Eight Swimmers Qualify for NCAA Division III Championships

Junior Greta Gidley is seeded second in the 200-yard individual medley.

Eight Hope College women's swimmers have qualified for the 2024 NCAA Division III Championships later this month in Greensboro, N.C.: senior Delaney Wesolek; juniors Greta Gidley, Sara Kraus and Lauren Ryle; and sophomores Katie Hermann, Ashlea Swingewood, Bella Turner and Laurel Wasiniak.

The national championships are scheduled for Wednesday-Saturday, March 20-23, at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Competition begins each day with trials at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.

Hope finished 10th at last season's NCAA Championships, also hosted in Greensboro. It was the Flying Dutch's highest finish at nationals since a 10th-place effort in 2007.

This season, the Flying Dutch, who won a fourth consecutive MIAA championship, will compete in six individual events and five relays at nationals.

Gidley (Franklin, Michigan / Mercy HS) is seeded among the Top 10 in three individual events.

In the 200 individual medley, Gidley is second-fastest after clocking a time of 2:00.79. Sophia Verkleeren of Williams College (Mass.) is first at 1:59.48. Gidley was the national runner-up in the event last season.

In the 100 butterfly, Gidley sits fifth with a swim of 54.87 seconds. Alexandra Turvey of Pomona Pitzer (Calif.) is first at 53.76.

In the 100 freestyle, Gidley is seventh in the field after clocking a time of 50.83.

Kraus (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) sits fifth in the 200 backstroke at 2:00.26. Kraus is a two-time All-American in the event.

Kraus also will swim the 100 backstroke (seeded 15th at 55.79) and the 200 IM (seeded 17th at 2:05.67). Kraus is a two-time All-American in the 100 backstroke.

Ryle (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) ranks 14th in the 100 breaststroke with a swim of 1:03.06. Jennah Fadely of Kenyon College (Ohio) leads the nation at 1:00.02.

Wasiniak (Northville, Michigan / Northville) is 17th in the 100 freestyle.

Hermann (Canton, Michigan / Mercy) is 19th in the 200 backstroke at 2:02.60. Hermann was an All-American in the event last year after placing eighth in the nation.

Turner (Chelsea, Michigan / Chelsea) will race in the 100 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay.

Wesolek (Bay City, Michigan / John Glenn) will swim in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays.

Swingewood (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel) will compete in the 800 freestyle relay.

Hope is seeded in the Top 10 in three relays.

In the 200 freestyle relay, the Flying Dutch are sixth with a swim of 1:33.26. Pomona Pitzer is first with a qualifying time of 1:32.08.

In the 200 medley relay, Hope is seventh with a time of 1:42.03. Williams leads the pack with a qualifying swim of 1:40.79.

In the 400 medley relay, the Flying Dutch are ninth with a swim of 3:44.81. Williams sits first at 3:39.04.

In the 400 freestyle relay, Hope sits 11th at 3:25.60. Pomona Pitzer is first at 3:21.64.

In the 800 freestyle relay, Hope is seeded 12th with a time of 7:29.40. Denison University (Ohio) tops the field at 7:17.61.

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