Track and Field Teams Compete at Grand Rapids Open at Houseman Field
Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams had strong performances at the Grand Rapids Open hosted by Aquinas College College Saturday afternoon at Houseman Field. Both teams had impressive showings in the high jump early in the meet as junior Carissa Verkaik won the women’s competition (5-5) while sophomore Matt Christians won the men’s competition (6-6 3/4). Verkaik’s performance came in her first track and field competition of the year. Christians meanwhile cruised through his first three attempts, clearing the bar at 6-3, 6-5 and 6-6 3/4 before barely missing to clear the bar at 6-9. On the track, junior Alyssa Penning got things off with a bang for the women’s team, winning the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 11:30.66. She led a 1-2-3-4 Calvin finish with younger sister Kimby Penning placing second (11:49.97), sophomore Alyssa Oram third (12:03.98) and freshman Paige McMahan fourth (12:19.82). Calvin also took the top two spots in the men’s steeplechase with sophomore Sam Kerk winning in a time of 9:52.05 while sophomore teammate Philip Spitzer was second (9:56.55).
Men’s Tennis Falls to Wheaton 9-0/Defeats Judson 6-3
Saturday, March 31, 2012
WHEATON, IL - The Calvin men’s tennis team split a pair of non-conference matches Saturday afternoon, falling to Wheaton 9-0 and coming back to defeat Judson 6-3. The Knights are now 3-4 overall. In the win over Judson, Calvin won two of the three doubles points and four of the six singles points. Brian DeMaagd and Loukas Peterson teamed up for a win at No. 2 doubles and Jarrod Brower and Vashan Wright for a win at No. 3 doubles. Singles points came from Preston Phillips (No. 2), Philip Reinken (No. 3), Peterson (No. 4) and Tom Griffin (No. 6). Calvin is back in action on Monday when it faces Davenport University in a non-conference match at the East Grand Rapids Canepa Tennis Center.
Women’s Tennis Edged at Kalamazoo by 5-4 Decision
Saturday, March 31, 2012
KALAMAZOO - The Calvin women’s tennis team suffered a hard-fought 5-4 decision at Kalamazoo Saturday afternoon. Kalamazoo took two of the three doubles points and then held on to split the six singles flights to edge the Knights who fall to 2-8 overall and 0-1 in the MIAA. Calvin’s lone doubles point came from Lauren Schlagenhauf and Jordan Ipema at No. 3 doubles with the Knights winning 8-5. In singles play, Samantha Reitsema was a 6-4, 6-4 winner at No. 4 singles, Elise Doezema a 6-2, 6-2 winner at No. 5 singles and Ali Roode a 6-1, 6-0 winner at No. 6 singles. Calvin is back in action next Tuesday when it hosts Alma at 4 p.m.
Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Olivet
Saturday, March 31, 2012
OLIVET - The Calvin baseball team split a doubleheader at Olivet Saturday afternoon, falling 3-0 in the opener before coming back to win game two 2-0. With the doubleheader split, Olivet took three of the four games in the conference series with the Knights who are now 8-10 overall and 3-5 in the MIAA. In game one, Calvin’s offensive attack was stymied by Olivet pitcher Jake Ball who held the Knights to four hits and got out of a sixth-inning jam with a double-play ball. Sophomore Jeff Victor (1-2) took the loss for the Knights. In game two, freshman Nate Schepers tossed his first collegiate shutout, holding Olivet to three hits. Schepers got all the run support he would need in the fourth as freshman Johnathan VanByssum singled in Jake VanAlten to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Calvin added an insurance run in the sixth as VanByssum again drove in VanAlten, this time on a fielder’s choice.Schepers struck out three and walked two in picking up his second victory against one defeat this season.
Softball Drops Pair of Games at Wheaton Invitational
Saturday, March 31, 2012
WHEATON, IL - The Calvin softball team dropped a pair of games at the Wheaton Invitational Saturday afternoon, falling to the University of Chicago 8-0 and to host Wheaton 6-0. In the loss to Chicago, Calvin was limited to four hits. Sophomore Lina Avila (2-5) took the loss. Calvin’s hits came from Christie VanderMeer, Marie Prins, Catherine Hillbrands and Danae Miedema. In the loss to Wheaton, Calvin gave up 12 hits and was credited for three. Trista Brownlee took the loss for the Knights. Picking Up hits for Calvin were Merin Cok, Miedema and Meghan Smith. The Knights are now 5-11 on the year and return to action next Thursday at Saint Mary’s College.
Calvin Men’s Track & Field Team Ranked Sixth/Women’s Track and Field Team Ranked 24th
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The first set of Division III Top 25 computer rankings for outdoor track and field have been released by the United States Track and Field Coaches Association and both Calvin teams are in the top 25. On the men’s side, Calvin is ranked sixth. On the women’s side, Calvin is ranked 24th. Both teams will compete at the Grand Rapids Open on Saturday at Houseman Field with Aquinas College serving as host.
Baseball Drops Both Ends of Doubleheader With Olivet
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Calvin dropped both ends of a doubleheader against visiting Olivet Thursday afternoon at Calvin Field, falling 4-3 and 3-2. Calvin was limited to three hits in game one and four hits in game two. The Knights are now 7-9 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA. Joe Lambers took the game one loss while Grant VanderWall was the losing pitcher in game two. Calvin will travel to Olivet on Saturday for a twinbill slated to start at 1 p.m., closing out the four-game conference series.
A Look Back at the 2012 MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Last month the Calvin men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams competed at the MIAA Championships in Holland. The Calvin women’s team recorded 803.5 points to capture its eighth consecutive MIAA title. Meanwhile the Calvin men’s team recorded a school-record 635 points and captured four individual league titles. Calvin student videographer Mike Zaagman has produced a highlight video of the final three days of competition at the league meet.
Calvin College Swim and Dive Highlights 2012 from Calvin College on Vimeo.
Chris Hughes Departing Calvin Men’s Soccer Program
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
After more than 20 years with the Calvin men’s soccer program including 10 as head coach, Chris Hughes is departing Calvin to take the head men’s soccer coaching position at nearby Davenport University. A 1992 Calvin College graduate, Hughes has fashioned a won-loss record of 154-48-22 (.737) that includes seven MIAA titles and seven trips to the NCAA III Tournament (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011). In 2009, Hughes took Calvin where no soccer team in school history had gone before - all the way to the NCAA III Championship finals as the Knights advanced to the NCAA III Final Four and defeated Dominican University 1-0 in the semifinals before falling to Messiah 2-0 in the finals. This past fall, Calvin again reached the NCAA III Final Four and finished second, bowing to Ohio Wesleyan in the championship game. A search for a replacement for Hughes will begin immediately.
Long Ball Not Enough to Propel Calvin to Victory in Doubleheader With Concordia
Monday, March 26, 2012
By Mark DeHaan
On a sun-filled Monday afternoon, Calvin hosted the Concordia University Cardinals for its season home opener. The Knights entered the doubleheader at 5-7 on the year, while the Cardinals came in at 8-13. Concordia came out on top in both games, winning 6-4 and 6-5. The doubleheader was not without highlights for Calvin as the Knights blasted three homeruns - one by senior Marie Prins in game one and two from sophomore Lina Avila in game two. Avila now has seven homeruns through 12 games. Calvin is back in action on Saturday when it travels to Wheaton for a triangular. Calvin will face both Wheaton and Chicago at the triangular.
