(Written by MIAA publicity office)

The Calvin women's swimming and diving team has been picked to finish second in the MIAA preseason coaches poll. The Knights received one first place vote with defending MIAA champion Hope receiving the remaining five first place votes to sit atop the poll. 
 

Calvin was picked second after a 902-point performance at last year's MIAA Championships and a 12th-place team finish at the NCAA Championships.

The Knights return a top diver in junior Veronica Skipper, the 2025 MIAA Most Valuable Diver and a two-time All-MIAA honoree. Skipper swept the conference diving events, winning the one-meter (426.10) and three-meter (415.40) boards. Calvin's roster also features junior Elise Bajwa, junior and two-time All-MIAA honoree Emma Merkel, and sophomore Zoe Poe. Poe earned Second Team All-America honors in the 1650 free after winning both the 500 free (5:00.78) and the 1650 free (17:30.48) at the MIAA Championships.

Calvin opens its season at the Be Better; Invitational this Friday night at the University of Michigan with Calvin, Hope and Purdue joining the host Wolverines for the event in Ann Arbor. 

MIAA Women's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll:
1. Hope College - 5 points (5 first-place votes)
2. Calvin University - 9 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Albion College - 15 points
4. Kalamazoo College - 17 points
5. Alma College - 19 points
6. The University of Olivet - 25 points