The Hope women's swimming & diving team will rely on a decorated sophomore class as it looks to compete at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and NCAA Division III levels this season.
Five Hope sophomores were among a league-record 11 freshmen to earned All-MIAA Honors during the 2012-13 season — Hannah Larson of Jackson (Jackson HS), Klare Northuis of Holland (Holland HS), Sarah Sheridan of Richmond, Ind. (Richmond HS), Jorgie Watson of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS), and Lindsay Wiederhold of Plainwell (Plainwell HS).
They helped Hope take second at last season's MIAA Championships and 51st at the national meet.
The Flying Dutch's roster of 24 swimmers and divers features two seniors, six juniors, 13 sophomores and three freshmen.
Team captains are seniors Maria Kieft of Spring Lake (Spring Lake HS) and Bethany Schmall of Portage (Portage Central HS), and junior Lauren Girard of Rockford (Rockford HS).
The Flying Dutch must replace two key seniors who were All-MIAA in 2013-14 — Erin Holstad and Libby Westrate. Westrate repeated as the MIAA's Most Valuable Swimmer last season and finished her career as a league champion in 11 of 12 events. She holds the Hope records in the 50, 100 and 200 free and the MIAA record in the 50 free.
The Flying Dutch open the 2013-14 season on Saturday at the MIAA Relays at Calvin.
Hope will renew its rivalry with Calvin on Jan. 25 in the final regular-season dual meet of the season when it hosts the Knights.
The MIAA Championships are Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014 through Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 at Calvin.
