Hope College Athletics hosted the annual HOPEYS award ceremony on Monday night at DeVos Fieldhouse, a celebration of senior student-athletes and the 2024-25 winter, 2024 fall and 2024 spring seasons.

Here are this year's HOPEYS recipients:

Outstanding Team

Volleyball. The Flying Dutch finished an achievement-filled season with a 29-3 overall record and a final ranking of third in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. In the NCAA tournament, the Orange and Blue claimed their third consecutive regional championship and advanced to the national semifinals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. Volleyball lost to eventual national champion Juniata in five sets. In MIAA play, Volleyball repeated as MIAA regular-season and tournament champions, winning all eight regular-season league matches in three sets for the first time in program history. The MIAA title was the 16th in program history and the third in four seasons. The Orange and Blue won 30 of 31 sets against MIAA opponents, including the league tournament. Volleyball had the MIAA's Most Valuable Player: outside hitter Addie VanderWeide, a repeat recipient.

Karen Page Courage Award

Greta Gidley, Swimming and Diving. The Hope College Karen Page Courage Award is presented in honor of beloved former Hope women's tennis coach Karen Page, who finished her brave, five-year battle with breast cancer in the summer of 2009. Gidley, a junior, was selected for her bravery and perseverance through numerous health challenges, physical and mental, to become an multi-time All-American and All-MIAA swimmer for the Flying Dutch while pursuing a major in elementary education.

Most Spirited Team Award

Men's Swimming and Diving. The inaugural is presented to the team that demonstrates the highest level of enthusiasm and support for the athletic program at hope. This team consistently shows up to games, cheering on their peers with energy, pride, and dedication.

Athlete of the Year

Female

Sara Schermerhorn, Women's Track and Field. The junior sprinted to a third trip to the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships, earning First All-American Team honors in the 400 meters (seventh place) and Second Team All-America accolades in the 200 meters (ninth place). She became the first MIAA champion in the 60, 200, and 400 in the same meet while also anchoring the first-place 4x400 relay. She was named the MIAA's Valuable Indoor Track Athlete and to the All-MIAA Teams. Last spring, she finished fifth in the 400 meters and 14th in the 200 meters at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships and claimed All-America honors for the first time in both events. She earned USTFCCCA all-region accolades in the 100, 200, 400 meters, and the 4x400 relay. She was MIAA champion in the 400 meters, 4x100 relay, and 4x400 relay, earning her All-MIAA distinction.

Male

Cole Luhmann, Football. The senior linebacker starred on the gridiron during a historic fall for the MIAA champion Flying Dutchmen, who also recorded their first 10-0 regular season and first NCAA playoff victory. He was chosen to the AFCA All-America First Team and D3football.com All-Region Team after collecting a career-high 87 tackles and 3 sacks over 11 games. He was selected as the MIAA's Most Valuable Defensive Player and to the All-MIAA First Team.

Be. Strong. Be True. Athlete of the Year

Female

Alison DeWeerd, Volleyball. The senior has been very active on campus over the past four years. She has been a campus tour guide for prospective students while also being a Team 43 member. She has also been a Step Rep for the Volleyball program while also serving in the Dominican Republic on a SEED trip. Ali was also a part of the Athletics Campus Ministries Bible Study Team. The middle hitter claimed AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors and AVCA All-Region accolades for the second consecutive season after recording career bests in kills per set (2.75) and attack percentage (.357). She was named to an All-MIAA Teams for the third time after helping the Flying Dutch repeat as MIAA champion, including for the second time as a first-team selection. Ali has been a member of Team 43 over the last two years.

Male

Connor Vachon, Men's Cross Country and Track and Field. The senior has been involved in many different things on campus for the last four years including being an RA, tour guide, tutor along with being a member of Nykerk. Connor went to Kenya and served those communities with clean water while sharing the Word of Jesus through sport. Outside of Hope Connor has also been active with the Zeeland Wyldlife Program. The runner finished 96th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, earned USTFCCCA all-region honors with a fourth-place run, and claimed All-MIAA First Team accolades. He raced to USTFCCCA All-America Second-Team honors in the outdoor 1,500 meters (13th place), All-MIAA honors, and an MIAA title in the 1,500 meters.

Exceptional MIAA Championship Performance

Female

Women's Track and Field. The Flying Dutch excelled through both a wet and sunny Friday to finish the 2024 MIAA Outdoor Championships with a two-day total of 240 points that earned a sixth consecutive league championship. While claiming six gold medals, the Orange and Blue matched last season's point total to score 62 more points than runner-up Trine at the two-day, seven-team meet. The MIAA outdoor title run is the longest in team history. 

Male

Football. A perfect start led to a perfect conclusion of a perfect regular season for Football last fall. The Orange and Blue needed only 13 plays to score five first-quarter touchdowns en route to winning at The University of Olivet, 48-12, and clinching an outright MIAA championship. Football wrapped up the first 10-0 regular season and the 15th outright MIAA title in the program's history.

Comeback Athlete of the Year

Female

Annie Lockett, Volleyball. The senior right-side hitter helped the MIAA champion Flying Dutch reach the NCAA Division III Final Four for the second consecutive season after missing the 2023 season due to injury. She was selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Third Team, AVCA All-Region First Team, and All-MIAA First Team. She averaged 2.89 kills per set with a career-best .268 hitting percentage in 32 matches.

Male

Eli Schoonveld, Men's Basketball. The senior forward returned from an injury that sidelined him for the 2023-24 basketball season to start a career-high 24 games during the 2024-25 season and set career-highs in minutes played (453), rebounds (88), assists (25) and steals (24). He scored a season-high nine points against Ohio Wesleyan and grabbed a season-best nine rebounds against Calvin. He helped the Flying Dutchmen reach the MIAA Tournament title game for the fourth consecutive season.

Norman "Bunko" Japinga Service Award

Greg Stafford, retired women's golf coach. The Bunko Service Award is presented to a faculty or staff member who is connected to Hope Athletics and recognized for their contributions that go above and beyond what is expected. Stafford retired after the fall season, completing a tenure as the longest-tenured women's golf coach and one of the program's most successful, is retiring after 16 seasons. During Stafford's tenure as head coach, the Flying Dutch earned their first three team trips to the NCAA Division III National Championships. Hope also claimed four MIAA regular-season championships and three MIAA Tournament titles. The Flying Dutch claimed multiple team and individual accolades during Stafford's career, including 51 Women's Golf Coaches Association All-America Scholars, 37 All-MIAA recipients, three MIAA Most Valuable Golfers, two WGCA All-Scholar Teams, and one WGCA All-America golfer.

Exceptional Team Performance

Female

Women's Swimming and Diving, MIAA Championships. The 12th-ranked Flying Dutch added another MIAA championship to its collection in February at Calvin, winning its fifth straight league meet in historic fashion. While earning 13 of 20 possible gold medals, Hope led wire-to-wire over the weekend and amassed a league-record 1,170 points while winning by a margin of 268 points. The previous record was 1,131, recorded by Hope in 2023. Hope became the first MIAA team to sweep all five MIAA titles since 2007.

Male

Football, 2024 NCAA playoff win vs. Aurora. The Flying Dutchmen dashed through the snow in November, winning the first NCAA playoff game in program history with a 49-21 second-round victory against Aurora at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium. Hope accumulated 451 yards of total offense, including 257 from quarterback Ben Wellman who threw four touchdowns and rushed for another. Safety Brad Raredon led the Flying Dutchmen's defense with nine tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble.

Anchor Award

Female

Gabby Chabala, Women's Soccer. The senior embodies the essence of the Anchor Award through her selfless leadership, relentless work ethic, and deep commitment to her teammates. As a two-year captain, she has set the standard for excellence, always leading by example—whether by running extra sprints alongside her teammates or offering unwavering support and encouragement. Beyond the field, Gabby has left a lasting impact through her extensive service and involvement, from volunteering with Camp Sunshine, Dance Marathon, SEED trips, ACT/SAAC committee, Girls on the Run, Hand2Hand, and much more. 

Male

Dan Campbell, Cross Country. The senior has been instrumental in helping to share the team culture and vision with the new team members. Whether we are doing pre-practice conditioning, chatting on a long run, or eating at Phelps, Dan can be heard sharing a positive message about what we have accomplished together as a team and helping others to envision what we can achieve together. 

H-Club Hope for Humanity Award

Jerry Root '75, volunteer associate chaplain of athletics. Recognizing the values learned in cheering gyms and stadiums as well as silent early-morning workouts, the Hope for Humanity award is presented to Hope College alumni athletes that have demonstrated Christian commitment and service to others in their careers after Hope. The honor was first awarded in 1990 and is presented by the college's H-Club, which consists of Hope alumni who were athletic letter winners and other honorary letter winners. Since 2008, Root has ministered and counseled Hope student-athletes and coaches as a volunteer associate chaplain. He began a second career during retirement following a 33-year career in education as a teacher and a coach

Newcomer of the Year

Female

Mia Hesley, Women's Soccer. The freshman defender made an immediate impact on the pitch for the Flying Dutch and drew quick admiration from opponents. Playing in 18 games and starting 17 games, she helped Hope record seven shutouts, including against Ohio Wesleyan, Alma, Olivet, and Albion. She was selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Third Team and the AllMIAA Second Team. She also contributed offensively and recorded one assist.

Male

Tyler Amos, Football. The senior running back excelled in his first season with the MIAA champion Flying Dutchmen, finishing second on the team in rushing yards (928), rushing touchdowns (12) and yards per carry (7.7). He ran for a season-high 125 yards and two touchdowns during a 38-7 victory at Calvin University, scoring the first touchdown in The Rivalry with a 2-yard run. Amos also accounted for 128 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns during Hope's first NCAA playoff victory, 49-21 vs. Aurora University at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium.

Breakthrough Athlete of the Year

Female

Laurel Wasiniak, Women's Swimming and Diving. The junior excelled in the pool, swimming to First Team All-America accolades in three relays and Second Team All-America honors in four events (two individual, two relays). She earned All-MIAA accolades for the third time in her career after clocking f rst-place times at the MIAA Championships in the 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle. She was runner-up in the 50 freestyle. She competed in gold medal-earning 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, and 200 medley relays.

Male

Cade Seabaugh, Baseball. The sophomore designated hitter sparkled on the diamond for the Flying Dutchmen, batting .366 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 29 games. He made the All-MIAA Second Team. He went 4-for-5 with a multi-homer game and a season-best five RBIs during an 11-0 victory at Olivet. He slugged a fifth-inning solo home run and a two-run, seventh-inning homer. He collected 17 extra-base hits for the season, including nine doubles and one triple.