Results
WHEATON, Ill. - The 20th-ranked Calvin University women's swimming and diving team topped Wheaton College (Ill.) in a dual meet on Saturday by the final score of 176-82.
Isabella Gable (Greenville, Ohio/Arcanum-Butler) capped off a strong overall team performance with a new Calvin record in a time trial for the 400 individual medley, finishing in a time of 4:32.83 that broke a school record (4:37.15/Alex Wilson) that had stood since 2007. Her time in the event puts her eighth in NCAA Division III so far this season.
Gable also took home a first-place finish in the 50 freestyle in a time of 24.88 at the meet.
Calvin did well in each of the two relays, placing first and second in both the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
The 'B' team of
Emma Merkel (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville),
Abigail Merz (Davison, Mich./Powers Catholic),
Maggie Farrell (Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central) and
Katie Phippen (Macomb, Ill./Calvary Baptist) won the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:51.05, followed by the 'C' relay team of Gable,
Kaelin Kelley (Athens, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin),
Sadie Norman (Fulton, Ill./Fulton) and
Sydney Sonday (Portage, Mich./Portage Central) with a time of 1:52.20).
In the 400 freestyle relay, the 'C' team of Gable,
Madi McNearney (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South), Phippen and
Natalie Fisher (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) won with a time of 3:41.02, followed by the 'B' relay of Sonday, Farrell,
Kristin Winkle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Norman in a time of 3:42.13.
Rebecca Streelman (Summerville, S.C./Homeschool) won both the 1000 freestyle (4:32.83) and 500 freestyle (5:30.33) at the meet. Winkle,
Lynda Steen (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) and
Eden Maring (Grandville, Mich./Calvin Christian) finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the 1000 freestyle event, while
Megan Pankratz (Palatine, Ill./William Fremd) finished third in the 500 freestyle.
Calvin also placed the top four finishers in the 100 breaststroke, with Farrell (1:09.56) winning the event followed by Sonday,
Elyse Radawski (Grand Rapids, Mich./Jenison) and Pankratz. Farrell also won the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:13.63, followed by Merz (2:19.33) in third place.
Merkel (59.11) won the 100 backstroke with Norman (1:01.30) following her in second place, while Calvin also placed the top two in 200 breaststroke with Kelley (2:39.58) winning the event followed by
Anya Hopek (Dewitt, Mich./Dewitt). Hopek also tok home a third place finish in the 50 freestyle in a time of 26.10.
The 100 butterfly proved to be the closest of all the races, as Merkel (1:01.27) edged out second place by 0.01 seconds, with Sonday (1:01.32) coming in third place.
Lauren Miedema (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) finished second in the 200 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle. McNearney added a second place finish in the 200 butterfly, while
Meghan Bengelink (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) finished second in the 100 freestyle. Phippen (2:17.98) took second in the 200 backstroke, followed by
Annie Connors (Biloxi, Miss./Homeschool) in third place.
COACH'S COMMENT: "This team continues to build something and people are taking notice," Calvin head coach
Dan Gelderloos said. "We had a great following down in Chicago, and several alums came to check in as well, so it was nice to perform for them the way we know how. We even set a school record as Isabella broke the 400 IM record by five seconds!"
NEXT UP: Calvin swimming a diving will take the next few weeks off from competition before returning to action on Thursday, November 30, when it hosts the three-day Calvin Winter Invite at Venema Aquatic Center.
