Swimming and diving teams split dual meets with Calvin

The Olivet College swimming and diving teams split Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) dual meets with Calvin College tonight at the Upton Center Pool in Olivet. The men beat the Knights, 127-85, while the women fell, 118-111.

The Comet men had the fastest time in 10-of-11 swimming events and the top score in both diving events. They got off to a great start with the 200 medley relay team of sophomore Kellen Beckwith (Farmington Hills/North Farmington), freshman Zach Burgess (Holt), sophomore Mike Harden (St. Johns) and freshman Jon Bachman (Battle Creek/Lakeview) clocking-in at 1:42.55.

Senior Steven Davis (Davidsville, Md./DeMatha) completed the 1,650 freestyle in 16:54.19. Harden led a 1-2 Olivet finish in the 200 freestyle. He finished in 1:51.63, while freshman Austin Munn (Pickney) was second in 1:52.73.

In the 50 freestyle, the Comets took the top three spots, led by Bachman with a time of 22.99 seconds, followed by senior Brian Johnson (Lansing/Everett) and Burgess in 23.46 and 23:73 seconds, respectively.

Olivet also had a 1-2-3 finish in the 200 individual medley. Freshman Michael Conger (Plymouth) was first in 2:04.09, followed by sophomore Rafe Maxwell (Bay City/Western) in 2:04.40 and Beckwith in 2:09.43.

Seniors Andrew Wasson (Grand Ledge) and senior Shawn Bergman (Chelsea) were first and second, respectively, on the one-meter diving board. Wasson had 243.95 points, while Bergman tallied 240.70 points.

Maxwell placed first in the 200 butterfly (2:00.59). Munn was the top finisher in the 100 freestyle (:49.31). Beckwith finished first in the 200 backstroke (2:03.36). Conger had the fastest time in the 500 freestyle (5:01.20).

The finish on the three-meter board was the opposite of the one-meter, as Bergman had the most points (299.90), followed by Wasson (236.00). The 200 freestyle relay team of Harden, Maxwell, Bachman and Munn recorded the quickest time in 1:30.16.

The Olivet women posted four first-place finishes. The first winner was freshman Jessica Howard (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead), who took top honors in the 1,650 freestyle (18:40.75). Freshman Megan Waschak (Battle Creek) broke the pool and school record on the one-meter diving board with 259.15 points.

Senior Lisa Egelkraut (Battle Creek/Central) finished in first-place in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:35.98. Senior Heather Michalsen (Plymouth) paced Olivet to a 1-2-3 finish in the 200 breaststroke. Her time was 2:45.52, followed by senior Kalee Redder (Jenison) in 2:50.70 and freshman Caitlin Lohr (Holland/Hamilton) in 2:51.14. Junior Jackie Taylor (Plainwell) placed second in the 200 individual medley (2:25.86) and 100 freestyle (:56.86).

The Comets will rest tonight and then travel for dual meets tomorrow at Hillsdale College. The women will swim against the host Chargers and Ohio Northern University (ONU), while the men will swim against ONU. Action at the John "Jack" McAvoy Natatorium gets under way at 1 p.m.