RESULTS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 13 Calvin women's swimming and diving team closed out its dual meet campaign with a 184-111 dual meet victory over No. 11 Hope Friday inside Calvin's Venema Aquatic Center.

Calvin finishes its dual meet campaign with 5-3 record with its last two wins coming against nationally-ranked Division III opponents Carnegie Mellon and Hope.

Calvin took first place in both relay events and did so with season-best and NCAA III B' cut qualifying times.

Its 200 medley relay of senior Madi McNearney (Riverside, Mo./, Park Hill South), junior Elise Bajwa (Bethesda, Md./Brookewood School), senior Elyse Radawski (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) and junior Emma Merkel (Grandville, Mich./Grandville HS) took first place with a season-best and NCAA B' cut qualifying time of 1:43.57.  Its 200 freestyle relay team of sophomore Ella Andrews (Carmel, Ind./Heritage Christian School), senior Meghan Bengelink (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS), Bajwa and Merkel also took first place in a season-best and NCAA B' cut qualifying time of 1:34.11.

Bajwa had a big night in the 100 breaststroke, winning the race in a season-best and NCAA B' cut qualifying time of 1:02.89. The time places her in the top 10 of the NCAA III performance list in the event. She was part of a 1-2-3 Calvin finish in the race with sophomore Gracie Ganger (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippercanoe) taking second (1:06.59) and Radawski third (1:08.51).

Calvin went 1-2-3 in the 200 freestyle with sophomore Zoe Poe (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette Twp.) winning the race in 1:55.52 with sophomore Maria Heeres (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) second with a season-best 1:56.84 and freshman Holly VanderWeele third with a season-best time of 1:57.07. Poe won the 200 IM in 2:11.58 with McNearney third in a season-best time of 2:14.23. McNearney also placed third in the 100 backstroke (1:00.03).

The Knights went 1-2-3 in the 200 butterfly. Sophomore Grace Schutter (Shelby Township, Mich./Dwight D. Eisenhower) took first in a season-best time of 2:14.08 with sophomore Vivian Rizer (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Pointe Farms) second in a season-best time of 2:16.73. Senior Elizabeth Dylewski (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Bloomfield Hills HS) was third (2:16.99).

Calvin went 1-2-3 in the 100 freestyle. Andrews took first in a season-best time of 52.53. Bengelink was second in 52.93 with VanderWeele third in a season-best time of 53.13. Andrew added a second place swim in the 50 freestyle (23.89).

Merkel won the 200 backstroke (2:01.60) with junior Katie Phippen (Macomb, Ill./Calvary Baptist) third (2:22.12). Schutter won the 100 butterfly in a season-best time of 58.65 with Ganger third in a season-best time of 59.73.

Freshman Avery Russell (Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek Lakeview HS) ton the 500 freestyle (5:22.53) and the 1,000 freestyle  (11:06.81). Sophomore Ella McNeely (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa HS) was second (11:26.31) with senior Kailee Turner (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) third (11:37.22).

Sophomore Eloise Harrison (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) was second (2:30.43) with Radawski third in a season-best time of 2:30.83.

On the diving boards, junior Veronica Skipper (Chicago, Il./Northside College Prep) took second on the one-meter board (240.45) and third on the three-meter board (241.12). Junior Leah Schouten (St. Davids, Ontario/Eden HS) was fourth on the three-meter board (228.37).

COACHES COMMENT: "Had a lot of great swims as we started landing the plane with our training," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We lowered some of our qualifying times, and had some personal bests in several events. Next week will feel good to take a break from racing for the first time in a while and get some much needed rest."

NEXT UP: Calvin will now prepare for the MIAA Championships scheduled for February 17-20 at the Holland Aquatics Center.