Calvin College Athletics Program to Join Nation-wide Division III Partnership With Special Olympics
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
By sports information student assistant Andrew Knot
As part of the Division III National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Calvin athletics recently joined a Division III partnership with the United States’ Special Olympic Committee, adding a valuable opportunity to the athletic department’s already service-driven outlook. The SAAC is an NCAA organization tiered at the national, conference, and school level. The national, and governing, branch of the organization, seeks to “to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image,” according to the organization’s website.
Calvin Men’s XC Ranked Number-One/Women Ranked Number-Two in Preseason Great Lakes Regional Polls
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The first set of Division III Great Lakes Regional rankings for men’s and women’s cross country have been released and both Calvin teams are ranked high in the rankings. The Calvin men are ranked number-one in the first men’s Great Lakes poll ahead of Wabash (2), Albion (3), Ohio Wesleyan (4) and Hope (5). On the women’s side, Hope is the top-ranked team in the Great Lakes Region while Calvin is ranked second, Ohio Northern third, Oberlin (Oh.) fourth and DePauw (Ind.) fifth. A year ago, both Calvin teams captured MIAA and Great Lakes Regional titles. At the NCAA III Championships, the Calvin men finished eighth while the Calvin women finished ninth. Both Calvin teams are scheduled to open their seasons on September 17 when the Knights host the annual Knight Invitational at the Gainey Athletic Complex.
2011 Calvin Women’s Cross Country Outlook
Saturday, August 20, 2011
With a powerful one-two punch up front, a solid nucleus of returning veterans and a strong incoming freshmen class, the Calvin women’s cross country team will look to improve upon a 2010 season that included MIAA and Great Lakes Regional crowns as well as a ninth place finish at the NCAA III Championships.
Calvin returns 17 letterwinners from last year’s team including five that received either first or second team All-MIAA recognition. Senior Jodi Hoekstra (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago Christian HS) and junior Alyssa Penning (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) were both named to the All-MIAA first team last year. Together, they formed a dynamic one-two punch up front last fall as Hoekstra was first and Penning second at the 2010 MIAA Cross Country Championships.
