HOPE MEN'S SWIM/DIVE ORIGINS AND MILESTONES
The men's swimming and diving program became an intercollegiate sport at Hope in 1978. Earlier attempts to create a program were unsuccessful because Hope lacked an on-campus pool. The opening of the Dow Health and Physical Education Center, complete with a modern aquatics plant, solidified the college's commitment. The swim/dive team has become one of the college's most successful intercollegiate programs with numerous conference championships individual national championships and Top Ten team finishes.
Hope was host to the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships at the Holland Aquatic Center in 2005.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
The Flying Dutchmen have claimed NCAA championships 11 times, led by Josh Boss, who won the 200 breaststroke all four years (1999-2002) and the 100 breaststroke three times (1999, 2001-02). He set national records in both events in 1999 and the 200 breaststroke in 2001. He was chosen national swimmer of the year in 2001.
Rob Peel won the NCAA championship in the 50 freestyle in 1987.
Hope's three national championships in relays are:
- 1995, 200 medley of Jack Methric, Matt Hollebeek, Aaron Hoffman and Derek Vanderheide;
- 1994, 800 freestyle of Kirk Assink, Shawn Kinser, Steve Hope and Brad Genson,
- 1991, 800 freestyle of Jeff Bannink, Phil Sotok, Brad Genson, and Jon Hescott.
OTHER SWIMMERS AND DIVERS OF NOTE
Two members of the Flying Dutchmen have been selected NCAA Postgraduate Scholars: Derek VanderHeide in 1997 and Jeff Bannink in 1993.
Brian Slagh was selected as the collegeswimming.com NCAA Division III men's swimmer of the week in 2001. Five years later, Kurtis Blohm accomplished the same feat.
There were no sibling rivalries when it came to Hope’s swimming program in 2008-09 as the men’s and women’s teams had five sets of brothers and sisters — Laura (senior) and Steven (freshman) Ansilio, Lisa (freshman) and Phil (junior) Heyboer, Elizabeth (freshman) and Ryan (junior) Nelis, Andrew (freshman) and Matt (junior) Rose, and Christina (junior) and Ryan (senior) Vogelzang.
Kamaron Wilcox became the Flying Dutchmen's first MIAA Most Valuable Diver in 2020 as a sophomore. He swept the 1- and 3-meter boards at the conference meet in Grand Rapids. He was Co-Most Valuable Diver in 2021.
Peter Tilden was the Flying Dutch's first Most Valuable Swimmer in 1985. He earned the honor again in 1986.
The first meet of the 2020-21 season occurred three months later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Flying Dutchmen finally competed on January 23, 2021, and split a dual meet at Holland Community Aquatic Center — defeating Saginaw Valley State University, 138-100, and losing to Grand Valley State University, 150-90.
COACHES OF NOTE
The program has been built from the ground up by John Patnott. Patnott was the founding coach of the Hope swim/dive program in 1978. At this retirement in 2019 after 36 years at the helm, he was the winningest active coach of any sport in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Three times in his career he has been honored as the Division III national coach of the year. He has coached more than 121 NCAA All-Americans, including national champions on 31 occasions, and 41 Academic All-Americans since 1984.
Jake Taber '04 was hired as Hope College's co-head men's and women's swimming & diving coach on April 10, 2018. He took over sole head coaching duties after John Patnott's retirement following the 2018-19 season. Taber swam for Patnott when he was a student-athlete. Taber guided the Flying Dutchmen to an MIAA title in 2022, their first in 12 years.
