Women's Swim/Dive Dominates Field at Michigan-Illinois Quad

Junior Delaney Wesolek, pictured

The 12th-ranked Hope College women's swimming and diving team made a big splash in its return to competition, dominating the four-team Michigan/Illinois Quad hosted by Kalamazoo College on Saturday.

Led by eight first-place performances, the Flying Dutch totaled 669 points and finished 247 points ahead of the nearest competitor, Lake Forest College (Ill.). Kalamazoo placed third with 427 points, while Wheaton College (Ill.) was fourth with 390.

Junior Delaney Wesolek (Bay City, Michigan / John Glenn HS) sprinted to two winning swims in Hope's first meet of the calendar year.

In the 50-yard freestyle, Wesolek went 25.07. Sophomore Lauren Ryle (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) took fourth at 25.39. Junior Ashley Geddes (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) was fifth at 25.54.

In the 100 freestyle, Wesolek recorded a first-place effort of 55.34 seconds. Junior Maddy O'Donnell (Lincolnshire, Illinois / Stevenson) was fifth at 57.24.

Freshman Ashlea Swingewood (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel) led a 1-2-3 Hope sweep of the 200 IM by clocking a winning time of 2:12.27. Freshman Laurel Wasiniak (Northville, Michigan / Northville) finished runner-up at 2:13.40. Freshman Bella Turner (Chelsea, Michigan / Chelsea) was third at 2:14.29.

The Flying Dutch posted two of the fastest three times in the 200 butterfly. Sophomore Greta Gidley (Franklin, Michigan / Mercy) posted a winning swim of 2:13.26. Senior Macey Mayer (San Antonio, Texas / Johnson) was third at 2:20.60.

In the 200 breaststroke, Hope recorded four of the top five swims.

Sophomore Sara Kraus (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) won with a time of 2:26.34. Freshman Katie Hermann (Canton, Michigan / Mercy) finished third at 2:29.24. O'Donnell tok fourth at 2:35.02. Ryle was fifth at 2:36.83.

In the 200 freestyle, the Flying Dutch went 1-2 with Hermann at 1:58.01 and Kraus at 1:59.93.

Hope swept both relays.

In the 400 medley to open the meet, Hermann, Kraus, senior Alyssa Kerkman (South Bend, Indiana / St. Joseph) and Gidley recorded a winning swim of 3:57.15.

In the 400 freestyle relay to close the meet, Gidley, Wasiniak, Turner and Wesolek posted a first-place swim of 3:33.56.

In the 200 backstroke, Swingewood took third with a swim of 2:14.49. Geddes was fourth at 2:15.09.

In the 500 free, Monroe clocked a runner-up time of 5:31.39. Junior Jess Estabrook (Carmel, Indiana / Carmle) placed fourth at 5:34.78. Sophomore Norah Martin (Middleton, Wisconsin / Middleton) was fifth at 5:35.32.

In diving, sophomore Abby Koops (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) swept first-place on both boards with scores of 443.40 in 1-meter diving and 284.20 in 3-meter diving. Both were NCAA regional qualifying marks.

Junior Sophia Farbarzhevich (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) was runner-up on both boards, totaling 392.70 in 1 meter and 244.90 in 3-meter.

Freshman Lydia Hawkins (Spring Arbor, Michigan / Western) took third in 1-meter with 392.40 points. Senior Allie Graver (Grosse Ile, Michigan / Grosse Ile) was fourth in 3-meter at 228.35.

Hope's next meet is Friday, Jan. 20, at 6 p.m. at Holland Aquatic Center vs. Kalamazoo College and Olivet College.

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