CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR SEPT. 8, 2012
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Hosting the Knight Invitational at the Gainey Athletic Complex, the
seventh-ranked Calvin men's cross country team looked to top the list of 17
schools competing on a beautiful Saturday morning. Calvin did just that, taking
first place with a team score of 30 points.
Calvin broke out of the gate strong, claiming the top five spots early hold,
and holding those top five spots through the first two kilometers of the race.
The Knights continued to hold the top two spots throughout the race, with
seniors Nick Kramer and Dan Kerr breaking away from the pack. Juniors Job
Christiansen, Matt Vander Roest, and David Vande Bunte trailed just behind for
Calvin.
Also running strong early on and vying for a top ten position were senior
Rhett Morici and sophomore Sam Kerk.
The packs of runners began to spread out and Kramer and Kerr began to break
away. Kramer crossed the line first with a time of 24:23.3. Kerr followed
closely behind, finishing in 24:28.4. Third place finisher Bobby Over of
Allegheny did not come in until 24:43.8, showing the dominance of Calvin's top
two. Coming in third for Calvin was Christiansen with a time of 24:57.5,
Christiansen also took the fifth overall spot. The Knights fourth runner and
taking seventh overall was Vander Roest. Calvin's fifth runner and taking the
15th spot overall was Vande Bunte in 25:32.7.
Calvin placed three more runners in the top 35 spots, with Morici taking 24th
in 25:45.4, Kerk in 32nd in 25:59.2, and sophomore Steven Haagsma in 35th in
26:01.8.
“We're developing a sense of where we need to run and what we need to do, so
it was a big step today” said head coach Brian Diemer.
“There's a few things we have to work on (as a team),” said assistant Al
Hoekstra, “we have to learn to run together better. “We're going to be good,
but once we figure out how to do it as a team, then we have a shot at doing
some things at a national level.”
Calvin's team of 30 was good for first place. Grand Valley State finished in
second with 109 points and Alleghany was third with 125.
The Knights now look forward to the first MIAA Jamboree of the season which
will be hosted by Saint Mary's and is schedule for Friday, September 21.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
The 10th-ranked Calvin women’s cross country team opened its 2012 campaign in
strong fashion, powering its way to a first place finish of 34 points at its
own Knight Invitational Saturday morning at the Gainey Athletic Complex.
With several of its top runners from a year ago having graduated, the Knights
have plenty of spots to fill this fall. On Saturday, the holes were filled
nicely as the Knights took six of the top 15 points including five of the top
13.
Allison Steinbrunner of Ohio Northern won Saturday’s race in a time of 17:42
but Calvin took the next two spots as senior Alyssa Penning was second (17:57)
and junior Nicole Michmerhuizen third (18:02) as the duo ran together
throughout the race.
Freshman McKenzie Diemer stepped up and took ninth individually for Calvin in
a time of 18:15 while sophomore Kimby Penning was 12th (18:25), junior Alyssa
Oram 13th (18:26) and sophomore Sarah Danner 15th (18:33). Sophomore Lizzy
Vannette also had a strong finish, placing 19th (18:37).
“This team has really put in some hard work over the summer and I was so
pleased to see the way they ran with each other,” said Calvin head cross
country coach Brian Diemer. “We had people filling gaps and running with
determination. It was a great start to the season.”
Longtime assistant coach Al Hoekstra agreed. “Our women’s team showed the
power of pack running,” said Hoekstra. “We had groups of runners working
together and feeding off each other’s energy. Our women ran as a team and if
they continue to do that, they will have good things in store for them down the
road. It is exciting.”
A team from Grand Valley State took second with 64 points while Case Western
Reserve was third with 121 points.
Calvin will now break for nearly two weeks, returning to action at the MIAA
Jamboree on September 21 when Saint Mary’s College serves as host.
VOLLEYBALL
(By Jordan Brink)
The third-ranked Calvin Knights continued an impressive start to their 2012
campaign with a sweep of the Olivet Comets on Saturday afternoon. The Knights
defeated Olivet by scores of 25-8, 25-14, and 25-15, improving their record to
7-0 (3-0 MIAA). Olivet’s loss dropped its record to 1-5 (0-2 MIAA) on the
season.
Coming off a quick turnaround from their victory at Kalamazoo on Friday night,
the Knights pulled ahead from the start and never looked back. Calvin set the
tone with a high-powered offense, hitting .500 as a team in the first set.
Lizzie Kamp (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian HS) led the way with 13 kills in
the match, while younger sister Maggie Kamp (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian
HS) and teammate Emily Crowe (Granger, IN/Mishawaka Penn HS) each added four of
their own.
Junior setter Megan Rietema (Grand Rapids, MI/Grand Rapids Christian HS) had
25 assists, six kills, four block assists, and one block solo.
Olivet implemented an evenly distributed attack throughout the match, with
four kills coming from four different players. Freshman defensive specialist
Madison Frodle had twelve digs for the Comets.
“It is nice to have so much talent and depth on our roster,” said Calvin head
coach Amber Warners, “every one of our players saw the floor and we continued
to play well. I thought that we stayed in-system with our passing and
maintained a high level of intensity throughout.”
The Knights next matchup comes on Wednesday evening when the Alma Scots come
to VanNoord Arena for a matchup between two teams undefeated in conference
play.
MEN’S SOCCER
By Mitch Blankespoor
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Calvin head coach Ryan Souders coached his first game at
Zuidema field Saturday afternoon. The Knights gave their first year head coach
a win, defeating Aurora University 2-1.
“It feels great to defend our home turf,” Souders said. “The fans really
helped out tonight. They make the opposing team have to work that much
harder.”
Calvin had the upper hand in possession early. Sophomore Travis Vegter
(Hundsonville/Unity Chrisian HS) broke through the middle of the Spartan
defense, and was tripped, forcing a penalty kick. Senior Joe Broekhuizen
(Grand Rapids/South Christian HS) took the penalty, which was saved by Aurora
senior goalkeeper Ethan Cashen. The rebound came straight back to Broekhuizen,
who tapped the ball into the open net.
The next goal of the match game at the 57:50 mark. Senior Chris Nance
(Washington/De La Salle HS) took a short corner to junior Zach Willis
(Hudsonville/ Unity Christian HS). Willis crossed a low ball into the box,
which got all the way through to Ben Honeycutt (Grandville/South Christian HS)
who put the ball in the back of the net.
“I just work on finding the ball on corners,” Honeycutt commented. “It’s all
about who wants it more.”
The Knights fought off an own goal, and held on for the win despite
outshooting the Spartans 32-9.
“We need to work on our creative runs and finishing in the offensive third,”
Souders explained. “We need to rest over the weekend, and be ready for our
conference opener against Olivet.”
This opener Souders speaks of is scheduled for Wednesday, September 13, at
Olivet’s Cutler Athletic Complex.
MEN’S GOLF
KALAMAZOO – The Calvin men’s golf team opened its 2012 MIAA schedule on
Saturday at a league jamboree hosted by Kalamazoo College at the Milham Park
Golf Club. Calvin finished tied for fourth place with Olivet with a team score
of 309 strokes, finishing seven strokes behind Hope and Trine which tied for
first place at 302 and three strokes behind Adrian which placed third.
Senior Ben Kuiper (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) led Calvin with a
round of 74 that was good for fourth place individually on Saturday. Sophomores
Michael Wierenga (Caledonia/South Christian HS) and James Van Noord (Troy/Troy
Athens HS) were next with rounds of 78 while senior Dave Sarkipato
(Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian HS) had a 79 and junior Ross Ryzenga
(Holland/Holland Christian HS) an 83.
Pat Wolcott of Trine and Jordan Pittman of Adrian shared medalist honors with
round of 72.
Junior Mark Allen (Oconomoc, WI/Lake Country Lutheran HS) also competed
individually for Calvin and had a round of 76.
Calvin returns to action next Saturday when it competes at an MIAA Jamboree
hosted by Adrian at the Lenawee Country Club.
MIAA JAMBOREE #1 TEAM SCORES (at Milham Park Golf Club – Hosted by Kalamazoo)
Hope 302
Trine 302
Adrian 306
Calvin 309
Olivet 309
Albion 314
Alma 315
Kalamazoo 316
WOMEN’S GOLF
MARSHALL – The Calvin women’s golf team finished sixth in a field of 12 teams
at the Olivet Invitational on Saturday, finishing with a 36-hole total of 711
strokes.
On Friday, Calvin fired a team score of 362 strokes which was good for seventh
place in the team standings. Junior Carlia Canto (Marysville/Port Huron
Northern HS) led Calvin with a 78 while freshman Casey Harkema (Holt/Holt HS)
had a 91 and senior Elise Doezema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) a
92. Senior Rachel Whitaker (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern HS) had a 102
while freshman Shara Reynolds (Big Rapids/Big Rapids HS) had a 108. Competing
individually for Calvin, freshman Jennie Poole (Summit, NJ/Kent Place School)
had a 90, freshman Sarah Arendsen (Wayland/Wayland HS) a 102 and freshman Jeryl
Schudel (Adrian/Joy of Knowledge Tutorial) a 107.
On Saturday, Calvin lowered its score by 13 strokes as the Knights carded a
349 behind the sizzling play of Canto who had a 79 to finish in second place
(157 strokes) in the final individual standings. Doezema also had a strong day
with an 85 while Harkema had a collegiate-best round of 89. Whitaker had a 96
while Reynolds had a 110.
Individually, Poole had a 91, Arendsen a 94 and Schudel a 122.
Calvin will now prepare to compete at the North Central Invitational on
September 18.
Received on Sat Sep 8 22:47:50 2012
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