RESULTS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin women's swimming and diving team opened up the new year with a 128.5-111.5 dual meet victory over Division II Wayne State University Friday afternoon inside the Venema Aquatic Center.

Ranked 14^th in Division III, the Knights improve to 2-2 in dual meet action for their 2025-26 campaign.

Riding the momentum of a strong week of training in sunny Florida, Calvin popped several big performances in Friday's victory.

Junior Elise Bajwa (Bethesda, Md./Brookewood School) and sophomore Zoe Poe (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette Twp.) were double event winners.

Bajwa won the 50 freestyle (24.81) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.81). She led a 1-2-3 Calvin finish in the 50 freestyle with senior Meghan Bengelink (Zeeland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) taking second (24.85) and senior Elyse Radawski (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) taking third (24.98). Bajwa was part of a 1-3-5 Calvin finish in the 100 breast with sophomore Gracie Ganger (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippercanoe) taking third (1:08.93) and sophomore Eloise Harrison (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) placing fifth (1:10.69).

Poe dominated the distance freestyle events, winning the 1000 freestyle (10:34.74) and 500 freestyle (5:10.28). senior Kailee Turner (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) was also third in the 1000 free with a time of 11:49.00.

Senior Madi McNearney (Riverside, Mo./Park Hill South HS) won the 100 backstroke in 1:00.30. She also placed fourth in the 400 IM (4:55.57).

Radawski broke through for a win in the 100 butterfly in a time of 1:00.62. Ganger was third (1:01.34) and sophomore Grace Schutter (Shelby Township, Mich./Dwight D. Eisenhower) fifth (1:02.15).

Sophomore Emma Merkel (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville HS) led a 1-3-5 Calvin finish in the 200 freestyle. She clocked a winning time of 1:54.55 with sophomore Maria Heeres (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) third (2:00.10) and sophomore Holly VanderWeele (San Antonio, Tx./ Great Hearts Monte Vista North) fifth (2:03.33).

Calvin went 2-4-5 in the 100 freestyle. Sophomore Ella Andrews (Carmel, Ind./Heritage Christian School) was second (55.64), VanderWeele fourth (55.98) and senior Kristin Winkle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) fifth (56.94).

Calvin took both relays. In the 200 freestyle relay, the Calvin quartet of Merkel, Andrews, VanderWeele and Bengelink took first in a time of 1:37.70. The Calvin relay of Heeres, Poe, junior Anya Hopek (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt HS) and Schutter were third (1:43.40).  In the 400 medley relay, the Calvin team of Merkel, Bajwa, Radawski and Bengelink won in a time of 3:55.44. McNearney, Ganger, freshman Alea Casipit (Midland, Mich. Herbert Henry Dow) and Heeres were third (4:03.70).

COACHES COMMENT: "I was really pleased with our performance today," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We just got in yesterday after a great week of (Christmas break) training. We had several people pop big performances which is a confidence booster for our team. It was a good way to start our second semester. We are looking forward to what lies ahead."

NEXT UP: Calvin returns to action January 17 when it travels to the University of Chicago for a dual meet slated to start at 1 p.m.