Men's Swimming and Diving 2/18/2022 12:00:00 AM

Ben Catton Sets Two MIAA and School Records; Men's Swim/Dive Makes Up Ground on Calvin

In a pool he grew up in, Ben Catton made an unforgettable splash for a Hope College men's swimming and diving team seriously contending for a league title.

The sophomore from Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS) set meet records and school records in two events on Friday.

Ben Catton poses for a headshot photo Catton, who swam at the Holland Aquatic Center at the club and high school level, was among four event winners for the Flying Dutchmen, who 18 points off Calvin University's lead after three days of the MIAA Championships. Calvin has 703 points to Hope's 682 heading into the finale of the four-day meet on Saturday. Feb. 19.

Sensational performances from Catton, pictured left, during prelims and the finals in the 100-yard butterfly and 100 backstroke rank among the fastest in NCAA Division III this season.

"He's worked really hard. In the spring season, the summer season, the preseason and the regular season," head coach Jake Taber said of Catton. "He's one of those who is really motivated and working very hard for the success he earns. It is so awesome to see the work come in and to see times representative of it."

Catton opened Friday's sessions by clocking 100 butterfly swims of 48.06 seconds during prelims and 47.40 during the finals. He cruised past the 2018 meet record of 48.29 held by Albion College's Nate Kozycki and his own 2021 school record of 48.37.

Heading into week, Catton's time would rank the third-fastest in NCAA Division III.

In the 100 backstroke, Catton eclipsed meet and school records in the finals with a clip of 48.54 that would be the 11th fastest in the nation this season. He passed the 2009 MIAA record of 48.56 held by Paul Ellis and his own 2021 school record of 49.94.

Amazingly, Catton swam faster in the finals in two unique events.

"I think there was a little bit of weight that was lifted this morning," Taber said. "I think he felt really comfortable and confident there was more in there and the fact that his morning swim put him in position to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Any potential distractions went away. He zeroed right in and executed his swims."

Catton was joined by three teammates who scored in the 100 butterfly. Freshman Joel Cummins took fifth in 50.45. Junior JT Nissen won the consolation race in 51.27 for ninth place. Junior Ted Lockett was 10th in 51.41.

In the 100 backstroke, freshman Colin Kalkman finished third in 49.99.

Hope also claimed MIAA titles in the 100 breaststroke and 400 individual medley.

The Flying Dutchmen recorded five of the fastest six times in the 100 breaststroke and collected 62 points.

Christian Dunaitis poses for a headshot photo Freshman Christian Dunaitis (Commerce Township, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central), pictured right, led the fantastic five with a first-place time of 55.74 seconds.

Lockett followed in third at 56.22. Sophomore Reilly LeGrand recorded a fourth-place tie of 57.25. Junior Jack Muller finished fifth in 57.43. Sophomore Jake Peterson was sixth at 57.93.

"I think it's motivating," Taber said of the rare occurrence of five swimmers from the same team qualifying for the championship finals in the same race. "I think a lot of people were scratching their heads why Jake Peterson wasn't in the 200 IM and was in the 100 breaststroke instead. We felt being the underdogs in this meet we needed to take a few chances. That was a calculated risk that we felt pretty good about that might have flown under the radar.

"The guys did a great job competing in that event tonight. Fortunately, Christian ended up getting his hand on the wall first there."

Conor East poses for a headshot photo In the 400 IM, sophomore Conor East (Farmington Hills, Michigan / North Farmington), pictured left, captured the MIAA title with a swim of 4:00.24.

Three of East's teammates also scored: freshman Dallas Fisher in sixth at 4:09.98, Peterson in seventh at 4:11.93, and junior Theo Duong in 12th at 4:16.19.

"He just quietly goes about his business and does so many things well," Taber said of East. "He works hard. Conor is one of those guys who loves the moment to come to him. He's got this calm confidence about him. It was a great swim."

Hope set a school record in the 200 medley relay. Fisher, Dunaitis, Catton and Cummons clocked a runner-up time of 1:30.28. They passed the 2009 school record of 1:32.17 set by Mitch Ruch, Brandon King, Ryan Nelis, and Ryan Vogelzang.

The Flying Dutchmen added more points with a 10th-place finish in the event. Peterson, Lockett, East, and Nissen finished in 1:34.30.

Hope recorded five scoring swims in the 200 freestyle, including runner-up and freshman Connor Halberg, who went 1:39.23. Sophomore Bailey Smith took fifth in 1:41.92 and was filled by freshman Joey Grasman in fifth at 1:42.35, freshman Alex Boersema in eighth at 1:43.20, and junior Jackson Uyl in 12th at 1:44.72.

In 3-meter diving, sophomore Ewan Tiongson placed third with an 11-dive total of 445.65 points. Junior Joey Gillengerten was ninth with 278.20 points.

Saturday's preliminaries begin at 10 a.m. Finals start at 5 p.m.

Albion College is in third place with 501 points and followed by Kalamazoo College (268), Olivet College (251), and Alma College (140).