The Flying Dutchmen marked the start of the swimming/diving season with a busy first weekend, competing on the road at two different venues. The team opened the season by competing in the non-scoring MIAA Relays on Friday at Calvin University and followed with dual meets Saturday at Olivet College and against Ohio Northern University at Hillsdale College. (Hillsdale does not have a men's swimming/diving team.) It was a great opportunity to involve the team which counts 33 athletes in early-season competition.

 

The nationally ranked Flying Dutchmen (16th by CSCAA) won the dual meet at Olivet, 163-126. Hope won 10 of the 16 events highlighted by a one-two-three sweep in the 50 freestyle and one-two finishes in four other events (1,000 free, 100 & 200 butterfly, 200 breaststroke).

 

Sophomore Braeden Pfeil (Holt, Michigan/Holt High School), pictured right, was a triple winner, taking first in the 100 backstroke (:56.55), 200 backstroke (2:02.63) and 100 butterfly (:55.12).

 

Junior Gabe Boonstra (Hudsonville, Michigan/Hudsonville High School), pictured middle, led the sweep of the 50 free (:21.63) and also won the 100 freestyle (:47.61).

 

Junior Theo Duong (Kentwood, Michigan/East Kentwood High School), pictured left, was also a double winner, capturing the 1,000 freestyle (10:43.90) and 500 freestyle (5:08.83).

 

Other Hope winners at Olivet were sophomore Kyle Langdon (Holland, Michigan/West Ottawa High School) in the 200 butterfly and junior Jack Muller (Queensland, Australie/Meridan State) in the 200 breaststroke (2:20.69).

 

Underclassmen prevailed in the dual meet against Ohio Northern as the Flying Dutchmen won, 168-129. Freshmen were winners in five events and sophomores in four. The Flying Dutchmen finished one-two in three events (200 freestyle, 200 backstroke and 500 freestyle).

 

Hope had four double winners -- freshman Conner Halberg (Novi, Michigan/Northville High School), 200 free (1:47.15) and 500 free (4:55.85); freshman Colin Kalkman (Holland, Michigan/Holland Christian High School), 100 backstroke (:55.40) and 200 backstroke (1:59.79); sophomore Conor East (North Farmington/North Farmington High School), 200 butterfly (1:58.8) and 200 individual medley (2:01.20); sophomore diver Ewan Tiongson (Portage, Michigan/Portage Northern High School), one-meter (250.45 points) and three-meters (262.90).

 

Freshman Alex Boersema (West Olive, Michigan/West Ottawa High School) marked his college career by winning the 1,000 freestyle (10:34.95).

 

Next for the Flying Dutchmen will be a dual meet against rival Calvin University on Saturday, October 30, at the Holland Aquatic Center beginning at 1 p.m.