The reigning MIAA champion Hope College men's swimming and diving teams placed second in the 2026-27 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
The 15th-ranked Flying Dutch, who ended Calvin University's three-year reign, collected two first-place votes and totaled 14 points. The Knights edged Hope with 15 points and three first-place votes. Coaches could not vote for their teams. Kalamazoo College finished third with eight points, followed by Albion College (7) and Alma College (6).
A deep roster of All-MIAA talent, including several swimmers who competed at the NCAA Championships, bolsters the Flying Dutch in their bid to repeat for the first time since 2009. Jake Taber, the 2025-26 MIAA Men's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year, returns to lead Hope.
Junior Josh Bordovsky won the 200 IM in an MIAA meet-record time of 1:48.85 and claimed the 200 breast title in 2:00.16. The two-time All-MIAA honoree from Herndon, Virginia (South Lakes), also contributed to Hope's winning 200 free relay at the conference meet. At the NCAA Championships, Bordovsky placed 13th in the 200 IM in 1:48.10 and 17th in the 200 breaststroke in 2:01.38.
Senior Graham Eisenmann, a two-time All-MIAA selection from Ozark, Missouri (Ozark), won the 100 butterfly crown in 48.07 and helped the Flying Dutch win the 200 free relay. He later placed 20th in the 100 free (44.53), 26th in the 100 fly (48.56), and 29th in the 100 breast (56.21) at the NCAA Championships.
Junior Joe Engle, a two-time All-MIAA honoree from Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa), claimed victories in both the 500 free (4:31.75) and the 1,650 free (16:03.67). Classmate Luke Wyrick (Glen Ellyn, Illinois / Glenbard West) also returns following an All-MIAA season in which he won the 400 IM in 4:00.22.
Fellow junior Everett Cox, also a two-time All-MIAA honoree from Sugar Land, Texas (Logos Prep), qualified for the NCAA Championships last season and finished 24th in the 200 free with a time of 1:38.94.
Hope's returning relay contributors include senior Christian Hoeksema (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) and junior George Marsh (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan / Seaholm), both All-MIAA honorees who helped the team win the 200 free relay. Marsh also competed at the NCAA Championships, recording a time of 20.43 in the 50 free.
Senior Alex Pierce, a three-time All-MIAA honoree from Oswego, Illinois (Oswego), returns for his final season, while senior Nick Suranyi (Novi, Michigan / Novi) also brings back All-MIAA experience. Sophomore diver Finn Sanders (Wyoming, Michigan / Grandville) rounds out the group of returning All-MIAA performers.
The Flying Dutch next compete on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. at the MIAA Invite hosted by the Holland Aquatic Center.
