Results
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Calvin University men's swimming and diving started the 2026-27 season with the fifth annual Be Better; Invitational at Canham Natatorium at the University of Michigan.
The event, in its fifth year, honored the life of former University of Michigan and Holland Christian High School swimmer Ian Kiskelley, who passed away in 2020. The meet is meant to promote the Be Better; Foundation, which was started by the Miskelley family, to promote mental health.
The meet featured Calvin, Michigan and Hope College and was not scored officially and featured both traditional and non-traditional events.
The event started with the 200 Medley Relay, where the Calvin 'A' relay of
Jackson Merkel (Grandville, Mich./Grandville),
Andrew Taulbee (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg),
David Gabrielle (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and
Kellen Morford (Medina, Ohio/Medina) took third in a time of 1:33.69.
Individual highlights were led by a second-place finish for Merkel in the 100 Backstroke in 50.11.
William Pettifer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont/Miami University Hamilton) and
Carter Nelson (Byron Center, Mich./Byron Center) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 500 Freestyle, while
Cardin Nguyen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyanne Mountain) and Taulbee took fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 100 Breaststroke.
Morford finished third in the 100 Freestyle, while
Timothy Hays (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect) took fourth in the 100 IM.
Following traditional events, the teams competed in non-traditional events that included mixed relays, 25 yard mystery shootouts and underwater with fins races before finishing with the 400 Freestyle Relay, where the Knights 'A' relay of Merkel,
Ryan Halberg (Novi, Mich./Northville), Morford and Gabrielle took third place with a time of 3:11.46.
NEXT UP: Calvin swimming and diving will return to competition on Saturday, October 17, when it competes in a home triangular meet against Grand Valley State University and Saginaw Valley State University at Venema Aquatic Center at 1:00 PM.
