Gold Medal Performances Continue at MIAA Championships (2/17/12)
Results / Honor Roll of Hope Champions
Hope swimmers continue to collect the gold medals at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) swimming and diving champions. Hope swimmers captured first place in five events on Friday, including a sweep in the women's and men's 400 IM and 100 backstroke. Hope's gold medal count is now 13, three in relays and 10 in individual events.

With one day remaining the championships at the Holland Aquatic Center, both Hope teams are in second place. The men trail Kalamazoo by 29.5 points while the women are behind rival Calvin by 110 points.

Men's Team Scores: 1. Kalamazoo 510.5. 2. Hope 481. 3. Olivet 420.5. 4. Calvin 407. 5. 6. Alma 173. 6. Albion 148.
Women's Team Scores: Women's Team Scores: 1. Calvin 562.5. 2. Hope 455. Kalamazoo 396.5. 4. Olivet 276. 5. Alma 243. 6. Saint Mary's 208. 7. Albion 196.

Gold Medal Performances Continue at MIAA Championships (2/16/12)
Results / Honor Roll of Hope Champions
Hope swimmers and divers had a banner night at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championships on Thursday capturing the gold medal in seven of the 12 events. After the second day of competition, the Hope women are in first place while the men are in second. The four-day championship at the Holland Aquatic Center continues on Friday with prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 5:30 p.m.

Men's Team Scores (thru Thursday): 1. Kalamazoo 296. 2. Hope 248. 3. Calvin 217. 4. Olivet 198. 5. Alma 111. 6. Albion 105.
Women's Team Scores (thru Thursday): 1. Hope 255. 2. Calvin 253.5. 3. Kalamazoo 174.5. 4. Olivet 155. 5. Alma 128. 6. Saint Mary's 124. 7. Albion 112.

Gold Medal Performance Launches MIAA Championships (2/15/12)
Results
The MIAA swimming and diving championships got off to a rousing start at the Holland Community Aquatic Center, as the Hope women and Kalamazoo men captured the first events of the meet.

In the women's 800-yard freestyle relay, the Hope team of Sarah Sohn, Erin Holstad, Chelsea Wiese and Libby Westrate took first place by more than 10 seconds with a school-record time of 7:39.58. The previous mark of 7:40.01 was established in 2009. The men's 800 freestyle relay went right down to the wire, as Kalamazoo edged Calvin by 0.54 seconds with third-place Hope finishing slightly more than a second back.

Hope Teams Conclude Dual Meet Season With Wins (1/28/12)
Results
Hope's swimming and diving teams concluded the dual meet portion of their season by sweeping host Alma on Saturday. The Flying Dutchmen posted a 145-112 victory while the Flying Dutch were victorious 147-122. The Flying Dutch posted a 5-3 dual record while the Flying Dutchmen are 3-4.

Men: Hope individual winners were Jeff Shade, 1,000 Free (10:06.17); Christopher Waechter, 100 Backstroke (:57.90) and 500 freestyle (5:09.40); Greggory Elhart, 100 Breaststroke (1:04.13); Matthew Gregory, 200 Butterfly (1:59.81); Jacob Hunt, 50 freestyle (:22.60); Nicholas Hazekamp, 200 backstroke (2:02.96); Alex Perkins, 200 Breaststroke (2:22.18).

Women: Hope individual winners were Erin Holstad, 200 Freestyle (2:04.10) and 100 Butterfly (1:02.70); Chelsea Wiese, 100 Backstroke (1:05.69); Kyleigh Sheldon, one-meter diving (237.10) and three-meter diving (241.20); Maria Kieft, 200 Backstroke (2:16.61); Bethany Schmall, 500 Freestyle (5:28.70).

Hope Teams Compete Against DII Grand Valley (1/20/12)
Results
Hope's swimming and diving teams competed against Grand Valley State on Friday night. The Flying Dutchmen were defeated 152-74 while the Flying Dutch bowed 149-90. The Hope women have a 4-3 dual meet record while the men are 2-4.
Men: Hope winners were Nicholas Hazekamp, 100 backstroke (:53.42) and Josh Grabijas, 500 freestyle (4:43.31).
Women: Hope winners were Sarah Sohn, 1,000 freestyle (10:46.34); Maria Kieft, 100 backstroke (1:03.18); and Kyleigh Sheldon, 3-meter diving (239.90 points).

Flying Dutch Third at Michigan-Illinois Quad (1/14/12)
Results
Hope's swimming teams competed in the Michigan-Illinois Quad hosted by Wheaton College on Saturday. The Flying Dutchmen won the men's meet edging MIAA rival Kalamazoo by a meer 1.5 points while the Flying Dutch ended third in the women's competition.
Men: 1. Hope 505.5, 2. Kalamazoo 504, 3. Wheaton 451, 4. Lake Forest 325.5
Hope winners were Andrew Rose, 1,000 freestyle (10:03.07); Patrick Frayer, 50 freestyle (:21.82) and 100 freestyle (:48.16); Nicholas Hazekamp, 200 backstroke (1:59.01); and Jeff Shade, 500 freestyle (4:50.69). Hope also won the 400 medley relay (Nicholas Hazekamp, Geoff Ludema, Brian Yount, Patrick Frayer), 3:35.29.
Women: 1. Wheaton 591.5, 2. Kalamazoo 392.5, 3. Hope 376, 4. Lake Forest 332
Hope winners were Libby Westrate, 50 freestyle :24.72) and 100 freestyle (:53.81) and Sarah Sohn, 500 freestyle (5:15.73).

Hope Splits Duals With Kalamazoo (1/6/12)
Results
Hope split dual meets with rival Kalamazoo on Friday night. The Flying Dutch (4-2) were victorious 126-115 while the Flying Dutchmen (2-3) were defeated 139-98.

Women: Hope winners were Sarah Sohn, 1,000 free (11:14.69) and 500 free (5:20.60); Libby Westrate, 50 freestyle (:24.67) and 100 freestyle (:53.95); Chelsea Wiese, 200 IM (2:17.62); and Maria Kieft, 100 back (1:03.34). The outcome came down to the final event, the 400 freestyle relay. The Flying Dutch quartet of Erin Holstad, Chelsea Wiese, Bethany Schmall and Libby Westrate won the event in 3:41.02.

Men: Hope winners were Josh Grabijas, 1,000 free (11:14.69) and 500 free (4:50.78); Patrick Frayer, 50 free (:21.91); and Nicholas Hazekamp, 100 back (:53.88).

Hope Teams Compete at Wheaton Invitational (12/3/11)
Results
Hope's swimming teams competed at the six-team Wheaton Invitational this weekend. In the men's meet, coach John Patnott's Flying Dutchmen finished third while the Flying Dutch ended fourth among the women's field.
Women: Junior Libby Westrate was a triple winner capturing the 50 free (:24.13), 100 free (:52.29, NCAA conditional qualifying) and 200 free (1:55.22). Senior Sarah Sohn won the 200 butterfly (2:09.33).
Men: The Flying Dutchmen had a strong finish in the 500 free taking third (Andrew Rose, 4:42.74), fourth (Josh Grabijas, 4:43.32) and fifth (Jeff Shade, 4:44.03). Shade and Grabijas also challenged in the marathon 1,650 free finishing third (16:19.77) and fourth (16:22.97) respectively. Hope had no event winners. Hope had three consolation heat winners -- Grabijas in the 200 free (1:44.50), Aaron Rittenhouse, 100 back (:55.13) and Brian Yount, 100 butterfly (:53.32).

Rival Calvin Tops Hope in MIAA Duals (11/19/11>
Men's Results / Women's Results
Visiting Calvin defeated Hope's swimming/diving with dual meet setbacks on Saturday. In the men's meet, Calvin prevailed 148-146 while in the women's meet the Knights prevailed 164-135. The Flying Dutch have a 3-2 dual meet record while the Flying Dutchmen are 2-2.

Men: Hope event winners were Jeff Shade, 1,000 free (10:06.70) and 500 free (4:54.95); Nicholas Hazekamp, 100 back (:54.26) and 200 back (2:00.75); Geoffrey Ludema, 100 breast (1:01.42); Patrick Frayer, 50 free (:21.86) and 100 free (:47.86); Michael Huisingh, 200 breast (2:14.84); 400 free relay [Chris Waechter, Andrew Larson, Josh Grabijas, Patrick Frayer] (3:16.31).

Women: Hope event winners were 200 medley relay [Laura Cameron, Sarah Krueger, Erin Holstad, Libby Westrate] (1:53.17); Sarah Sohn, 1,000 free (10:45.74), 200 butterfly (2:15.16) and 500 free (5:16.55); Maria Kieft, 100 backstroke (1:02.95); Libby Westrate, 100 free (:54.64); Erin Holstad, 100 butterfly (1:00.69); 400 freestyle relay [Erin Holstad, Sarah Sohn, Bethany Schmall, Libby Westrate), (3:41.93).

Flying Dutch Post MIAA Dual Meet Win (11/4/11)
Results
The Flying Dutch posted a 173-98 MIAA dual meet victory over host Saint Mary's on Friday night. Coach John Patnott's Dutch have a 3-1 dual meet record. Hope event winners were Libby Westrate, 1,000 free (11:26.59); Luisa Burgess, 200 free (2:04.19); Laura Cameron, 100 back (1:03.54); Sarah Sohn, 200 fly (2:14.82) and 500 free (5:19.45); Madalynn Kempkers, 50 free (:26.64); Erica Dunham, one-meter diving (210.98) and three-meter diving (221.02); Bethany Schmall, 100 free (:57.98); Maria Kieft, 200 back (2:16.98); and Chelsea Wiese, 100 fly (1:03.52).

Flying Dutch Win Two of Three in Triple Dual (10/29/11)
Results
The Flying competed in a triple dual Friday and Saturday at Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, defeating Albion 243-102 and Olivet 225-112, but bowing to Carthage 191-148.

Senior Sarah Sohn was a triple winner capturing the 500 Free (5:16.81), 200 Butterfly (2:15.08) and 1,000 Free (10:55.27). Other winners were Maria Kieft in the 100 Backstroke (1:02.88) and diver Erica Dunham on the one-meter board (223.95 points).

Season is Launched with MIAA Relays (10/22/11)
Results
The swimming season started Saturday with Hope hosting all of the league's teams for the non-scoring MIAA Relays at the Holland Aquatic Center. All of the events were relays, most of them non-traditional. Hope winners included Women's 200 Backstroke Relay (Laura Cameron, Erin Holstad, Lairen Girard, Amanda Black) and Women's 500 Freestyle Relay (Taryn Gras, Libby Westrate Luisa Burgess, Sarah Sohn).

A blend of veterans and newcomers should put the Flying Dutch in a position to be very competitive in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in 2011-12.

Coach John Patnott begins his 32nd season at the helm of a nationally respected program he began in 1978. Over his tenure as coach of the men's and women's program, he has counted 116 All-Americans and had national champions 30 times. The Flying Dutch have been MIAA champions a league-record 21 times.

In recent years, however, the Flying Dutch have been challenged for the top spot by rival Calvin which has a string of seven league crowns. Hope has been league runnerup each of those years.

The 2011-12 pre-season roster includes 12 returning letterwinners. There are eight freshmen, four sophomores, six juniors and four seniors.

Co-captains of the team will be senior Sarah Sohn (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect HS); junior Libby Westrate (Grandville/Grandville HS); and senior Chelsea Wiese (Rochester/Rochester Adams HS).

Sarah Sohn and Libby Westrate each won three events at last year's MIAA championships. Sohn is the three-time defending MIAA champion in the 1,650 freestyle and the two-time defending champion in the 500 freestyle and 400 individual medley. She holds the MIAA record in the 1,650 and the Hope record in the 400 IM. Westrate is the two-time defending champion in the 100 and 200 freestyle and the defending champion in the 50 freestyle. She set the Hope record in the 50 free. Westrate qualified for the NCAA Division III national championships in her three freestyle events. Sohn, Westrate and Wiese were members of Hope's league champion 800 freestyle relay.

The regular season will begin and end with Hope hosting an MIAA event at the Holland Aquatic Center. The MIAA Relays will be held Saturday, Oct. 22 and four months later (Feb. 16-18) the MIAA championships will come to Holland.