GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin men's swimming and diving team opened its 2017-18 dual meet season on Friday by falling to Division II Grand Valley State 177-58 at the Venema Aquatic Center.

 

Despite the loss, Calvin had several standout performances.

 

Freshman Julian Iturbu (Caracas, Venezuela/Colegio Emil Friedman HS) had a strong home debut, taking second in the 200 freestyle (1:44.93) and third in the 500 freestyle (4:55.58).

 

In the diving competition, senior Michael Moentmann (Solon, Oh./Solon HS) took second on the three-meter board (237.15) and third on the one-meter board (232.05).

 

The Knights went 2-3-4 in the 100 breaststroke with sophomore Fear Churchwell (Athens, Ga./Clarke Central HS) taking second (1:00.93), junior Jacob Lensing (Pella, Ia./Pella Christian HS) placing third (1:01.37) and sophomore Sam Holstege (Kewswick, Va/Covenant Christian HS) taking fourth (1:03.39).

 

In the 100 backstroke, junior Ben Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant Christian HS) was second (51.37) and junior Skyler Fish (Ionia, Mich./Ionia HS) fourh (54.04). 

 

Senior Max DeYoung (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern HS) was third in the 100 freestyle (48.30) while Churchwell was third in the 200 IM (2:00.84).  Junior Jared Britton (Falls Church, Va./George Mason HS) was fourth in the 50 freestyle (22.13) and sophomore Brian Goins (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams HS) fourth in the 1000 freestyle (10:15.28). In the 100 butterfly, freshman Lucas Holcombe (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) was fourth (55.04) and junior Nathan Olberding (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville HS) fifth (55.08).

 

Calvin's 200 medley relay team of Ben Holstege, Lensing, Holcombe and Britton took second in a time of 1:35.79 which ranks 10th nationally. Calvin's 200 freestyle relay team of Olberding, sophomore Tristan Hazlett (Lutz, Fla./Home Schooled), DeYoung and Iturbue placed second in 1:27.33. Calvin's 200 freestyle relay time ranks eighth nationally this season. 

"I was very pleased with the results tonight," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We had some athletes really get off to a good start. It was good to get our first competition in and now it's time to move forward."