GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The 17th-ranked Calvin women's swimming and diving team picked up a 159-144 victory over rival Hope Saturday afternoon at the Venema Aquatic Center.
Calvin clinched the meet by posting a 1-2 finish in the 400 freestyle relay - the final event of the meet. Calvin's 400 freestyle relay team of senior Emily Gunderson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS), sophomore Emilia Shokoohi (Saginaw Mich./Heritage HS), junior Hannah Chao (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington HS) and sophomore Valerie Edewaard (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) took first in a time of 3:37.79. Calvin's team of freshman Kara Bolger (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Central HS), freshman Jayda Kelly (Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater HS, sophomore Anna Weber (North Royalton, Oh./North Royalton HS) and sophomore Kiersten Hollis (Oak Hill, Va./Home School) took second place in a time of 3:41.69.
Calvin went 1-2 in the 100 backstroke with Chao winning in 59.23 and senior Abbey Wellman (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point HS) taking second (1:00.47). The same duo went 1-2 in the 200 backstroke with Chao winning in 2:10.10 and Wellman second (2:13.06).
Sophomore Grace Anne Delcompare (Naples, Fla./Home School) won the 200 butterfly (2:12.43). Gunderson led a 1-2 Calvin finish in the 50 freestyle with Gunderson winning in 24.41 and Hollis taking second (25.20).
Junior Hannabeth Magnussen (Oakdale, Ca./Ripon Christian HS) won the one-meter (243.65) and three-meter (242.40) diving competitions.
The Knights also took the top three spots in the 100 butterfly with junior Jenna Oezer (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) winning in 59.08 with Gunderson second (59.18) and Weber third (1:00.30).
COACHES COMMENT: "This is always a starred meet on our schedule," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "The big rivalry gives both teams the ability to perform at a high level and that is what we had this afternoon. It was a great way to close out the fall and enjoy the rest over Thanksgiving."
NEXT UP: Calvin will prepare to host its own Calvin Winter Invitational December 5-7 at the Venema Aquatic Center.
