Two school-record setters and a national runner-up are among the returners for the Hope College women’s swimming & diving team in the 2015-16 season.

Two school-record setters and a national runner-up are among the returners for the Hope College women’s swimming & diving team in the 2015-16 season.

The Flying Dutch also bring back three who were Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association event champions this season.

Hope opens the 2015-16 season on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the MIAA relays hosted by Calvin College.

“I am excited about this team,” said head coach John Patnott, who is in his 36th season with the Flying Dutch. “We lost a few pointgetters, but have a few coming back.”

Hope features a roster of 25 swimmers and divers. There are seven seniors, five juniors, seven sophomores and six freshmen.

Senior Sarah Sheridan of Richmond, Indiana (Richmond HS) and junior Molly Meyer of South Bend, Indiana (John Adams HS) are co-captains.

Sheridan is the most decorated diver in Flying Dutchmen history. The four-time NCAA Division III All-American finished second in 3-meter diving at the 2015 Division III Championships and third in 1-meter diving — the highest places in team history.

Sheridan also was named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Diver after sweeping both events for the second season in a row. She holds the school records in both events.

Meyer also competed at nationals last season. She posted the third-best time for Hope in the 200 backstroke en route to a 24th-place finish. She clocked the third-fastest 100-yard butterfly time in preliminaries last season while placing 27th.

Meyer is one of four returning All-MIAA performers along with Sheridan and, senior Jorgie Watson of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Central HS), sophomore Chloe Palajac of Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn HS).

Meyer is aiming this season for a MIAA three-peat in the 100 butterfly.

Watson is the defending league champion in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke. She repeated as 200 breaststroke champ.

Palajac won the 200 butterfly at the MIAA Championships last season.

Hope’s senior class also has freestyler Virginia Cotterall of Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake HS), backstroker and freestyler Hannah Larson of Jackson, Michigan (Jackson HS), freestyler Kaleigh Mullen of Rochester, Michigan (Pontiac Notre Dame Prep), backstroker and freestyler Klare Northuis of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS), and diver Stephanie Polet of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS).

Northuis anchored the victorious 400 medley relay that included Meyer, Watson and Palajac repeating as MIAA champ.

Meyer is joined in the junior class by diver Sarah Carrara of Dexter, Michigan (Dexter HS), freestyler Mikayla Freyling of Alto, Michigan (Grand Rapids South Christian HS), freestyler Payton Hoff of Clarkston, Michigan (Notre Dame Prep HS), and freestyler and butterflier Katie Smith of Mokena, Illinois (Lincoln Way East HS).

Palajac is in a sophomore class along with backstroker Rachel Barszcz of Canton, Michigan (Plymouth Canton HS), freestyler Elizabeth Fris of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS), backstroker Julia Hines of Vienna, Virginia (James Madison HS), freestyler Amy Larsen of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Northern HS), breaststroker and butterflier Adrienne Smith of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven HS), and freestyler and butterflier Sarah Zieschang of Austin, Texas (Veritas Academy).

Fris is a transfer from Florida Southern.

Hope’s freshman class features freestyler Sydney Asselin of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS), freestyler Abigail Brinks of Commerce Township, Michigan (Walled Lake Northern HS), butterflier Elizabeth Craig of Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS), butterflier Sara Hudson of Novi, Michigan (Notre Dame Prep HS), freestyler Allison Lindquist of Louisville, Colorado (Peak To Peak HS), and diver Sarah Plohetski of South Lyon, Michigan (South Lyon HS).

“I think we’re very strong in distance events, pretty good in sprints,” Patnott said. “We’re strong in butterfly, but weak in depth in butterfly.

“Our relays are going to be really good.”

The Flying Dutch are hosting three events this season.

Two will be held at Kresge Natatorium: November 14 vs. Olivet at 1 p.m. and January 9 vs. Calvin at 1 p.m.

Hope will hold the January 16 Michigan-Illinois Quad with Kalamazoo, Lake Forest, Illinois, and Wheaton, Illinois at Holland Community Aquatic Center at 1 p.m.

The MIAA Championships are February 17-20 at Calvin College.

The NCAA Division III Championships are March 16-19 in Greensboro, N.C.