CSR (MIAA Swimming & Diving Championships Day One Report)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR FEB. 19, 2009

Women's Swimming & Diving Grabs Early Lead at MIAA Championships;
Men's Team In Fourth Place After Day One

WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

NOTRE DAME, IN -- The defending MIAA champion Calvin women's swimming and diving team got of to a blazing start on day one of the MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships, building a first place score of 299.5 points. Calvin claimed first place in five events and established several Calvin and MIAA records in the process. In addition, the Knights recorded a number of NCAA III A' and B' cut qualifying performances. Saint Mary's College is hosting the MIAA Championships at the Rolfs Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

A big highlight for the Calvin women was the performance of senior Erica Deur (Holland/Holland Christian HS) who captured the three-meter diving competition for the fourth straight year. Deur won the event with a score of 479.25 points. In the afternoon prelims, Deur shattered her own MIAA record in the event with a score of 491.25. Deur previously set the record in 2007 with a score of 489.25 points. Deur is the first female diver in MIAA history to win either the one or three-meter competition four straight years.

Deur was part of a 1-3-6-7 Calvin finish on the three-meter board with junior Casey Herman (Libertyville, IL) placing third (381.30), senior Jeena Velzen (Unity Christian HS) placing sixth (327.80) and sophomore Carmen Brummel (Unity Christian HS) placing seventh (324.00).

Also defending an MIAA title on Thursday night was junior Emily Roberts (Dekalb, IL) in the 200 IM with an MIAA and school record time of 2:06.55. Roberts was part of a 1-2-4 Calvin finish as junior Maggie Vail (Portage Northern HS) was second (2:07.59) and sophomore Caitlin Alexander (Holland Christian HS) fourth (2:11.51). Roberts and Vail were both under the previous MIAA and Calvin record of 2:08.93 set by Calvin's Alex Wilson in 2007.

Also capturing an individual title on Thursday was junior Laura Price (Warren, PA) in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:00.41. Price used a come-from-behind effort to nip Kalamazoo's Katie Stefl who was second in 5:00.82. During the morning prelims, Price took the top seed for the evening finals with an NCAA III A' cut time of 5:00.00. Price was part of a 1-4-7 Calvin finish in the 500 free as sophomore Kendra Kinzer (Fort Wayne, IN) was fourth (5:10.92) and junior Libby Veldkamp (Calvin Christian HS) seventh (5:15.95).

In the 50 freestyle, Calvin took two of the top four spots with senior Cara Van Woerkom (Calvin Christian HS) tying for second place with an NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 23.77 while sophomore Monica Bressler (Sandusky, OH) was fourth with an NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 24.12. Senior Julie Wolfe (Westerville, OH) also captured the consolation heat with an NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 24.37.

In addition, both of Calvin's relay teams had sizzling performances on Thursday with Bressler igniting Calvin's 400 medley relay with a leadoff (backstroke) leg of 58.71 that was good for an NCAA III B' cut and school record. Bressler's time eclipsed the previous school record of 59.32 established by Abby Johnson in 2005. Bressler's leadoff leg allowed Calvin's 400 medley relay team that also included Roberts, Wolfe and Van Woerkom to hit the wall in a first place and NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 3:50.34. The time is the fastest time every clocked by an MIAA (women's) 400 medley relay team in any competition. It broke the previous MIAA record of 3:54.37 set by Hope's team in 1998. It also broke the Calvin record of 3:54.40 set in 2006.

In the 200 freestyle relay, the Calvin quartet of Bressler, Van Woerkom, Vail and Price took first place with an NCAA III A' cut qualifying time of 1:34.51.

"We had an awesome first day," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We had contributions all the way through our lineup. The energy that our team had today was incredible. Our team is excited to compete and that's all you can ask for as a coach."

MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY ONE TEAM SCORES

Calvin 299.5 points
Hope 214.5 points
Olivet 142 points
Kalamazoo 134 points
Saint Mary's 118 points
Albion 79 points
Alma 55 points

MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

NOTRE DAME, IN -- The Calvin men's swimming and diving team is in fourth place after one day of competition at the MIAA Championships. Calvin's top individual performance came from senior Dennis Steenbergen (Alymer, ON) on the one-meter diving board with a career-best score of 360.55.

Senior Keith Conrad (Wheaton, IL) also had a top-eight (finals) finish, placing sixth in the 500 freestyle with a season-best time of 4:43.46.

Also scoring individually for the Calvin were freshmen Ross Battoclette (Cincinnati, OH) and Ethan Tatum (Grand Rapids Christian HS) in the 500 freestyle with Battoclette taking 10th (4:44.60) and Tatum 12th (4:57.63). Senior Matt Bolles (West Ottawa HS) also scored in the 200 IM, placing 13th (2:04.97) while junior Kurt VanAllsburg (Grand Rapids Christian HS) was 11th in the 50 freestyle (21.76).

In the 200 freestyle relay, Calvin's team of VanAllsburg, junior Jon Herrema (Grand Rapids Christian HS), Tatum and Battoclette took sixth with a season-best time of 1:26.27 while Calvin's 400 medley relay team of VanAllsburg, Conrad, Herrema and Battoclette finished fifth with a season-best time of 3:34.70.

"It was a solid first day for our team," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "Just about all of our swimmers had their best times of the year and Dennis Steenbergen rose to the challenge on the one-meter board. He was terrific and our entire team is proud of him."

MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY ONE TEAM SCORES

Hope 284.5 points
Kalamazoo 201 points
Olivet 177 points
Calvin 104.5 points
Albion 101.5 points
Alma 84 points

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Feb 19 23:37:52 2009