Hope Swimmers Enjoy International Experience
Hope College swimmers over the years have excelled at venues throughout the United States. This summer members of the Flying Dutch and Flying Dutchmen teams had an opportunity to test waters afar.

Coach John Patnott and 22 members of the teams travelled to Barcelona, Spain, site of the 1992 Summer Olympics, for a week of training, competition, community service and sightseeing.

Over the years the college has encouraged its athletic teams to have an international experience. This was a first for Hope's swimmers. The service project consisted of cleaning a park in the community of Callela where the team was headquartered. A friendly meet was held with the club swimming team in Sant Adrià.

Records Fall in Championship Season
The MSW Season in Review
Season's Best Performances
Hope Results at Nationals
2008-09 Winter Sports Season in Review
2008-09 Winter Sports Guide

The assault on the Hope record book was unprecedented for a single season as many new marks were established by the Flying Dutchmen en route to repeating as MIAA champions.

The season's accomplishments included 11 school and two MIAA records, five MIAA gold-medal performances, and nine honorable mention All-America performances at the NCAA Division III championships.

Hope Swimmers Outstanding at MIAA Championships
Hope MIAA Champions & Record Setters
Men's MIAA Championships Photo Gallery
MIAA championship highlights

The defending champion Flying Dutchmen prevailed at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association swimming and diving championships. edging rival Kalamazoo by just 28.5 points. The championship was the 11th under coach John Patnott who since 1980 has guided teams to 30 conference titles (19 in women's swimming and 11 in men's swimming). He ranks second among the winningest MIAA coaches behind only Kalamazoo College tennis coach George Acker who guided the Hornets to 35 championships.

Eight swimmers were named to the all-MIAA team. Three swimmers were honored for a third year: junior Phil Heyboer of Zeeland, Mich.; junior Ryan Nelis of Holland, Mich.; junior and junior Matt Rose of Grandville, Mich. Honored for a second time were senior Ryan Vogelzang of Holland, Mich., and junior Mitch Ruch of Zeeland, Mich. First-time honorees included freshman Jeff Shade of Davison, Mich.; freshman Matthew Gregory of St. Joseph, Mich.; and junior Aaron Welsch of St. Peters, Mo.