Men's Swim/Dive Wins MIAA Titles in 100-Yard Breaststroke and 3-Meter Diving

Pictured, junior Christian Dunaitis

Swimmer Christian Dunaitis and diver Ewan Tiongson shared similar focus and successful results for Hope College during Day 3 of the MIAA Championships on Friday.

Dunaitis (Commerce Township, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central HS) and Tiongson (Portage, Michigan / Portage Northern) both claimed individual titles at the Holland Aquatic Center.

Their victories in the 100-yard breaststroke and 3-meter diving, respectively, helped the Flying Dutchmen remain comfortably in second place at the six-team meet.

With 728 points, Hope trails seventh-ranked Calvin University by 23 points but leads third-place Kalamazoo College by 296 heading into the final day on Saturday, Feb. 24. Albion College (264) is in fourth and followed by Alma College (196) and The University of Olivet (141).

Saturday's prelims begin at 10 a.m. The finals start at 5 p.m.

Dunaitis won the 100 breaststroke for the second time in three years. He also claimed a league title as a freshman.

The junior returned to the top after winning as a freshman by recording a winning time of 54.80 seconds. He was just 0.11 off the school record Josh Boss has held since 1999.

"He's been locked in and laser-focused," head coach Jake Taber said of Dunaitis. "He takes great care of himself and is a student of the sport. He has his race scripted unbelievably well. He just knew what he was capable of doing. He went out and executed. It was a beautiful thing to watch."

Two teammates joined Dunaitis in the 'A' final. Freshman Christian Hoeksema (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) took fourth with a swim of 56.88 seconds. Senior Reilly LaGrand (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) was eighth at 68.68.

In 1-meter diving, Tiongson captured his first 3-meter diving title by posting a total of 457.80 points and finishing 27.75 points ahead of the nearest competitor.

Diving coach Becca Garza praised Tiongson's performance.

"He is the hardest working and most coachable athlete," Garza said. "He has worked his tail off this year to hit his goals. I think tonight was a testament to that. Having his teammates in finals was a great addition! He focused on what he needed to do and got it done."

Hope placed runner-up in four events.

In the 200 medley relay, junior Colin Kalkman (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian), Dunaitis, senior Ben Catton (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) and freshman Graham Eisenmann (Ozark, Montana / Ozark) clocked a second-place time of 1:28.56.

The relay broke the 2022 school record of 1:29.68.

Hope's second relay finished fourth. Freshman John McHugh (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton), Hoeksema, junior Dallas Fisher (Highland, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) and senior Conor East (Farmington Hills, Michigan / North Farmington) posted a swim of 1:33.37.

In the 100 butterfly, Catton recorded a runner-up effort of 47.44 seconds.

Kalkman took fourth at 48.98. Eisenmann placed fifth at 50.53. East was sixth at 50.54.

In the 400 individual medley, freshman Alex Pierce (Oswego, Illinois / Oswego) touched the wall in second place with a swim of 4:02.08.

Sophomore Bishop Carl (Cincinnati, Ohio / Sycamore) took third at 4:06.32. Freshman Nick Suranyi (Novi, Michigan / Novi) was fourth at 4:07.39.

In the 200 freestyle, senior Bailey Smith (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) recorded a runner-up time of 1:41.10.

Sophomore Henry Booker (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) finished fourth at 1:41.63. Junior Conner Halberg (Novi, Michigan / Northville) took fifth at 1:41.70. Freshman Connor Watkins (Buckeye, Arizona / Horizon) was seventh at 1:42.87.

Kalkman placed third in the 100 backstroke after clocking a swim of 48.56. Fisher took fourth at 51.17. McHugh was sixth at 51.90.

Print Friendly Version