Carissa Verkaik Named Recipient of MIAA’s Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar-Athlete Award
Friday, June 14, 2013
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Awards by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association to the outstanding senior athletes from its member schools during the 2012-13 academic year have been announced by Commissioner David Neilson. Cory Schmidt of Hope College has received the Albert L. Deal Scholar-Athlete Award, while Carissa Verkaik of Calvin College has been presented the Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar-Athlete Award. The awards recognize senior class athletes who have excelled in academics and athletics, as well as displayed outstanding leadership in their respective communities. The awards honor two former MIAA commissioners, Albert Deal (1971-91) and Sheila Wallace Kovalchik (1991-2002). Verkaik is the seventh individual from Calvin to receive the Kovalchik Award as Annie VanderLaan (2003), Christine Hendricks (2006), Lisa Winkle (2007), Sarah Wittingen (2008), Melissa Oosterhouse (2011) and Rebecca Kamp (2012) were all previously so honored.
Calvin’s Mitch Blankespoor Named Co-Recipient of Renner Associate SID Award
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the winners of the Renner Associate SID Award. Mitch Blankespoor, a student assistant in Calvin College’s sports information office, and Forrest Tarsa, a student assistant in Hope College’s sports information office, share this year’s Renner Award. The Renner Award honors outstanding efforts by student assistants in sports information offices at MIAA schools. Tom Renner of Hope College, who is concluding his SID position at Hope after 47 years on July 1.
Calvin Finishes 15th in Final Division III Learfield Director’s Cup Standings
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Final Director's Cup Standings
For the 18th consecutive year, Calvin has posted a top 25 finish in the final NCAA III Learfield Sports Directors Cup standings, finishing 15th in the nation in Division III in 2012-13 with a total of 651.0 points. Calvin is one of only six schools in the country to finish in the top 25 every year that the competition has been held at the NCAA III level.Joining Calvin in that elite group are Williams, Mass., Amherst, Mass., Middlebury, Vt., the State University of New York at Cortland and Emory, Ga. Williams won the title as the best athletics program in the nation in Division III by winning with a score of 1,273.75 points. The Cup is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and Learfield Sports to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country, and is based on points earned by teams that compete in NCAA Championship events.
Calvin Lands Four on Capital One Academic All-District Cross Country/Track & Field Teams
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Four members of the Calvin men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams have received Division III Capital One Academic All-District honors. Seniors Dan Kerr, Greg Whittle and Job Christiansen have been named to the All-District 6 team on the men’s side while junior Nicole Michmerhuizen has been selected to the All-District 6 team on the women’s side. As members of the all-district teams, all four individuals advance to the national ballot and are eligible for Capital One Academic All-America consideration.
Kevin Van Haitsma Named Head Coach of Calvin Women’s Tennis Program
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Kevin Van Haitsma has been named the head coach of the Calvin women’s tennis program. Van Haitsma takes over the reins from Dr. Jerry Bergsma who will remain at Calvin as its head women’s golf coach and as a professor in the Calvin kinesiology department. A 2005 Calvin College graduate, Van Haitsma is no stranger to the Calvin tennis program. While a student at Calvin, he was a four-year member of the Calvin men’s tennis, earning a spot on the All-MIAA first team in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Van Haitsma was a three-year starter at No. 1 singles before suffering an off-season injury prior to his senior year. Courageously, Van Haitsma fought back to not only play his senior year in 2005, but also work his way up to the No. 2 singles spot. His comeback story was profiled on the Calvin website at: Kevin Van Haitsma Knightfile Story Van Haitsma was graduated from Calvin in 2005 with a double major of business and physical education. He is a native of Hudsonville and a graduate of Hudsonville Unity Christian High School. He later served as an assistant coach with the Calvin women’s tennis team under Bergsma from November of 2005 through the conclusion of the 2009 season.
Whittle Claims All-America Berth in 1,500 Meters at NCAA III Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Saturday, May 25, 2013
LA CROSSE, WISC. - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams closed out competition at the NCAA III Championships with one additional NCAA All-America performance as senior Greg Whittle took fifth in the 1,500 meters. The Knights had four other runners compete on Saturday but the remaining four were unable to score. In the 1,500 meters, Whittle (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg HS) took fifth with a career-best time of 3:49.48. Whittle’s time is also the second-fastest in Calvin track and field history, surpassed only by the 3:48.13 run by Dave Sydow in 1992. The All-America berth is the third of Whittle’s track and field career and his second in the 1,500 meters. Whittle took fourth in the 1,500 meters at the 2011 NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He was also the national runner-up in the mile run at the 2011 NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships. He is the third individual in Calvin men’s track and field history to be a two-time NCAA III All-American in the 1,500 meters, joining Sydow (1990, 1991 and 1992) and Lee Doherty (1997 and 1999). Calvin finished tied for 19th in the final men’s team standings with 11 points while host Wisconsin-La Crosse took the team title with 66 points. On the women’s side, Calvin finished tied for 26th with 10 points. Wartburg won the women’s team title with 46 points.
Calvin Men’s All-Time Track and Field All-Americans
All-Time Calvin Women’s Track and Field All-Americans
Shift in Athletic Seasons Pays off For Calvin Distance Runner
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Mark DeHaan
It was a shift in athletic seasons that allowed junior Nicole Michmerhuizen to first try cross country as a sophomore at Holland (Mich.) Christian High School. When Michigan moved girls high school basketball from the fall to the winter in 2007, Michmerhuizen, a basketball player in her freshman year, decided to pick up cross country as her fall sport.
Sarkipato Gains Life Lessons During Calvin Men’s Golf Career
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Mitch Blankespoor
Four short years ago, a freshman named Dave Sarkipato came to Calvin with the hopes of being the star on Calvin’s golf team. Fast-forward to the present day. Sarkipato, now a senior, still strives to be the best golfer he can be, but the team’s goals come before his own. Sarkipato played mainly tennis growing up. It wasn’t until high school that he picked up golf.
Talented Freshman Bolsters Women’s Golf Team
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Jordan Brink
Calvin women’s golf is coming off a fall season in which it finished fourth in the MIAA and one of the reasons for the team’s success was the freshmen class, led by Casey Harkema. With a season average of 88.5 strokes-per-round and a 16th-place finish in the final MIAA standings, Harkema played a valuable role as a newcomer to the women’s golf program.
Calvin Runner Continues Family Running History
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Jeff Febus
With arms and legs churning furiously, Job Christiansen is a sight to watch on the cross country course. In short, the Calvin senior gives it his all. “I’ve had coaches from around the country tell me, ‘Wow. I wish I had a team full of runners who gave that kind of effort,’” said Calvin head cross country coach Brian Diemer. “Job is the kind of guy who never gives less than his best, and his leadership to our team throughout his career has been incredible. He’s a quiet guy but when he talks in person or writes something to our team on e-mail, people pay attention.”
