by Eva Dean Folkert
Making its competitive debut of the 2020-21 season against two NCAA Division II programs, the Hope College men's swim and dive team recorded split results on Saturday by topping Saginaw Valley State University, 138-100, but falling to Grand Valley State University, 150-90.
Due to the pandemic, the Flying Dutchmen had not competed since the 2020 MIAA Championships conducted last February.
"It was a meet unlike any I've ever been a part of, but it was unquestionably fun," said head coach Jake Taber of meet held at the Holland Community Aquatic Center.
Earning a first-place finish was senior Kamaron Wilcox, the reigning MIAA Most Valuable Diver, pictured right, who won on the 3-meter board with a score of 286.70.
Sophomore Bailey Smith of Battle Creek (Lakeview HS) claimed second place in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:47.04.
In the first Hope meet of their careers, three freshmen also had runners-up finishes: Jake Peterson of San Antonio, Texas (Churchill HS) in the 200-yard individual medley (1:57.04); Conor East of North Farmington (North Farmington HS) in the 200-yard butterfly (52.32); and, Ben Catton of Holland (Holland Christian HS) in the 100-yard freestyle (47.52).
The 200-yard free relay of Catton, East, freshman Ben DuBay of Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS), and sophomore Jackson Uyl of DeWitt (DeWitt HS) also earned a runner-up result with a time of 1:26.94 in the meet's last event.
In racing against Division II competition in their first meet in 11 months, a young Flying Dutchmen team – 13 of their 26 swimmers and divers are freshman – didn't shy away, Taber said. In fact, they embraced the opportunity to compete against anyone, at any level.\
"It's great to go out and swim 'up,'" Taber noted. "There were some really talented swimmers that we saw today, and that raises the bar for us a little bit in terms of knowing what's out there. That's a really positive thing for us. We said, 'Let's go and see how we match up.' And, you know, I was proud of the way we competed."
Hope's next meet is Friday, Janaury 29 at the Holland Community Aquatic Center versus Albion and Olivet at 6 p.m.
