MEN
Brad Melpolder and Austin Bateman won the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke, respectively, in the first half of the meet and it set the tone for Albion College to achieve a 168-125 victory over Hope College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association men’s swimming & diving dual meet inside the Dean Aquatic Center.
“One of the things I outlined with the captains was how I thought this was going to be a close meet,” Albion Coach Jake Taber said. “I didn’t know if we could win any of the first five events. Brad and Austin won those two and it set the tone.”
Melpolder added a first-place finish in the 500 freestyle and he and Bateman joined Derek Bosko and Brian Fiorillo on the winning 400 freestyle relay. Fiorillo also sprinted past the field in the 50 freestyle.
Albion also received a boost when Mike Crinion won both diving events.
“Mike came to me last spring and asked if he could dive even though he had never done it before,” Taber said. “He spent the summer watching You Tube videos and, lo and behold, he knew how to dive. He is a wonderful addition to the team.”
Another good addition to the team has been first-year swimmer Andrew Mattson, who won the 200 butterfly, 200 breaststroke and 400 individual medley.
“A.J. is a workhorse,” Taber said. “He completes a collegiate team because he swims the long individual medley and distance freestyle events. He has a great attitude with four good strokes.”
Adding to Albion’s score were Bosko in the sprint freestyle events (second in the 100 and third in the 50), Blake Blair with second-place performances in the distance freestyle events, Josh Boren with a second-place finish in the 200 butterfly and a third-place showing in the 200 freestyle, Nick Deppner with a runner-up finish in the 100 backstroke and a third-place performance in the 100 butterfly, Charlie Shinske with a runner-up finish in the 200 backstroke, David Huggins with a second-place finish in 3-meter diving, and Landon Lefler with a third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.
The outcome was important to the Albion squad that checked in at No. 20 in the Division III rankings this week.
“The ranking provided a shot in the arm,” Taber said. “The men were into the meet and it made it easier to give more. We weren’t particularly fast, but we raced well.”
Albion will complete the dual meet portion of the season Feb. 1 with a competition at Olivet College.
WOMEN
Anna Hargrove won the 50-yard freestyle and 200 backstroke and Jourden Burke and Laura Steavenson added first-place points in the 100 and 50 freestyle events, respectively, as the Albion College women’s swimming & diving team was defeated by Hope College, 182-116, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association dual meet.
“Anna swims, Anna wins has been the modus operandi this season, but I believe Jourden has been a big story for the team,” Albion Coach Jake Taber said. “She has battled knee issues that have forced her to do different things in training. That was a breakthrough swim in the 100 free because she found a way to win an event where she wasn’t the favorite. I hope it proves how fast she can be.”
It was senior day for the Britons as diver Amy Bell and swimmers Olivia Dynes, Tess Haadsma, Julie Okorn, Claire Van Raaphorst, Alli Wilburn and Lindy Williams competed in the Dean Aquatic Center pool for the final time.
“We were able to do fun things with the 200 medley and 400 free relays comprised of only seniors,” Taber said. “The seniors were able to reflect on when they have done. They are a prideful group that has come a long way in the pool and as people. A couple of the seniors will go on to medical school and a couple of others are going on to careers as educators. It is a dynamic, unique group of seniors that we’re going to miss.”
Steavenson added a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle. Haley DeFeyter (1,000 freestyle), Van Raaphorst (200 butterfly), Kylene Slocum (200 breaststroke), and Okorn (100 butterfly and 400 individual medley) also scored runner-up finishes for Albion.
Albion will complete the dual meet portion of the season Feb. 1 with a competition at Olivet College.
This release was provided to SwimSwam courtesy of Albion College swimmnig and diving.