Field Announced for DIII Women's Swimming/Diving Championships
The Flying Dutch will be well represented at the NCAA Division III swimming and diving championships when they are held in Buffalo, N.Y. on March 8-10.
Senior Betsy VandenBerg of Beverly Hills, Mich. (Southfield Christian HS) has qualified in three events -- the 100 and 200 breaststroke and 200 individual medley. She was an All-American in all three relays last year, winning the national championship in the 200 breaststroke. She is seeded first in the 200 breaststroke, second in the 100 breaststroke and 12th in the 200 IM.
Freshman Michelle Smith of Olympia, Wash. has qualified in three freestyle events -- the 200 (seeded #17), 500 (#8) and 1,650 (#13). Smith was the MIAA champion in all three events.
Sophomores Erin VandenBerg of Beverly Hills, Mich. (Southfield Christian HS) and Kelly Parker of Battle Creek, Mich. (Lakeview HS) have each qualified in two events. VandenBerg will compete in the 500 (seeded #21) and 1,650 (#23) freestyle while Parker has qualified in the 100 (seeded #18) and 200 breaststroke (#21).
The Flying Dutch will compete in at least three relays -- the 400 (seeded #21) and 800 (#8) freestyle relay and 400 medley relay (#16). The individual qualifiers will constitute the relay teams along with freshman backstroker Audrey Arnold of Richmond, Ind.
Freshman diver Hannah Rapson of Iowa City, Ia. (Iowa City HS) has qualified on both the one and three meter boards. Rapson was the MIAA champion on both boards.
Coach John Patnott's Flying Dutch have been a top ten team national for 10 consecutive years. Hope was sixth a year ago.