“Unstoppable Waves: No. 11 Women’s Swim/Dive Team Shines Against Kalamazoo and Wheaton!”

The women’s swimming and diving team of Hope College, ranked 11th, achieved multiple fastest times in five events during their victorious performance against local rivals Wheaton College (Illinois) and Kalamazoo College on Saturday.

The Flying Dutch amassed a total of 577 points, while Wheaton secured second with 304 points, finishing 27 ahead of Kalamazoo.

This marked Hope’s first competition since November 21-23 at Kenyon College (Ohio).

In the 200 breaststroke event, senior Sara Kraus (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford HS) spearheaded a 1-2-3-4 finish, touching the wall at 2 minutes and 26.8 seconds.

Sophomore Dillon Horsley (Indianapolis, Indiana / North Central) came in second at 2:25.50, achieving her season-best time. Senior Grace Wesley (Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan / Grosse Pointe North) claimed third place with a time of 2:43.19, while junior Ashlea Swingewood (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel) secured fourth at 2:41.84.

The Flying Dutch concluded the meet with a 1-2-3 finish in the 400 freestyle relay. The top two relay teams received points.

Senior Greta Gidley (Franklin, Michigan / Mercy), junior Laurel Wasiniak (Northville, Michigan / Northville), senior Lauren Ryle (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) and junior Bella Turner (Chelsea, Michigan / Chelsea) finished first with a time of 3:32.22.

The second place was secured by sophomores Madeline McGee (Ionia, Michigan / Ionia), Paige Potter (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion), Lillian Ryden (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) and senior Katie Weedon (Whitinsville, Massachusetts / Whitinsville Christian) at 3:49.50.

In the 400 medley relay, Hope started the meet off by securing the top two spots.

Kraus, Gidley, Wasiniak, and Ryle delivered a winning time of 3:56.58.

The second-place team included Potter, sophomore Madi Remenschneider (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa), freshman Megan Wedeking (Lexington, Kentucky / Lexington Senior) and Ryden, who finished at 4:08.59.

In the 200 butterfly, Hope secured the top two positions: Swingewood ranked first at 2:12.32 followed by Wedeking in second at 2:20.32.

In the 500 freestyle, the Flying Dutch again achieved a 1-2 finish: Potter was first at 5:29.11 and Remenschneider second at 5:44.19.

In the sprint freestyle events, Turner triumphed in both the 100 freestyle at 52.87 and the 200 freestyle at 1:57.92.

In the 50 freestyle, Ryle registered a victory time of 25.00.

In the 200 backstroke, Gidley finished first with a season-best time of 2:05.35.

In the 1,000 freestyle, Martin achieved victory with a time of 11:10.25.

Hope also secured second in two additional events: Kraus in the 200 IM at 2:11.96 and senior Molly Leonard (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) in the 3-meter diving event with 221.76 points.

The Flying Dutch will next compete on Friday, January 24, at 5:30 p.m. against Davenport University at the Holland Aquatic Center.