With another year of Hornet athletics coming and going, we've reviewed the best moments of 2015-16 and we're shining a light on them one more time before the 2016-17 year begins.
This week's pick? A total of five women's swimmers and divers qualifying for and competing at the NCAA Championships in Greensboro, N.C.
NCAA Championships Preview
After a strong showing at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships and the NCAA Division III Diving Regionals, the Kalamazoo College women's swimming and diving team is set to send a record five swimmers and divers to the NCAA Division III Championships beginning Wednesday, March 16.
Of the five participants representing the Hornets at Nationals, four will swim and one will dive. All four swimmers return to Nationals after also making an appearance last season.
Representing the Black and Orange
Colleen Orwin headlines the group of four swimmers heading back to Nationals after being named the MIAA's Most Valuable Swimmer at the conclusion of the conference's championships. A Portage, Mich. native, Orwin broke school and MIAA records in two of the three individual events (the 200 IM and 200 butterfly) she'll compete in this week. Orwin will also swim the 100 butterfly.
Also qualifying individually as a swimmer was Tristyn Edsall. A junior from Kentwood, Mich., Edsall won the 50 freestyle at the MIAA Championships for a third consecutive season and qualified for Nationals with a time of 23.61. Similarly to last season, Edsall will also compete in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke this week.
Joining Orwin and Edsall on the trip to Greensboro, N.C. are Christina Park and Ellen Neveux. The group of four combined to break a school and MIAA record in the 200 medley relay at the MIAA Championships on the way to qualifying for Nationals with a time of 1:44.03. The relay group will also compete in the 400 medley, the 200 freestyle and the 400 freestyle.
On the diving side of the championships, Madeline Woods will represent Kalamazoo this week. Woods finished fifth in the three meter board and ninth in the one meter at Regionals, making her one of seven divers to qualify for Nationals from the region.
Coach Kathy Milliken's Thoughts
On the swimmers:
"As a group, I am very proud of their determination and focus in their preparations. As they all went to the meet last year, they now know what to expect and have set higher goals for themselves as a group. I'm extremely excited to see what they can accomplish this year given how well they have trained during these four weeks between the MIAA meet and NCAAs."
On Woods:
"I can't tell you how thrilled I am for Madeline to be competing at NCAAs. Just over a week ago at our team banquet, she was awarded the 'Most Determined' award by her teammates. She worked incredibly hard this year to learn new dives and perfect the others, and everything came together for her at the regional meet two weeks ago."
The Results
Wednesday, March 16
200 Individual Medley – Colleen Orwin - 19th in prelims - 2:05.70
50 Freestyle – Tristyn Edsall - 21st in prelims - 23.64
200 Medley Relay (Park, Neveux, Orwin, Edsall) - 15th in prelims - 1:45.58 - 16th in finals - 1:46.20
Thursday, March 17
200 Freestyle Relay - 26th in prelims - 1:37.48
100 Butterfly – Colleen Orwin - 26th in prelims - 57.11
400 Medley Relay - 19th in prelims - 3:57.41
One meter diving – Madeline Woods - 18th in prelims
Friday, March 18
200 Butterfly – Colleen Orwin - 25th in prelims - 2:06.05
100 Breaststroke – Tristyn Edsall - 25th in prelims - 1:06.01
Saturday, March 19
100 Freestyle – Tristyn Edsall - 46th in prelims - 53.14
400 Freestyle Relay (Park, Owrin, Neveux, Edsall) - 26th in prelims - 3:35.28
Three meter diving – Madeline Woods - 16th in prelims - 394.10 - 16th in finals - 397.15
Previous "Best of 2015-16" Picks
"Football wins Wooden Shoes in season finale"
"Arquette wins Lansing Invite"
"Men's Golf finishes top four"
"Women's Soccer downs No. 24 Hope"
"Four All-MIAA honors for Ewing, Lindquist"
"Women's Lacrosse makes MIAA tournament despite loss"
"Late game heroics lift men's soccer on Homecoming"
"Baseball wins MIAA tournament"