Men's Swimming and Diving 2022-23 Season Preview

The nationally-ranked Flying Dutchmen return 26 letterwinners.

Senior Jack Muller

The Hope College men's swimming and diving team is aiming to build on a breakthrough season in the pool.

The Flying Dutchmen are coming off their 13th MIAA championship all-time and their first since 2010. Hope swept the men's and women's league titles for the first time since 2004. Hope went on to post its best effort at the NCAA Division III Championships since 2010 with a 36th-place finish.

Led by head coach Jake Taber, Hope returns 26 letterwinners on a roster of 31 swimmers and divers, including four qualifiers and seven All-MIAA honorees.

National Rankings

The Flying Dutchmen are ranked 16th in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America NCAA Division III poll. With 186 points, Hope is the highest-ranked MIAA team.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Jake Taber '04, fifth season
Diving Coach: Becca Garza
Assistant Coaches: Dave Jolly, Matt Hedman

2022-23 Roster

The Flying Dutchmen feature seven seniors, 11 juniors, eight sophomores and five freshmen on their roster.

Junior Ben Catton (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) is a two-time CSCAA All-American who took 14th in the 100 butterfly at nationals last March. The business and economics major is the returning MIAA champion in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Catton set an MIAA record in the 100 butterfly last season.

Sophomore Conner Halberg (Novi, Michigan / Northville) competed at nationals last March and swam to individual MIAA titles in the 500 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle.

Sophomore Colin Kalkman (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian) swam at nationals as well during his first seasons and claimed All-MIAA honors. Kalkman earned an MIAA individual title in the 200 backstroke.

Senior Jack Muller (Queensland, Australia / Meridian State) was a member of the 19th-place 400 medley team at nationals along with Catton, Halberg and Kalkman. The exercise science major is a two-time MIAA champion in the 400 medley relay (2020 and 2022).

Senior Ted Lockett (Mason, Ohio / St. Xavier) claimed All-MIAA honors last season. The chemistry major is the defending MIAA champion in the 200 breaststroke.

Sophomore Christian Dunaitis (Commerce Township, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) swam to All-MIAA recognition last March. Dunaitis is the defending MIAA champion in the 100 breaststroke.

Junior Conor East (Farmington Hills, Michigan / North Farmington) is the returning MIAA champion in the 400 individual medley and All-MIAA honoree.

Head coach Jake Taber said, "We're really fortunate we have the core of both teams back. Obviously, every year graduation presents some challenges, but I think the foundation of both teams is back here. We're hoping to build on what we accomplished last year. I look at where we are and the leadership on the men's team. I'm really excited Ted Lockett returns as a senior, defending conference champion in the 200 breaststroke. We have a really strong breaststroke crew. We have Christian Duniatis, the defending conference champ in the 100. The emergence of Ben Catton last year, qualifying a couple of relays for the NCAA Championships and everyone one of those guys back should create the opportunity for another exciting season for us."

2022-23 Schedule

The Flying Dutchmen split their team during the first weekend of competition on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 14-15, with divers headed to the Kenyon College Fletch Invitational hosted at Ohio University and swimmers competing in a dual meet on October 15 at Grand Valley State University at 1 p.m.

Hope will get its first look at the MIAA on Friday, Oct. 21, during the league's annual Relays event at Calvin University.

The Flying Dutchmen compete at the "Be Better; Invite" benefitting the Miskelley Foundation on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Calvin. The meet's field also includes the University of Michigan and Davenport University.

Hope's first home meet is Friday, Nov. 11, against Albion College and Alma College at Holland Aquatic Center. Hope's final home meet is Friday, Jan. 20, vs. Kalamazoo College and Olivet College.

The Flying Dutchmen will see some of the nation's top teams at two different meets: the D3Shootout on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 4-5, at the University of Chicago and the Kenyon College (Ohio) Invite on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 17-19.

The MIAA Championships are Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 15-18, hosted by Calvin University.

The NCAA Division III Championships on Wednesday-Saturday, March 15-18, in Greensboro, N.C.

Print Friendly Version