The Flying Dutchmen have qualified swimmers in five relays and
five individual events for the NCAA Division III men's swimming
and diving championships to be hosted by Emory University in
Atlanta, Ga. from March 16-18.
The Flying Dutchmen have qualified swimmers in five relays and
five individual events for the NCAA Division III men's swimming
and diving championships to be hosted by Emory University in
Atlanta, Ga. from March 16-18.
Coach John Patnott's Dutchmen will bidding for their third
straight top-ten finish at nationals. A year ago Hope ended
ninth. During the decades of the 90s Hope ended a top-ten team
eight times highlighted by a second place finish in 1995.
Sophomore Josh Boss of Jenison, Mich. (Jenison HS) will be
seeking to repeat as national champion in the 100-yard and 200-
yard breaststroke. He set NCAA Division III records in both
events in 1999 and enters this year's nationals the top-seeded
swimmer in both events.
Junior Chris Dattels of Wilmette, Ill. (New Trier HS) will
compete in both backstroke events. He is seeded 13th in the 100-
yard backstroke (:51.77) and 22nd in the 200-yard backstroke
(1:54.31). A year ago at nationals he was the consolation winner
in both events, finishing ninth overall in both the 100 (:51.55) and
200 (1:54.94). As a freshman (1998) he was tenth nationally in
the 100 (:52.46).
Freshman Brian Slagh of Holland, Mich. (Zeeland HS) will compete in the 200-yard freestyle as the 23rd seeded swimmer (1:43.50)
The Flying Dutchmen will compete in all of the relay events. The
team is seeded fourth in both the 400-yard medley relay (3:26.43)
and 400-yard freestyle relay (3:06.30). Other seedings include
fifth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:33.21), 17th in the 200-yard
freestyle relay (1:25.65), and 18th in the 800-yard freestyle
relay (7:09.34).
Joining Boss and Dattels in comprising the relay teams will be
senior Tom Bouwens of Zeeland, Mich. (Zeeland HS), senior Jarod
Lippert of Alma, Mich. (Alma HS), freshman Brian Slagh of
Holland, Mich. (Zeeland HS), and junior Scott Vroegindewey of
Kalamazoo, Mich. (Portage Central HS).
Dattels, Boss, Bouwens and Lippert were members on Hope's All-
America medley relay teams a year ago, finishing fourth in the
400 and fifth in the 200.