Men’s swimming and diving team loses to Hope, 162-117

The Olivet College men's swimming and diving team opened the dual meet portion of its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) schedule with a 162-117 loss to defending league champion Hope College this afternoon at the Upton Center Pool in Olivet.

Olivet had five individual first-place finishes and both relays finished first. Junior Kellen Beckwith (Farmington Hills/North Farmington) was first in the 100 backstroke (:53.53). Junior Mike Harden (St. Johns) touched the wall first in the 50 freestyle (:22.05).

Freshman Brock Jackson (Sturgis) led a 1-2 Comet finish in the 200 freestyle (1:48.78). Freshman Joel Knight (Battle Creek/Lakeview) clocked-in first in the 100 butterfly (:52.50), while junior Rafe Maxwell (Bay City/Western) led a 1-2 Olivet finish in the 200 butterfly (1:59.86).

The 200 medley relay team of Beckwith, freshman Josh Mauk (Battle Creek/Lakeview), Maxwell and Harden finished in 1:36.99. The most exciting race of the day was the final event, the 400 freestyle relay. Olivet's team of Harden, Beckwith, Jackson and sophomore Austin Munn (Pinckney) out-touched Hope's relay by .16 seconds, 3:14.01-3:14.17.

The Comets also had two runner-up finishes – Jackson in the 100 free (:48.61), junior Rick Kinsey (Chelsea) in the 200 free (1:49.00) and Knight in the 200 butterfly (2:00.13).

Olivet will return to the pool Friday, Nov. 13, when it swims against Ohio Northern University at Hillsdale College.