The Hope College women's swimming & diving team claimed three top seeds during Saturday's preliminaries of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships at Holland Community Aquatic Center.
Tonight's finals begin at 5:30 p.m.
Photo of Lauren Girard by Tom Renner
Junior Sarah Sheridan of Richmond, Indiana (Richmond HS), surpassed her own school record while claiming the top seed in 1-meter diving. Her six dive score was 469.10 points.
Senior Erica Dunham of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS), and junior Stephanie Polet of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS), also made the finals — placing fourth (432.20) and sixth (428.80) respectively.
Junior Jorgie Watson of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Central HS), claimed the top seed in the 200 breaststroke as she bids to repeat as MIAA champion. She went a NCAA Division B cut time of 2:21.77 during preliminaries.
Junior Michelle Hance of Noblesville, Indiana (Noblesville HS), also qualified, placing fourth at 2:30.26.
Senior Taryn Gras of Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland East HS), will race in the consolation final. She was 11th in prelims at 2:33.97.
The 400 freestyle relay of Hance, freshman Chloe Palajac of Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn HS), junior Hannah Larson of Jackson, Michigan (Jackson HS), and junior Lindsay Wiederhold of Plainwell, Michigan (Plainwell HS), earned the top seed with a swim of 3:40.11.
Palajac is seeded second for the 200 butterfly after going 2:08.83 during preliminaries. She is only 0.06 behind the top seed.
Two made the consolation race: sophomore Katie Smith of Mokena, Illinois (Lincoln Way East HS), in 11th at 2:23.75 and freshman Natalie Vela of Clarkson, Michigan (Clarkston HS), in 14that 2:25.73.
Two advanced to the 200 backstroke championship final. Sophomore Molly Meyer of South Bend, Indiana (John Adams HS), took fourth during preliminaries at 2:10.18, while Larson was fifth at 2:11.12.
Senior Lauren Girard of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS), made the consolation final in 12th at 2:19.00.
Junior Klare Northuis of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS), is in the 100 freestyle final after placing seventh in preliminaries at 54.26.
Three qualified for the consolation final: senior Luisa Burgess of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Taylor Allderice HS), in ninth at 54.50, freshman Amy Larsen of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Northern HS), in 12th at 54.77 and senior Emily Weber of Milan, Michigan (Milan HS), in 13th at 55.04.
