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Calvin College Wins MIAA Commissioner’s Cup!!!
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
For the first time since the 1999-2000 academic year, Calvin College has won the outright MIAA Commissioner’s Cup. Calvin finished the year with 216 points, finishing ahead of rival Hope which earned 205 points. At the conclusion of the 2007-08 year, Calvin and Hope shared the Commissioner’s Cup as the two schools tied for first place. Hope had since won the last four outright titles. The MIAA Commissioner’s Cup award is based on the cumulative performance of each member school in the league’s 20 sports for men and women. The final Commissioner’s Cup standings is determined on the basis of each college’s standings in eight of 10 sports for men and eight of 10 sports for women. The Commissioner’s Cup (All-Sports Award) has been presented since 1934-35. Hope has won the award 34 times, followed by Kalamazoo 15, Albion 14, Calvin 9 and Alma 5. In addition, Calvin took first place in the MIAA Men’s All-Sports standings with 102 points, finishing ahead of Hope which tallied 93. Calvin also took first place in the MIAA Women’s All-Sports standings with 114 points, edging Hope by two points. The 2012-13 academic year was an historic one for the Calvin athletics program as it captured an MIAA record 12 conference titles including 10 that were outright league crowns. Calvin competes in 19 of the 20 MIAA-sponsored sports. The Knights do not compete in football.
Carissa Verkaik Named Michigan Female College Athlete of Year by Detroit Athletic Club
Monday, May 06, 2013
Calvin College senior Carissa Verkaik will head to Detroit next week. This afternoon, the two-sport standout was named the recipient of the 2013 Michigan Female College Athlete of the Year by the Detroit Athletic Club (DAC). A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik is the third individual in Calvin athletics history to receive the award. Lisa Winkle (basketball, track & field) was the inaugural DAC Female College Athlete of the Year in 2006 with Becky Weima (swimming) receiving the same honor in 2007. The honors, recognizing both academic and athletic excellence, will be presented during this year’s 17th Annual DAC Athletic Awards at 7 p.m. on May 13 at the DAC. The event continues the Club’s tradition of supporting athletics in the community and will benefit the Foundation’s mission. A total of six female and six male high school nominees as well as one female and one male college athlete are selected each year.
Calvin Track & Field Teams Wrap Up MIAA Titles - 11th and 12th Conference Crowns of Year for Knights
Friday, May 03, 2013
HOLLAND - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams were in no sharing mood on Friday at the MIAA Field Day. Both teams took first place on Friday and in doing so, captured outright MIAA titles - both achieving the feat together for the first time since 2010. The MIAA titles are the 11th and 12th of the 2012-13 academic year for Calvin College - a new MIAA record. On the women’s side, Calvin produced a first place total of 273.5 points with Hope second with 189 points. The league title is the 24th consecutive crown for the Knights which marks the longest active championship streak in MIAA women’s athletics history. On the men’s side, Calvin recorded a first place total of 232.5 points which Hope second with 179.5 points. The league title is the 37th in Calvin men’s track and field history - more than any other MIAA member school.
Calvin Track and Field Teams Move Into First Place at MIAA Field Day
Thursday, May 02, 2013
HOLLAND - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams moved into first place on the first day of competition at the MIAA Field Day hosted by Hope College. The MIAA Field Day is worth one-half of the final league crown. The MIAA Jamboree - held three weeks ago - makes up the remaining half. Both Calvin teams took first place at the earlier MIAA Jamboree. Through one day of competition, the Calvin men’s team has 72 points, 38 points ahead of Hope while the Calvin women’s team has 62.5 points with Alma second with 58 points.Ranked 24th nationally, the Calvin men took first place in just one event on Thursday but flashed strong depth throughout the day to pile up an early first place point total. Senior David VandeBunte led the charge by winning the 10,000 meters in a time of 31:17.38. On the women’s side, Calvin took first place in two events Thursday. Senior Carissa Verkaik got the day rolling by winning the high jump for the third consecutive year, doing so with a jump of 5-3. She was one of three Calvin high jumpers to score points as sophomore Christina Geating was second and sophomore Kelley Tuinenga seventh. Action continues on Friday at 10 a.m.
Michmerhuizen Named Division III National Women’s Runner of the Week by USTFCCCA
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
For the first time in her collegiate career, Calvin College junior Nicole Michmerhuizen has been named the Division III National Runner of the Week by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association. Michmerhuizen (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) ran one of Division III’s all-time best 10,000 meter races at the Hillsdale College Gina Relays, powering to a 34:09.96 — the seventh-fastest time in division history. Her torrid pace propelled her to victory by more than 10 seconds over a field with mixed DI, DII and DIII talent and to the 2013 division lead by nearly a full minute. Most remarkable is the fact that her 16:55 second half of the race would have stood alone as the fifth-best performance at 5000 meters in DIII this season, never mind the fact that she ran another 5000 meters before that point. Her time broke a 26-year-old Gina Relays record of 34:41.61 set in 1987 by Eastern Michigan’s Julie Watson; and it crushed the previous Calvin school record of 35:44..36 set in 2007 by Christina Overbeck by more than a minute and a half. Hers is the fastest DIII 10,000 meters race since Toni Wiszowaty of Plattsburgh State ran 33:57.48 at the Penn Relays in 2008.
Michmerhuizen and Meckes Receive Weekly Track and Field Honors From MIAA
Monday, April 29, 2013
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced its Athletes of the Week in track and field through April 27. Calvin’s Nicole Michmerhuizen has been named MIAA Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, while Calvin’s Aaron Meckes (men) has been chosen MIAA Men’s Field Athletes of the Week. Michmerhuizen, a junior from Holland (Holland Christian HS), broke a 26-year-old meet record in the women’s 10,000 meters by more than 30 seconds at the Hillsdale Gina Relays, winning in a school record time of 34:09.96. She smashed the Calvin school record in the event by an incredible 1 minute, 34.4 seconds.
Michmerhuizen is being honored as Track Athlete of the Week for the second time this season and in her career. Her time was the seventh-fastest in NCAA Division III women’s track and field history. Meckes, a senior from Bay City (Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS), won the shot put with a toss of 51 feet, 0-1/4 inch and placed third in the discus with a season-best throw of 158 feet, 9 inches at the Ernie Mousseau Classic at Aquinas. He is being honored as Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this season and fifth time in his career.
Calvin Track and Field Teams Have Strong Performances at Ernie Moussea Classic
Saturday, April 27, 2013
A group of Calvin College track and field athletes competed at the Ernie Mousseau Classic hosted by Aquinas on Saturday at Houseman Field. Highlights for the Calvin men included sophomore Calvin Kuyers winning the 400 meter hurdles with a season-best time of 54.47 with freshman teammate Joel Ooms taking second in 57.21. Senior Aaron Meckes had a season-best toss of 158-9 in taking third in the discus while also winning the shot put with a throw of 51-0 1/4. Sophomore Erik Holstege also took second in the 110 high hurdles (15.69). Junior Andrew Dykstra also won the javelin with a toss of 168-8. On the women’s side, junior Hilary Banning won the triple jump (35-7 3/4) and long jump (17-0). Senior Carissa Verkaik won the high jump (5-5) while freshman Natalie Kmet had a season-best throw of 37-2 1/2 that was good for second place. Sophomore Breanna Verkaik had a career-best time in winning the 400 meter hurdles in 1:05.77. Sophomore Rebecca Vanderbyl was second in the 400 meters (1:01.26) and sophomore Julie Busscher second in the 200 meters (25.73). Both Calvin teams will now prepare for the MIAA Field Day next Thursday and Friday at Hope College.
Michmerhuizen Shatters 10,000 Meter Record - Calvin Distance Crew Runs Wild at Hillsdale
Friday, April 26, 2013
HILLSDALE - A group of Calvin College distance runners once again ran wild at the Hillsdale Gina Relays. The meet has often been a mecca for big performances for Calvin’s distance crew and Friday night proved to be no different.Junior Nicole Michmerhuizen (Holland/Holland Christian HS) highlighted the evening with a remarkable performance in the 10,000 meters. Michmerhuizen won the race with a meet and Calvin record time of 34:09.96. The time broke the previous Hillsdale Gina Relays women’s 10K record of 34:41.61 set by Eastern Michigan’s Julie Watson in 1987. It also broke the previous Calvin record of 35:44.36 set by Christina Overbeck in 2007. In addition, the time is the seventh-fastest in Division III women’s track and field history. Michmerhuizen’s performance was one of several standout performances for the Maroon and Gold on Friday.
Calvin Track and Field Teams Have Solid Performances at Al Owens Classic
Saturday, April 20, 2013
ALLENDALE - Forced to move inside because of cold, icy conditions, the Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams still put together a solid day of performances at the Al Owens Invitational hosted by Grand Valley State on Saturday inside the Kelly Family Sports Center. In the women’s competition, junior Julie Busscher (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) had a stellar day, finishing third in the 60 meter dash (8.02) and second in the 200 meters (25.88). In the 800 meters, junior Rachel Folkema (Renfrew, ON/Collegiate Institute) and junior Olivia Butler (Grant/Grant HS) tied for third in a time of 2:16.41 while sophomore Breanna Verkaik (Holland/Holland Christian HS) took fifth in 2:16.66. In the 1,500 meters, senior Kaylea Brase (Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial HS) was fifth (4:43.96). Field events were also a strength for the Calvin women’s team as junior Lauren Madden (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian HS) took first in the javelin (111-5). On the men’s side, sophomore Erik Holstege (Kewsic, VA/Monticello HS) had himself a day, winning the 60 meter hurdles in a time of 8.53. Sophomore Calvin Kuyers (Lansing/Lansing Christian HS) also sparkled, taking third in 39.35). Sophomore Josh Ferguson (Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley HS) capped off the meet for the Maroon and Gold by winning the 3,000 meters (8:50.28). Both Calvin teams will now prepare for the Hillsdale Relays next weekend.
Calvin’s Busscher and Meckes Receive Weekly Honors from MIAA in Track & Field
Monday, April 15, 2013
A pair of Calvin College track and field athletes have received weekly honors from the MIAA. Calvin’s Julie Busscher has been named the MIAA Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, while Calvin’s Aaron Meckes has been chosem MIAA Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. Busscher, a junior from Hudsonville (Unity Christian HS), won the 100-meter dash in :12.84 and the 200-meter dash in :26.21 to help lead Calvin to a first-place showing at the MIAA Jamboree at Olivet. She also was part of the Knights’ winning 4x100-meter relay and their 4x400-meter relay team that placed second. Busscher is being honored as Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career. 
Meckes, a senior from Bay City (Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS), won the shot put with a toss of 49 feet, 6-1/4 inches at the MIAA Jamboree. He also took second in the discus with a throw of 149 feet, 4 inches. Meckes is being honored as Athlete of the Week for the first time this season and fourth time in his career. Both Calvin track and field teams return to action this weekend, competing at the Al Owens Classic at Grand Valley State University.
