The Calvin men's swimming and diving team captured its sixth MIAA title in program history on Saturday night, producing a final team score of 1,117 points, finishing 154 points ahead of rival Hope.

The Knights produced four event champions on Saturday night including a pair of individual efforts by freshmen.

Senior Noah Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant School) captured his third individual title of the meet on Saturday, winning the 100 freestyle in a time of 44.12 and was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Swimmer at the conclusion of the meet. It marks the fifth straight year a Calvin swimmer has been named the MIAA men's most valuable swimmer.

Holstege led a powerful contingent of sprinters in the 100 freestyle as the Knights went 1-2-3-4-6-9 in the event to pile up points Holstege's winning time ranks eighth nationally. Senior teammate Jake Heeres (Zeeland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) took second in 44.26 with his time ranking 10^th nationally. Senior Bryce Miner (Cupertino, Ca./Homestead HS) was third (45.37), junior Corey Campbell (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) fourth (45.89), junior Vladimir Molin (Rolling Meadows, Il./Rolling Meadows HS) sixth (46.09) and senior Hudson DeBoer (Zeeland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) ninth (46.94).

Calvin's 400 freestyle relay team took first place for the sixth consecutive year with the team of Miner, Holstege, freshman Charles Platt (Downers Grove, Il./Downers Grove North HS) and Heeres winning in a time of 2:58.40 that ranks fifth nationally. Calvin's B' team of DeBoer, sophomore Joshua Seidelman (Northville, Mich./Northville HS), Molin and Campbell took the consolation final with a time of 3:02.84.

The highlight of the night arguably came from a pair of Calvin freshmen who captured individual titles. Freshman Caleb Gemmen (Mentor, Oh./Home School) took home the win in the 200 breaststroke with a winning time of 2:01.21 to pair up with his 100 breaststroke title Friday night. Sophomore Anthony Crudele (Aurora, Il./Home School) was fifth in 2:06.89.

Freshman Timothy Hays (Arlington Heights, Il./Prospect HS) then stepped up to lead a 1-2-4-5 Calvin finish in the 100 butterfly, winning the race in a time of 1:49.32 that was three-hundreths of a second off the school record.  The holder of the school record – senior Julien Camy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) – was a close second in a time of 1:49.87. Junior Austin Martinson (Aurora, Il./Metea Valley HS) was fourth (1:52.68) and junior Forrest Peterson (Middleton, Wisc./Middleton HS) fifth (1:52.86).

The one-meter diving competition also proved fruitful for Calvin as sophomore Wilson Goodpaster (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton HS) was fourth with a score of 437.15 that qualifies him for next weekend's NCAA III Diving Regional in Indiana. Sophomore Jason Perez (Plainwell, Mich./Plainwell HS) was fifth with a score of 410.90 that also qualifies him for the regional meet. Senior Jay Cen (Deerfield, Il./Deerfield HS) was seventh with a score of 397.85.

At the outset of the night, Seidelman came up with a career-best time of 16:09.91 in the 1650 freestyle that was good for second place. Senior Samuel Hoover (Beverly Hills, Mich./Fraser HS) also had a career-best time of 16:28.23 that was good for fourth place.

The Knights went 2-4-6 in the 200 backstroke with sophomore David Bajwa (Potomac, Md./The Heights School) second (1:50.17), Platt fourth (1:50.48) and senior William Toomey (Runnels, Ia./Southeast Polk HS) sixth (1:51.99).

COACHES COMMENT: "It was just an amazing week and I am so proud of this group of coming together and pushing each other on for this (championship) goal," said Gelderloos. "I thought we rose to the occasion but what made it special was that it was a complete group effort. Winning conference championships is not easy and we are pleased to get back to the top of the standings again."