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 Male Breakthrough of the Year is presented to a student-athlete (sophomore and above) who has made the best or most significant breakthrough in their sport during the year.
Graham O'Gorman, Baseball
The right-handed pitcher flourished during the 2023 season, posting career bests in wins (7), strikeouts (45), appearances (12), starts (12) and innings pitched (62.2). O'Gorman fired the 11th no-hitter in Hope baseball history against Lawrence (Wis.) in Florida with a seven-inning, complete-game effort in a 6-0 victory. O'Gorman also held Albion to one hit over six innings during a 7-1 victory at Boeve Stadium.
Grant Holtzer, Football
The senior wide receiver burst onto the scene last fall, hauling in career- and team-highs in receiving yards (833), receptions (33) and touchdowns (8). In the season finale, Holtzer recorded a season-high 167 receiving yards during a 38-28 victory at home vs. Trine that included touchdown catches of 5 and 67 yards. The 67-yard TD sealed the victory and came 1 ½ minutes after the Thunder pulled within three points.
Austin Becksvoort, Men's Tennis
As a sophomore, Becksvoort served up his best season on the court for the Flying Dutchmen in 2023. Playing at No. 6 singles for the first time, Becksvoort delivered point-after-point with a 13-6 overall record, including an 11-4 mark during the spring season. The 13 wins marked a career-high for Becksvoort.
Chance Strickland, Football
The junior running back became a touchdown machine for the Flying Dutchmen, powering his way to a career-high and MIAA-leading 16 rushing touchdowns that also tied for 15th-most in the nation. Strickland doubled his touchdown total from his first two seasons combined. Strickland also finished with career-best in rushing yards (773) and carries (168).
Nathan Woolum, Men's Track and Field
As a senior, Woolum excelled in jumps, hurdles and middle-distance runs during the 2024 indoor season and the 2023 outdoor season. Woolum clocked the fastest 400-meter hurdle time during the MIAA Outdoor Championships at The University of Olivet during prelims, then finished runner-up in the event. Woolum anchored the second-place 4x400 relay, took fifth in the triple jump and seventh in the 110 hurdles at the conference meet. At the MIAA Indoor Championships, Woolum anchored the runner-up 4x400 relay, placed fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the 400 meters.
Luke Wierengo, Men's Lacrosse
The sophomore long-stick midfielder played at an elite level during the 2023 season and became the Flying Dutchmen's second United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-America Honorable Mention recipient. Wierengo, who also received All-MIAA First Team honors, proved disruptive on defense with a team-best 39 caused turnovers and lethal on offense with 10 goals and four assists.
Christian Dunaitis, Men's Swimming and Diving
The junior swimmer returned to the top of the MIAA in the 100-yard breaststroke after winning the event for the second time in three years in February at the league championships at the Holland Aquatic Center. His 100m backstroke is .11 behind former national record holder Josh Boss which ranks him 2nd all time at Hope. The performance helped Dunaitis claim All-MIAA accolades for the third consecutive season. Dunaitis qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time as a senior and earned his first two All-America Second Team honors in the 200 medley and 400 medley relays.
Ian Petruska, Men's Cross Country
The sophomore qualified for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships and earned All-MIAA First Team honors last fall during his first season with the Flying Dutchmen. Petruska placed 268th at nationals with an 8K run of 26:58.5 and sixth at the MIAA Championships at 24:46. Petruska took 14th at the Great Lakes Regional to lift Hope a fourth-place team highest, its best at regionals since 1991.
