Hope College has qualified six swimmers for the NCAA Division III men's championships to be held March 20-22 at Miami University's Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center in Oxford, Ohio.
Hope College has qualified six swimmers for the NCAA Division III men's championships to be held March 20-22 at Miami University's Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center in Oxford, Ohio.
Hope's qualifiers include sophomore Phil Heyboer of Zeeland, Mich. (Holland Christian HS), sophomore Brandon King of Willowbrook, Ill. (Hinsdale Twp. Central HS), sophomore Ryan Nelis of Holland, Mich. (West Ottawa HS), sophomore Matt Rose of Grandville, Mich. (Grandville HS); senior Charles VanderBroek of Holland, Mich. (Holland HS), and junior Ryan Vogelzang of Holland, Mich. (Holland Christian HS).
The Flying Dutchmen, coached by John Patnott, were champions of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) this season. The team has qualified for nationals swimmers in all five relays and nine individual events.
Hope's highest seeded relay is the 400-yard medley relay at sixth (3:24.67) among 23 eligible teams. The seedings of other relays are: 400-yard freestyle relay, 10th (3:04.29); 200-yard medley relay, 15th (1:34.13); 200-yard freestyle relay, 16th (1:23.62) and 800-yard freestyle relay (6:56.32).
Phil Heyboer returns as an All-American in the 200-yard backstroke. A year ago he was eighth in the event (1:53.55). He is seeded 13th this year (1:53.02). Heyboer will compete in two other events, the 400-yard individual medley (seeded seventh, 4:03.55) and the 200-yard IM (seeded 24th, 1:54.50).
Ryan Nelis was an honorable mention All-American last year with a 12th place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (:50.49). He is seeded seventh in the event this year at :49.90. He is also seeded 10th in the 200-yard butterfly (1:52.05).
Three other swimmers will compete in two individual events -- Matt Rose, seeded 28th in the 100-yard freestyle (:46.33) and seeded 29th in the 100-yard backstroke (:52.63); Ryan Vogelzang, seeded 22nd in the 50-yard freestyle (:20.92) and seeded 27th in the 100-yard freestyle (:46.27); and Charles Vanderbroek, seeded 25th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:42.49) and seeded 32nd in the 100-yard freestyle (:46.49).