CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR FEB. 2, 2016
Calvin Distance Running Alum Featured in Runner's World Magazine;
Ethan Anderson Named MIAA Men's Track Athlete of the Week;
Women's Tennis Prepares for Upcoming 2016 Season;
Softball Team Preps for 2016 Campaign
CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK AND FIELD ALUMNI NEWS
Paul Petersen, a 2001 Calvin College graduate, is the subject of a profile story in the March edition of Runner's World Magazine. The profile story can be found on page 60 of the March edition of Runner's World and is part of a series of previews on the upcoming U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
Originally a native of Crawfordsville, Indiana, Petersen is preparing to compete in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on February 13 in Los Angeles. Petersen qualified for the 2016 trials with a time of 2:17.54 at the Dan's Marathon in 2014.
Petersen will be competing in in the marathon trials for the third time as he also competed in 2012 and 2008.
Now a native of Fort Collins, Colorado, Petersen works as a geographic information systems manager, creating reports to support electric utilities in the state of Colorado.
Petersen graduated from Calvin with a degree in geology. As a student in 1999, he was part of an archeological research team that unearthed the bones of a mastadon in Ada, Michigan. Petersen was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American at Calvin, earning first team honors in cross country and third team honors in track and field.
He was a key member of Calvin's 2000 national championship team in men's cross country, placing 22nd at the national meet to earn Division III All-America honors. He later qualified for the 2001 NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, placing 10th in the 10,000 meters.
Petersen and his wife Stacy have a seven-year old son Seth, and a five-year old daughter Zoe. Petersen's wife and children according to the Runner's World profile piece are expected to join him in Los Angeles next weekend.
MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Calvin's Ethan Anderson its Men's Track Athlete of the Week, for track and field meets through Jan. 31.
Anderson, a senior from Stillwater, Minnesota, claimed track athlete laurels following a 12th place finish in the 3000 meter run last weekend at the Grand Valley State University Mike Lints Open. He crossed the finish in a time of 8:38.62 that currently tops the MIAA.
This is the first time Anderson has been named the Athlete of the Week for track and field by the MIAA.
Anderson and the Knights return to the track on Friday as they will compete at the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Track & Field Classic at Aquinas College. The meet is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at the Alksnis Athletics & Recreation Building.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin women's tennis team starts the 2016 campaign next week as the Knights host the Cornerstone Golden Eagles. The Knights are coming off of a 12-8 record in 2015 and a third-place finish in the MIAA at 6-2. The 2016 Knights are young but have plenty of experience heading into the season.
"We are looking forward to getting started and having another great year," said head coach Kevin Van Haitsma. "It is the first time that we haven't had any seniors in a while. We lost three good seniors last year, but we have quite a bit of experience returning."
Juniors Claire Spoelhof (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) and Ellie Benzel (San Dimas, Calif./San Dimas) were named team captains for the 2016 season. Benzel spent a majority of last season at No. 2 single and was named to the All-MIAA second team in 2015, while Spoelhof spent a majority of the season at No. 3 singles.
"They are a younger group, but they have a lot of match experience," said Van Haitsma. "I think we will have some new faces in the singles lineup, but I think everybody is ready for the role. People will have to step up from where they were last year, but they are ready to. We will have a fun year ahead of us."
Also returning for Calvin is junior Liz Turner (Audobon, Pa./Delaware County Christian), sophomore Kari Kroeze (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) and sophomore Jessica Bouma (Kalamazoo Christian). In 2015, Bouma went 13-5 at No. 4 singles, Turner went 1-5 at No. 6 singles and Kroeze recorded a 6-5 record at No. 6 singles. The duo of Kroeze and Turner went 5-1 in doubles play in MIAA action at No. 3 doubles.
The Knights added three new faces to the team this year. Sophomore Lark Foote (Okemos, Mich./Okemos), sophomore Micaela Seazzu (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia) and freshman Alyssa Bowman (Rockford, Mich./Rockford).
"The MIAA schedule is always our main focus," said Van Haitsma. "Everything before that just gets us ready for the year. We start off with Cornerstone next week then we travel to Chicago a couple weeks later to play Wheaton and Elmhurst. We then get to go down to Florida for spring break, which is always fun. We get to play in some warm weather and play five matches down there. That is what really gets us ready for the MIAA season with five matches in one week outside."
The Knights start the season hosting Cornerstone on Feb. 11, the Knights will then head to Illinois to face Wheaton and Elmhurst. In March, Calvin will travel south to Florida, spending spring break in Orlando. The Knights will host Aquinas before they start the MIAA schedule. This year Calvin hosts Alma, Hope, Albion and Saint Mary's on senior day. The Maroon and Gold hope to advance once again to the MIAA Tournament that will take place May 5-6 at the highest seed in the tournament.
SOFTBALL
The Calvin softball team reports today for its first practice for the upcoming 2016 season. Head coach Tim Syrek heads into his third year at the helm of the Knights. Syrek led Calvin to an MIAA Tournament berth, a fourth place league finish and a 20-win campaign in 2014 marking Calvin's first trip to the MIAA Tournament since 2005.
Youth and injuries caught up to the Knights last spring as they dipped to a final season record of 10-22 as well as an eighth place finish in the MIAA.
Led by seniors Ashley Riemersma and Lydia Gildea along with a host of talented underclassmen, the 2016 Calvin softball team has ambitions of turning things around this spring. Riemersma was a first team All-MIAA selection at third base last spring and finished third in the final league batting race. Gildea is back as a third-year starter at catcher. Gildea was a 2015 All-MIAA second team selection.
Other rerturning letterwinners include junior pitcher Paige Groom, junior outfielder Caitlin Bell, sophomore pitcher Makela Chapman, sophomore outfielder Kimiko Hinatsu and sophomore infielders Jessica Brasser and Kaley Frank. In addition, eight freshmen dot the Calvin roster. The freshmen class is expected to make a significant impact this year.
Calvin will open its season on March 5 with a doubleheader at Franklin College. Calvin will then play 10 games on its spring trip to Florida between March 12-18 before returning home to open up conference play. Calvin's MIAA opener is on April 2 at defending MIAA Tournament champion Alma College. Calvin's home opener is scheduled for April 5 with a twinbill against Albion College.
For a preseason podcast interview with Calvin softball coach Tim Syrek, visit the Calvin website at: http://static.psbin.com/k/f/9nepufk9o7j00g/CalvinSoftballSeasonPreview2016.mp3
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