CKSR (Women's Tennis Pulls Out Dramatic Win Over Aquinas / Track and Field Teams Compete at GVSU Tune-Up Invitational)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 16, 2018

Women's Tennis Pulls Out Dramatic Win Over Aquinas;
Track and Field Teams Compete at GVSU Tune-Up Invitational

WOMEN'S TENNIS
Calvin 5, Aquinas 4

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Coming off an 8-1 victory over Cornerstone, the Calvin women's tennis team secured city bragging rights with a thrilling 5-4 victory over crosstown-rival Aquinas. The Knights improve to 2-0 on the season and give the Saints their first loss of the year at 2-1.
"I am very proud of the team," said head coach Kevin Van Haitsma. "We really had to battle all night to get this victory against a very good Aquinas team. We set the tone today with taking two of the three doubles matches that turned out to be huge. Also, a big shout out to Alexis Bonner coming up big in a high-pressure situation. What she did is not easy to do, especially for a freshman. We will enjoy this win and prepare for some other tough matches coming up.
The first point of the day came at No. 1 doubles where the freshman duo of Leah Newhof (Caledonia, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Madeline Brouwer (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead. The Knights would take down Remington Gerst and Martina Devetak, 8-3.
The Saints evened the match at one with a victory at No. 3 doubles.
Calvin struck back with a come from behind victory at No. 2 doubles. Trailing 5-6, the team of senior Lark Foote (Okemos, Mich./Home School) and sophomore Anna Asfour (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) rallied to win 8-6.
Leah Newhof rattled Remington Gerst at No. 1 singles, winning, 6-2, 6-3.
The Saints responded with a victory at No. 2 singles.
Anna Asfour pushed the lead back up two points with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Haley Kuppler at No. 4 singles.
Aquinas won the next two matches at No. 3 and No. 6 singles.
After falling in the first set to Darci TerHaar 3-6, freshman Alexis Bonner (Alto, Mich./Forest Hills Central) showed some grit and forced a match-deciding third set with a 6-4 victory in the second set. Bonner cruised in the third set and clinched a victory for the Knights with a 6-1 victory.
"Honestly it was just such a rush and one of the most strategic matches I have ever had to play," said Bonner. "The fact that I could pull out that strategy without failing throughout the last two sets was something I impressed myself with. I knew winning the match would mean the overall win for the team and I am so happy to have been able to win that for them. I never lost faith in myself and knew I could do it and the mindset made pulling out the win that much sweeter."
The Knights return to action on Friday for a match at Elmhurst.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD

ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Calvin women's indoor track and field team competed at the Grand Valley State Tune-Up Invitational on Friday.

The Knights posted several notable performances.

In the 800 meters, senior Hattie Greydanus (Corvallis, Ore./Corvallis HS) took second in a time of 2:22.91.

In the 60 meter hurdles, junior Erin Van Lenten (Hawthorne, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) took third with a season-best time of 9.33 while also adding a second place finish in the high jump (5-1).

Sophomore Annika Staal (Woodinville, Wash./Bellevue Christian HS) was sixth in the high jump (4-11).

In the long jump, senior Anita VanderMeulen (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Skyline HS) was fourth (15-7 3/4) while sophomore Allison Rozell (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS) was sixth (15-5).

Senior Margaret LaLonde (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) was eighth in the 400 meters with a time of 1:03.81.

Calvin will now prepare for the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships next Saturday at Trine University.

MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD

ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Calvin men's indoor track and field team competed at the Grand Valley State Tune-Up Invitational on Friday.

Calvin posted several top-eight finishes in the competition.

In the 200 meters, senior Noah Buteyn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) took eighth with a time of 23.15.

Junior James Jeninga (Brookfield, Wisc./Milwaukee Lutheran HS) turned in a strong performance in the 800 meters, taking fourth with a time of 1:57.12.

Freshman Justin Varineau (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) placed seventh in the 3,000 meters (8:59.55).

In the 5,000 meters, sophomore Jason Klaasen (Jenison, Mich./Unity Christian HS) was third (16:12.00) and freshman Charlie Kornoelje (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) fifth (16:29.89).

Calvin took four of the top eight spots in the 60 meter hurdles led by junior Alex Williams (Mequon, Wisc./Homestead HS) who placed third (8.77). Sophomore David Byl (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) was fifth (8.95), senior Chase Rohrer (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS) seventh (9.05) and sophomore Sam Veenstra (North Haledon, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) eighth (9.30).

Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team of junior Josh VanDyk (Tinley Park, Il./Chicago Christian HS), junior Luke Peterson (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS), Jeninga and senior Hendrick Vermeulen (Bright's Grove, Ont./St. Patrick's Secondary School) was third in a time of 3:28.73.

In the field events, sophomore Nathan Van Wyhe (Frankfort, Il./Lincoln-Way East HS) was fourth in the high jump (6-0 3/4) and eighth in the long jump (21-0 1/2).

Junior Lee Barents (Redlands, Ca./Arrowhead Christian) was sixth in the long jump (21-1 1/4) and fourth in the triple jump (40-11 3/4). In the shot put, junior Brendan VanHouten (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) and sophomore Jayvin Wolf (Middleton, Mich./Fulton HS) tied for seventh with throws of 45-3 3/4.

In addition, senior Ethan Valentine (Mason, Oh./William Mason HS) competed at the Silverston Invitational at the University of Michigan on Friday. Valentine placed sixth in the 400 meter dash with a time of 50.32.

Calvin will now prepare for the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships next Saturday at Trine University.
Received on Fri Feb 16 23:26:23 2018