Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Since 1907
Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Month in Review: Sports in March

File photo.
File photo.

Here are what we thought were the top six sports moments in March for the Knights:

6. The men’s basketball team made it to the Sweet 16 this year, before falling to that dreaded school known as St. Thomas. They lost 63-62. Calvin’s senior Bryan Powell led all scorers with 31 points. He was 6-10 from beyond the arch and 11-17 from the field. Powell commented, “The tournament was a great experience, St. Thomas was as we expected; very good. Playing them at their place didn’t help much either. That being said, we left it all on the floor and unfortunately came up short.” Powell finished his career with 1,009 points and 21st on the all time scoring list. Senior Tom Snikkers was named Honorable-Mention All-American by D-III News and finished with 1,646 points and 8th on the all time list.

5. The women’s swim team traveled down to Texas for the D-III national championship. Seniors Kristy Kinzer, Libby Counsell, Rachel Colasurdo and freshman Michaela Rookus finished 10th in the 400 Medley Relay. They were .44 off from the school record and were named Honorable-Mention All-American. The same team finished 8th in the 200 Medley Relay giving them All-American titles. Senior Sam Klaasen finished 15th in the one-meter diving and was named Honorable-Mention All-American. Rookus finished 11th in the 100 breaststroke and was also named Honorable-Mention All-American. Coach Gelderloos commented, “We have finished higher at this meet on several occasion, but for what we did with what we had at the meet ranks up there with the best of them, right with 2007 and our 4th place finish.  We moved up a total of 46 spots over our seed times over the course of the meet, and all but one swim was a best time.  Truly remarkable.” Counsell added, “Our team has had such a good attitude and sense of determination these past four days. It is amazing to see how fast we are swimming. Coach has rested us more than any other team that he has had, and it sure has come to show that it has only helped us swim faster and faster.”

4. Basketball’s Carissa Verkaik won the prestigious Josten’s Trophy which honors athletics, academics and involvement in the community. She is the second woman at Calvin to win this award, the other being Lisa Winkle. Calvin is the only school to have two recipients. Verkaik commented, “I am so humbled to have been chosen for the Josten’s award. The award embodies someone who I want to be known as. A person who is dedicated to athletics, as well as the classroom and the community.”

3. Men’s soccer Joe Broekhuizen was picked up by the Dayton Dutch Lions to play professionally. He left Calvin’s campus last week and will finish up his semester through distant correspondence. “This is a great opportunity for me, but a lot of stars had to align for me to get this opportunity,” Broekhuizen said. “Without the help from Coach Souders, my professors, my teammates and most importantly the Lord, this would never have been a possibility. I’m looking forward to completing my degree, and using all the skills I’ve learned at Calvin while I embark on a professional soccer career.”

2. Junior Nicole Michmerhuizen took second in the NCAA D-III indoor track and field national championship’s 5k. She was in the lead for the majority of the race before getting passed in the last stretch. She was named All-American in this event. “I am really excited about becoming an All-American as this is something I have dreamed about and worked toward for a long time.  I feel so blessed by the amazing support of family and friends at Calvin and elsewhere, and I am looking forward to the upcoming outdoor track season.”

1. The D-III national swim finals were nice this year to senior Libby Counsell. Counsell finished up her swimming career at Calvin finishing second in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 breaststroke. Placing that high gave her All-American honors in both events. She was also on the 400 medley relay team which took tenth naming them Honorable Mention All-American. Counsell commented, “It has been a blast finishing up my swimming career with all best times and doing it all with Rachel [Colasurdo], Kristy [Kinzer], Michaela [Rookus], and Sam [Klaasen].”

Counsell went into the meet ranked 17th in the 200 breaststroke. She shaved three seconds off her previous school record time over the course of the day. She was seeded seventh in the 100 and was able to finish in second. “We are considering ourselves the “underdogs” of the meet.  We have continually moved up from our seed times and made some other teams take some double looks at our performances! We always say “last one fast one”, I sure did swim my last one as my fastest one! So did all of our relays! I couldn’t ask for a meet any better than this one. God has gifted me with reaching all of my goal times at my last meet in college. The four ladies that I am here with have helped me swim as fast as I am swimming.”

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