Presented to an athlete who has re-emerged on the field of play after overcoming adversity in the previous season due to an injury, illness, or personal hardship. 

NOTE: The annual HOPEYs celebration of Hope College Athletics will be held on Monday, April 17, at 7 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse. The event is open to the public. Admission is free.

Natalie Hammer, Women's Soccer

After missing the entire 2021 fall season due to an ACL injury, Hammer played in all 17 games for the Flying Dutch this year. She scored a career-best seven goals this season and tied for first in goals scored on the team. Hammer earned All-MIAA First Team honors after leading the MIAA with six goals scored during eight league games. She also received All-Region Third Team Recognition from the United Soccer Coaches for her performance this year. 

Jess Estabrook, Women's Swim & Dive

After suffering a season ending injury last year that did not allow her to compete at the 2022 MIAA meet, Estabrook came back stronger than ever this season. As a junior, she recorded individual finishes of third place, fourth place, and fifth place in her events at the 2023 MIAA Championships. She also posted personal best times in the 500-yard freestyle and the 1,650-yard freestyle. 

Savannah Feenstra, Women's Basketball

During her junior season, Feenstra tore her ACL in February 2022. She worked hard after surgery to recover and was ready to play the first game of the season this year on November 10. Feenstra led the team in scoring with 13.4 points per game and rebounding with 6.9 per game. She set career-highs in both points and rebounds. Feenstra was named to the All-MIAA First Team, received first-team All-Region honors, and earned honorable mention All-American honors from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. 

Rebecca Markham, Women's Cross Country

Markham suffered an injury early in the cross country season this fall. She ran at the MIAA Championships but was not a top-10 finisher for the Flying Dutch. Markham made an impressive comeback, earning All-Region honors two weeks later at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships. She was also a member of the team that competed at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships where she was the third finisher for Hope.