2026-27 Men's Swimming and Diving Season Preview

The Hope College men's swimming and diving is eager to meet a new challenge in the pool this season.

The Flying Dutch are the reigning MIAA champions for the first time since the 2022 season. With a bevy of talented returners and an influx of promising newcomers, head coach Jake Taber believes the Orange and Blue are repeating as league champions.

"That's the goal again this year," Taber said when asked about an MIAA title repeat. "We have a solid core back, a handful were at the NCAA Championships last year. It's different and it's new, but we're just presenting it as a challenge. We need to be ready for that. We recognize what it took to get into this position and we want to do what it takes to stay focused every day.

ROSTER

Hope's roster of 31 features eight seniors, 11 juniors, eight sophomores and four freshmen.

All five of the Flying Dutch's All-Americans from last season return: seniors Josh Bordovsky (Herndon, Virginia / South Lake), Graham Eisenmann (Ozark, Missouri / Ozark), and Christian Hoeksema (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian); and juniors Everett Cox (Sugar Land, Texas / Logos Prep) and Joe Engle (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa).

Bordovsky finished 13th in the nation in the 200-yard individual medley last season. He is the reigning MIAA champion in the 200 breaststroke.

Engle is seeking a three-peat of MIAA titles in 500- and 1,650 freestyle.

Eisenmann earned All-America Second Team accolades in the 400 and 800 freestyle relays as a junior. He also won the MIAA's 100 butterfly title.

Hoeksema also earned All-America Second Team honors in the 400 freestyle relay.

The Flying Dutch also return last season's MIAA 400 individual champion, two-time, MIAA 100 breaststroke champion Luke Wyrick, a junior from Glen Ellyn, Illinois (Glenbard West).

Eisenmann joins Jacob Mowers and Sam York as team captains

"It's a well-rounded group," Taber said. "They collectively have some exciting life experiences but also have achievements athletically that make them well-equipped to lead us."

COACHING STAFF

Head coach: Jake Taber, 9th season
Diving coach: Rebecca Garza
Assistant coaches: Aubrey Syron, Dave Jolly

SCHEDULE

The Flying Dutch's first meet of the season is the Be Better; Invite, on Friday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. at the University of Michigan that includes Calvin University. The annual event honors the life and legacy of the late Ian Miskelley, a former University of Michigan and Holland Christian High School swimmer who passed away in 2020, promoting mental health awareness and supporting the Be Better; Foundation, a charitable organization created by the Miskelley family in Ian's memory.

Hope will first compete in its home pool, the Holland Aquatic Center, on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 9-10, at the Grand Valley State University Invitational.

The Flying Dutch will be at traditional nationally-recognized meets on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 6-7, at the D3Shootout hosted by the University of Chicago and the Total Performance Invitational on Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 18-21, hosted by Kenyon College.

The MIAA Championships are on Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 17-20, hosted by Calvin.

The NCAA Division III Championships run from Wednesday-Saturday, March 17-20, at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.

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