Men's Swim/Dive Relishes a Senior Day Sweep of Olivet and Kalamazoo

Senior Ted Lockett, pictured.

The 17th-ranked Hope College men's swimming and diving team rewarded its seniors with a tri-meet victory against Kalamazoo College and Olivet College College on Friday at Holland Aquatic Center.

Powered by 10 first-place performances, the Flying Dutch defeated MIAA rivals Kalamazoo, 155-87, and Olivet, 191-32.

Prior to the meet, the Flying Dutchmen honored seven seniors: Brant Assink, Collin Kline, Ted Lockett, Jack Muller, JT Nissen, Bailey Smith and Jackson Uyl.

"You want to say every group of seniors is special because they are. This is a uniquely special group," head coach Jake Taber said. "This is my fifth year here. This group of seniors took a chance on my first year here and we're here all the way through. I'm grateful for their trust in Hope College and the program here.

"I'm very proud of all they have been able to accomplish not just in the water but, more importantly, who they are out of the water and the impact they're going to leave not just at Hope and the program, but what they do upon graduation."

The Flying Dutchmen started their evening by winning the 400 medley relay as freshman Sam Albrecht (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison HS), junior Conor East (Farmington Hills, Michigan / North Farmington), sophomore Joel Cummins (Osceola, Indiana / Penn) and sophomore Alex Boersema (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) recorded a time of 3:35.73.

In the 200 freestyle, Hope posted the top four times: junior Ben Catton (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) in first at 1:47.20, junior Ben Dubay (Omaha, Nebraska / Millard West) in second at 1:48.47, sophomore Joey Grasman (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) in third at 1:49.54, and Muller (Queensland, Australia / Meridian State) in fourth at 1:51.71.

In the 50 freestyle, the Flying Dutchmen finished with the three fastest swims: Cummins in first at 21.84, sophomore Colin Kalkman (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian) in second at 21.91 and Uyl (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt) in third at 22.18.

In the 100 freestyle, Kalkman recorded a winning time of 47.59 seconds.

In the 400 individual medley, Hope went 1-2 behind sophomore Dallas Fisher (Highland, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) in first at 4:15.78 and East in second at 4:19.14.

Fisher also won the 500 free at 4:52.53.

The Flying Dutchmen posted the fastest four times in the 200 butterfly: junior Kyle Langdog (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) in first at 2:05.77, junior Braeden Pfeil (Holt, Michigan / Holt) in second at 2:06.88, sophomore Christian Dunaitis (Commerce Township, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) in third at 2:07.35, and Assink (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) in fourth at 2:09.99.

In the 100 backstroke, Catton touched out Kalamazoo's Ben Pickrel by three one-hundredths of a second with a swim of 1:58.42.

In the 200 breaststroke, Lockett (Mason, Ohio / St. Xavier) took first with a time of 2:13.30.

The Flying Dutch capped the meet with a victory in the 200 freestyle relay as Grasman, Pfeil, sophomore Cooper Osgood (Saline, Michigan / Saline), and Fisher clocked a swim of 1:28.08.

"This is the first year we've done this format where all six MIAA schools are swimming the same event combination on the same weekend in different locations," Taber said. "I think it's nice to touch. It's fun to see where we are. Fortunately, we were able to look at a couple of different things today and be in a great facility. Hopefully, we'll get some people in some regular events before our conference championships and look where some opportunities might arise for other people."

Hope's next meet is on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. Central at No. 3-ranked University of Chicago.

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