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 Comeback Athlete of the Year is presented to a student-athlete who has re-emerged on the field of play after overcoming adversity in the previous season due to an injury, illness, or personal hardship.
Daniel Hesselbein, Men's Soccer
The goalkeeper made the All-MIAA Second Team and recorded career-highs in wins, saves, shutouts and minutes played as a junior after missing the final nine games of the 2022 season due to injury. Hesselbein totaled 11 wins, 55 saves and eight shutouts while averaging 87 minutes per game. Hesselbein made a Hope-record 13 saves at Van Andel Soccer Stadium during a 1-0 victory against 2022 national champion University of Chicago on Sept. 16.
Marco Mularoni, Men's Lacrosse
The midfielder earned All-MIAA Second Team honors and helped the Flying Dutchmen win the MIAA Tournament title during the 2023 season after injury limited Mularoni to seven games as a sophomore. Mularoni recorded a career-best three goals in 18 games on just five shots while also contributing 22 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers and one assist.
Ben Wellman, Football
The junior quarterback registered career-highs in passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns last fall after injury limited him to two games the previous two seasons. Wellman rushed for two scores during a 45-7 victory at the University of Olivet. In the season finale, Wellman completed 10-of-15 passes for 193 yards and touchdowns of 38, 5 and 63 yards.
