Hope Women's Swimming & Diving Claims 165-101 Senior Day Win Vs. Albion

The Hope College women's swimming & diving team celebrated Senior Day with a 165-101 win against Albion on Friday at Kresge Natatorium.

The Flying Dutch won 13 events for their fourth Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association dual meet wins in as many tries this season.

It was the final meet at Kresge Natatorium for five Hope seniors: Luisa Burgess of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Taylor Allderice), Erica Dunham of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS), Lauren Girard of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS), Taryn Gras of Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland East HS), and Emily Weber of Milan, Michigan (Milan HS).

The 200-yard medley relay of junior Klare Northuis of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS, junior Jorgie Watson of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Centrla HS), freshman Natalia Vela of Clarkston, Michigan (Clarkston HS), and Weber won with a time of 1:53.52.

Junior Lindsay Wiederhold of Plainwell, Michigan (Plainwell HS), finished first in the 200 freestyle in 1:59.42, the 100 butterfly in 1:01.42 and the 200 individual medley at 2:18.23.

Watson posted the top times in the 100 breaststroke of 1:09.5 and the 200 breaststroke of 2:32.10.

Junior Hannah Larson of Jackson, Michigan (Jackson HS), clocked the fastest time in the 200 backstroke of 2:16.84.

Sophomore Molly Meyer of South Bend, Indiana (John Adams HS), won the 100 backstroke in 1:00.99 and the 100 freestyle in 55.56.

Hope went 1-2-3 in 1-meter diving: sophomore Sarah Sheridan of Richmond, Indiana (Richmond HS), with 271.45 points, junior Stephanie Polet of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS), with 228.15 points, and Dunham with 223.90 points.

Sheridan also recorded the top score in 3-meter diving at 288.15.

Freshman Chloe Palajac of Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn HS), took first in the 1,000 freestyle with a swim of 10:55.78 and the 500 freestyle in 5:25.59. Junior Kaleigh Mullen of Rochester, Michigan (Pontiac Notre Dame Prep), took second in the 1,000 freestyle in 11:52.88.

Hope returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Michigan-Illinois Quad at Wheaton College.

Photo of Hope's seniors by Monica Dwyer