Senior Molly Meyer of South Bend, Indiana (John Adams) and junior Chloe Palajac of Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn HS) are driving the Hope College women's swimming & diving team during the 2016-17 season.
The two captains deliver experience, success and leadership to the Flying Dutch, head coach John Patnott said.
"Molly's been to nationals, would have gone last year but three days after the conference meet, she left for a foreign study in Peru," Patnott said. "Like Molly, Chloe is very well-respected, has an amazing work ethic and is a terrific racer."
Hope opens the season on Friday, Oct. 21 by hosting the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Relays at Holland Community Aquatic Center. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and are $5 for the general public and $3 for MIAA faculty/staff and non-MIAA students.
Patnott is entering his 38th season as head coach of both the men's and women's swimming programs at Hope.
This season's Flying Dutch roster of 25 includes three seniors, five juniors, six sophomores and 11 freshmen.
Hope graduated national champion diver Sarah Sheridan but brings back this season three of its six All-MIAA honorees: Meyer, Palajac and junior Elizabeth Fris of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa).
Meyer set the MIAA record last season in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2 minutes, 1.61 seconds. She also teamed with Palajac, Jorgie Watson and Klare Northuis to give Hope a three-peat in the 400 medley relay.
The Flying Dutch return six of their 14 swimmers who made the 2015-16 MIAA Academic Honor Roll: Meyer, Fris, Sydney Asselin, sophomore from Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian), Abigail Brinks, junior from Commerce Township, Michigan (Walled Lake Northern), Julia Hines, junior from Vienna, Virginia, (James Madison), and Sara Plohetski, sophomore from South Lyon, Michigan (South Lyon).
The Flying Dutch will swim two home meets at Kresge Natatorium and one home meet at Holland Community Aquatic Center during the 2016-17 season.
Hope is hosting the MIAA Championships on Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 15-18 at Holland Community Aquatic Center.
The NCAA Division III National Championships on Wednesday-Saturday, March 15-18 in Woodlands, Texas.
Click below to watch a video interview with Coach Patnott.
