CKSR (Calvin Winter Sports Athletes Receive MIAA Weekly Honors)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR JANUARY 22, 2018

Calvin Winter Sports Athletes Receive MIAA Weekly Honors

MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin men's swimming & diving team swam away with both of the MIAA weekly honors on Monday. After weekend victories over Alma and Franklin, Michael Moentmann was named the MIAA Diver of the Week and Ben Holstege earned the title of MIAA Swimmer of the Week.
A junior from Keswick, Virginia, Ben Holstege is claiming the MIAA Swimmer of the Week title for the second time this season and third time in his career.
On Friday, Holstege won two individual races and was a part of two winning relays. At Rose Hulman, he led off the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay, that both finished first. In the 100-yard backstroke, he touched the wall first at 52.15. He also clocked in a winning time of 47.56 in the 100-yard freestyle.
"I am glad that Ben is getting recognized," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "He is swimming very well this semester and I am glad that others are seeing it as well."
Against DePauw and Franklin, he helped Calvin win first-place points in three events. Holstege started Calvin's 200-yard medley relay that won with a time of 1:35.17. He also won the 100-yard backstroke at 51.94 and the 100-yard freestyle at 47.09. He was also a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay that placed second.
A senior from Solon, Ohio, Moentmann is being named the MIAA Diver of the Week for the third time this year and fourth time in his career.
Moentmann swept the diving competition this weekend.
"This has been a long time coming for Michael," said diving coach Aaron Paskvan. "In terms of a complete performance run and to battle through a rough start on Saturday. His third dive he scored 54 points after his first two dives scored a combined 58 points. He was able to overcome that and get the victory. At this time of the season, that shows he is prepared."
At Rose Hulman, he won the 1-meter event at 315.23 points and the 3-meter at 305.10 points.
Against DePauw and Franklin, he kept his winning streak rolling by winning the 1-meter event with 249.10 points and the 3-meter with 286.30 points.
This season, Moentmann has won on the 1-meter board five times and has won on the 3-meter board four times.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The freshman duo of Hannah Chao and Joselyn Smith swept the MIAA weekly honors on Monday afternoon. Coming off weekend victories over Rose Hulman, Alma and DePauw, Hannah Chao was named the MIAA Swimmer of the Week and Joselyn Smith claimed MIAA Diver of the Week honors.
A freshman from Zeeland, Michigan, Smith is claiming the MIAA Diver of the Week for the second time this season.
Smith recorded-season best performances on Friday at Rose Hulman. On the 1-meter board she finished in second place with 261 points and on the 3-meter she recorded a second-place finish with 254.32 points.
"I am very happy for Joselyn," said diving coach Aaron Paskvan. "It is great to see her add a few new dives and perform on the road where conditions vary. It shows mental toughness and the wherewithal to trust her training."
On Saturday against Franklin and DePauw, she placed third on the 1-meter board at 217.80 points and second on the 3-meter board at 222.65 points.
A freshman from Farmington Hills, Michigan, Chao is claiming her first-ever MIAA Swimmer of the Week title.
Chao recorded three first-place finishes on Friday at Rose Hulman. She started off the winning 200-yard medley relay that recorded a time of1:52.85. She won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:00.31. She also was the fastest swimmer in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:15.72. Chao finished the 100-yard freestyle in third place at 55.98.
"I am glad that Hannah is getting recognized," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "She is swimming very well this semester and I am glad to see that her hard work is paying off."
On Saturday, she touched the wall first in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:14.38. In the 100-yard breaststroke, she placed second at 1:12.07. Chao also finished in fourth place in the 200-yard backstroke at 2:14.30 and was a part of the 200-yard medley relay team that finished in third place.
The Knights return to action on Saturday when they travel to Kalamazoo to resume MIAA action.
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The MIAA named Ethan Valentine the MIAA Track Athlete of the Week on Monday Afternoon. He scored points for Calvin in two events on Saturday at the Carnegie Mellon Division III Invitational.
"Ethan, like so many others did really well this weekend," said head coach Bret Otte. "The men's team is very deep with high caliber competitors throughout the team. With Ethan's 800-meter win this weekend, topping the MIAA conference list and popping in to the NCAA national list in seventh may have been the clincher for him. Keep in mind this was Ethan's second race since May of 2017. The last time Ethan ran an 800-meter race was back in March of 2017. That race is one you should run at least three times before you find your rhythm and find your best time."
A senior from Mason, Ohio, Valentine is claiming the title for the first time this year.
He claimed a victory in the 800-meter run with a winning time of 1:55.03.
Valentine was also a member of the 4x400-meter relay that finished in second at 3:26.15.
His time in the 800-meter run currently ranks seventh in NCAA Division III.
Valentine and the Knights return to action this weekend when they travel to Findlay and Grand Valley.

WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced Jenna Dyksen as the MIAA Track Athlete of the Week on Monday afternoon. Dyksen posted two career-best times on Saturday.
"Jenna, like so many others really stepped it up this weekend," said head coach Bret Otte. "We had so many people step up and compete this weekend, have personal bests and move up on both the MIAA and NCAA rankings in many of the other events. I think Jenna got the nod due to her individual wins in both the 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash. In addition, she tops the league rankings in both events, in a league with very good sprinters, along with her NCAA Division III ranking in fourth place in the 60-meter hurdles."
A senior from Hawthorne, New Jersey, Dyksen has now been named the MIAA Athlete of the Week four times in her career. This is the first time this season that she has claimed the honor.
At the Carnegie Mellon Division III Invitational, Dyksen won the 60-meter hurdles with a career-best time of 8.97. She was also the fastest runner in the 200-meter dash with a career-best time of 25.96.
Her time in the 60-meter hurdles currently ranks fourth in NCAA Division III. Her time in the 200-meter dash currently ranks 20th on the NCAA Division III.
Dyksen and the Knights return to action this weekend when they travel to Findlay and Grand Valley.
Received on Mon Jan 22 22:56:06 2018