CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR DEC. 3, 2015
John Admiraal Receives NCAA Elite 90 Award;
Men's Soccer Players Receive NSCAA Division III All-Central Region Honors;
Calvin Swimming and Diving Teams Open Winter Invite with Strong Performances
MEN'S SOCCER
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. ---Jon Admiraal, a (sophomore) at Calvin College, is the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2015 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship. Admiraal, majoring in kinesiology, currently carries a 3.88 GPA. Admiraal was presented with the award during the (NCAA III Men's and Women's Soccer banquet this evening at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
Admiraal is the fourth Calvin student athlete to receive the award including the second in men's soccer. Brad Wassink in men's soccer was the first to do so, winning the award in 2011. Melissa Oosterhouse was so honored in women's tennis in 2011 and Brett Stoughton received the award in men's swimming and diving last March. Admiraal hails from Pella, Iowa. He is a graduate of Pella Christian High School.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.
MORE MEN'S SOCCER
Four members of the Calvin men's soccer program have received 2015 Division III All-Central Region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Seniors Niko Giantsopoulos and Nick Groenewold along with junior Stephan Hooker have been named to the first team while senior Taylor Pruis has been named to the second team.
A native of Markham, Ontario, Giantsopoulos is receiving all-region honors for the third consecutive year. A graduate of St. Augustine Catholic High School, Giantsopoulos has produced an NCAA III single-season record of 19 shutouts this fall at the goalkeeper spot while recording a goals-against-average of .204 that ranks second nationally. He was recently named to the All-MIAA first team for the third straight year and was a three-time MIAA Defensive Player of the Week this fall.
A defender, Groenewold is from Oak Brook, Illinois. He is a graduate of Timothy Christian High School. Groenewold was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player this fall and landed a spot on the All-MIAA first team while receiving MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors three times. He has also been a threat offensively with seven goals, three assists and 17 points. Three of his seven goals have been game-winning goals this fall. He has also been part of a Calvin defense that has posted 20 shutouts this fall and allowed only five goals.
A midfielder, Hooker is from Hudsonville. He is a graduate of Hudsonville Unity Christian High School and is receiving all-region honors for the second straight year. Hooker has been stellar this fall, producing 12 goals and six assists for a total of 30 points. Three of his goals were game-winning goals. Hooker was also named to the 2015 All-MIAA first team.
A forward, Pruis is from Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School. He is receiving all-region accolades for the third consecutive year. Pruis has tallied nine goals, 12 assists and 30 points this fall. He was also named to the 2015 All-MIAA first team.
Calvin is currently 24-0-1 overall and will compete in a national semifinal game tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. (ET) against Loras College of Iowa (17-4-1).
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
The Calvin women's swimming & diving team stands in third place after two events at the three-day Calvin Invite. The Knights have 115 points and trail Grand Valley at 216 and Northern Michigan at 134.
"Almost pitched a perfect game," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "Near 100% season bests, and close to 50% lifetime bests. It is not a bad way to start a mid-season invite with all of the stresses around us like exams looming and the holidays."
The Calvin women's started the night taking fourth place in the 800 free relay. The team of freshman Anna Serino (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney), senior Megan Schroder (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian), freshman Kendall Murphy (Modesto, Calif.) and sophomore Abby VanHarn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) clocked in at 7:42.10, the fastest Calvin time this season and over 12 seconds faster than their entry time. Grand Valley finished in first place at 7:24.77.
Anna Serino was the fastest Knight in the 1650 freestyle with a seventh-place time of 18:01.84. The time was the fastest Calvin time this season. Her time is the seventh-fastest time in school history.
The Knights return to the pool on Friday for day two of the three-day Calvin Invite.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
The Calvin men's swimming & diving team is in second place after the first day of the three-day Calvin Invite. The Knights recorded 144 points and only trail Northern Michigan at 159.
"Almost pitched a perfect game," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "Near 100% season bests, and close to 50% lifetime bests. It is not a bad way to start a mid-season invite with all of the stresses around us like exams looming and the holidays."
Senior Caleb Meindertsma (Annandale, Va./Trinity Christian) recorded a season-best time of 15:55.90 in the 1650 freestyle. Meindertsema holds the school record at 15:51.30 set earlier this year.
Freshman Stephen Barrett (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) swam the fourth-fastest time in school history at 16:29.73.
The Knights finished the night with a second-place finish in the 800 free relay. The team of senior Brandon Muma (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern), senior Mitch Schroder (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian), sophomore Max DeYoung (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern) and freshman Andrew Kasper (Batava, Ill./Marmion Academy) recorded the fastest-Calvin time of the year at 6:46.91.
The Knights return to the pool on Friday for day two of the three-day Calvin Invite.
Received on Thu Dec 3 23:29:34 2015
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