Four Men's Swimmers Chosen to Academic All-District® Men’s Swimming & Diving Teams

Four Hope College men's swimmers have been named to the 2023-24 Academic All-District® Men's Swimming & Diving Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators: seniors Ben Catton and Colin Kalkman, and juniors Christian Dunaitis and Bailey Smith.

The CSC Academic All-America® program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the pool and in the classroom.

The program first recognizes men's swimming & diving Academic All-District® honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

A select number of recipients, including Catton, advance to the Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced April 24, 2024.

Catton (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian HS) is a business and economics double major who was chosen for the CSC Academic All-America® Second Team as a junior.

In the pool this season, Catton earned Second Team All-America honors in five events at the NCAA Division III championships last month, including the 100-yard freestyle (11th), 50 freestyle (14th), 200 medley relay (12th), 200 freestyle relay (13th), 400 freestyle relay (15th), 400 medley relay (16th) and 100 butterfly (16th).

Catton also helped Hope claim MIAA titles in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley. He received All-MIAA honors for the fourth time.

Smith (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) is a business major who earned MIAA titles in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle this season. It was Smith's fourth 1,650 free championship in five years and second 500 free title in a row.

Smith claimed All-MIAA recognition for the fifth time.

Dunaitis (Commerce Township, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) is a business major who claimed Second Team All-America honors in the 200 medley relay at the NCAA Championships.

Dunaitis won the 100 breaststroke at the MIAA Championships for the second time in three years and made the All-MIAA Team for the third time.

Kalkman (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian) is a biology major who received Second Team All-America honors in the 200 medley, 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 400 medley relays.

Kalkman also swam on the Flying Dutchmen's MIAA champion 200 freestyle relay and received All-MIAA recognition for the third time.

The Division III CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.

For more information about the CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.

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