Flying Dutch Compete at Nationals (3/15/08)
Results
The Flying Dutch finished 24th at the NCAA Division III women's swimming and diving championships held March 13-15 in Oxford, Ohio. The contingent of four qualifiers returned with one All-America and six honorable mention All-America finishes. Junior Brittaney Reest of Holland, Mich. (West Ottawa HS) earned All-America status by finishing eighth in the 100-yard backstroke at the NCAA Division III women's swimming and diving championships in Oxford, Ohio. It marked the second time that Reest has achieved All-America recognition in the event. In 2006 she finished fifth and in 2007 was 14th.

Achieving honorable All-America in individual events were junior Laura Ansilio of Western Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township) 10th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.02) and 14th in the 100-yard freestyle (:52.38) and Reest who was 15th in the 200-yard backstroke (2:07.51).

Reest and Ansiolio were joined on Hope's relay entries by freshman Angela Griffore of Holland (Holland HS) and sophomore Kate Williams of Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton-Warrenville HS). They achieved honorable mention recognition in the two medley relays finishing 11th in the 400 (3:57.49) and 14th in the 200 (1:48.26).

Flying Dutch Qualify Four for Nationals (2/28/08)
National Championship Qualifiers
Hope College has qualified four swimmers for the NCAA Division III championships to be held March 13-15 at Miami University's Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center in Oxford, Ohio.

Hope's qualifiers include junior Laura Ansilio of Western Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township HS), freshman Angela Griffore of Holland (Holland HS), junior Brittaney Reest of Holland (West Ottawa HS), and sophomore Kate Williams of Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton Warrenville HS).

The quartet qualified to compete in the 400-yard medley relay as the seventh seeded team (3:56.23). It makes them eligible for other relays after posting conditional qualifying performances -- 400 freestyle relay, seeded 10th (3:32.46); 800 freestyle relay, seeded 11th (7:46.96); 200 freestyle relay, seeded 15th (1:37.39) and 200 medley relay, seeded 16th (1:48.78).

Reest has qualified for the 100-yard backstroke. She is seeded fifth with a time of :58.11. Reest was an All-American in the event as a freshman with a fifth place finish and last year was an honorable mention All-American with a 14th place finish. Reest is also eligible to compete in the 200 backstroke where she is seed 12th (2:06.39).

Ansilio is eligible to compete in three freestyle events -- 100 freestyle, seeded 15th (:52.56); 200 freetsyle, 50 freestyle, seeded 27th (:24.34); and 200 freestyle, seeded 28th (1:55.73).

Williams is eligible to compete in two events -- 100 butterfly, seeded 14th (:58.03) and 50 freestyle, seeded 41st (:25.05).

All-MIAA Honors Presented Hope Swimmers
Honors have been presented to twelve Hope swimmers by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, including MVP recognition to sophomores Ryan Nelis and Brittaney Reest. continue

Flying Dutch Finish Second at MIAA Championships (2/16/08)
Complete Results
The Flying Dutch finished second to rival Calvin for a fourth consecutive year. After falling behind Calvin by a wide margin on Thursday, the Flying Dutch pretty matched the Knights the rest of the meet. Calvin ended with 660 points while Hope totaled 556.

Junior Brittaney Reest, who was voted the meet's most valuable swimmer, was a double winner capturing the 100 and 200 backstroke events. Her 200 time was an MIAA record. Junior Laura Ansilio won the 100 freestyle while sophomore Kate Williams captured the gold in the 100 butterfly. Hope captured two relay championships -- the 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.

MIAA Championships Head Into the Final Day (2/15/08)
The MIAA swimming and diving championships head into the final day of competition today with one of the two meets pretty much decided and the other very much up in the air. Calvin appears to be on its way to repeating as conference women's champion while the battle continues between Hope and Olivet for the men's crown. Competition resumes at the Holland Aquatic Center on Saturday with prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.

Men's Meet -- Hope goes into the final day with a 26.5 point lead over Olivet but is it enough? Olivet outscored Hope 36-0 in the one-meter diving competition on Thursday and is likely to do the same when the three-meter diving competition is held on Saturday. A year ago Olivet edged Hope in the men's meet by nine points by again dominating in the diving competition. And hanging in the wings 40 points off the pace is Kalamazoo. The Flying Dutchmen had two outstanding individual performances on Friday. Sophomore Phil Heyboer established an MIAA record in defending his 400-yard individual medley crown (4:03.55) and sophomore Ryan Nelis repeated as champion in the 100-yard butterfly (:49.90). Hope concluded Friday's competition by winning the 800-yard freestyle relay. The quartet of Charles VanderBroek, Ryan Vogelzang, Phil Heyboer and Ryan Nelis) had an NCAA conditional qualifying time of 6:56.32.

Women's Meet -- The Flying Dutch are a solid second behind frontrunner Calvin. The defending champion Knights have a 146 point lead (497-351) heading in the final day of competition. The Flying Dutch had two MIAA championship performances on Friday. Junior Brittaney Reest qualified for the NCAA championships by winning the 100-yard backstroke (:58.11). Sophomore Kate Williams won the gold in the 100-yard butterfly (:58.03).

MIAA Championships Underway (2/14/08)
One Hope team is involved a razor-thin race while the other faces an uphill climb after the first day of competition at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association swimming and diving championships being hosted by Hope College at the Holland Aquatic Center.

Defending champions are in first place after Thursday's competition. Olivet tops the men's field, but is leading second place Hope by only one-half of a point, 160.5-160.0. In the women's competition Calvin has raced out to a big lead with 228 points followed at a distance by Hope at 160.

The Flying Dutchmen crowned one relay and two individual champions on Thursday. The champion 200-yard freestyle relay of Ryan Vogelzang, Stephen Kurti, Charles VanderBroek and Matt Rose had an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:23.65. Sophomore Ryan Nelis won the 200-yard individual medley edging out defending champion Robert Dekker of Kalamazoo with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:54.14. Junior Ryan Vogelzang led a Hope assault on the 50-yard freestyle event with a winning time of :21.07. The Flying Dutchmen collected 46 points in the 50-free with six swimmers finishing in the top 12.

Hope's lone championship performance in the women's meet came in the 400-yard medley relay. The quartet of Brittaney Reest, Angie Griffore, Kate Williams and Laura Ansilio had a season-best time of 3:56.23.

Flying Dutch Win Dual Meet Finale (2/2/08)
results
Both Hope swimming/diving concluded the dual meet portion of their season on a winning note topping host Olivet on Saturday. The Flying Dutch won 141-114 to finish unbeaten in MIAA duals (6-0) and 7-1 overall while the Flying Dutchmen were victorious 150-144 to end 4-1 in the MIAA and 4-3 overall.

Hope event winners in the women's meet included Aria Kieft, 1,000 free (11:40.36); Trisha Meier, 200 free (2:00.83); Meghan DeWees, 100 back (1:03.08); Claire Piester, 100 breaststroke (1:10.62) and 200 IM (2:17.89); and Sarah Johnson, 100 butterfly (1:05.17)

Ryan Nelis was a triple winner in the men's meet capturing the 200 butterfly (1:59.40), 100 butterfly (:52.88) and 200 IM (1:59.85). Other Hope event winners included Charles VanderBroek, 200 freestyle (1:47.43); Ryan Vogelzang, 50 free (:21.51); Matt Rose, 100 free (:47.74); Phil Heyboer, 200 back (1:58.25) and 500 free (4:49.50).

Flying Dutch Nationally Ranked (1/30/08)
Both Hope swimming/diving teams are ranked nationally by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. The mid-season poll is based on dual meet results. The Flying Dutch are ranked 11th in the women's poll while the Flying Dutchmen are ranked 22nd among the men's teams. The Flying Dutch have a 5-1 dual meet record while the Flying Dutchmen are 3-3. The top-ranked men's team is Denison, Ohio while leading the women's poll is Kenyon, Ohio. Hope's teams conclude the dual meet portion of their schedule at Olivet on Saturday.

Flying Dutch Top Rival Calvin to Remain Unbeaten (1/26/08)
Results
The Flying Dutch remained undefeated in MIAA duals by edging rival Calvin 154-146. Coach John Patrnoptt's Dutch gained the victory with a first place finish in the meet's last event, the 400 freestyle relay. Laura Ansilio was a triple winner -- 50 free (:24.83), 200 free (1:57.02) and 500 free (5:21.00). Double winners were Ashley Jasperse in the 200 butterfly (2:12.83) and 200 IM (2:14.40) and Brittaney Reest in the 100 backstroke (1:01.17) and 200 backstroke (2:13.40). Kate Williams won the 100 butterfly (:59.69).

Flying Dutch Bow to Grand Valley State (1/25/08)
Results
The Flying Dutch suffered a non-conference dual meet loss to Division II Grand Valley State, 148-83. The Flying Dutch are 5-1 in dual meets.

Hope winners were Heather Urling, three-meter diving (209.00 points); Angie Griffore, 200 breaststroke (2:34.07) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:38.00).

Both Hope teams will be back in action Saturday hosting MIAA rival Calvin.

Flying Dutch winning events were Ashley Jasperse, 200 IM (2:16.06); Heather Urling, one-meter diving (208.70 pts.) and three-meter (205.05 pts.) ; Alicia Tuuk, 200 butterfly (2:13.04); Brittaney Reest, 200 backstroke (2:13.05); Claire Piester, 200 breaststtroke (2:30.69).

Flying Dutch Win Fifth Straight Dual (1/11/08)
Results
The Flying Dutch remained unbeaten in dual meet by topping MIAA foe Saint Mary's 153-130 on Friday night. Coach John Patnott's Dutch improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 against MIAA opponents. Senior Trisha Meier was a double winner taking first in the 200 freestyle (2:00.91) and 50 freestyle (:25.09).
EVENT WINNERS: 200 Medley Relay - Hope (Rachel Bakken, Elizabeth Henning, Ashley Jasperse, Meghan DeWees), 1:58.14; 1650 Freestyle - Lindsey Nelis, SM, 18:59.01; 200 Freestyle - Trisha Meier, Hope, 2:00.91; 100 Backstroke - Meghan DeWees, Hope, 1:02.82; 100 Breaststroke - Claire Piester, Hope, 1:10.10; 200 Butterfly - Alicia Tuuk, Hope, 2:16.24; 50 Freestyle - Trisha Meier, Hope, :25.09; One Meter Diving - Heather Urling, Hope, 201.55 pts.; 100 Freestyle - Christina Vogelzang, Hope, :55.21; 200 Backstroke - Sara Niemann, SM, 2:22.05; 200 Breaststroke - Casy Niezer, SM, 2:35.54; 500 Freestyle - Melissa Gerbneth, SM, 5:26.20; 100 Butterfly - Brittaney Reest, Hope, 1:02.22; Three Meter Diving - Leah Bocinsky, SM, 162.70 pts.; 200 IM - Kelly Tighe, SM, 2:29.27; 200 Freestyle Relay- Hope Kathryn Schewe, Rachel Bakken, Claire Piester, Katharine Mix, 1:44.44

Hope Teams Compete at Wheaton Invitational (12/1/07)
Invitational Results
Both Hope swimming teams competed at the seven-team Wheaton Invitational this weekend. The Flying Dutchmen finished fourth while the Flying Dutch ended fifth. Hope's invitational highlights include: