No. 19-Ranked Men's Swim/Dive Wins Two Events During Day 1 of West Michigan Invite

The 19th-ranked Hope College men's swimming and diving team sits in second place after the first session of the West Michigan Invite on Friday at the Holland Aquatic Center.

NCAA Division II Davenport University won three of the five swimming events and leads the field with 352.5 points, while Hope (324.5 points) captured the other two events. Wabash College (Indiana), and Kalamazoo College are also competing in the meet, which moves to the Kalamazoo College Natatorium on Saturday for the final two sessions.

The Flying Dutchmen opened the session with a come-from-behind victory in the 200 freestyle relay, with sophomore Josh Bordovsky (Herndon, Virginia / South Lakes HS), freshman George Marsh (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan / Seaholm), senior Colin Kalkman (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian), and sophomore Graham Eisenmann (Ozark, Missouri / Ozark) combining for a time of 1:24.79, the ninth-fastest mark in Division III this season.

Eisenmann overcame a .07 second deficit in the final 50 yards, swimming a 20.46 split in the anchor leg to outpace Davenport's Grant Sandstedt and secure first place by .27 seconds.

Eisenmann followed up that performance with a victory in the 50 freestyle, posting a season-best 21.23 to top the field. Marsh just missed the podium with a time of 21.77, .03 seconds shy of Davenport's Mitch Dickey.

In the 500 freestyle, Davenport recorded a podium sweep, while freshman Joe Engle (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) was Hope's top finisher, placing fourth with a time of 4:46.03.

In the 200 individual medley, Bordovsky finished second, touching the wall in 1:57.31.

In the 400 medley relay, the team of Kalkman, freshman Luke Newcomb (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton), sophomore Nick Suranyi (Novi, Michigan / Novi), and Eisenmann placed fourth with a time of 3:31.10 as Davenport captured the top three spots.

Hope continues the West Michigan Invite on Saturday, Nov. 2, traveling to Kalamazoo for a morning session at 11 a.m., followed by an afternoon session at 3 p.m.

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