Women's 800 Free Relay Sets School Record, Claims MIAA Title

Sophomore Greta Gidley

The Hope College women's swimming and diving team opened the 2023 MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships in record-setting fashion on Wednesday.

The Flying Dutch won the 800-yard freestyle relay in a school-record time as sophomore Greta Gidley (Franklin, Michigan / Mercy HS), sophomore Sara Kraus (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford), freshman Ashlea Swingewood (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel) and freshman Laurel Wasiniak (Northville, Michigan / Northville) recorded a swim of 7 minutes, 28.81 seconds.

The relay surpassed the 2022 record of 7:36.58 posted by Emma Schaefer, Kraus, Delaney Wesolek and Katie Weedon.

The relay finished nearly 24 seconds ahead of the field and helped Hope take a Day 1 lead with 62 points.

Gidley's leadoff 200 leg of 1:52.26 is the second-fastest time in the event in Flying Dutch history.

In the B final, Hope recorded the fastest time in the heat. Freshman Katie Hermann (Canton, Michigan / Mercy), sophomore Norah Martin (Middleton, Wisconsin / Middleton), freshman Bella Turner (Chelsea, Michigan / Chelsea) and sophomore Grace Wesley (Grosse Pointe South, Michigan / Grosse Pointe Shores) went 7:39.64.

Hermann's leadoff split of 1:53.87 is the eighth-fastest time in the 200 for the Flying Dutch.

In the 1-meter diving prelims, sophomore Abby Koops (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) led a group of six Hope divers to post among the top nine scores. Koops totaled 425.45 points for first place.

Junior Sophia Farbarzhevich (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) is in second place with 386.05 points.

Hope's other Top 10 finishers after prelims were sophomore Michaela Sander (Muskegon, Michigan / Mona Shores) in fourth with 360.65 points, freshman Miranda Smith (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern) in fifth with 352.80 points, senior Allie Graver (Grosse Ile, Michigan / Grosse Ile) in sixth with 341.45 points and sophomore Molly Leonard (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) in eighth with 331.40 points.

The four-day MIAA Championships continue on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. with prelims and 5 p.m. for finals.

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