Story by Odille Parker; photo by Sara Kraus, right, by Lynne Powe
The 17th-ranked Hope College's women's swimming and dive team came out on top with nine wins and seven runner-up finishes in a rivalry dual meet to Calvin University, 154-146, on Saturday at the Holland Aquatic Center.
Sara Kraus gave the Flying Dutch a big lead with three top-place finishes. The freshman from Rockford (Rockford HS) touched in at 58.20 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke; 2:07.07 in the 200-yard backstroke; and 2:09.11 in the 200-yard IM.
Freshman Norah Martin of Middleton, Wisconsin (Middleton), pictured left, clocked in at 11:09.53 in the 1,000-yard freestyle to claim the win. Martin also came in second in the 200-yard backstroke at 2:13.80.
The Flying Dutch started out strong with a win in the 200-yard medley relay. Sophomore Delaney Wesolek of Bay city (John Glenn), Kraus, sophomore Rachel Gamm of Rockford (Rockford), and freshman Lauren Ryle of Grand Rapids (Catholic Central) touched in at 1:49.51.
Ryle also edged the competition before the dive break in the 50-yard freestyle, clocking in first at 25.33 seconds.
In the 100-yard butterfly, the Flying Dutch took the top two finishes, with junior Alyssa Kerkman of South Bend, Indiana (St. Joseph) finishing at 1:00.55, and Gamm coming in at 1:01.08.
The additional runner-up individual finishes were also key for Hope's win. Weedon touched in at 1:59.49 in the 200-yard freestyle, while senior Emma Schaefer of DeWitt (St. Johns) touched in at 1:07.75 in the 100-yard breaststroke and 2:31.22 in the 200-yard breaststroke. Wesolek came in at 54.98 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle.
Freshman Abby Koops of Grand Rapids (Forest Hills Northern) took first place in the one-meter dive with 236.55 points, as well as the three-meter board with 261.00 points.
Hope's next meet is Friday, November 5 at the Kalamazoo Quad at 6 p.m.
