Six-Time Champ Women’s Swim/Dive Tops MIAA Preseason Poll

The 15th-ranked Hope College women's swimming and diving team is projected to extend its MIAA reign in the pool.

The Flying Dutch topped the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving all four possible first-place votes and scoring a league-best 16 points. Coaches could not vote for their teams.

Hope finished ahead of runner-up Calvin University (13 points, 1 first-place vote. Kalamazoo College placed third with eight points, followed by Albion College (7) and Alma College (6).

Led by 2026 MIAA Women's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year Jake Taber, the Orange and Blue return a bevy of talent despite graduating 200-yard individual medley national champion Greta Gidley and a strong senior class.

Sophomore Grace Dawson (Jackson, Michigan ? Western) leads the Flying Dutch divers after being named the 2026 MIAA Most Valuable Diver in her first conference championship appearance. Dawson won the one-meter diving title with a score of 441.25 and narrowly missed the three-meter championship, finishing second with 451.50 points — just 0.40 points behind the winner. At the NCAA Division III Championships, Dawson placed 20th on the three-meter board with a score of 409.15 and 26th in the one-meter event with 368.45 points.

Senior diver Laura Zupancic, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, also returns after competing at the NCAA Championships, where she placed 18th on the 1-meter board with 389.50 points and 28th in the 3-meter event with 372.45 points.

Sophomore Makenzie Baldwin (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) also made an immediate impact in her first collegiate season, earning All-MIAA honors and setting a new MIAA championship record in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:58.09. Baldwin won the 100 back in 56.29 and the 200 backstroke in 1:59.36. Baldwin also contributed to championship-winning performances in the 800 free, 200 medley, and the 400 medley relays. At the NCAA Championships, Baldwin finished 15th in the 200 back in 2:00.73 and recorded a time of 56.59 in the 100 back.

Junior Emme D'Errico, a two-time All-MIAA honoree from Farmington Hills, Michigan (Farmington), adds another championship performer to Hope's lineup. D'Errico established a new MIAA championship record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:03.58, won the 400 IM in 4:24.06, and helped the Flying Dutch win the 800 free relay. At the NCAA Championships, she placed 18th in the 200 IM (2:04.85) and completed the 200 fly in 2:06.01.

Senior swimmers Avery Bills (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City Central), Natalie Pitera (Livonia, Michigan / Stevenson), and Anna Stolle (Fishers, Indiana / Hamilton Southeastern) also return after earning All-MIAA honors last season.

Swimmer Layla Umstead (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison clocked some of the nation's fastest freestyle times during Hope's first two meets of the season and leads a promising freshman class.

The Flying Dutch next compete on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. at the MIAA Invite hosted by the Holland Aquatic Center.

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Players Mentioned

Greta Gidley: Fifth Year; Elementary Education

Makenzie Baldwin: Sophomore; Business

Avery Bills: Senior; Elementary Educaiton : PreK-3

Emme D'Errico: Junior; Psychology

Grace Dawson: Sophomore

Natalie Pitera: Senior; Neuroscience

Anna Stolle: Senior; Neuroscience

Laura Zupancic: Senior; Exercise Science

Layla Umstead: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Greta Gidley
: Fifth Year; Elementary Education

Makenzie Baldwin
: Sophomore; Business

Avery Bills
: Senior; Elementary Educaiton : PreK-3

Emme D'Errico
: Junior; Psychology

Grace Dawson
: Sophomore

Natalie Pitera
: Senior; Neuroscience

Anna Stolle
: Senior; Neuroscience

Laura Zupancic
: Senior; Exercise Science

Layla Umstead
: Freshman