by Eva Dean Folkert
A number of top-ten finishes, both event and all-time, highlighted the conclusion of the Kenyon College Invitational for the No. 20 Hope College men's swimming and diving team on Saturday.
The Flying Dutchmen claimed fourth place overall with 1,083 points at the three-day meet in Gambier, Ohio. Host Kenyon won the six-team event with a total of 3,048 points.
On the last night of the meet, four Hope swimmers, one diver, and a relay team put in quality performances for the Flying Dutchmen.
Leading the Flying Dutchmen with the top individual spot on the night was senior diver Kamaron Wilcox (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central), pictured top, who finished in second place on the 1-meter board with 451.60 points, an NCAA regional qualifying cut.
On the swim side, sophomore Conor East (Farmington Hills, Michigan / North Farmington) took fifth in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:52.28.
In the 200 backstroke, freshman Colin Kalkman (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) and sophomore Ben Catton (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) finished sixth and eighth, respectively, with times of 1:50.51 and 1:51.39.
Freshman Christian Dunaitis (Commerce Township, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) claimed ninth place in the 200 breaststroke by clocking in at 2:06.45.
The 400 freestyle relay team of Catton, Kalkman, freshman Conner Halberg (Novi, Michigan / Northville) and freshman Joel Cummins (Osceola, Indiana / Penn) raced into eighth place with a 3:06.15 time.
Hope also saw several swimmers enter Hope's All-Time Top Ten list in several events with their swims at the multi-day Kenyon Invite.
- Kalkman joined Hope's All-Time Top Ten in four events: fifth in the 100 butterfly (50.25); fourth in the 100 backstroke (51.17); third in the 200 backstroke (1:50.51); and ninth in the 200 individual medley (1:54.35).
- Dunaitis took his spot in two Hope top-ten lists: fifth in 100 breaststroke (56.70), and fifth in the 200 breaststroke (2:06.45).
- Catton also moved into the top-ten all-time on two Hope lists: ninth in the 50 freestyle (20.94) and sixth in the 200 backstroke (1:51.39).
- East is sixth all-time in the 400 individual medley (4:05.96).
- Ted Lockett (Cincinnati, Ohio / St. Xavier) swam into eight place all-time in the 200 breastrstroke (2:08.40).
- Reilly LaGrand (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) stands at ninth all-time in the 100 breaststroke (58.11).
"It was a great meet for both of our teams (men's and women's)," Taber said. "In many ways we saw some of the best swimmers and divers in the country and we swam up. I feel like we're prepared for leagues and even nationals because of it. And it being a three-day meet was one of the reasons for that. We got a good look at things. We stepped up and rose to the occasion, and I think we're better because of this weekend."
