Men's swimming and diving team finishes in second-place at 2008 MIAA Championships
The Olivet College men’s swimming and diving team has finished in second-place at the 2008 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championships Saturday night, which was held at the Holland Aquatic Center. The Comets had 504.5 points, which was only 38.5 points behind Hope College.
The Olivet College men's swimming and diving team has finished in second-place at the 2008 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championships Saturday night, which was held at the Holland Aquatic Center. The Comets had 504.5 points, which was only 38.5 points behind Hope College. The rest of the top five was Kalamazoo (429), Calvin (239), Albion (225.5) and Alma (148).
Olivet got the final night of competition started with a first-place finish by Steven Davis (Davidsville, Md./DeMatha) in the 1,650 freestyle. His time of 16:16.22 was both a school record and NCAA Championships "B" cut. Jason Wheatley (Portage/Central) and Brian Jaffee (Bowling Green, Ohio) were 4-5 in the 1,650 freestyle with times of 16:51.02 and 16:52.29. Also in the 1650, Sam Jaffee (Bowling Green, Ohio) took seventh, 16:53.36; and Rick Kinsey (Chelsea) was ninth, 17:05.79.
Shawn Bergman (Chelsea) led a 2-4-7 Comet finish in 3-meter diving competition, scoring 404.55 points. Justin Hulsebos (Wayland) was next with 379.70 points, followed by Andrew Wasson (Grand Ledge) with 369.10 points.
Coming off winning the MIAA title in the 100 backstroke on Friday night, Kellen Beckwith (Farmington Hills/North Farmington) finished third in the 200 backstroke (1:56.55). His prelim time of 1:55.48 broke the school record. Swimming in the consolation finals of the 200 backstroke, Koji Takahashi (Etobicoke, Ontario/Silverthorn CI) and Rafe Maxwell (Bay City/Western) placed 10th (2:02.05) and 12th (2:02.64), respectively.
Dustin Meisner (Temperance/Erie Mason) finished third in the 200 breaststroke (2:10.18). Ryan Key (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Prep) was right behind in fourth (2:10.85), while Zach McMunigal (Grand Blanc/Flint Powers Catholic) was eighth (2:17.56).
With a third-place finish In the 200 butterfly, Maxwell set a school record with a time of 1:56.23. Other finishers in the 200 butterfly were Davis (5th, 1:59.33) and Takahashi (7th, 2:00.11). Brad Voss (Lansing/Holt) clocked-in at 46.91 seconds to place sixth in the 100 freestyle, while Mitch Powers (Kalamazoo/Central) placed 12th. During the morning prelims, Voss broke the school record, touching the wall in 46.79 seconds.
In the final event, 400 freestyle relay, Voss, Nathan Busscher (Hamilton/Holland Christian), Key and Wheatley was third (3:11.85).