WEDNESDAY RESULTS

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Calvin men's swimming and diving team used a record-breaking relay performance to take the early lead at the MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships presented by Collegiate Credit Union at the Holland Aquatic Center Wednesday night.

Calvin's A' relay team of junior Ryan Halberg (Novi, Mich./Northville HS), freshman Jackson Merkel (Grandville, Mich./Grandville HS), senior Jacob Ziegler (Toledo, Oh./St. John's Jesuit HS) and senior Charles Platt (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North HS) captured first place in the championship final with an MIAA and Calvin record time of 6:32.25. The time is a strong NCAA B' cut qualifying time and currently places Calvin fourth on the NCAA III performance list.

The time broke the previous MIAA and Calvin record time of 6:33.26 set by Calvin last year. Halberg led of the relay with a time of 1:39.94 with Merkel coming in at 1:36.94, Ziegler at 1:39.87 and Platt a blazing 1:35.50.

Calvin's B' relay team of freshman Kellen Morford (Medina, Oh./Medina HS), junior Andrew Stimpert (Normal, Ill./Normal West HS), freshman Evan Haney (Goshen, Ind./Northridge HS) and sophomore Carter Detweiler (Farmington Hills, Mich./Council Rock North )took second in the consolation final for 10^th place overall, clocking in with a season-best time of 6:49.66.

Calvin also had a solid night in the prelims of the men's one-meter diving. Freshman Miles Lee (Chicago, Ill./Home School) took eighth (341.70) to qualify for the championship finals. Sophomore Carson McIntire (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton HS) was 11^th (277.20) and senior Joshua "Tater" Ring 13^th (212.80).

After one day of competition, Calvin has a first place total of 58 points, two points ahead of rival Hope in the team standings. 

COACHES COMMENT: "That was big," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos of Calvin's record-setting relay. "We were hoping for something in the 6:36-6:38 territory. Not fourth in the country and school record and MIAA record. It gives us a great boost to start the meet but we know we have a lot of work in front of us. The work starts again tomorrow morning."

NEXT UP: Day two of the MIAA Championships begins with Thursday morning prelims (10 a.m.) with championship finals set for 5 p.m. at the Holland Aquatic Center.