Calvin Women’s Swimming and Diving Opens Season at Be Better Invitational
The Calvin University women’s swimming and diving team opened the 2026-27 season at the fifth annual Be Better; Invitational at Canham Natatorium at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The unscored meet brought together Calvin, the University of Michigan, and Hope College for a mix of traditional and non-traditional events honoring the memory of former University of Michigan and Holland Christian High School swimmer Ian Kiskelley, who passed away in 2020, to promote mental health awareness through the Be Better; Foundation.
Opening Events and Traditional Individual Finishes
Competition at Canham Natatorium commenced with the 200 Medley Relay. The Calvin ‘A’ relay team—consisting of Emma Merkel from Grandville, Michigan, Gracie Ganger from Tipp City, Ohio, Grace Schutter from Shelby Township, Michigan, and Ella Andrews from Carmel, Indiana—secured a third-place finish with a time of 1:50.3.
In traditional individual races, Calvin athletes posted multiple top-five results. Emma Merkel touched fourth in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 58.19. Zoe Poe from Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, matched that fourth-place finish in the 500 Freestyle, clocking in at 5:17.52. Grace Van De Burg from Hudsonville, Michigan, also broke into the top five of the 500 Freestyle, recording a time of 5:27.28.
Gracie Ganger added a fifth-place finish in the 100 Breaststroke, while Naomi Aldana from Villa Park, Illinois, secured fifth place in the 100 Butterfly.
Non-Traditional Format and Closing Relays
Following the standard events, the meet shifted to non-traditional formats designed to test versatility across unique race structures. Competitors faced mixed relays, 25-yard mystery shootouts, and underwater races utilizing fins. The afternoon concluded with the 400 Freestyle Relay, where the Calvin ‘A’ group of Ella Andrews, Maria Heeres from Holland, Michigan, Zoe Poe, and Emma Merkel finished fourth in 3:40.08.
Upcoming Schedule
Calvin swimming and diving returns to competition on Saturday, October 17, hosting a home triangular meet against Grand Valley State University and Saginaw Valley State University at the Venema Aquatic Center starting at 1:00 PM.
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