Women's Swim/Dive Wins Four More Events, Closes in on Fourth MIAA Title in a Row

Pictured, junior Sara Kraus

Led by three repeat champions and one new event winner, the 12th-ranked Hope College women's swimming and diving team put a team title repeat within its sights as well.

The Flying Dutch are one day away from a fourth consecutive MIAA championship after excelling again during Day 3 of the league meet on Friday at the Holland Aquatic Center.

Hope extended its lead in the six-team standings with a total of 751.5 points heading into the final day on Saturday, Feb. 24.

The Flying Dutch are 128 points ahead of second-place and 15th-ranked Calvin University. Albion College (329) is in third place and followed by Kalamazoo College (283), Alma College (266) and The University of Olivet (137).

Day 4 begins with preliminaries at 10 a.m. and concludes with finals at 5 p.m.

On Friday, three Hope swimmers repeated as MIAA champions: juniors Sara Kraus (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford HS) and Lauren Ryle (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) and sophomore Ashlea Swingewood (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel).

Head coach Jake Taber said Kraus, Ryle, Swingewood and first-time 100 butterfly champion Greta Gidley excel in part because of how well they train together.

"They've been in this situation before. Now, what's really exciting is we've got great leadership from the ways those ladies have led," Taber said. "They're in the water together. They challenge each other, even though their events are different. They know what they're capable of. They know what to expect out of this meet. They embrace the opportunity."

In the 100-yard backstroke, Kraus won the event for the third consecutive time by clocking a time of 56.20 seconds.

Kraus led a 1-2-3-4 finish for the Flying Dutch. Sophomore Katie Hermann (Canton, Michigan / Mercy) finished runner-up at 56.94. Freshman Emma Hartman (Mason, Ohio / Mason) took third at 58.18. Freshman Paige Potter (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion) tied for fourth at 58.46.

In the 100 breaststroke, Ryle earned her second league title in the event by recording a school-record swim of 1:03.09. Ryle surpassed Emma Schaefer's 2021 time of 1:03.75.

Three teammates competed with Ryle in the 'A' final. Freshman Anna Stolle (Fishers, Indiana / Hamilton Southeastern) placed third at 1:04.33. Freshman Dillon Horsley (Indianapolis, Indiana / North Central) took fifth at 1:04.97. Sophomore Bella Turner (Chelsea, Michigan / Chelsea) was sixth at 1:06.13.

In the 400 individual medley, Swingewood finished first in the 400 IM by clocking a swim of 4:32.89.

Three teammates joined Swingewood in the 'A' final. Junior Grace Wesley (Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan / Grosse Pointe North) placed third at 4:35.37. Potter took fourth at 4:37.21. Senior Jess Estabrook (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel) was seventh at 4:45.25.

In the 100 butterfly, Gidley (Franklin, Michigan / Mercy) raced to her first title with a swim of 55.08 seconds.

The Flying Dutch also took second in the 200 medley relay.

Kraus, Ryle, Gidley and senior Delaney Wesolek (Bay City, Michigan / John Glenn) posted a swim of 1:42.03.

In the 200 freestyle, sophomore Laurel Wasiniak (Northville, Michigan / Northville) recorded a third-place time of 1:52.20. Martin took fourth at 1:55.53. Wesolek was fifth at 1:56.12.

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