Sam Ankley of the Kalamazoo College men's swimming & diving team was named the SAAC Men's Hornet of the Week on Tuesday (Nov. 8).
After a week off, the Hornets traveled to compete in a two-day meet at Davenport. Kalamazoo took fourth at the meet and had 21 top-eight finishes in the 14 events.
Ankley had the lone win for the men's team, taking first in the 3-meter dive. He finished with 257.62 points, a season-best for a six-dive event, and is currently the best in the MIAA. Ankley also took second in the 1-meter dive, finishing with 255.22 points. That was another season-best for him, and he now sits with the second-best score in the MIAA this season. As a team, Kalamazoo had second, third, and fourth-place finishes in the 1-meter and then first, third, and fifth-place finishes in the 3-meter.
Even after taking last season off, Ankley has an incredible resume as a Hornet. He was an All-MIAA performer in his first season after collecting five MIAA Diver of the Week honors and finishing third in the 3-meter at the MIAA Championships. Then, Ankley turned it up the following season as he finished second in the 1-meter and 3-meter events at the MIAA Championships, made the All-MIAA team, was the MIAA Co-Most Valuable Diver, and was a CSCAA All-American in the 1-meter and 3-meter.
Kalamazoo will host its first of two events this season on Friday (Nov. 11) at 5 p.m. The tri-meet will also have Calvin and Olivet competing in the Natatorium.
2022-23 Men's Hornets of the Week
Sam Ankley, Diving
Jonah Spates, Football
Payton Fleming, Football
Zach Butters, Swimming
Ben Pickrel, Swimming
Tyler Omness, Golf
Josh Nichols, Football
Lance Taylor, Football
Bubba Wilson, Football
Ian Burr, Football