by Alan Babbitt
The Hope College women's swimming and diving team cruised to a winning total of 625.5 points at the Michigan Illinois Quad on Saturday.
The four-team meet was held at two locations because of a winter storm. Hope and Kalamazoo College College went to Holland Community Aquatic Center, the original host, while Lake Forest University (Illinois) competed at Wheaton College (Illinois).
Kalamazoo finished second with 531.5 points. Wheaton scored 432 points for third place. Lake Forest had 297.
Pictured from left, Olivia Robertson and Areal Tolsma
In the Flying Dutch's first event at Holland Community Aquatic Center, they clocked the fastest 400-yard medley relay. Senior Erin Emmert of Grand Blanc, Michigan (Flint Powers Catholic HS), sophomore Aubrey East of Farmington Hills, Michigan (North Farmington), freshman Jenna Kloosterman of Hamilton, Michigan (Hamilton) and freshman Emily Kurt of South Lyon, Michigan (South Lyon) went 4 minutes, 9.05 seconds.
Hope finished 1-2 in the 200 breaststroke: junior Emma Schaefer of DeWitt, Michigan (St. Johns) at 2:29.23 and freshman Alyssa Kerkman of South Bend, Indiana (St. Joseph) at 2:39.53.
Freshman Tarah Lang of Marshall, Michigan (Marshall) recorded a top 200 individual medley of 2:17.76.
In diving, freshman Olivia Robertson of Sturgis, Michigan (Sturgis) posted the top 3-meter score of 299.75 points.
Senior Areal Tolsma of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian) placed first on the 1-meter board at 311.80 points. Robertson was runner-up with 305.20 points.
Hope's next meet is the two-day quad at Hudsonville High School on Friday-Saturday, January 17-18 against Albion College, DePauw University (Indiana) and Franklin College (Indiana).
