CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 16, 2016
Swimming and Diving Teams Open Competition at NCAA III Championships;
Women's Tennis Downs Wooster / Men's Tennis Falls to Earlham
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
GREENSBORO, NC - Calvin sophomore Abby Van Harn came up big in her first-ever swim at the NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships, taking 12th in the 50 freestyle to claim NCAA III Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Van Harn entered the meet seeded 17th in the event but qualified for the evening consolation finals with a career-best time of 23.43 in the morning prelims. Her time in the prelims was the 13th-best time out of a field 54 swimmers competing in the race.
In the evening consolation finals, Van Harn moved up one place, clocking in with a time of 23.46. Her 12th place finish also earned Calvin five points in the team standings which has the Knights in 21st place through day one of competition. She is the first Calvin swimmer to score points in the 50 freestyle at the national meet since Cara Van Woerkom in 2009. Van Woerkom also placed 12th in the 50 freestyle in 2009.
"Abby had a great 50 today," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "She really played the game well today. She is off to a great start and we are looking forward to the rest of the week."
Senior Megan Schroder (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) also competed in the 50 freestyle but did not advance to the evening swims. In the morning prelims however, Schroder did clock a career-best time of 23.92 that placed her 35th in the field of 54 competitors.
Calvin also had a 200 medley relay team compete. The quartet of freshman Anna Serino (Pinckney/Pinckney HS), junior Adrienne Wesselius (Sioux Center, IA/Unity Christian HS), freshman Kendall Murphy (Modesto, CA/Home Schooled) and sophomore Rachel Mattson (Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Huron HS) took 24th in the morning prelims with a time of 1:50.66.
On Thursday, Van Harn is scheduled to compete in the 200 freestyle. Calvin will also compete in the 200 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay while sophomore Sarah Bradley (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton North HS) will compete on the one-meter diving board.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
GREENSBORO, NC - The Calvin men's swimming and diving team scored in two events on day one of the NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships. The Knights are in 21st place with a total of 12 points.
Freshman Andrew Kasper (Batavia, IL/Marmion Academy) picked up Calvin's first set of points, placing 13th in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:32.15 that was good for an honorable mention All-America berth. Kasper qualified for the consolation finals with a morning swim of 4:31.49 in the prelims. Kasper is the first individual in Calvin men's swimming and diving history to score at the national meet in the 500 freestyle.
Calvin's 200 medley relay team of freshman Ben Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant HS), senior Johnson Cochran (Mount Vernon, Oh./Mount Vernon HS), senior Brandon Muma (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern HS) and freshman Jared Britton (Falls Church, Va./George Mason HS) took 13th with an honorable mention All-America time of 1:30.72. Holstege had a season-best 50 backstroke split of 23.15 leading off the relay.
Britton competed in the prelims of the 50 freestyle but did not advance, clocking in with a time of 20.94 that was good for 37th in a field of 49 competitors. Muma also competed in the 50 freestyle prelims, placing 39th in a time of 20.97.
In addition, sophomore Michael Moentmann (Solon, Oh./Solon HS) made his debut at the national meet, competing on the three-meter diving board. Moentmann finished 25th with a score of 370.80.
"Overall we had a good start today," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "Andrew Kasper had an excellent opening event, particularly as a first-year collegiate swimmer. I'm very pleased with his performance today. Ben Holstege also had a big drop in his time in our relay. I think our team as a whole is learning and lot about this meet and looking forward to the next three days."
Calvin is scheduled to compete in the 200 freestyle and 400 medley relays tomorrow. Individually, senior Caleb Meindertsma (Annandale, Va./Trinity Christian HS) will swim in the 400 IM, Britton and junior Brett Stoughton (Centerville, Ind./Centerville HS) will swim in the 100 butterfly, and Muma and Kasper will swim in the 200 freestyle.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Calvin 7, Wooster 2
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Calvin women's tennis team continued its winning ways on Wednesday afternoon. The Knights defeated the Fighting Scots of Wooster 7-2. The win improves Calvin to 4-0 this week and 6-2 overall.
"We fought hard today and competed well," said head coach Kevin VanHaitsma. "It was unfortunate that Wooster's No. 1 got hurt during the match. Both teams really handled the heat pretty well. It was our second challenging day in a row with challenging heat. We will rest up and get ready for our final match tomorrow down here in Florida."
The Knights recorded two victories in doubles action on Wednesday. The team of junior Claire Spoelhof (Holland/Holland Christian HS) and junior Ellie Benzel (San Dimas, Ca./San Dimas HS) won at No. 1 doubles due to injury. At No. 2 doubles, sophomore Jessica Bouma and sophomore Kari Kroeze (Holland/Holland Christian HS) defeated Elizabeth Brewington and Morgan Wagers, 8-3.
Jessica Bouma (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian HS) was victorious at No. 2 singles, defeating Morgan Wagers, 6-1, 6-2.
At No. 3 singles, sophomore Micaela Seazzu (Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) beat Elizabeth Brewington, 6-2, 6-1.
Freshman Alyssa Bowman (Rockford/Rockford HS) shined under the Florida sun at No. 4 singles, beating Katie Kuzmishin, 6-3, 6-1.
Kari Kroeze took care of business at No. 5 singles, downing Anne-Sophie Haanen, 6-1, 6-2.
Junior Liz Turner (Audobon, Pa./Delaware County Christian HS) made quick work of Aditi Springeri at No. 6 singles, 6-1, 6-0.
The Knights will play their final match in Florida on Thursday when they face Bethel.
MEN'S TENNIS
Earlham 6, Calvin 2
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Knights recorded their first loss of the season on Wednesday against Earlham. Calvin fell to the Quakers, 6-2 under the Florida sun. The Maroon and Gold are now 3-1 on the year, Earlham improves to 4-6.
"Give credit to Earlham," said head coach John Ross. "Earlham is a really good team and they showed that today. We just have to go out there tomorrow and get back to business. It was a good test for us and will help us down the road."
The duo of senior Matt Buesing (Hoffman Estates, IL/Fremd HS) and sophomore David Brown recorded the first point of the day for Calvin at No. 2 doubles. The Knights defeated Adarsh Singh and Adam Schwartz, 8-2.
Junior Taylor Asfour records the lone singles victory at No. 4 singles. Downing Adam Schwartz, 6-0, 6-2.
The match at No. 3 singles did not finish.
The Knights look to bounce back on Thursday when they face Bethel.
Received on Thu Mar 17 00:59:41 2016
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