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Flying Dutch Are MIAA Swimming/Diving Champions
Flying Dutchmen Finish Runnerup to Kalamazoo

Posted February 15, 2003

WOMEN'S SWIMMING/DIVING SUMMARY
Hope's Flying Dutch have captured their tenth Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) women's swimming and diving championship in the last 12 years and the 20th in school history.

In competition that concluded Saturday at the Holland Community Aquatics Center coach John Patnott's Flying Dutch topped a field of six teams finishing with 583 points. Rival Calvin ended runnerup with 521.5 points followed by Kalamazoo 298, Alma 424.5, Albion 22 and Saint Mary's 206.

Three Hope swimmers were double winners and the Flying Dutch captured three of the five relay events -- 200 and 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay.

Junior Michelle Smith of Olympia, Wash. won the league championship for the third year in-a-row in the 500-yard and 1,650-yard freestyle. Senior teammate Erin VandenBerg of Beverly Hills, Mich. finished runnerup in both eventsd.

Junior Audrey Arnold of Richmond, Ind. successfully defended her conference crowns in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke. Sophomore Kari Foust of Plymouth, Mich. was runnerup to her teammate in both events. Arnold also qualified for the NCAA Division IIII championships with a second place finish in the 200-yard individual medley (2:09.37).

Senior Kelly Parker of Battle Creek, Mich. repeated as league champion in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke.

The Flying Dutch had several conditional qualifying performances for the NCAA Division III championships which will be held next month in Atlanta, Ga.

  • Junior Michelle Smith - 500-yard freestyle (5:07.37); 1,650-yard freestyle (17:35.89)
  • Junior Audrey Arnold - 100-yard backstroke (1:00.15); 200-yard backstroke (2:09.39)
  • Sophomore Erika Steele of Portage, Mich. - 50-yard freestyle (:24.64); 100-yard freestyle (:53.26)
  • Senior Kelly Parker - 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.26); 200-yard breaststroke (2:27.79)
  • Freshman Meagan O'Neil of Troy, Mich. - 200-yard butterfly (2:11.12); 400-yard individual medley (4:40.90)
  • Erin VandenBerg - 500-yard freestyle (5:10.13); 200-yard freestyle (1:55.96)
  • 400-yard freestyle relay (Erika Steele, Audrey Arnold, Erin VandenBerg, sophomore Sarah Smith of Dearborn, Mich.), 3:35.77
  • 200-yard medley relay (Audrey Arnold, Kelly Parker, Erika Steele, Sarah Smith)(1:50.81)
  • 800-yard freestyle relay (Michelle Smith, Erin VandenBerg, Meagan O'Neil, Sarah Smith), 7:49.86
  • 200-yard freestyle relay (Erika Steele, freshman Lisa Ekdom of Holland, Mich., Ertin VandenBerg, Sarah Smith), 1:39.55
  • 400-yard medley relay (Audrey Arnold, Kelly Parker, Meagan O'Neil, Erika Steele), 3:59.97

MEN'S SWIMMING/DIVING SUMMARY
The Flying Dutchmen finished runnerup to men's MIAA champion Kalamazoo College for the eighth consecutive year. The Hornets finished with 660 points while Hope total 507 followed by Calvin 418.5, Albion 236.5 and Alma 162.

Junior Ian Kobes of Holland, Mich. won league championships in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events for the third consecutive year.

Hope's other league champion was senior Brian Slagh of Zeeland, Mich. in the 500-yard freestyle with an NCAA qualifying time (4:33.88). Slagh also qualified for the NCAA championships with a second place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.10).

The Flying Dutchmen captured three relay championships - 200-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard and 400-yard medley relays.

The 400-yard medley relay qualified for nationals (3:25.57) with a team Ian Kobes, junior Ross Geurink of Hudsonville, Mich., senior Daniel Bouwens of Zeeland, Mich., and Brian Slagh.

The Flying Dutchmen had several conditional qualifying performances for the NCAA Division III championships which will be held next month in Atlanta, Ga.

  • Junior Ian Kobes - 100-yard backstroke (:51.74)
  • Senior Brian Slagh - 100-yard freestyle (:46.55)
  • Senior Daniel Bouwens - 100-yard butterfly (:51.31)
  • Freshman David Ornee of Zeeland, Mich. - 200-yard freestyle (1:42.59)
  • Junior Chris Hamstra of Zeeland, Mich. - 50-yard freestyle (:21.27)
  • 200-yard medley relay (Ian Kobes, Ross Geurink, Daniel Bouwens, sophomore Jeff Heydlauff of Chelsea, Mich.), 1:33.86
  • 800-yard freestyle relay (Dave Ornee, junior Chris Hamstra of Zeeland, Mich., sophomore Matt Cook of Wyoming, Mich., Brian Slagh), 6:54.35
  • 200-yard freestyle relay (Jeff Heydlauff, Chris Hamstra, freshman Travis Barkel of Zeeland, Mich., Brian Slagh), 1:23.56