RESULTS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin women's swimming and diving team gained a Saturday split against a pair of rugged Division II opponents in a Saturday triangular inside the Venema Aquatic Center.

Calvin edged Saginaw Valley State 154-144 while falling to Grand Valley State 210-88.

Calvin posted three NCAA B' cut qualifying swims during the meet including in both of its relays.

In the 200 freestyle relay, the Calvin quartet of graduate student Maggie Farrell (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS), senior Sydney Sonday (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS), sophomore Emma Merkel (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville HS) and junior Meghan Bengelink (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) took first place in a strong NCAA B' cut qualifying time of 1:33.92 that will likely top the national leader board at the close of the weekend. The relay win sealed Calvin's victory over Saginaw Valley State.

Calvin's 200 medley relay team of Merkel, Farrell, Sonday and Bengelink took second with an NCAA B' cut qualifying time of 1:44.58.

Farrell also had an NCAA B' cut qualifying time individually, winning the 100 butterfly in 55.93. Sophomore Lauren Miedema (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) was eighth in the race in 1:00.93.

Sonday had a big Saturday, placing second in the 50 freestyle (24.00) and fifth in the 100 freestyle (53.97).

Merkel claimed first in the 100 backstroke (57.40) and second in the 200 backstroke (2:04.07).

Farrell was fifth in the 200 butterfly (2:14.28) with Miedema seventh (2:21.73).

Bengelink added a fourth place swim in the 50 freestyle (24.54).

Junior Madi McNearney (Riverside, Mo./Park Hill South HS) was sixth in the 200 backstroke (2:08.37) and in the 200 IM (2:16.28).
Freshman Zoe Poe (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette Twp.) was fifth in the 200 IM (2:14.49) and third in the 1000 freestyle (10:38.22).

Calvin went 6-7-8 in the 100 breaststroke with freshman Gracie Ganger (Tipp City, Oh./Tippercanoe) sixth (1:09.37), junior Elyse Radawski (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) seventh (1:10.25) and freshman Eloise Harrison (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern HS) eighth (1:10.69).
Ganger added a sixth place swim in the 200 breaststroke (2:33.19) while freshman Maria Heeres (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) was eighth (2:03.32).

COACHES COMMENT: "We had some great swims today," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "I thought our team stepped up against tough Division II competition and used that opportunity to get better. We had several NCAA B' cut times which is exciting to see this early in the season. I was also very encouraged by the way our depth showed up today. This is a meet we can build on. We are excited for what lies ahead for this season and this team."

NEXT UP: Calvin will host the MIAA Relays next Friday at 5 p.m. inside the Venema Aquatic Center.