that, we'll have to
continue to receive contributions from our entire team."
The third place finish by Roberts in the 100 breaststroke was Calvin's
highest-ever national finish in the event. According to Gelderloos, the finish
by Roberts was not a surprise. "We knew that Emily had the talent to place
high," said Gelderloos. "She's really found a rhythmn at the national meet and
her confidence is very high. She's peaking at exactly the right time."
Scheduled to compete for Calvin on Saturday are Duncan, Weima, White and Vinson
in the 100 freestyle, Wilson and Roberts in the 200 breaststroke, sophomore
Erica Deur (Holland Christian HS) and freshman Casey Herman (Libertyville, IL)
on the three-meter diving board and Weima, White, Vinson and Duncan in the 400
freestyle relay.
TOP 10 TEAM STANDINGS AT NCAA III WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
THROUGH DAY TWO
1. Kenyon 363
2. Amherst 250
3. Calvin 214
4. Emory 191
5. Denison 188
6. Williams 147
7. Washington, Mo. 124
8. Middlebury 110
9. Johns Hopkins 103
10. Hope 85
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Mar 9 22:15:51 2007
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