RESULTS

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Calvin women's swimming and diving team completed day two at the MIAA Championships, presented by Collegiate Credit Union Thursday night at the Holland Aquatic Center.

The Knights sit in second place with a team score of 349 points. Host Hope sits in first place with 471 points. 

Calvin opened the meet in strong fashion, taking second in the championship final of the 200 freestyle relay with a season-best and NCAA B' cut qualifying time of 1:33.48. The Calvin relay consisted of sophomore Ella Andrews (Carmel, Ind./Heritage Christian HS), junior Emma Merkel (Grandville, Mich./Grandville HS), senior Elyse Radawski (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) and senior Meghan Bengelink (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS). Calvin also took first place in the consolation final as the relay team of freshman Holly VanderWeele, junior Elise Bajwa (Bethesda, Md./Brookewood School), sophomore Maria Heeres (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) and junior Anya Hopek (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt HS) cruised in with a time of 1:37.00 with the consolation win good for ninth place in the overall relay standings.

Calvin went 2-4 in the 500 freestyle with sophomore Zoe Poe (Bridgeville, Pa. /South Fayette Twp.) taking second (4:59.79) and freshman Avery Russell (Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek Lakeview HS) fourth (5:16.73) with Russell recording a season-best time in the process. The Knights also scored in the consolation final with senior Kailee Turner (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) taking 10^th (5:35.15), senior Elizabeth Dylewski (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Bloomfield HS) 11^th (5:36.09) and sophomore Alea Casipit (Midland, Mich./Herbert Henry Dow HS) 14^th (5:37.93).

Merkel had a season-best time of 2:07.00 in the 200 IM that was good for fourth place individually. Sophomore Gracie Ganger (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippercanoe) won the consolation final (9^th place) in a time of 2:12.54 with sophomore Eloise Harrison (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern HS) 10^th (2:15.37), senior Madi McNearney (Riverside, Mo./Park Hill South HS) 12^th (2:16.33) and sophomore Vivian Rizer (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Pointe Farms) 13^th (2:20.09) and senior Tori Beagle (Petoskey, Mich./Petoskey HS) 15^th (2:23.32).

Calvin went 4-5-7-8 in the 50 freestyle. Bengelink was fourth (23.45), Andrews fifth (23.69), Radawski seventh (24.21) and Bajwa eighth (24.26). Algera was 10^th (24.59), VanderWeele 11^th (24.70), Heeres 13^th (24.76), Winkle 14^th (25.08) and Hopek 15^th (25.32).

Calvin came up with key points in the three-meter diving. Junior Veronica Skipper (Chicago, Ill./Northside College Prep) was fifth with a season-best score of 431.75. Junior Leah Schouten (St. Davids, Ontario/Eden HS) placed seventh (389.65).

In the 400 medley relay, Calvin took second in the consolation final (10^th place overall) in a time of 3:56.42. The relay was made up of McNearney, Ganger, sophomore Grace Schutter (Shelby Twp., Mich./Dwight D. Eisenhower HS) and VanderWeele. Calvin's A' relay team of Merkel, Bajwa, Radawski and Bengelink took second with an NCAA B' cut qualifying time of 3:49.11 that was a season-best by nearly three seconds. Merkel led off the relay with a leadoff 100 backstroke split of 56.80 that was a season best performance.

COACHES COMMENTS: "We swam lights out," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We moved up spots (nationally) in our relays with lots of season and lifetime bests. We had good moods, good energy and we are looking forward to competing the next two days."

NEXT UP: Action continues on Friday with prelims set for 10 a.m. and championship finals to follow at 5 p.m.

TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY TWO

Hope 471
Calvin 349
Kalamazoo 198
Alma 165
Albion 163
Olivet 2