From the first week of March to the end of May, the Calvin athletics season was a nonstop sprint. Twenty of Calvin’s 22 varsity sports teams as well as its two American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) hockey teams competed.
Why the compressed schedule? COVID-19 restrictions in fall and winter moved competition into spring.
“What our athletics department achieved was historic. Credit should go to everyone involved, from support staff to coaches and student-athletes,” said Jim Timmer, Calvin’s director of athletics.
Student-athletes underwent COVID-19 rapid testing three times a week to meet NCAA, state, and local COVID-19 protocols. Coaches and administrators underwent rapid-testing training and rotated throughout the season as test administrators.
“I can’t say enough about the coaches and administrators who volunteered as on-campus testing officials,” said Timmer. “Their hard work allowed hundreds of student-athletes the opportunity to compete and have meaningful seasons.”
And the seasons were indeed meaningful.
In early March, the men’s and women’s basketball teams advanced to the MIAA Tournament semifinals. Calvin hosted the MIAA Indoor Women’s Track and Field Championships sandwiched between two days of hosting the league women’s swimming and diving championships. The following week, Calvin hosted the league men’s swimming and diving championships with the Knights capturing their fifth league title in dominating fashion.
Calvin’s ACHA Division III hockey team upset top-ranked Hope in a thrilling game in Holland. The following month, Calvin’s ACHA Division I hockey team advanced to the National Tournament in St. Louis and nearly upset No. 6 seed Minot State before falling 2-1.
Meanwhile, the men’s soccer team captured its 14th straight MIAA regular-season title. Women’s volleyball claimed its 11th straight MIAA regular-season crown. The women’s soccer team captured its first regular-season and MIAA Tournament title since 2015. It finished ranked No. 4 in the final Division III Top 25 rankings.
The women’s lacrosse team claimed a share of its fourth regular season title. The men’s team played for a share of its first regular season crown on the final day of the conference season.
The men’s and women’s golf teams both finished in the top three of the MIAA with both teams landing multiple individuals on the All-MIAA First Team. The baseball team took second in the MIAA and won 22 games for its highest win total since 2015. The softball team captured its second MIAA Tournament title in three years. Softball claimed a berth in the NCAA III Tournament for the third time in four years. The men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams qualified five athletes for the NCAA III Championships and had three individuals claim All-American honors.
