CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR FEB. 25, 2017
MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A year after missing an MIAA Indoor Track and Field title by a scant 4.5 points, the Calvin men's track and field team rose up and secured its first conference indoor crown.
Competing in its own Huizenga Tennis and Track Center, the Knights posted a team score of 195 points, finishing 31.5 points ahead of defending (indoor) champion Trine University.
Calvin clinched the championship with a dramatic 1-2-3-4 finish in the men's 3,000 meter run - the second-to-the-last event left in the meet. Heading into the race, Calvin held a half-point lead over Trine in the team standings but senior Zac Nowicki (Comstock Park, Mich./Calvin Christian HS) delivered a victory with a time of 8:53.23. All running in their second distance event of the day, senior Nathan Van Haitsma (Olympia, Wash.) junior Mark DeJong (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) and freshman Tyler Johnson (Springfield, Il./Pleasant Plains HS) dug down and found another gear to give the Knights the top four spots. Van Haitsma came in second with a time of 8:57.10 while DeJong was third (8:57.49) and Johnson fourth (8:57.99).
The championship was capped off by Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team as the quartet of junior Noah Buteyn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS), sophomore James Jeninga (Brookfield, Wisc./Milwaukee Lutheran HS), sophomore Luke Peterson (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) and junior Ethan Valentine (Mason, Oh./William Mason HS) took first place in a meet and track-record time of 3:22.54.
"It really was a team performance that got the job done," said Calvin head track and field coach Bret Otte. "We went up against great competition and great teams. We had to go out and earn this championship. Nothing was given to us so knowing that we competed hard, put in the word and got the job done feels very satisfying."
Valentine turned in the most electrifying performance of the meet, winning the 400 meter dash for the second straight year but doing so in a meet and track-record time of 48.13. The time by Valentine currently ranks as the fastest time in NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field this year. Buteyn also scored in the 400, placing sixth in a time of 51.12.
Valentine was one of six individual champions for the Calvin on Saturday. Sophomore Brendan Van Houten (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) was the first winner for the Knights, claiming an upset win in the shot put with a career-best throw of 46-3 1/4. Van Houten entered the shot put competition seeded sixth but came up big when the Knights needed it most.
"I think Brendan's early win really got the momentum rolling for our team," said Otte. "The word started traveling around the track - 'did you hear? Brendan won the shot put!' - and that just got every pumped. It was an pivotal early moment for our team."
While not seeded in the top eight heading into the shot put as well, freshman Jayvin Wolfe (Middleton, Mich./Fulton HS) took sixth with a career-best throw of 43-3.
In the 5,000 meters, Calvin went 1-2-4-6 in impression fashion with senior Jordan Kramer (Pewaukwee, Wisc./Lake Country Lutheran HS) winning in an MIAA and track-record time of 14:37.08. Junior Andrew Philipose (Mount Prospect, Il./John Hersey HS) was second in 14:39.16, senior Andrew Rylaarsdam fourth (15:11.84) and sophomore Jamison Koeman (Whitinsville, Mass./Whitinsville Christian HS) sixth (15:22.32). The time by Kramer ranks 11th nationally while the time by Philipose ranks 13th.
In the mile run, DeJong led a 1-2-3 Calvin charge as he took first in a time of 4:25.38 while Johnson was a close second ( 4:25.72) and Van Haitsma a close third (4:25.88).
Freshman Jonathan Walt (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) also had a huge day, winning the pole vault with a season-best mark of 14-9. He was part of a 1-5-6 Calvin finish in the event with junior Jacob Stout (Escondido, Ca./Escondido Calvin Christian HS) taking fifth (13-11 1/4) and junior Devin Schweigert (Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall HS) taking sixth (12-5 1/2).
Calvin also picked up key points in the jumps. In the long jump, senior Mpindi Reitsma (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) made his Calvin track and field debut by taking second with a leap of 22-2. Freshman Nathan Van Wyhe (Frankfort, Il./Lincoln-Way East HS) was seventh (20-10 1/4).
In the triple jump, sophomore Lee Barents (Redlands, Ca./Arrowhead Christian HS) was second (43-6) while senior Jeiel Burrrell (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) was third (42-11 1/2). Burrell was later fifth in the high jump (6-1 1/2) and Van Wyhe tied for seventh (5-11 1/2).
Van Houten also scored in the weight throw, placing sixth (44-2 1/2). In the 60 meter hurdles, Calvin scored three times with junior Chase Rohrer (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS) fifth (8.66), sophomore Alex Williams (Mequon, Wisc./Homestead HS) sixth (8.93) and junior Jeremiah Stout (Escondido, Ca./Escondido Calvin Christian HS) eighth (8.95).
Calvin also placed three individuals in the top eight of the 800 meters with Jeninga leading the way with a second place time of 1:56.34. Peterson was fifth (1:57.55) and junior Hendrick VerMeulen (Bright's Grove, Ont./St. Patrick's Secondary School) eighth (1:58.51).
Calvin's distance medley relay team of senior Jonathan Schaap (Mahomet, Il./Mahomet-Seymour HS), senior Maxwell Vruink (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS), VerMeulen and freshman Caleb Ferguson (Naperville, Il./Neuqua Valley HS) took second in a season-best time of 10:30.89.
"It was a great day for our team and for our program," said Otte. "I also want to give a special word of thanks for all of our assistant coaches who put so much time and effort into helping our team members grow as athletes and as young adults. We would not have won today's championship without them."
FINAL TEAM SCORES
Calvin 195
Trine 163.5
Adrian 78
Hope 67
Albion 66.5
Olivet 35
Alma 15
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin women's track and field team successfully defended its MIAA Indoor Track and Field title from a year ago, posting a first place team score of 194.5 points at the 2017 MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Calvin served as the host institution for Saturday's competition and finished 88.5 points clear of second place Hope.
"On paper this meet looked a lot closer than it ended up," said Calvin head track and field coach Bret Otte. "I think our team was excited about competing in front their home fans and defending their title. We had individuals contributing across the board. I'm very pleased with how our women competed today."
The Knights picked up five individual league championships with junior Jenna Dyksen (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne HS) winning three of the five.
Dyksen piled up 38 points for the Knights as she won league titles in the 200 meters (26.12), 60 meter hurdles (9.23) and triple jump (36-0 3/4) while placing second in the long jump (17-4 1/4). Her times in the 200 meters and 60 meter hurdles were both new MIAA (indoor) records as was her leap in the triple jump.
Sophomore Katie Diekema (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS) had a big day for the Knights, winning the mile run in a meet-record time of 5:14.83 while also placing third in the 3,000 meters (10:32.38). Diekema led a 1-4-5 Calvin finish as junior Marissa McGahan (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) was fourth (5:27.34) and freshman Emma Schroer (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton Warrenville-South HS) fifth (5:27.35).
Freshman Annika Staal (Woodinville, Wash./Bellevue Christian HS) won the high jump with a league record height of 5-1 1/4.
Depth was a key for the Knights throughout the day as Calvin consistently scored in each event.
Dyksen was one of four Knights to score in the long jump as freshman Allison Rozell (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS) was fifth (16-4), junior Bethany Van Eck (Cliffton, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) sixth (15-11 1/4) and sophomore Madison Orth (Soldotna, Alaska/Cook Inlet Academy) seventh (15-11).
In the triple jump, Dyksen was part of a 1-4-5 Calvin finish as Orth was fourth (34-0 1/4) and sophomore Erin Van Lenten (Hawthorne, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) fifth (33-9 1/2).
Staal led a 1-2-4 Calvin finish in the high jump as Van Eck was second (5-0 1/4) and Erin Van Lenten fourth (4-11).
Calvin piled up points in the throwing events as well. Senior Bethany Love (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood HS) was second with a season-best heave of 43-5 1/4 and senior Michael Meckes (Bay City, Mich./Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS) third with a throw of 38-4 1/4. Love added a third place finish in the weight throw (51-5 3/4) while junior Stephanie Groenewold (Villa Park, Il./Timothy Christian HS) was fourth (46-3 1/4) and Meckes fifth (45-4 1/2).
Sophomore Annalane Miller (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) was sixth in the pole vault (9-10) and sophomore Kayla Van Lenten (Hawthorne, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) seventh (9-6 1/4).
Calvin placed three in the 5,000 meters with senior Lauren Strohbehn (Stillwater, MN/St. Croix Preparatory HS) second (17:59.76), senior Hope Gaffner sixth (18:28.90) and freshman Kristen Lundberg (Albuquerque, NM/Hope Christian Academy) seventh (18:30.80).
Dyksen led a 1-5-8 Calvin finish in the 60 meter hurdles with Van Eck fifth (9.76) and Erin Van Lenten eighth (9.92).
Junior Anita VanderMeulen (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Skyline HS) grabbed a fifth place finish in the 400 meters (1:01.35) and a seventh place finish in the 200 meters (27.18).
Freshman Jackie Amissah-Nunoo (Accra, Ghana/Akosombo International School) had a strong showing in the 60 meter dash, placing third in a time of 8.15.
Junior Caroline Boss (Charlevoix, Mich./Charlevoix HS) had a second place time of 2:19.95 in the 800 meters while freshman Margaret Van Wylen (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) was sixth (2:29.34) and Schroer eighth (2:30.47).
Like Diekema, Strohbehn also doubled in the 3,000 meters, placing fifth (10:40.50) while freshman Michelle Koetje (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) was seventh (10:40.74).
Calvin's distance medley relay team of McGahan, sophomore Selvi Bunce (Savage, Mn./Burnsville HS), freshman Leah Bishop (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) and junior Autumn Vonk (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland West HS) took fourth (13:29.52) while Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team of Boss, junior Maggie LaLonde (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS), VanderMeulen and Bunce took fifth in a time of 4:17.92.
FINAL TEAM SCORES
Calvin 194.5
Hope 106
Trine 94
Albion 85
Adrian 66.5
Alma 39
Olive 34
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin junior Michael Moentmann (Solon, Oh./Solon HS) qualified for the upcoming NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships with a strong set of performances at the NCAA III Diving Regional this weekend at Calvin's Venema Aquatic Center.
On Friday, Moentmann took sixth on the three-meter board with a score of 493.60. On Saturday, he took eighth on the one-meter board with a score of 451.85 points.
Combined, the set of performances allowed Moentmann to garner one of the nine spots alloted to the men's regional hosted by Calvin this weekend. Moentmann will be heading to the NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships for the second straight year. He will be one of four men's divers representing the MIAA as Jacob Burris and Henry Swett of Albion both qualified as did Hope's Jean-luc Miralda.
Calvin senior Dirk Tanis (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) closed out his collegiate career on strong fashion on Saturday, 15th on the one-meter board with a score of 423.90 after placing 16th on the three-meter board (420.25) Friday night.
"I was very happy to see Dirk finish his career on a strong note," said Calvin diving coach Aaron Paskvan. "To have some of the best scores of your career in your home pool is a great way to go out. I am proud of Dirk's performance this weekend and all of the effort he has put in as a Calvin diver."
Paskvan was also pleased to see Moentmann qualify for the national meet for the second straight year. "Our regional was extremely competitive," said Paskvan. "I think you will see several divers from this regional do very well at the national meet. For Michael to qualify out of such a challenging group is a significant accomplishment. I'm proud of him and I am looking forward to working with him over the next three weeks as we prepare for another trip to nationals."
The NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships are slated to be held in Shenandoah, Texas, March 15-18.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin College junior Sarah Bradley closed out competition at the NCAA III Diving Regional on Saturday with a fifth place finish on the three-meter board at the Venema Aquatic Center. Bradley posted a score of 442.75 points.
On Friday, Bradley earned an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships by taking first place on the one-meter board with a score of 432.35.
Bradley (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton North HS) is one of five divers from the women's competition to advance to the national meet later in March out the regional most hosted by Calvin this weekend.
"Sarah dove very well this weekend," said Calvin diving coach Aaron Paskvan. "She had a few ups-and-downs yesterday and today but she was able to weather the storms when she needed to and regroup. She kept working and her efforts have paid off with a trip to the national meet. We are excited to have another three weeks to work in the pool and prepare for nationals."
On Friday, Bradley joined Sam (Klaasen) Ekdom as one of two Calvin divers to claim regional titles on the one-meter board. Ekdom also achieved the feat in 2013 at a regional hosted by Calvin.
The NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships are slated to be held in Shenandoah, Texas, March 15-18.
MEN'S TENNIS
Calvin 5, Lake Forest 4
LAKE FOREST, IL - The Calvin men's tennis team remained unbeaten on the year with an exciting 5-4 victory at Lake Forest College Saturday evening. The Knights are now 3-0 on the young season.
Calvin took two of the three doubles points and with the match riding on the outcome, junior Matt Van Winkle (St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph HS) delivered a three-set victory at No. 4 singles, defeating Dragan Trivanovich 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Junior David Brown (Lake Zurich, Il./Lake Zurich HS) and sophomore Jason Wolters (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) picked up Calvin's first point with an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles. Seniors Jared Doezema (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) and Anthony Vroon (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian HS) then won a key 9-7 win at No. 3 doubles.
In singles action, Doezema defeated Joe Bove 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6 singles and Brown dropped Ellis Lora-Arceo 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 singles, setting up Van Winkle's clinching match.
"Tonight was a very solid non-conference win," said Calvin men's tennis coach John Ross. "We received an excellent performance from Jared Doezema today. Matt Van Winkle was also huge. He came through with a clutch three-set win to seal the win for our team."
Calvin returns to action on March 2 when it travels to Concordia University of Illinois.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Wheaton 9, Calvin 0
Wheaton, Ill. - It was a tough day against a tough team for the Calvin's women's tennis team on Saturday at Wheaton. The Knights dropped the match to the Thunder, 9-0. Calvin is now 2-2 on the year and Wheaton improves to 12-1 on the season.
The Knights had some close matches in doubles play. At No. 2 doubles, senior Liz Turner (Audobon, Pa./Delaware County Christian) and junior Lark Foote (Okemos, Mich.) were edged, 8-6. Junior Jessica Bouma (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) and junior Micaela Seazzu (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia) came up short at No. 3 doubles, 8-6.
Jessica Bouma was nipped at No. 3 singles, 6-5, 6-1.
Lark Foote forced a third-set at No. 6 singles, falling, 3-6, 6-2, 10-4.
The Knights return to action on Saturday against Principia in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Received on Sun Feb 26 03:14:11 2017
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Sun Feb 26 2017 - 03:14:11 EST