Women's Swimming and Diving 10/4/2024 2:24:00 PM Alan Babbitt

2024-25 Women's Swimming and Diving Preview

An experienced and talented Hope College women's swimming and diving team is poised to make some more waves this season.

The Flying Dutch, winners of four consecutive MIAA Championships, bring back much of their talent in the pool, including senior swimmer Greta Gidley, the two-time NCAA Division III national runner-up in the 200-yard individual medley.

Gidley and her teammates helped Hope post its third consecutive Top 20 finish at nationals in 2024.

Head coach Jake Taber looks forward to seeing what is in store for the Flying Dutch.

"We're optimistic this year with that senior leadership," Taber said. "It's a talented group that has championship experience not just at the MIAA level but also at the national level. We're looking to build on what we've done the past few years."

Roster

The Flying Dutch have a roster of 31 with nine seniors, five juniors, 10 sophomores and seven freshmen.

Three All-American swimmers return for Hope: Gidley (Franklin, Michigan / Mercy HS), senior Sara Kraus (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford), and junior Katie Hermann (Canton, Michigan / Mercy).

Gidley is the reigning MIAA Women's Swimmer of the Year as well as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team selection and a CSCAA Scholar All-American First Team honoree.

The elementary education major claimed CSCAA All-America Second Team honors in the 100-yard butterfly, 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay. Gidley was MIAA champion in the 100 butterfly, 200 individual medley with an MIAA record, and the 400 medley relay with an MIAA record.

Kraus finished as a CSCAA Second Team All-American in four events last season: 200 backstroke (10th), 200 medley relay (11th), 400 medley relay (12th), and the 200 freestyle relay (15th). The exercise science major could become a four-time MIAA champion in both the 100 and 200 backstroke this season.

Hermann is a two-time All-American in individual events: First Team in the 100 backstroke as a freshman and Second Team in the 200 individual medley as a sophomore. The exercise science major also is a two-time All-MIAA recipient.

Gidley, Hermann and Kraus are among 10 returning All-MIAA swimmers along with seniors Norah Martin (Middleton, Wisconsin / Middleton), Lauren Ryle (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) and Grace Wesley (Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan / Grosse Pointe North); juniors Ashlea Swingewood (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel), Bella Turner (Chelsea, Michigan / Chelsea) and Laurel Wasiniak (Northville, Michigan / Northville); and sophomore Anna Stolle (Fishers, Indiana / Hamilton Southeastern).

Ryle, a business and psychology major, repeated as the MIAA champion in the 100 breaststroke last season.

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Jake Taber, seventh season
Diving coach: Rebecca Garza
Assistant coaches: Dave Jolly, Madison Whitman

Schedule

The Flying Dutchmen are scheduled to compete in 12 meets this season, beginning with the third annual Be Better; Invitational on Friday, Oct. 4, at 4 p.m. at the Holland Aquatic Center.

The Be Better; non-profit organization walks alongside athletes, systems of care, families and individuals to improve mental wellness and address mental illness and suicidality.

Be Better; honors the memory of Ian Miskelley of Holland, a beloved son, brother, friend, and talented Holland High School and University of Michigan swimmer, who died by suicide in 2020.

Hope also has five more non-league meets, including the annual D3Shootout at the University of Chicago on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 8-9, and the Total Performance Invitational hosted by Kenyon College (Ohio) on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23.

Hope also competes in the MIAA Relays on Friday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m. at Calvin University and three MIAA dual meets: Friday, Oct. 25, at 5:30 p.m. vs. Albion College and Alma College at the Holland Aquatic Center; Saturday, Jan. 25, at 1 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo College and The University of Olivet at Kalamazoo; and Friday, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. at Calvin.

The MIAA Championships are Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 19-22, at Calvin.

The NCAA Division III Championships are Wednesday-Saturday, March 19-22, in Greensboro, N.C.

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