The Hope College women's swimming and diving team opened its 2021-22 season with three wins and two runner-up finishes at the non-scoring Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Relays on Friday at Calvin University.
In winning the 500-yard freestyle relay, sophomore Abby Mendels of Holland, Michigan (Holland), freshman Sara Kraus of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford), sophomore Delaney Wesolek of Bay City, Michigan (John Glenn), and freshman Grace Wesley of Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan (Grosse Pointe North) , pictured left to right, clocked in at 4:49.74.
In capturing the 100 free relay, sophomore Madeline Tessin of Waxhaw, N.C. (Marvin Ridge), Mendels, junior Sydney Randall of Byron Center, Michigan (Byron Center), and sophomore Alexis Nelson of Chelsea, Michigan (Chelsea) posted a time of 46.68.
In claiming the 400 medley relay, Kraus, senior Emma Schaefer of DeWitt, Michigan (Saint Johns), Wesley, and junior Alyssa Kerkman of South Bend, Indiana (Saint Joseph) went 4:09.86
The two second-place finishes for the Flying Dutch were:
In the 1500 free relay by freshman Norah Martin of Middleton, Wisconsin (Middleton), Randall, and Nelson with a time of 17:02.40; and,
In the 100 breaststroke relay by freshman Audra Eding of Stevensville, Michigan (Zeeland West), senior Aubrey East of Farmington Hills, Michigan (North Farmington), sophomore Jess Estabrook of Carmel, Indiana (Carmel), and sophomore Maddie Kievit of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville) with a time of 58.98;
Head coach Jake Taber will split his teams to compete at two meets on Saturday, Oct. 23 – at Olivet College at 1 p.m. and at the Hillsdale Relays at 2 p.m.
