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Athletic achievement wrap-up
By Mike Roorda
Sports Editor
FILE PHOTO
Katie Nagelkirk, Calvin's swimming All-American.
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The academic prowess of Calvin isn’t necessarily a well-guarded secret. We often brag about the caliber of our education and point to our academic statistics as proof. All too often the assumption goes that strength in the classroom leads to wimps out on the fields and on the courts. Simply saying that we’re studious and well-rounded students seems to drum up pictures of pale white kids with oversized horn-rimmed glasses debating the various theorems of abstract mathematics and trading “Star Wars” cards rather than practicing their moves on the basketball court and hitting the weight room. To the best of my knowledge, however, Calvin seems to be a refreshing departure from this painful stereotype. With both solid scholasticism and sports teams that continue to be a force to be reckoned with in their individual fields, Calvin seems to dispel the whole “smart people get picked last in dodge-ball” assumption. Lest you think I’m simply shamelessly promoting the department I’m affiliated with, let’s take a look at some of the records and accolades that were made and handed out while the rest of us were struggling to get tans and move as few muscles as possible on spring break. Bear in mind that I don’t actually have access to the athlete’s GPAs but the fact that they can maintain successful academics and sports at the same time, is a feat in and of itself.
We begin with swimming and the accomplishments that the men and women of the natatorium managed over the last few weeks. Senior Katie Nagelkirk immediately comes to mind when matters of swimming are discussed. Nagelkirk made short work of her own school record in the 200 meter freestyle as she broke one that she set only a month ago at the MIAA Championships. Her previous record stood at 1:54.90; the new one, setting up a chance for her to compete in the NCAA III Championship finals, came in at 1:53.73. Not to be outdone, freshman phenom Abby Johnson also rose to the occasion and put holes in one of her previous school records on the same night as well. Her former record of 59.57 in the 100 meter butterfly, set this previous January, fell to the new time of 59.15. As a freshman competing on such a tough talent plane, Johnson has consistently put out numbers that would make seasoned senior veterans stop and take notice. She’s got three more years to improve on already stellar times, so she should be one to watch carefully in the swimming program over the next few years.
Later on at the NCAA III Championship finals, Nagelkirk continued to impress and push herself beyond where she had been able to go previously. Not only did she place 11th in the 100 meter freestyle, but she also snagged the individual All-American recognition for the 200 meter freestyle that so evaded her last year by a hairsbreadth. She is now only the fourth person in Calvin’s history to earn All-American recognition.
For the men in the water, junior Brad White of triathlon fame, stands set apart as well. On the opening night of the NCAA III Championship his talent-stacked relay team of sophomore Peter Boumgarden and seniors Ryan Johnson and A.J. Penninga set a new school record in the 200 freestyle relay with a new time of 1:24.75, just four-hundredths of a second ahead of the previous school record. White also went on to tie his previous school record in the 50 meter freestyle with a time of 21.13.
The men’s team also finished with their second best placing ever at the nationals in 12th place and 111 points.
For the men’s basketball team, the indefatigable Jeremy Veenstra rises to the top of the pile yet again. For the third year running Veenstra was named to the Great Lakes All-Region first team. Veenstra’s 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game spoke for themselves and contributed to the award. Veenstra also made the All-MIAA first team for the fourth straight year. He joins the exclusive club of only six other people in MIAA history to pull such a feat off. At Calvin, Veenstra finished third in overall points with 1,947 points, second in rebounds with 897, third in assists 329 and fourth in blocked shots with 124. A diverse and talented player, Veenstra has long been Calvin’s wonderboy of the basketball court and will be leaving us and graduating at the end of this year. Fittingly, as he leaves, D3hoops.com has appointed him All-America honors for the fourth year running, a testament to his consistent and talented performance.
The men and women’s track teams also posted impressive wins over break as well. The men sprinted their way to first place out of 17 teams at the Emory Springtime Invitational. The women also placed first at the same invitational but were in competition with 18 other teams. With too many first places to mention, the track and field team has proven that it isn’t to be trifled with and more than made a solid mark for itself early in the season.
Spring sports are just underway, and while these marks are impressive, more remain yet to be seen and made. By not attending the games and meets you may rob yourself of the opportunity to see some history in the making and further records being broken. Calvin’s Knights stride on towards both intellectual and athletic excellence, proving once and for all that smart kids are worth more than their brains alone.
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