HIGHLIGHTS
Conference champions
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball
Women's Cross Country
Men's Lacrosse
Women's Indoor Track & Field
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Women's Soccer
Women's Tennis
NACDA Division III Directors' Cup Standings
Hope ranked 33rd in the final 2017-18 Learfield Directors' Cup standings among 451 Division III member schools with a total of 465.50 points from appearances in NCAA championship postseason competition.
MIAA Commissioner's Cup Standings
Hope finished second in the MIAA Commissioner's Cup standings with 130 points. The Flying Dutch led the league in women's sports with 69.5 out of a possible 72 points and six league titles. The Flying Dutchmen had the second-most points among men's teams with 60.5.
Otto van der Velde All-Campus Award Recipient
Zach Telfor, football
John Schouten Award Recipients
Hayley Reitsma, softball, and Alison Rich, women's indoor and outdoor track & field
Transitions
Steven Smith retired as men's soccer coach in February after 28 seasons, 372 wins and nine MIAA titles with the Flying Dutchmen. Dave Brandt was hired as men's soccer coach in March.
John Patnott announced in April his retirement as men's and women's swimming and diving coach following the 2018-19 school year. Jake Tabor was hired as men's and women's swimming coach in April; he will serve as co-head coach with Patnott during the 2018-19 season.
Bob Ebels retired as men's golf coach in July after 27 seasons and 14 MIAA championships with the Flying Dutchmen. Scott Lokers was hired as men's golf coach in July.
Historic Moments and Notable Performances
Josh Gibson became the first from Hope to be named the NCAA Division III Golfer of the Year. He received his award from golfing legend and award namesake Jack Nicklaus during a PGA Tour event in June. Men's golf matched its best finish at nationals of sixth place.
Baseball's Landon Brower and softball's Hayley Reitsma were chosen Google Cloud College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans.
Softball's Sydney Jones departed as the pitching career leader in several categories, including wins, innings pitched, games started and strikeouts. Teammate Sierra Mutschler concluded her career with a school-record 28 home runs.
Men's and women's basketball topped NCAA Division III in home attendance for the 10th consecutive season. The Flying Dutch averaged as many fans at home games as any Division III men's team other than Hope.
Women's track & field swept MIAA titles for the first time — winning both the indoor and outdoor championships.
Basketball's Dante Hawkins and Francesca Buchanan both reached the 1,000-point mark for their careers. Hawkins was the 40th Flying Dutchmen to accomplish the feat, Buchanan the 15th Flying Dutch.
Men's lacrosse enjoyed a historic season that included its first MIAA title and a school-record 15-match win streak. Goalie Nick Schanhals led the nation with a 6.10 goals against average.
The American Collegiate Hockey Association men's ice hockey team claimed its first ACHA national title with a 7-5 victory against Oakland University on March 17 in Columbus, Ohio. The Flying Dutchmen skated out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed. Forward Evan Fall was named Tournament MVP.
FALL
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Hope placed 16th at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional in Powell, Ohio. The Flying Dutchmen totaled 485 points in the 36-team event and were led by senior Benjamin Pederson, who finished 67th in 27 minutes, 2.1 seconds. Hope came in fourth at the MIAA Championship with a score of 125 points in Tecumseh, Michigan. Senior Jacob Hansen topped the Flying Dutchmen with a 23rd-place run of 25:57.8. Coach Mark Northuis and the Flying Dutchmen claimed United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team honors for the 27th time in 28 years with a 3.13 GPA.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Hope finished 19th out of 32 teams at the NCAA Division III National Championships in Elsah, Illinois, despite blustery and rainy conditions. The Flying Dutch scored 468 points for its 13th Top-20 finish at nationals. Hope qualified for nationals by winning its sixth Great Lakes Regional title in Powell, Ohio. The Flying Dutch totaled 88 points to top a field of 34 teams and claim its third regional championship in seven years. Five runners placed in the top 25 individually and were all-region: senior Alissa Frazee, junior Emily Hamilton, senior Rachael Webb, junior Avery Lowe, and sophomore Chelsea Miskelley. Hope earned its third consecutive MIAA championship for the second time in school history with a score of 20 points in Tecumseh, Michigan. Emily Hamilton was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Runner and was joined by four teammates on the All-MIAA First Team: Alissa Frazee, Alexis Guttilla, Rachael Webb, and Chelsea Miskelley. Coach Mark Northuis and the Flying Dutch picked up United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team honors for the 28th year in a row with a 3.65 GPA. Six runners earned individual USTFCCCA honors: Alissa Frazee, Alexis Guttilla, Emily Hamilton, Avery Lowe, Chelsea Miskelley, and Rachael Webb.
FOOTBALL
Hope recorded its ninth eight-win season after finishing with an 8-2 overall record. It was the Flying Dutchmen's best record since the 2000 season. Senior Justin Fairfield was voted to the D3football.com All-America Second Team as one of the top offensive guards in NCAA Division III. Hope set school records with 377 points scored and 2,810 yards rushing. Senior Brandon Campbell ran for 1,345 yards — fifth-most in team history. He eclipsed 200 rushing yards in a game three times — equaling Brandon Graham's single-season school record. Sophomore receiver Christian Bos and sophomore quarterback Mason Opple connected for a school-record, 93-yard touchdown reception during the season finale at Concordia (Wisconsin). It was the longest passing play in Flying Dutchmen history. Four football players earned All-MIAA First Team recognition. Zach Telfor and Griffin Weigl were selected a first-team defensive lineman and linebacker, respectively, by the league's coaches, while Justin Fairfield and Jake VanderVeen were chosen first-team offensive linemen. Hope finished runner-up in the MIAA with a 5-1 league record. Senior Brandon Ellsworth was selected Hope's fourth recipient of the MIAA's Pete Schmidt Award The award, presented by the league's coaches, honors the legacy of former Albion College coach Pete Schmidt for his dedication to and love of MIAA football.
MEN'S GOLF
Hope equaled its highest finish at the NCAA Division III Championships with a sixth-place effort in May in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Flying Dutchmen recorded a 72-hole, four-day total of 1,177. Junior Josh Gibson topped Hope with a 10th-place total of 290. Josh Gibson was named the NCAA Division III Men's Golfer of the Year while also earning All-America first-team honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America for the second consecutive season. He received his award from golfing legend Jack Nicklaus in June. Sophomore Daniel Settecerri received honorable-mention All-America honors. Three Hope golfers claimed PING all-region honors. Josh Gibson, Daniel Settecerri and Kade Hoeksema all were first-team honorees. The Flying Dutchmen qualified for nationals by winning the 54-hole MIAA qualifier in April. Hope placed 13 strokes ahead of runner-up Calvin — with the first round on the Flying Dutchmen's home course at Wuskowhan Players Club and the final two at Calvin's home course in Grand Rapids. Hope was runner-up in the regular-season standings during the fall. Josh Gibson shot the two lowest rounds in team history during fall play. He had an 11-under-par 61 at Grande Golf Club in Jackson and an 8-under-par 64 at Red Tail Run in Decatur, Illinois.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Hope finished runner-up at the MIAA Championship in October — ending a three-year reign as league champion. The Flying Dutch averaged 330.5 strokes over 108 holes at five different courses. Senior Megan Klintworth became Hope's third three-time MIAA champion as she repeated the feat she accomplished as a junior and a freshman. She earned her spot in an elite Flying Dutch club that Lisa Stover (1991-93) and Ellen Colenbrander (1996, 1998-99). Freshman Jordyn Rioux joined Klintworth as an All-MIAA First Team honoree. Three Hope freshmen represented coach Greg Stafford's Flying Dutch on the Women's Golf Coaches Association All-America Scholar Team: Carley Laird, Abby Meder, and Jordyn Rioux.
MEN'S SOCCER
Hope posted a 7-10-2 overall record in Steven Smith's final season as head coach. The Flying Dutchmen returned to the MIAA Tournament after a one-year absence after finishing fourth in the regular-season standings. They lost in the semifinals at Adrian 2-1. Sophomore Isaac Braak was selected an All-MIAA First Team midfielder by the league's coaches. Three of his teammates were second-team honorees: junior defender Sam Allbritten, junior forward Christian Dault, and junior defender James Reymann. The Flying Dutchmen played top-ranked Calvin to a 1-1 draw during regular-season play in October. James Reymann scored the tying goal in the second goal. Junior Blair McCormick made seven saves.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Hope advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling to the University of Chicago and finishing with a 19-3-1 overall record. The 19 wins were the most in team history — surpassing the 18 wins in 2005. Three Hope players claimed all-region honors from the United Soccer Coaches. Senior Allie Wittenbach and junior Grace Bubin were among five first-team forwards in the Central Region. Junior Rylie Dalton was a second-team midfielder. The top-seeded Flying Dutch rallied from an early deficit to beat Olivet 2-1 at Van Andel Soccer Stadium in the championship game of the MIAA Tournament and claim the league's postseason berth. Junior Rachael Braginton scored the go-ahead goal during the second half. Hope was the No. 1 seed after repeating as regular-season champion with a 14-1-1 record in MIAA matches. Five from Hope earned All-MIAA recognition from the league's coaches. Grace Bubin and Allie Wittenbach were first-team selections. Senior forward Erin Brophy, midfielder Rylie Dalton and freshman goalie Jordanne Ellingboe were second-team honorees.
VOLLEYBALL
Hope finished with a 19-11 overall record after reaching the championship game of the MIAA Tournament for the 12th consecutive season. The Flying Dutch's run of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances was snapped at nine following the season-ending loss at Calvin. Hope claimed All-MIAA recognition from the league's coaches: Senior middle hitter Paige Baker and senior setter Sophie Hackett were first-team honorees. Senior outside hitter Haley Muller and junior outside hitter made the second team. Coach Becky Schmidt and the Flying Dutch claimed the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for the ninth consecutive season.
WINTER
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Hope advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament and finished with a 19-10 overall record following a season-ending loss at Augustana (Illinois). The Flying Dutchmen earned their 27th postseason appearance by winning at Olivet 106-94 in March in the highest-scoring game in MIAA Tournament history. Hope was seeded second after tying for the regular-season league championship. Junior Jason Beckman received second-team all-region honors from D3Hoops.com. He scored 645 points in his first season with the Flying Dutchmen — the second-team in history. His 25.7 points per game were the highest by a Hope player since 1972. Beckman finished among the national leaders with school-record, foul shooting of 91.4 percent (149-163). Senior Dante Hawkins became the 40th Flying Dutchmen to reach the 1,000-point career scoring mark. He finished with 1,268 points mark — good for 19th all-time. Jason Beckman and Dante Hawkins both were named All-MIAA First Team by the league's coaches. Harrison Blackledge '17 was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in June.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Hope finished with a 29-2 overall record after advancing to the sectional final of the NCAA Division III Tournament and losing to Thomas More (Kentucky) at DeVos Fieldhouse in March. It was the Flying Dutch's sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and 19th overall. Hope returned to postseason play after winning two overtime games during the MIAA Tournament: vs. Calvin in the semifinals and Trine in the finals. The Flying Dutch were seeded first after sharing the regular-season title with Trine. Both teams went 15-1 in league play. Junior forward Francesca Buchanan was named to the Great Lakes Region First Team by D3hoops.com for the second consecutive season. Freshman guard Kenedy Schoonveld was selected the Great Lakes Region Co-Newcomer of the Year by D3hoops.com. Francesca Buchanan and Kenedy Schoonveld received All-MIAA First Team honors from the league's coaches. Senior guard Madison Geers was a second-team selection. Francesca Buchanan became the 15th Flying Dutch player to eclipse the 1,000-point career scoring mark during the MIAA Tournament win against Calvin in February. Assistant coach Courtney Kust Kust was recognized for her efforts on and off the court as a member of the 2018 Women's Basketball Coaches Association "Thirty Under 30" Class. She was honored during the Division I Final Four in March. Francesca Buchanan's layup at the buzzer — off a 35-foot inbound pass from sophomore guard Arika Tolbert gave the Flying Dutch one of their most dramatic victories with a 70-69 win at Calvin in February. The game featured nine score changes and 17 ties.
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Hope recorded a third-place finish at MIAA Championships with 483 points during the February meet at Calvin. Daniel Clyde set a school record in the 200-yard individual medley — breaking the mark that had stood for eight years with a swim of 1:52.51. He was runner-up in the event. Clyde also came in second in the 400 individual medley with a swim of 4:03.67. Three Flying Dutchmen earned All-MIAA honors: swimmers Daniel Clyde and Charlie Emmert, and diver Brian Simonich. Hope claimed College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America honors during the fall and winter semesters. Brian Simonich earned CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention honors by earning a 3.50 GPA during the school year and competing in a diving regional.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Meg Peel qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships as a freshman, finishing 23rd in the in the 200 backstroke (2 minutes, 4.14 seconds) and 29th in the 100 backstroke (57.15). She also swam in the 24th-place 400 medley relay with Emma Schaefer, Chloe Palajac, and Sydney Asselin. Hope finished runner-up at the MIAA Championships with 745 points during the February meet at Calvin College. The Flying Dutch won nine events: eight individual and one relay. Meg Peel set MIAA and school records in the 100 backstroke (56.54 finals, 56.01 preliminaries) and the 200 backstroke (2:00.77). In her final meet, Chloe Palajac took first in the 100 butterfly (57.17) and the 200 breaststroke (2:08.42). Chloe Palajac also led off the victorious 400 medley relay, teaming for a time of 3:52.02 with Paula Nolte, Sydney Asselin, and Peel. Nolte won the 100 breaststroke (1:07.01) and 200 breaststroke (2:26.04). Erin Emmert claimed an MIAA title in the 200 butterfly (2:07.49). Emma Schaefer was league champ in the 400 individual medley (4:37.52). Five swimmers earned All-MIAA honors: Erin Emmert, Paula Nolte, Chloe Palajac, Meg Peel, and Emma Schaefer. Hope claimed College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America honors during the fall and winter semesters. Four Flying Dutch swimmers earned CSCAA Scholar All-America honors by recording at least 3.50 GPAs and qualifying for NCAA championships: Sydney Asselin, Chloe Palajac, Meg Peel and Emma Schaefer.
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Hope placed third at the MIAA Championships with 100 points during the February meet at Trine. The Flying Dutchmen earned league titles in two events: freshman Zackary Murphy at 2 minutes, 00.23 seconds in the 800 meters, and e distance medley relay of 10:39.9 featuring senior Andrew Kalthoff, senior Brandon Wolliston, junior Collin Thomas, and senior Benjamin Pederson. Three school records fell at the MIAA Championship. Junior Justin Freeman set a school record in the 60-meter dash with a runner-up time of 6.99 seconds. Junior pole vaulter Ben Turner came in fourth after clearing a school-record 4.30 meters (14 feet, 4 ¼). Hope's 4x400 relay clocked a school-record effort with freshman Terrell Solberg, Brandon Wolliston, junior Eddie Ip, and senior Matt Ruff of Wayne, Illinois going 3:24.87 for second place. Junior Chase Gaca set an indoor school record for weight throw with a toss of 15.04 meters (49 feet, 4 ½ inches) at Aquinas College in January.
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Hope won its first MIAA Indoor track & field championship in dramatic fashion in February at Trine. Senior Rachel Satkiewicz passed Albion College on the final leg of the meet's last event — the 4x400 relay — to secure 131.5 points and a third-place finish in the event that made the Flying Dutch outright league champions. Sophomore Nicole Kruithof, senior Rachael Webb, sophomore Chelsea Miskelley, and Rachel Satkiewicz clocked a 4x400 relay time of 4:08.40 that topped Albion by 1.92 seconds. Hope won two events at the MIAA Championship: sophomore Addyson Gerig in the high jump at the MIAA Championship by clearing 1.55 meters (5-1), and the distance medley relay of junior Alicia Bostwick, sophomore Hailey Pickelheimer, senior Alexis Guttilla, and junior Avery Lowe at 12:45.68. The Flying Dutch established school records in the triple jump, long jump and the 5,000 meters at the MIAA Championship. Sophomore Mitchel Achien'g set a school record in the long jump with a fourth-place leap of 5.14 meters (16-10 1/2). Addyson Gerig finished fourth in the triple jump with a school-record leap of 10.58 meters (34-8 ½). Junior Emily Hamilton of Naperville, Illinois broke the school record in the 5,000 meters with a second-place finish of 17 minutes, 54.93 seconds. Rachael Webb set an indoor school record in the 800 meters with a time of 5:00.36 at the Grand Valley State University Tune-Up in February.
SPRING
BASEBALL
Hope advanced to the championship round of the MIAA Tournament before losing to Adrian and finishing with an 18-24 overall record. The Flying Dutchmen were seeded third for the league tournament after posting a 14-14 league record. Senior first baseman Landon Brower was voted a Google Cloud College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American in June. Freshman centerfielder Evan Maday was chosen to the All-MIAA First Team by the league's coaches. He was joined by two teammates who were second-team selections: junior shortstop Jordon Fairchild and sophomore rightfielder Mason Opple. Head coach Stu Fritz traveled to Switzerland to speak and offer instruction at the International Sports Group's Swiss Federation Coaches Clinic.
MEN'S LACROSSE
Hope captured its first MIAA championship en route to a 15-2 overall record and a runner-up finish in the league tournament to Albion. The Flying Dutchmen set a school record for wins in a season and longest win streak 15 games. They were the top seed in the league tournament after going 7-0 in MIAA matches. Junior goalie Nick Schanhals led all NCAA Division III players with a 6.10 goals against average. Sophomore forward Rocco Mularoni received honorable-mention all-region honors from the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association. He recorded 53 goals — the second-most in team history. Eleven Flying Dutchmen earned All-MIAA honors, including five first-team selections: Rocco Mularoni as Offensive MVP, junior long-stick midfielder Josh Blackburn, junior defensive midfielder Liam Turley, sophomore defender Andrew Caris, and sophomore attacker Max Kuiper. Second-team honorees were: Nick Schanhals, senior midfielder Grant Brogan at midfield, junior attacker Gino Battaglia, junior midfielder Nathaniel Hentschel, and sophomore defender Nick Bazany, and sophomore faceoff specialist Marshall VanBelkum of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford). Senior John Hunger was chosen in June as the 2018 NCAA Division III men's recipient of the One Love Foundation's Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award. One Love was established to honor Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia lacrosse player, after her death in 2010.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Hope finished with an 8-7 overall record after qualifying for the MIAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive seasons. The Flying Dutch lost to Calvin the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament. Four Hope student-athletes received All-MIAA Second Team honors from the league's coaches: senior attacker Emily Deane, junior defender Bailey Berberich, freshman midfielder Madison Micho, and freshman midfielder Carly Pieri. The Flying Dutch set a team record for scoring during a 24-1 win against Olivet in March. The Flying Dutch also equaled another school record with 17 first-half goals.
SOFTBALL
Hope established a school record for wins in a season while advancing to within one game of the NCAA Division III Softball World Series. The Flying Dutch finished with a 34-12 record after advancing to NCAA Super Regional play before falling to Case Western Reserve in three games in May at Wolters Stadium. Hope reached the Super Regional by winning the regional it hosted and the MIAA Tournament hosted by Saint Mary's. Senior pitcher Sydney Jones repeated a Fastpitch News All-American. She completed her career with numerous school records, including 53 career wins and 724 strikeouts. She set five single-season records as a senior, including 21 wins and 242 strikeouts. Senior second baseman Sierra Mutschler departed with a school-record, career home-run total of 28 and the top career mark for doubles with 44. Senior catcher Hayley Reitsma set a single-season school record with 13 home runs and set the MIAA record with 11 home runs in league play. She homered in five consecutive league games. Hayley Reitsma was voted a Google Cloud College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American in June. Sydney Jones and Hayley Reitsma both received all-region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Reitsma was a first-team honorees. Jones was a second-team selection. Sydney Jones, Sierra Mutschler, and Hayley Reitsma all were named to the All-MIAA First Team by the league's coaches. Reitsma was the 11th from Hope to be chosen Position Player of the Year.
MEN'S TENNIS
Hope qualified for postseason play for the first time in two decades, then advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling to No. 10 Washington-St. Louis in May in Gambier, Ohio. The Flying Dutchmen finished with an 11-11 overall record. Hope advanced to the postseason by defeating Adrian and Calvin during the MIAA Tournament. The Flying Dutchmen avenged a 5-4 loss to Calvin during the regular season by winning the rematch 5-1 at Calvin. Junior Mark VanderStoep and sophomore Danny Kroeze earned All-MIAA First Team honors from the league's coaches. Junior Michael Kiley was a second-team selection.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Hope advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship in May before losing to fifth-ranked Wesleyan (Connecticut) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and finishing with a 14-9 overall record. The Flying Dutch qualified for nationals for the seventh consecutive time by sweeping Trine and Calvin in the MIAA Tournament hosted by Hope. The Flying Dutch earned the No. 1 seed by going undefeated in MIAA regular-season matches for the fourth consecutive season. Sophomore Amanda Bandrowski became Hope's 16th different MIAA Most Valuable Player, as voted by the league's coaches. Sophomore Claire Hallock also was a first-team selection. Senior Natalie Rahrig and junior Taylor LaBarge were second-team honorees. Claire Hallock was named the recipient of the MIAA's Sue Little Sportsmanship award. She is the 14th different member of the Flying Dutch to claim the award.
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Hope qualified two for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Senior Benjamin Pederson and sophomore Joshua Izenbart finished 16th in the steeplechase and decathlon, respectively. Three Flying Dutchmen claimed all-region honors from the United States Track & Field Cross Coaches Association: Joshua Izenbart and Benjamin Pederson, and junior Justin Freeman. Hope placed fourth at the MIAA Championships with 103 points during the two-day competition in May at Adrian. The Flying Dutchmen were runner-up in four events. Justin Freeman set a school record for the 100 meters by clocking a time of 10.69 seconds at the Grand Valley State University Invitational in April. The previous record of 10.74 had stood since 1993.
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Senior Alison Rich placed 18th in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in May in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Hope captured its fifth MIAA outdoor track & field title in team history in May at Adrian with a winning score of 179 points. It was the Flying Dutch's first league championship since 2012 and the first outright since 1982. Hope won three events at the MIAA Championships: sophomore Chelsea Miskelley in the 800 meters after clocking a time of 2:17.93 seconds in the final, sophomore Hailey Pickelheimer in the 400-meter hurdle final with a winning run of 1:07.76, and junior Addyson Gerig in the high jump with a leap of 1.56 meters (5 feet, 1 inch). Alison Rich became Hope's 11th MIAA's Most Valuable Track Athlete as determined by the league's coaches. She headlined an All-MIAA team that includes three teammates: Addyson Gerig, Chelsea Miskelley, and sophomore Hailey Pickelheimer.
