Five Hope College student-athletes have been selected as Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Athletes of the Week: men’s swimmer Colin Kalkman, women’s diver Abby Koops, women’s swimmer Sara Kraus, men’s basketball center Gabe Quillan, and men’s diver Justin Romero.
This is the second MIAA weekly honor this season for Koops and the seventh in her career.
For Kraus, this is her first MIAA weekly award for the season and the fifth of her career.
This is the first MIAA weekly honor for Kalkman, Quillan and Romero.
Quillan (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game during victories at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and at home vs. North Park University (Ill.) last week.
The 6-9 sophomore shot 53.8 percent from the field (14-of-26) and 75 percent from the free-throw line (12-16).
Quillan scored a career-high 24 points during an 80-73 victory against North Park on Saturday.
Kraus (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) excelled at the Kenyon College (Ohio) Invitational last week. On Thursday, Kraus broke her own school record and finished third in the 200 IM with a time of 2:03.44, which currently sits fourth nationally. Kraus was also a part of the school-record 200 free relay team that is currently ranked second in the country.
On Friday, she finished second in the 100 backstroke (55.50), only falling to the fastest women’s swimmer in Division III at the moment. Her time was the second-fastest time in the MIAA behind her own open record. Kraus was also a member of Hope’s seventh-place 800 free relay.
On Saturday, Kraus competed in the 200 backstroke and finished third behind the top two swimmers in the country with a time of 2:00.21. The current top time in the country is 1:59.87.
Kalkman (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian) also posted exceptional times at Kenyon. On Thursday, Kalkman competed individually in the 200 IM where he finished 14th with a time of 1:52.48. At the time of submission, his time sat 14th in DIII and first in the MIAA. Kalkman was also a part of the 200 free and 400 medley relays, which currently rank ninth and sixth in the country, respectively.
On Friday, Kalkman doubled up with individual events, first racing the 100 fly (15th place) and then in the 100 backstroke (8th place). His time of 49.52 in the 100 fly is currently 20th in the country and second in the MIAA, while his 100 backstroke (49.52) is currently the top in the MIAA and eighth nationally. Kalkman also led off the seventh-fastest medley relay in the country this season.
On Saturday, Kalkman raced the 200 backstroke and finished seventh in a time of 1:49.91 which ranks 10th in DIII. To round out the meet, he led off the 400 free relay in a time of 45.79 which currently sits third in the country.
Koops (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) led the Flying Dutch at the Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) Invitational last weekend.
The nursing major finished fifth on the 1-meter board by recording a total of 388.35 points and seventh on the 3-meter board by earning a score of 407.95 points.
Romero (Detroit, Michigan / Woodhaven) finished in 16th place on the 1-meter board at Carnegie Mellon by posting a total of 293.90 points and in 20th place on the 3-meter by earning a score of 248.35 points.
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