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Winter sports are nearly complete for Olivet College Athletics, and there are plenty of
accolades and accomplishments from 2018 that will already go down in the records.
A Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championship in men’s basketball may be the highlight of the winter sports season. They won the conference outright by defeating Hope College on Valentine’s Day, ending the MIAA schedule with a record of 10-4.
One of the big reasons that the Comet men’s basketball team had championship success was the play from senior Jalen Adams. The transfer guard won the conference’s MVP and averaged 26.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Adams and fellow teammate, junior Tracy Edmond, were named to the All-MIAA rst team. Senior forward Eldridge Mason was named to the All-MIAA second team.
Adams went into the MIAA tournament needing 17 points to break the Olivet College single-season point’s record. He dropped 30 points to break the record in the tournament seminal against Trine University.
“It’s great, you know. I’m happy to be a part of something special, but I am not really thinking about it too much,” Adams said in a press conference interview, after the semifinal.
“We got another game tomorrow, that’s more important. Olivet having never really been to an NCAA tournament before, that would be even more special,” Adams said. He then had 17 points in the championship against Hope College, which extended the new record to 707 points.
The Olivet College women’s swimming and diving team have improved from 2016-2017, with the help from a stand-out freshman named Ana Paula Montes de Oca. The first-year swimmer from Mexico has broken four school records in the freestyle races. She now has the fastest 200, 500, 1000, and1650-meter races in Olivet’s history. “It means a lot to me to have records in Olivet College because it is my second home, and it is a pride for me to represent my college. However, all the merit is of my coach, who supports me and always gives the best of him so that I can go far,” said Montes de Oca. Rob Brownell is in his first season as the coach of both swimming and diving programs at Olivet.
It has been a team effort in all winter sports for Olivet College, and the wrestling team has shown that undoubtedly. They have been ranked in NCAA Division III for nearly the entire season, and have been named an All-American team, according to NCAA. com. Performances by wrestlers such as sophomore Haydn Kinjorski and senior Jared Brickley have given Olivet College a chance at success in the Division III Championships.
Since the MIAA does not have wrestling in their circulation of athletics this year, Olivet wasn’t able to receive any conference honors. However, it is now official that the MIAA will add wrestling back in as a sport in the upcoming 2018-2019 season. Olivet was the team to beat when wrestling was in the MIAA, as they had 10 titles in the 1970s and 1980s. Soon they can have the chance to extend that mark.
With so many honorable performances by Olivet College athletes, there is no telling how other programs can grow and reach new heights as well. Coaches and players who are only in their first year or two as a Comet have had impressive results, and that could bring inspiration to fellow Comets. Although the weather is cold while these programs compete, the Olivet College Comets are heating up and representing well.
For all results, stats, and athletic related news for Olivet College sports, go to olivetcomets.com.