Women's Swim/Dive Wins Two Consolation Finals at NCAA Division III Championships

Hope earns Second Team All-America accolades in the 200 medley relay and 100 breaststroke

The Hope College women's swimming and diving team responded to a disappointing prelims session on Friday at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis with a triumphant session in the evening.

The Flying Dutch won consolation races in the 200-yard medley relay and the 100 breaststroke, clinching Second Team All-American All-America accolades in the 200 and holding onto 10th place in the team standings with 102 points.

Hope heads into the final day of competition on Saturday, March 21, at the Indiana University Natatorium with a 12-point lead over 11th-place Swarthmore College. The Flying Dutch seek back-to-back Top 10 finishes and their third Top 10 team effort in four seasons.

Saturday's competition features prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.

Hope opened Friday's evening session in the 200 medley relay by going nearly a second faster than the prelims. Freshman Claudia Busse (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven), senior Laurel Wasiniak (Northville, Michigan / Northville), senior Greta Gidley (Franklin, Michigan / Mercy), and senior Bella Turner (Chelsea, Michigan / Chelsea) went 1:41.58.

During prelims, the relay posted a time of 1:42.50 and finished just 0.16 outside of the championship final.

Gidley won the consolation race in the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.14 — 0.76 faster than her prelim effort. It was Gidley's first career All-America performance in the event.

Hope competed in three more races on Friday during prelims.

In the 800 freestyle relay, Busse, Wasiniak, freshman Mackenzie Baldwin (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa), and Gidley recorded a 19th-place swim of 7:29.83.

In the 100 backstroke, Busse placed 24th after a season-best swim of 56.30 during prelims. Baldwin tied for 31st at 56.59.

In the 200 butterfly, sophomore Emme D'Errico (Farmington Hills, Michigan / Harrison) took 30th with a swim of 2:06.01.

The four-day meet concludes on Saturday, March 21, with 10 a.m. prelims and 6 p.m. finals.

Busse, Gidley and Turner will swim in the 100 freestyle.

Senior Katie Hermann (Canton, Michigan / Mercy) and Baldwin will race in the 200 backstroke.

Senior Madi Remenschneider (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) will compete in the 200 breaststroke.

The Flying Dutch also swim in the 400 freestyle relay.

Two divers will compete: junior Laura Zupancic (Fort Collins, Colorado / Liberty Common) and freshman Grace Dawson (Jackson, Michigan / Western).

Print Friendly Version