by Odille Parker
Bailey Smith and Conor East each finished first in two races for the Hope College men's swimming and diving team during a 170-125 dual meet loss to Calvin University on Saturday at Holland Aquatic Center.
Smith, pictured right, swept the long-distance freestyle events. The sophomore of Battle Creek (Lakeview) clocked in at 9:38.73 in the 1000-yard freestyle and 4:42.63 in the 500-yard freestyle. His 1000-yard time is also the third all-time performance in program history.
"Bailey came in a middle distance freestyler and quickly found the consistency in his stroke and the ability to maintain speed and split appropriately," said head coach Jake Taber of Smith's performance. "I think he just keeps getting better and better… so nearing the all-time mark (in the 1000-yard freestyle) today was very, very special."
The Flying Dutchmen won five events.
East, a freshman of North Farmington (North Farmington HS), pictured right, took first in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:55.08 and the 200-yard IM at 1:58.51. Freshman Jake Peterson of San Antonio, Texas (Churchill HS) was a close runner-up in the 200-yard butterfly, touching in at 1:55.28.
Junior Kamaron Wilcox of Grand Rapids Michigan (Forest Hills Central) took first in the three-meter dive with 286.70 points.
Additional runner-up finishes for Hope included: Sophomore Jack Muller of Queensland, Australia (Meridan State) in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.74 seconds; and freshman CJ Gillengerten of Haslett (Haslett HS) in the 200-yard breaststroke clocking in at 2:15.74.
The Flying Dutchmen's next meet is Friday, February 12 at the Holland Aquatic Center versus Alma and Kalamazoo at 6 p.m.
