ROCHESTER, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's swimming and diving team traveled across the state to take on Division I competition at Oakland University. Despite top finishers in several events the Knights finished behind the Golden Grizzlies 124.5-105.5.
 
The Knights got out to hot start as Emma Merkel (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville), Elise Bajwa (Bethesda, Md./Brookewood School), Maggie Farrell (Portage, Mich./Portage Central), and Sydney Sonday (Portage, Mich./Portage Central) continued to be a dynamic team and took the top spot in the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:43.89.
 
In the 1000 freestyle Megan Pankratz (Palatine, Ill./William Fremd) was the top Calvin finisher with a time of 11:17.66 while Zoe Poe (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette Twp.) recorded a time of 1:56.60. Later, in the 50 freestyle Sonday finished in third with a time of 23.98 while Madi McNearney (Riverside, Mo./Park Hill South) finished at 2:14.71 in the 200 IM. 
 
On the diving board, Veronica Skipper (Chicago, Ill./Northside College Prep) competed in the one-meter dive where she recorded a score of 202.65 and in the three-meter dive where she posted at 213.15.
 
In the 100 freestyle Farrell (52.26), Ella Andrews (Carmel, Ind./Heritage Christian School) (55.84), and Katie Phippen (Macomb, Ill./Calvary Baptist) (56.69) took the top three spots while Merkel (2:01.84), McNearney (2:08.83), and Abigail Merz (Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic) (2:22.22) were the top finishers in the 200 backstroke. 
 
Poe finished her night in the pool when she finished in first with a time of 5:03.19 in the 500 freestyle while Kristen Winkle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) was close behind in second at 5:35.15. In the 200 breaststroke Bajwa was the top finisher when she touched at 2:27.82.
 
Calvin rounded out their night when Farrell, Bengelink, Merkel, and Sonday took first in the 200-freestyle relay at 1:34.15.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "We are in the third leg of the most competitive four meets we have ever had in a row," said head coach Dan Gelderloos. "We are holding our own and it is holding us accountable and putting us in uncomfortable spots we could not replicate at home. Gave a good Oakland team some races and we're looking forward to returning home against another formidable foe in Chicago."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in the pool tomorrow January 18th when they return home to take on the University of Chicago at 1PM.