The NMU men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will be traveling to Grand Rapids, Mich. to compete in the Calvin College Invite on Thursday, Dec. 3 through Saturday, Dec. 5.
The Wildcat men beat the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 162.5-136.5, and the Wildcat women beat Wisconsin-Stevens Point 180-116 and Minnesota State 220-78 on Saturday, Nov. 14.
“Our team swam well at Stevens Point,” head coach Heidi Voigt said.
Junior Rachel Borchardt won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:57.33 and the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:13.51. Freshman Savanna Saunders had victories in the 200 backstroke and 400 individual medley.
Senior Molly Kearney captured both board titles with season-best scores, winning the 1-meter with a 289.65 and the 3-meter with a 294.25.
Freshman Regan Kilburn, freshman Becca Arakelian, senior Crystal Bennet and junior Courtney Konopitski won the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:48.88. Bennet also won the 100 butterfly and the 400 freestyle relay with personal best times.
Freshman Dana Stroven (100 backstroke) and freshman Emily Bell (200 butterfly) were the other NMU victors for the women’s team.
Freshman Grantas Dapkus won the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 9:49.87 and 500 freestyle with a time of 4:51.60. Freshman Ryan Knox-Leonard won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:43.29 and 200 butterfly with a time of 1:55.93.
Freshmen Renars Bundzis, Benjamin Lindberg, Dapkus, Knox-Leonard won the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:10.61.
Graduate Marc Perelló won in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes, and freshman David Miranda won the 100 butterfly and 400 IM.
The Wildcats continue the season with a meet at Calvin College for the Calvin College Invite.
There will be eight teams from Division I, Division II and Division III competing in the meet.
“This invitational is our first big meet of the season,” Kearney said. “This meet, unlike other meets, has prelims and finals so many athletes will have very long competition days.”
The Calvin College Knights are the host of this invitational.
The Knight women’s swimming and diving team are 6-2 for the season with a 1-2 record against NCAA Division II competition.
Freshman Madelyn Smith took first place in the 500 freestyle for the Knights in their last meet, with a time of 5:24.45.
Knight junior Adrienne Wesselius finished first place in the team’s last meet in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:13.83.
The team of senior Megan Schroder, sophomore Rachel Mattson, freshman Alyssa Oezer and sophomore Abby VanHarn finished first in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:39.73 in the team’s last meet.
The Knight men’s swimming and diving team have a 5-2 record this season with a record of 0-2 against NCAA Division II competition.
Leading the Knights this season is sophomore Michael Moentmann, who took first place on 1-meter with a score of 255.30 in the team’s last meet.
The team of senior Mitch Schroder, freshman Nathan Olberding, junior Eli Holstege and sophomore Max DeYoung finished second in the 200 freestyle relay in their last meet with a time of 1:27.96.
“The swimmers are excited for this race because they get to shave and wear their fast swim suits,” Kearney said.
Kearney added that the divers will have their first 11-dive meet at this invitational, so it will be a good experience for the newcomers to have long competition days.
“We are going to have some fun competition and look forward to some more NCAA B cuts,” Voigt said.
