CKSR (Swimming and Diving Teams Claim Dual Meet Victories Over Hope / Men's Basketball Wins Thriller Over Albion / Women's Basketball Clips Comets)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR JANUARY 7, 2017

Swimming and Diving Teams Claim Dual Meet Victories Over Hope;
Men's Basketball Wins Thriller Over Albion;
Women's Basketball Clips Comets

WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Knights came from behind to defeat arch-rival Hope in the final event of the meet. Calvin won eight events and edged the Hope, 150-146. Calvin improves to 4-3 and 3-0 in MIAA competition.
"We talked about celebrating courageous performances at the beginning of the meet," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "The ladies were given some great opportunities to do that, starting with winning the first relay, to Anna Serino winning some clutch races and the last relay, pulling together to go one-two in the last relay. I was proud to watch them work together as a team."
The Knights started the day winning the 200-yard medley relay. The team of freshman Anna Kutschke (Manistee, Mich./Manistee), junior Rachel Mattson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron), sophomore Madelyn Smith (Allegan, Mich./Allegan) and junior Abby Van Harn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) clocked in a winning-time of 1:50.66.
The Maroon and Gold had the three-fastest times in the 200-yard freestyle. Sophomore Anna Serino (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney) led the way at 1:58.63, in second place was Madelyn Smith at 2:00.15, in third place was freshman Libby Engle (Troy, Mich./Troy) at 2:01.92. Serino would also notch a first-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle at 5:18.26.
Abby Van Harn was strong again on Saturday in the 50-yard freestyle, Van Harn won with a time of 24.17. Anna Kutschke finished right behind in second place at 25.15. Van Harn would then take first in the 100-yard freestyle at 52.78.
Junior Sarah Bradley (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) owned the diving well on Saturday with victories on the 1-meter board at 260.25 and on the 3-meter board at 235.55.
Hope would take a nine-point lead heading into the 400-yard relay. Calvin needed to take first and second to win, and that is what the Knights did. The team of Anna Kutschke, Rachel Mattson, Madelyn Smith and Abby Van Harn won at 3:37.79 and the team of sophomore Alyssa Oezer (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian), freshman Emily Gunderson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer), Libby Engle and Anna Serino finished in second place at 3:42.82.
The Knights return to action on Saturday when they resume MIAA action at home against Albion.

MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Knights were victorious in the rivalry meet against Hope on Saturday afternoon. Calvin won 11 events and downed the Flying Dutchmen, 163-125. Calvin is now 4-2 and 3-0 against MIAA competition.
"I am really proud of the team," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "The men took control early and were able to put together some confident swims in a great rivalry, something we never underestimate, we talked about celebrating courageous performances at the beginning of the meet."
Calvin had the two-fastest times in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of sophomore Ben Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant), senior Eli Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant), sophomore Jared Britton (Falls Church, Va./George Mason) and junior Max DeYoung (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern) won with a time of 1:35.22.
In the 1000-yard freestyle, junior Tanner Vincent (Novi, Mich./Novi) touched the wall first at 10:26.43. In second place was freshman Brian Goins (Rochester Hills, Mich./Adams) at 10:27.58.
The Knights swept the 200-yard freestyle. Freshman Tim Randall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) won the event at 1:46.67, in second was Max DeYoung at 1:50.06, in third place was John Kutschke at 1:52.90 and freshman Fear Churchwell (Athens, Ga./Clarke Central) in fourth at 1:53.03.
Ben Holstege claimed the victory in the 100-yard backstroke at 52.74. The Holstege family would be victorious in the next event, in the 100-yard breaststroke, Eli Holstege notched a first-place finish at 1:00.52, with freshman Sam Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant) in second place at 1:03.39.
Jared Britton recorded a first-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle at 21.70.
In the 100-yard freestyle, Calvin would record the three-fastest times. Max DeYoung would win the event at 47.99. Ben Holstege would finish in second place at 48.04 and Tim Randall in third place at 48.52.
Tim Randall touched the wall first in the 500-yard freestyle at 4:59.11 and senior Brett Stoughton (Centerville, Ind./Centerville) earned the victory in the 100-yard butterfly at 53.17.
Ben Holstege and Brett Stoughton finished one-two in the 200-yard I.M., Holstege won at 2:00.45 and Stoughton clocked in at 2:02.16.
Calvin closed the day winning the 400-yard freestyle relay. The team of freshman Tristan Hazlett (Lutz, Fla.), sophomore Nathan Olberding (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville), Jared Britton and Tim Randall won at 3:14.98.
The Knights return to action on Saturday when they resume MIAA action at home against Albion.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A jumper in the lane with 30 seconds left to play by senior Michael Welch (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore HS) lifted the Calvin men's basketball team to a 71-70 victory over Albion Saturday afternoon at Van Noord Arena.

Calvin improves to 7-6 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA with the win. The Knights are also now owners of a three-game win streak - their longest of the year.

The victory was Calvin's second close shave of the week as the Knights won at Trine 66-64 on Wednesday night on a last-second shot by junior Tony Canonie (South Haven, Mich./South Haven HS).

On Saturday, Welch came up with the big go-ahead basket and the Calvin defense followed with a defensive stop to close out the win.

"The words of the day in our locker room was '40 minutes' and I said there was no better example than our game Wednesday night at Trine," said Calvin men's basketball coach Kevin Vande Streek. "Things may not always go perfect but I told our guys to keep grinding and they did."
Saturday's game featured eight first half lead changes but the visiting Britons (3-10 overall, 0-2 MIAA) closed out the half with a 10-2 run to take a 36-30 halftime lead.

Albion then opened the second half with a 9-2 run to build a 45-32 lead.
Calvin gradually chipped into the deficit however and clawed to within four at 50-46 on a three-point shot by junior Mike Siegel (Fremont, Mich./Fremont HS).

Albion still led by double-digits at 62-52 but a three-pointer by senior Cam Denney (Bluffton, Ind./Norwell HS) brought the Knights within 62-55 with 6:51 remaining.

Junior Michael Wilks (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) came up with nine straight points for Calvin inside the final five minutes including a three-point play that drew the Knights within two at 68-66 with 2:456 remaining.
Denney added a three-point play of his own to give Calvin a 69-68 lead with 2:02 left but Albion's Darius Branch drained a jumper in the lane with 1:42 remaining to put the Britons back on top 70-69.

Calvin then misfired on a pair of free throws at the 1:30 mark but came up with a defensive stop to regain possession. With time ticking down on the shot clock on the ensuing possession, Welch was able to snare a loose ball in the lane and swish a spinning shot from 12 feet out to put the Knights on top.
Calvin then forced Albion into an off-balance shot in the closing seconds that was off the mark to seal the win.
"I think the league is really balanced this year," said Vande Streek. "We work on our two minute drill every day in practice and when you have some upperclassmen on the floor at the end of a game, it really helps. I'm proud of our guys for fighting back and getting the win."

Denney led Calvin with 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Wilks had 14 points while Siegel, senior Nick Kronemeyer (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton HS) and Welch all chipped in with eight points apiece.

Calvin held a commanding 45-28 rebounding advantage.

Albion's Dylan Bennett had 22 points off the bench including 16 in the first half. Branch also had 18 points for the Britons.
Calvin returns to action next Wednesday when it hosts Olivet at 8 p.m. at Van Noord Arena.

YOUTUBE CLIP OF GAME WINNING SHOT BY MICHAEL WELCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=PYbLZ80xiqs

MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 1-7-17

Alma 2-0
Calvin 2-0
Hope 2-0
Olivet 1-1
Trine 1-1
Adrian 0-2
Albion 0-2
Kalamazoo 0-2

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin 70, Olivet 55

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The 25th-ranked Calvin women's basketball team got back on the winning track with a 70-55 victory over Olivet on Saturday at Van Noord Arena.

Calvin (12-2 overall, 4-2 MIAA) led 40-19 at halftime as the Knights outscored the Comets 20-8 in the second quarter.

Calvin cruised from that point on to claim the win.

Junior Ali Spayde (Lewis Center, Oh./Worthington Christian HS) tossed in a team-high 20 points. Senior Anna Timmer (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian HS) notched her 17th collegiate double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Junior Bre Luurtsema (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) came up with her 10th collegiate double-double and nearly recorded a triple-double as she tallied seven points, 15 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists. Her assist total matches the sixth-highest single-game total in Calvin women's basketball history.

Junior Becca Richards (Fort Gratiot, Mich./Port Huron Northern HS) tossed in a career-high 11 points off the bench, connecting on three triples.

Jillian Nickels led Olivet with 20 points.

Calvin out boarded Olivet 46-31. The Knights shot 45.2 percent from the floor and were 7 of 22 (.318) from three-point range.

Calvin is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Adrian at 6 p.m. at Van Noord Arena.

MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 1-7-17 GAMES

Hope 5-0
Trine 5-0
Calvin 4-2
Albion 3-2
Alma 3-2
Kalamazoo 1-4
Olivet 0-5
Saint Mary's 0-6
Received on Sat Jan 7 22:27:30 2017