Knight Performs Double Duty
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Lynn Bolt Rosendale
Julia Hilbrands doesn’t like to quit things once she’s started. “I’m a very driven person,” she said. That personality trait is exactly why Hilbrands has found herself in a key role for two highly ranked programs at Calvin—volleyball and basketball. At one time both NCAA III teams were ranked No. 1 in the country, and Hilbrands was technically a member of both.
Danielle Carter Delivers in Clutch for Calvin Women’s Soccer Team
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Troy Ellens ‘15
With 12 incoming freshmen and a pre-season ranking of fifth in the MIAA, the Calvin women’s soccer team did not know what was in store for their 2012 season. It took experienced veterans such as Danielle Carter to help direct the way. Carter, a junior from DeWitt, Mich., has been playing soccer since she was four years old. She was looking for a Division III college that was excellent academically and where she could play soccer.
Nederhoed a Model of Consistency for Calvin Men’s Soccer Program
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Mitch Blankespoor
Not many things keep Dan Nederhood off of the soccer field. During his career at Calvin, Nederhoed started 95 of 98 games wearing the maroon and gold. An injury at the start of his sophomore year held Nederhood out of a three-game trip to Rochester, N.Y. A graduate of East Kentwood (Mich.) High School, Nederhoed chose Calvin primarily because of the soccer program.
Storied Career Ends for Calvin’s Top Scorer
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Mark DeHaan ‘15
The past four years of Calvin women’s basketball have been among the most successful in the history of the program. With a senior class that posted a 100-16 overall record, four trips to the NCAA Tournament and three MIAA championships, the past four years have been something special for the Knights on the hardwood. And while all of this has been done with a very special six-member senior class, senior Carissa Verkaik stands out. The all-time Calvin career leader in points, with 2,236; rebounds, with 1,071; and blocked shots, with 440, Verkaik was named the MIAA MVP all four years of her career, becoming the first player in MIAA women’s basketball history to be so honored four consecutive years. Verkaik is also the MIAA career leader in points in conference games, posting 1,219 points in 64 career MIAA contests.
Snikkers Finishes Career With Goal Attained
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Lynn Bolt Rosendale
“Calvin challenges you a lot,” said Tommy Snikkers, senior forward on the men’s basketball team. “The classes are not easy; the workload is not easy; the sports are not easy. Calvin’s very demanding in all aspects, and that’s something you should embrace if you’re up for the challenge.” Snikkers certainly has. As a three-time All-MIAA first team selection, Snikkers has led the team in scoring each of the last three years. Averaging 13.4 points per game this season, Snikkers led a balanced scoring attack with three other players in double digits for the Knights.
Persistence Pays Off for Calvin Swimmer
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Mitch Blankespoor
Calvin College senior swimmer Mark Rushlow recently concluded his collegiate swimming career at the MIAA swimming and diving championships, but Rushlow has learned much more than just how to swim faster during his four years at Calvin. As a senior at Northridge High School in Goshen, Ind., Rushlow visited Wheaton College (Ill.) with thoughts of attending college there as well as swimming for the Thunder. After deciding that Wheaton was not the place for him, Rushlow went home. A month later, he received a phone call from Calvin head swimming coach Dan Gelderloos.
Calvin Swimmer Refuses to Let Setbacks Derail All-American Career
Sunday, June 02, 2013
By Jeff Febus
As Elizabeth Counsell looks back on her four years as a student-athlete at Calvin, it’s quite apparent that she has frequently chosen a different road and as the poet Robert Frost so eloquently concluded in his classic poem “The Road Not Taken:” “That has made all the difference.” As a senior at Heritage Christian High School in Indianapolis, Ind., Counsell considered attending a larger in-state university where she would give up her swimming career and focus on being a student.
Nicole Michmerhuizen Captures National Title in Women’s 10,000 Meters at NCAA III Championships
Thursday, May 23, 2013
NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships Site
(Photos by Mark Dannenhauer)
LA CROSSE, WISC. - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams produced a dynamic first day of competition at the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday. Junior Nicole Michmerhuizen (Holland/Holland Christian HS) highlighted the day by winning the national title in the 10,000 meters. Calvin also produced a pair of All-America performances in the men’s 10,000 meters as seniors Dan Kerr (Petoskey, Mich.) and Matt Vander Roest (Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Huron HS) were third and eighth respectively. In addition, senior Greg Whittle advanced to the the finals in the men’s 1,500 meters while senior Alyssa Penning (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) did the same in the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase. The title by Michmerhuizen was the 12th individual national title in outdoor track and field by a Calvin women’s track and field athlete. Michmerhuizen is the first to do so in the 10,000 meters however and she did so with vigor Thursday evening as she led from start-to-finish.
Calvin Track and Field Teams Prepare for NCAA III Championships
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
NCAA III Championships Website
(Photo by Bret Otte at NCAA III Championships Banquet)
Eight members of the Calvin track and field program are preparing for NCAA III Championships competition this week at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Representing the men’s team are seniors Dan Kerr (10,000 meters), Matt VanderRoest (10,000 meters and 5,000 meters), and Greg Whittle (1,500 meters), junior Sam Kerk (5,000 meters and 1,500 meters) and sophomore Steven Haagsma (steeplechase). Representing the women’s team are senior Alyssa Penning (steeplechase) and juniors Alyssa Oram (steeplechase) and Nicole Michmerhuizen (10,000 meters and 5,000 meters). Events scheduled for Thursday for Calvin competitors include the men’s and women’s 10,000 meter runs, the prelims of the men’s and women’s steeplechase and the men’s 1,500 meter prelims.
NCAA III TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS LINKS
Mlive.com Calvin College Track & Field Preview
Division III Championships Preview by USTFCCCA
Grant Van Putten Named to All-Region Baseball Teams
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
D3baseball.com All-Region Teams
Calvin College sophomore Grant Van Putten has been named to the D3baseball.com All-Mideast Region second team. In addition, he has been named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Mideast Region third team. A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Van Putten put together a record-breaking year for the Calvin baseball team this spring. Van Putten batted .426 this spring for the Knights while playing a stellar centerfield. Van Putten’s final season average of .426 is the third-highest single-season average in Calvin history, surpassed only by the .442 average of Ken Stuursma in 1987 and the .463 mark of T. J. Cummings in 1994. His season total of 63 hits is also a new Calvin single-season record as is his season total of 23 stolen bases. Van Putten now has 44 career stolen bases and is the Calvin career record holder in that category as well. In addition, his 41 runs scored this spring is the second-highest single-season total in Calvin baseball history. Finally, his total of 85 total bases is also second on the Calvin single-season list.
ABCA Division III All-Mideast Region Teams
