Note: The annual HOPEYs celebration of Hope College Athletics will be held on Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse. The event is open to the public. Admission is free.
The Athlete of the Year Award is presented to the female student-athlete deemed to be the most exceptional during the year.
Addie VanderWeide, Volleyball
The junior outside hitter served up a memorable debut season with the Flying Dutch, leading the Flying Dutch to a national runner-up finish and being selected as the American Volleyball Coaches Association Co-National Player of the Year in Division III and the MIAA Volleyball Player of the Year. VanderWeide set a Hope record and led the MIAA with 535 kills on the season. She ranked 10th in the nation at 4.31 kills per set and third in the MIAA with a .298 hitting percentage. An all-region selection, VanderWeide led the Flying Dutch to NCAA regional, MIAA Tournament and MIAA regular-season championships.
Greta Gidley, Women's Swimming and Diving
The junior swimmer dominated in the pool for the MIAA champion Flying Dutch this season, earning MIAA Most Valuable Swimmer honors for the first time and claiming All-America honors in five events. In March, Gidley finished in the 200-yard individual medley as the national runner-up for the second consecutive season. She also earned All-America Second Team honors in the 100 freestyle and three relays: 200 freestyle, 200 medley and 400 medley. In February, Gidley led Hope to a fourth consecutive MIAA title by repeating as MIAA champion in the 200 IM, winning the 100 butterfly and competing on two MIAA-record-setting relays: the 400 medley and 800 freestyle relays.
Rebecca Markham, Women's Cross Country and Track and Field
The senior has excelled as a distance runner, qualifying to compete at the NCAA Championships in cross country and indoor track and field. This fall, Markham earned MIAA Most Valuable and All-MIAA cross country honors after leading the Flying Dutch to a league co-championships and being the MIAA individual champion. Markham raced to All-America accolades with a 26th-place run at nationals. Markham ran away with league titles and All-MIAA honors in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters and helped Hope repeat as MIAA team champion. Markham placed 17th in the indoor 5,000 meters at nationals in March.
Delaney Kirinovic, Women's Lacrosse
The senior defender delivered a stalwart performance on the field for the Flying Dutch in 2023. Her play helped Hope capture the first MIAA regular-season and tournament championships in program history as well as make the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Kirinovic was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year for the first time and All-MIAA First Team for the second time.
Jenna Mustapha, Women's Soccer
The senior defender proved exceptional on both ends of the field for the Flying Dutch, earning all-region honors this fall for the third time in her career and All-MIAA First Team recognition for the fourth time. Mustapha was all-region as a senior, junior and sophomore. Mustapha's defense helped Hope finish with a 0.77 goals-against-average and five shutouts. Offensively, Mustapha joined the attack where a strong right leg made her a driving force on free kicks. Mustapha collected a career-best four assists in 18 games.
Sara Schermerhorn, Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
The sprinter claimed her first All-America honor this winter during the indoor track and field season and earned MIAA titles in seven events between the 2024 indoor season and the 2023 outdoor season. Schermerhorn placed seventh in the 400 meters at indoor nationals and a personal-best 11th in the 200 meters. She was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Indoor Track Athlete after winning league titles in the 200 and 400 meters and the 4x400 relay. Last spring, Schermerhorn finished 16th in the 200 meters at outdoor nationals and 14th in the 4x400 relay and was made all-region in both events. Schermerhorn was MIAA champion in the 100 and 200 meters and the 4x100 and 4x400 relay.
