CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MAY 3, 2017
SOFTBALL
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sophomore Anna Gernant was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III Pitcher of the Week on Wednesday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. This is the first time in her career that she has claimed the honor.
"I am thrilled that Anna has received this national recognition by the NFCA," said Calvin head coach Becky Hilgert. "She was outstanding in her final five starts in the circle and finished the season even stronger than she started it. Anna is a strong competitor who continually puts the team first. Behind every great pitcher is a defense willing to sacrifice for their teammate on the mound. Although this is an individual award, I know Anna would say that she couldn't have achieved such success without the support and play of her teammates."
A sophomore from West Des Moines, Iowa, Gernant recorded a 2-0 record last week, with victories over Albion and Olivet.
On Wednesday, she broke the school record for strikeouts in a single-season, passing a record that stood for 20 years. Gernant recorded her second no-hitter of the season in the 3-0 victory at Albion. She finished the game with 11 strikeouts.
Gernant closed the season with a 2-1 victory over Olivet on Saturday. She only allowed two hits in the game and had 11 strikeouts.
The Calvin sophomore finished the season with a 15-8 record. Gernant recorded a school record 241 strikeouts. In February, she set the school record for strikeouts in a game with 18 in a no-hitter against Edgewood.
On Tuesday, Gernant was named to the All-MIAA First Team for the second-straight season.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin women's tennis team landed three All-MIAA selections on Wednesday. The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association named Claire Spoelhof to the All-MIAA First Team and Jessica Bouma and Ellie Benzel to the All-MIAA Second Team. Spoelhof was also named the winner of the Karen Caine Scholar Athlete Award. This is the first time since 2011 that Calvin has landed three All-MIAA selections in women's tennis. The Knights went 7-1 in MIAA play in 2017.
A senior from Holland, Michigan, Spoelhof is claiming All-MIAA honors for the second-straight season. She was named to the All-MIAA Second Team in 2016. Spoelhof earned All-MIAA First Team honors in 2017 with a 6-2 record at No. 1 singles for Calvin in MIAA play. She also recorded a 6-2 record in doubles play in the MIAA at No. 1 doubles. Spoelhof is the third Calvin women's tennis player to win the Karen Caine Scholar Athlete Award and the first since 2011. An annual scholar athlete award instituted in 2007 to honor of Karen Caine, former long-term women's tennis coach at Adrian College. The award is presented annually to a senior student-athlete who has been a letter winner at her school for at least two years and takes into consideration the both the student-athlete's academic and athletic achievements.
"This is a great honor for Claire to be named first team All-MIAA," said Calvin head coach Kevin Van Haitsma. "She has been a great leader for our team and has improved all four years she was on our team. I thought her senior conference season was her highest level of play in her four years, and this first team All-MIAA helps prove that."
A senior from San Dimas, California, Benzel has been named to an All-MIAA team for the third-straight season. She was named to the All-MIAA Second Team in 2015 and the All-MIAA First Team in 2016. This year, Benzel posted a 4-1 record in MIAA singles play. Paired with Claire Spoelhof, Benzel went 5-2 in No. 1 doubles competition in 2017.
"This is great for Ellie to be named second team All-MIAA as a senior," said Van Haitsma. "She showed it's possible to tackle the tough balance of getting a Masters in speech pathology, and still play tennis at a high level. Ellie played some of her best tennis when it mattered the most."
A junior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bouma is being named to an All-MIAA team for the first time in her career. Bouma earned All-MIAA Second Team honors with a 6-2 record at No. 2 singles in MIAA competition. Bouma also finished the MIAA season with a 7-1 record in doubles play.
"I'm thrilled with Jessica being named to the second team All-MIAA," said Van Haitsma. "She played No. 4 singles as a freshman, No. 3 singles last year, and No. 2 singles this year as a junior. She has worked hard and proved she is one of the best players in the conference."
Joining Spoelhof on the All-MIAA first team is MIAA MVP Nancy Brenda of Hope, Maria Franco of Kalamazoo, Amanda Bandrowski of Hope, Claire Hallock of Hope, and Sabrina Dass of Kalamazoo.
On the All-MIAA Second Team with the Calvin duo is Monica Davy of Saint Mary's, Laura Hansselman of Kalamazoo, Lauren Rasmussen of Albion and Taylor LaBarge of Hope.
The Knights return to action on Thursday when they host Kalamazoo in the semifinal round of the MIAA Tournament. Calvin defeated the Hornets on Saturday, 5-4, to record the first victory over Kalamazoo since 2011. The second-place finish is the highest for Calvin since 2010, when the Maroon and Gold claimed the MIAA crown with an 8-0 record.
MEN'S TENNIS
Three members of the Calvin men's tennis team have receive post-season honors from the MIAA.
Freshman Rodrigo Castellanos Vaca Guzman has been named to the All-MIAA first team while junior Matt Van Winkle has been named to the All-MIAA second team.
In addition, senior Taylor Asfour has received the prestigious Lawrence Green Scholar-Athlete Award and the Allen B. Stowe Memorial Award.
Castellanos Vaca Guzman hails from Tarija, Bolivia. He is a graduate of Felipe Palazon School. He made an immediate impact on the Calvin lineup this year, compiling a 5-2 record against MIAA opponents this spring at No. 1 singles.
He also teamed up with junior teammate David Brown (Lake Zurich, Il./Lake Zurich HS) to post a 4-2 record at No. 2 doubles. Overall, Castellanos Vaca Guzman has produced a singles record of 10-7 as a freshman and a 13-7 record in doubles play.
"Rodrigo has had a terrific freshman year," said Calvin men's tennis coach John Ross. "He has adapted to life as a college student-athlete extremely well and quickly moved to the top of our lineup. He is a very talented young man and our team is thrilled to see him receive this honor."
Van Winkle hails from St. Joseph. He is a graduate of St. Joseph High School. Van Winkle was 5-1 this spring against MIAA opponents at No. 1 singles. He was also 5-1 in doubles play against league foes, playing alongside Asfour in the No. 2 doubles slot. In overall match play, Van Winkle is 10-4 this year in singles play. He is 8-6 in doubles.
"Matt has been a 'gamer' all year long," said Ross. "He comes to play every match and brings intensity and energy to our team. He has upped his play this spring and he has been a key part of our success this spring."
Asfour meanwhile becomes the seventh individual in Calvin men's tennis history to receive the Lawrence Green Scholar-Athlete Award and the 10th individual to receive the Allen B. Stowe Memorial Award. He is just the second individual from Calvin to win both awards in the same year, joining Ricky Tilton who did so in 2008.
The Lawrence Green Scholar-Athlete Award is based on academic performance in memory of the late Lawrence "Doc" Green, physical educator, athletic trainer and coach at Hope College.
The Allen B. Stowe Memorial Award is a sportsmanship award given annually to an MIAA men's tennis player since 1958. It honors the memory of the late Dr. Allen B. Stowe of Kalamazoo College.
A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, Asfour is an accounting major. A three-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and a seven-time member of the Calvin Dean's List, Asfour is an accounting major at Calvin. He plans to enroll in Calvin's newly instituted Master's in Accounting program next fall.
"To receive both awards is an incredible honor for Taylor," said Ross. "If Dr. Green or Dr. Stowe were alive and with us today, they would be very pleased to see Taylor receive them. Taylor is a first-class individual who competes hard but also competes fairly. He is also an outstanding student who places a high value on his studies. He has a bright future ahead of him and our entire program is ecstatic to see him honored like this."
The Calvin men's tennis team is currently 15-5 overall. The Knights finished third in the final MIAA regular season standings with a 5-2 conference record.
The Knights are the No. 3 seed for this week's MIAA Tournament will travel to No. 2 seed Hope on Thursday for an MIAA Tournament semifinal match.
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