RESULTS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin women's swimming and diving team crowned one MIAA individual event champion and set a new school record in another race on the final day of competition at the MIAA Championships at the Venema Aquatic Center.

Freshman Zoe Poe (Bridgeville, Pa. South Fayette Twp.) captured her second MIAA individual title of the meet to lead off Saturday night, winning the 1650 freestyle in a time of 17:30.48. The victory came on the heels of a MIAA title in the 500 freestyle Thursday night. Poe was part of a 1-4-6-8 Calvin finish in the race as senior Megan Pankratz (Palatine, Ill. William Fremd) took fourth (18:52.40), senior Rebecca Streelman (Newberg, Ore. Homeschool) placed sixth (19:06.79) and junior Kristin Winkle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) eighth (19:09.98).

In the 200 backstroke, sophomore Emma Merkel (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville HS) took second with a school-record and NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 2:00.25, breaking the previous Calvin record of 2:00.68. The time ranks in the top 10 nationally. Junior Madi McNearney (Riverside, Mo. Park Hill South) was sixth (2:12.59) in the race.

Calvin placed three in the championship final of the 100 freestyle led by senior Sydney Sonday (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS) who was fifth (51.49) with junior Meghan Bengelink (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) sixth (52.40) and freshman Maria Heeres (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) eighth (54.81).

The Knights took sixth and seventh in the championship final of the 200 breaststroke with freshman Gracie Ganger (Tipp City, Ohio Tippercanoe) sixth (2:26.30) and freshman Eloise Harrison (Fishers, Ind. Hamilton Southeastern) seventh (2:26.33). Sophomore Elise Bajwa Bethesda, Md./Brookewood School) won the consolation final with a season-best time of 2:24.96 while junior Elyse Radawski (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) was 10^th (2:28.69).
Freshman Grace Schutter (Shelby Township, Mich. Dwight D. Eisenhower) placed seventh in the 200 butterfly (2:21.81).

In the 400 freestyle relay, Calvin's A relay of Sonday, senior Maggie Farrell (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS), Bengelink and Merkel placed second with a season-best and NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 3:24.73 that ranks in the Top 10 nationally. Sonday led off the relay with a season-best 100 free split of 51.20.

Calvin took second in the final team standings with 902 points with Hope winning the six-team competition with 1,170 points.

At the conclusion of the meet, sophomore Veronica Skipper (Chicago, Ill. Northside College Prep) was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Diver after winning the one and three-meter diving competitions during the meet. She is the first Calvin women's diver to receive the award since Hannabeth Magnussen was so honored in back-to-back years (2020 and 2021). Skipper is the sixth individual in Calvin history to be named the MIAA Women's Most Valuable Diver, joining Erica Deur, Samantha Klaasen, Sarah Bradley, Joselyn Smith and Magnussen.

COACHES COMMENT: "It was a great weekend for the entire conference with a lot of really strong performances that will allow the MIAA to be well-represented at the NCAA III Championships," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We had several great performances today, finishing on a strong note. It was great to see Veronica receive league MVP honors in diving. She has battled back from injury and had a great last two months. Nice to see Zoe (Poe) win the 1650. She is a freshman newcomer who has made a strong impact both in our conference and nationally. I'm proud of this team and we are looking forward the group now that will be representing Calvin at nationals in March."