Four Receive MIAA Athlete of the Week Accolades

Four Hope College student-athletes have been selected as MIAA Athletes of the Week by the league office: Elias Kretchmar and Olivia Ippel in cross country, Halle Barnard in women's soccer, and Anna Kolb in women's tennis.

Barnard (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) is the MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week for the first time.

The senior forward recorded five points to help the Flying Dutch post a 2-0 record last week, totaling two goals and three assists. An elementary education major, Barnard scored two goals during a 4-1 victory against Illinois Tech on Wednesday at Van Andel Soccer Stadium and contributed an assist during a 3-0 victory against Carthage College.

Ippel (St. Joseph, Michigan / St. Joseph) is the MIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week for the first time.

The senior led all NCAA Division III women's entrants at the Michigan State University Spartan Invitational 6K on Friday, finishing 47th in the 283-runner field at 22 minutes, 16.2 seconds. A communication major, Ippel helped the 14th-place Flying Dutch take seventh overall and record Division III's best team finish.

Kolb (Carmel, Indiana / St. Theodore Guerin) is the MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week for the first time.

The freshman delivered a strong performance during her first tournament, the two-day Hope College Invitational, on Friday and Saturday, defeating a singles opponent from NCAA Division I Western Michigan University en route to a runner-up effort and a 2-1 record in the Singles C draw. Kolb also won the back draw of the Doubles B flight with partner Kaitlyn Stievater (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan / Groves) and went 3-1 as a pairing.

Kretchmar (Granville, Ohio / Granville) is the MIAA Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week for the first time.

The junior led the Orange and Blue in the 8K MSU Spartan Invitational by clocking a 25:27.8 run that was the second-fastest among Division III entrants. A mechanical engineering major, Kretchmar helped the Flying Dutch race to the top Division III team finish and place seventh overall.

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Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Stievater: Junior; Political Science

Elias Kretchmar: Junior; Mechanical Engineering

Olivia Ippel: Senior; Communication

#27 Halle Barnard: F; 5' 7"; Senior; Elementary Education

Anna Kolb: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Stievater
: Junior; Political Science

Elias Kretchmar
: Junior; Mechanical Engineering

Olivia Ippel
: Senior; Communication

#27 Halle Barnard
: 5' 7"; Senior; Elementary Education
: F

Anna Kolb
: Freshman