2026-27 Women’s Swimming and Diving Season Preview

It’s been fairly the time within the pool lately for the Hope College girls’s swimming and diving group, and the Flying Dutch are aiming to maintain the surge rolling.

The Orange and Blue completed ninth on the NCAA Division III Championships the previous two seasons and are of their second six-year reign as MIAA champions.

While a number of standouts aren’t returning, together with graduated nationwide champion Greta Gidley, Hope remains to be ranging from a powerful place, head coach Jake Taber mentioned.

“To return four individual national qualifiers — two swimmers and two divers — is huge,” Taber mentioned. “We’re excited about having that kind of high-caliber national-level experience helping to lead with a positive impact for this dynamic group of freshmen we have. We are excited about the potential we have this year.”

ROSTER

Hope’s roster of 35 options seven seniors, three juniors, 13 sophomores, and 12 freshmen.

Junior Emme D’Errico (Farmington Hills, Michigan/Farmington) and sophomore Makenzie Baldwin (Holland, Michigan/West Ottawa) are each returning nationwide qualifiers.

D’Errico claimed All-America Second Team accolades final season within the 400-yard medley relay. She additionally received the 200 butterfly and 400 particular person medley on the MIAA Championships, setting a league file within the butterfly.

Baldwin additionally earned All-America Second Team honors within the 400 medley relay, whereas profitable three occasions on the MIAA Championships: 100 and 200 backstroke, and the five hundred freestyle.

Divers Grace Dawson (Jackson, Michigan / Western) and Laura Zupancic (Fort Collins, Colorado / Liberty Common) are again after competing on the NCAA Division III Chapionships final season. 

Dawson, a sophomore, is the reigning MIAA Most Valuable Women’s Diver. Zupancic, a senior, is a two-time All-MIAA choice.

The Flying Dutch additionally return All-MIAA swimmer Avery Bills, a senior from Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City Central).

This yr’s captains are seniors Madeline McGee (Ionia, Michigan / Ionia), Paige Potter (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion), and Anne Stolle (Fishers, Indiana / Hamilton Southeastern).

“It’s a well-rounded group,” Taber mentioned. “They collectively have some exciting life experiences but also have achievements athletically that make them well-equiped to lead us.”

COACHING STAFF

Head coach: Jake Taber, ninth season
Diving coach: Rebecca Garza
Assistant coaches: Aubrey Syron, Dave Jolly

SCHEDULE

The Flying Dutch’s first meet of the season is the Be Better; Invite, on Friday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. on the University of Michigan that features Calvin University. The annual occasion honors the life and legacy of the late Ian Miskelley, a former University of Michigan and Holland Christian High School swimmer who handed away in 2020, selling psychological well being consciousness and supporting the Be Better; Foundation, a charitable group created by the Miskelley household in Ian’s reminiscence. 

Hope will first compete in its house pool, the Holland Aquatic Center, on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 9-10, on the Grand Valley State University Invitational.

The Flying Dutch can be at conventional nationally-recognized meets on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 6-7, on the D3Shootout hosted by the University of Chicago and the Total Performance Invitational on Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 18-21, hosted by Kenyon College.

The MIAA Championships are on Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 17-20, hosted by Calvin.

The NCAA Division III Championships run from Wednesday-Saturday, March 17-20, on the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.