Men's and Women's Swim/Dive Kick Off Season at Be Better; Invite

The first meet of the 2023-24 season for Hope College men's and women's swimming and diving teams delivered more than just competition in the pool on Friday in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Flying Dutchmen and Flying Dutch took part in the second annual "Be Better; Invite" that honored the memory of Holland native Ian Miskelley, who died in 2020, and promoted the Be Better; Foundation started by his parents after the loss of their son to mental illness.

Ian Miskelley was a teammate for all three schools participating — Hope, host University of Michigan and Calvin University — whether in college or high school at Holland Christian. His sister, Chelsea, swam for Hope.

Friday's non-scoring meet featured 83 combined traditional and non-traditional events.

Junior Greta Gidley (Franklin, Michigan / Mercy HS) recorded two individual runner-up swims.

In the 100-yard individual medley, Gidley clocked a time of 57.78 seconds that finished second to only Michigan's Stephanie Balduccini, who went 56.21.

In the non-traditional, 50 freestyle with fins, Gidley posted a swim of 20.94 that was only topped by Michigan's Casey Chung at 19.83.

Gidley also competed on the Flying Dutch's second-place 8x25 freestyle relay that registered a time of 1:33.20. Michigan won at 1:26.97.

Joining Gidley on the relay were: sophomore Bella Turner (Chelsea, Michigan Chelsea), junior Sara Kraus (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford), senior Delaney Wesolek (Bay City, Michigan / John Glenn), sophomore Laurel Wasiniak (Northville, Michigan / Northville), junior Maggie Monroe (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids), freshman Madeline McGee (Ionia, Michigan / Ionia), junior Grace Wesley (Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan / Grosse Pointe North) and freshman Dillon Horsley (Indiana, Michigan / North Central).

In the non-traditional 100 individual medley x4 @ 2:00 from dive, sophomore Katie Hermann (Canton, Michigan / Mercy) placed second in one race and third in the three others.

Junior diver Abby Koops (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) finished runner-up on the 3-meter board with a total of 197.20 points.

In the 100 backstroke, Hermann finished fourth at 57.75 with the fastest non-Division I time.

On the men's side, senior Bailey Smith and junior Alex Boersema clocked the best non-Division I swims in the 200 freestyle.

Smith (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) took fifth with a time of 1:49.03.

Boersema (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) was sixth at 1:49.49.

In the non-traditional 100 free x5 @ 2:00 from dive, freshman Andrew Repp (Plymouth, Michigan / Salem) recorded the top non-Division I swims in four of five races.

Hope's next meet is Friday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m. at the MIAA Relays hosted by Calvin University.

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