RESULTS

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Calvin men's swimming and diving team got on the scoreboard on day one of the NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships. Calvin's 400 medley relay team of freshman Jackson Merkel (Grandville, Mich./Grandville HS), junior Caleb Gemmen (Mentor, Oh./Home School), freshman David Gabrielle (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and senior Charles Platt (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North HS) won the consolation final with a season-best time of 3:14.53 that was good for ninth place overall. The finish was good for Division III Second Team All-America honors and gives the Knights 18 points in the overall team standings.

Seeded 12^th headed into the meet, Calvin took 13^th in the morning prelims in a time of 3:15.26. The Knights then turned on the jets in the evening with Merkel leading off with a backstroke split of 47.32. The leadoff leg by Merkel was a season-best 100 backstroke split for the freshman. Gemmen then turned in a breaststroke split of 54.99 with Gabrielle churning in a butterfly split of 49.17. Platt then roared down the stretch, passing three teams in the final 50 with a final (100) free split of 43.05.

Calvin will now turn its attention to Thursday as Platt will compete in the 200 freestyle where he is seeded fifth. Merkel will also compete in the 200 freestyle where he is seeded 41^st.  Calvin will also have a relay team compete in the 200 freestyle relay.

COACHES COMMENT: "Solid start," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "Got some momentum going with the men's relay tonight that gave us some confidence going into tomorrow. There are a lot of scoring opportunities still ahead of us."

NEXT UP: Day two of the NCAA III Swimming and Diving Championships are set for 10 a.m. on Thursday with championship event finals set for 6 p.m.