CKSR (Swimming and Diving Teams Grab Leads at MIAA Championships / MIAA Preseason Polls for Softball and Baseball Released)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Swimming and Diving Teams Grab Leads At MIAA Championships;
MIAA Preseason Polls for Softball and Baseball Released

MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin men's swimming and diving team extended its lead at the 2016 MIAA Championships on Thursday at the Venema Aquatic Center. The Knights scored 312.5 points on Thursday for a two-day total of 352.5 and were victorious in three of the six events. Calvin is currently 112 points ahead of Albion in second place at 230.5. The Knights recorded five school records on Thursday.

"I am thrilled for the team," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "Everyone is going all out and that is great to see. We had a lot of great performances tonight and we have to be able to keep this momentum going and get back to work on Friday."

The Knights started the evening breaking the school record in the 200 freestyle relay. The team of senior Brandon Muma, senior Mitch Schroder, junior Eli Holstege and freshman Jared Britton won with a time of 1:22.06. Breaking the school record that they set last season.

Another school record was broken on Thursday, this time in the 500 freestyle. Freshman Andrew Kasper broke the school record by nearly three and a half seconds. Touching the wall first at 4:30.59. Senior Caleb Meindertsma finished in second place at 4:35.63. Freshman Stephen Barrett recorded the sixth fastest time in school history in sixth place at 4:40.75. The fifth fastest time in school history was recorded in the prelims as sophomore Tanner Vincent finished with a time of 4:39.40.

Junior Brett Stoughton broke the school record in the 200 IM twice on Thursday. In the prelims he recorded a time of 1:53.55. He would go on to break the record again in the finals with a third-place time of 1:52.55. Winning the race was Sebastian Tostado of Albion who broke the MIAA record at 1:51.04. In the prelims, freshman Ben Holstege recorded the sixth fastest time in school history at 1:55.90 and sophomore Skyler Fish recorded the 10th fastest time in school history at 1:56.70. Holstege would take sixth in the finals and Fish seventh.

The Knights had four of the five fastest time in the 50 freestyle. Jared Britton tied the school record, clocking in at 20.96. Britton finished in second place. In third place, with the third fastest time in school history was Mitch Schroder at 21.05. The seventh fastest time in school history was recorded by Brandon Muma in fourth place at 21.14. Eli Holstege rounded out the top five with the eighth fastest time in school history 21.14.

On the 1-meter boards the Knights placed two in the top-eight. Junior Dirk Tanis finished in sixth place with a score of 401.25 and sophomore Michael Moentmann finished the day in eighth place at 376.15.

The Calvin men would finish the night once again breaking a school record, this time in the 400 medley relay. The team of Skyler Fish, senior Johnson Cochran, Brett Stoughton and Jared Britton won with a time of 3:18.43, breaking the school record of 3:20.21 and the MIAA record of 3:19.01 that has stood since 2009.

The Knights return to the pool on Friday for the third day of competition at the MIAA Championships.

Standings

1. Calvin College 352.5

2. Albion College 230.5

3. Hope College 225

4. Kalamazoo College 200

5. Olivet College 97

6. Alma College 4

WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

The Calvin women's swimming and diving team continues to hold the lead at the MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Heading into Friday competition, the Knights hold a 12.5 point lead over Hope as Calvin has a total of 291.5 points with Hope second with 279 points.

Calvin took first place in one event on Thursday but used strong depth throughout the rest of the evening to remain in the lead.

Calvin's lone victory came in the 200 freestyle relay as the team of senior Megan Schroder (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS), sophomore Rachel Mattson (Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Huron HS), junior Adrienne Wesselius (Sioux Center, Ia./Unity Christian HS) hit the wall first with an MIAA record time of 1:34.24, breaking the prevoius record of 1:34.39 set back in 2007. The time was also just a shade off of Calvin's school record time of 1:34.07. The time by the Calvin 200 freestyle relay was also an NCAA B' cut qualifying time.

The Knights piled up points in both the 500 freestyle and 50 freestyle events.

In the 500 freestyle, freshman Anna Serino (Pinckney/Pinckney HS) took second with a time of 5:04.79 while freshman Kendall Murphy (Modesto, Ca./Home Schooled) was fourth (5:10.39) and freshman Madelyn Smith (Allegan/Allegan HS) was sixth (5:10.62).

In the 50 freestyle, sophomore Abby Van Harn (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) took second in a time of 23.69 after clocking in with a career-best and NCAA III B' cut time of 23:57 in the morning prelims. Mattson was fourth (24.43), freshman Alyssa Oezer (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) seventh (25.22) and freshman Danielle Sugijanto (Walnut Creek, Ca./Northgate HS) eighth (25.30). Freshman Ka'lee Sparks (Otsego/Otsego HS) also captured the consolation final with a time of 25.21 while freshman Elysa Wolf (Austin, Tx./Regents School of Austin) took 10th (25.23).

Calvin placed three divers in the finals of the women's three-meter diving competition. Sophomore Nicole Langerak (Jenison/Jenison HS) led the Knights by placing third (418.60) while sophomore Sarah Bradley (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton North HS) was fourth (394.75) and junior Hillary Glover (Wyoming/Calvin Christian HS) sixth (367.20). In the prelims, Bradley posted a score of 455.35, giving her a qualifying score for the NCAA III Diving Regionals next weekend in Granville, Ohio.

Calvin capped off the evening by taking third in the 400 medley relay as Schroder, Wesselius, senior Alayna Gallegos (Lakeville, Mn./Lakeville HS) and Van Harn clocked in with a time of 3:57.00.

"To come out with a lead today is big for us," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We have a lot of opportunities tomorrow and we're hoping to take advantage of them. We are expecting the best out of Hope and Kalamazoo because both of their teams are really 'bringing it' and that's what makes this meet so exciting."

Gelderloos also had words of praise for his 200 and 800 freestyle relay teams that have shattered MIAA records through two days of competition. "Our freestyle relays have been just fantastic. Our 800 free relay exceeded my expectations by a good five seconds last night and our 200 freestyle relay kept that same momentum going today."

Competition will continue with morning prelims at 10 a.m. on Friday with championship finals slated to start at 5:30 p.m.

MIAA WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM SCORES THROUGH 2-18-16

Calvin 291.5
Hope 279
Kalamazoo 230.5
Albion 188
Alma 89
Olivet 83

SOFTBALL

The Calvin softball team has been picked to finish fifth in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll released this morning. Trine was picked to win the league followed by Alma in second, Hope in third and Saint Mary's in fourth.

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.

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.

2016 MIAA SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
    Team Pts. (1st place votes)
1 Trine 60 (4)
2 Alma 56 (4)
3 Hope 54 (1)
4 Saint Mary's 38
5 Calvin 35
6 Adrian 31
7 Olivet 22
8 Kalamazoo 20
9 Albion 8

BASEBALL

The Calvin baseball team has been picked to finish fourth in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll released this afternoon.

Adrian has been picked to repeat as league champion, receiving seven first place votes while Hope received one first place vote and was picked to finish second. Kalamazoo was picked to finish third.

Under head coach John Rypel, the Knights are coming off a 22-21 campaign last spring with Calvin finishing second in the final MIAA regular season standings with a 17-11 conference mark. Calvin then reached the MIAA Tournament Championship game for the second straight year before falling to Adrian in the title tilt.

Calvin returns two players who received All-MIAA honors in 2015 as junior first baseman Colton Wolfe was a member of the All-MIAA first team while junior Patrick Avila (Lakewood, CA/Valley Christian HS) was a member of the All-MIAA second team.

Calvin is slated to open its season with a three-game series against Denison University March 4 and 5 in Westfield, Indiana. Calvin's annual spring trip to Orlando, Florida, will take place between March 14-19 with the Knights slated to participate in seven games.

Calvin will open its MIAA season with a home doubleheader against Trine University on March 25.

2016 MIAA BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
    Team Pts. (1st place votes)

1 Adrian 7 (7)
2 Hope 15 (1)
3 Kalamazoo 24
4 Calvin 26
5 Trine 30
6 Albion 31
7 Alma 42
8 Olivet 49
Received on Thu Feb 18 23:13:17 2016