How Hope College women's swimming transformed into national force

HOLLAND - After a repeat MIAA Championship the Hope College women's swimming and diving team finished with a flourish at successful NCAA Championships.

But it turns out that being a top 10 team at nationals was just the beginning.

The Flying Dutch return most of their NCAA qualifiers, and have added a contingent of freshmen and transfers already making an impact on the team.

Six school records have already been broken this year, with freshmen having a hand in four of them for a team now ranked No. 12 in the country.

"In a lot of ways, it is a long time coming. Sara Kraus committed to Hope College before the pandemic hit. We have been excited about some of the traction we are getting, but it is also important to recognize some of the leadership that has been here and the foundation that coach Patnott left. That gave us a lot of different things to pull on," Hope coach Jake Taber said. "We were excited with our current freshman class. We knew they would be welcomed by a talented group already in the water. You are always optimistic about how things are going to mesh, but we have a group that works hard and loves to be in the water and also around each other.

"I would love to tell you we were doing something cutting edge or really profound, but the goals we talk about are having more fun on the deck than we though possible, and swimming at a higher level than we though possible, and how those goals compliment each other. The environment we have on deck right now is really supportive of going out and accomplishing those things. It has been an exciting fall because we are starting to see those things take shape."

More:Hope College's Ben Catton soaks in historic swim at U.S. Open

That shape started forming immediately.

Ashlea Swingewood broke the school record in the 400 IM (4:30.98) at the Kenyon Midseason Invite, breaking the mark set by Sarah Sohn in 2009 (4:31.75).

"For me, just being a part of this team is a really great experience. As a freshman, you come in and don’t really know what is going to happen, but these last couple of months, we have seen what this team is really capable of doing. Becoming something greater than yourself is something really special about this team. Everyone has a role and plays into it really well," Swingewood said. "I have always wanted to leave a legacy on any team I have been on. Having that chance and having coaches trust me to put me in (those situations) and have faith in me is a really cool experience.That meet, when I saw the time, I really didn’t believe it. Everyone was so positive and that helped a lot."

Swingewood, a freshman from Carmel, Ind., was also part of the 800 free relay with fellow freshmen Maggie Monroe and Laurel Wasiniak and sophomore transfer Greta Gidley, who broke the mark with a swim of 7:34.39 at the D3 Shootout in Chicago.

"It is a really cool thing to witness. Freshmen are coming in and making a difference and the upperclassmen are doing the same. It is cool to be able to get these records so early in the season. Maybe it will be different people on these relays later in the season to make their marks, but right now, we have had a lot," said Monroe, a freshman from Eaton Rapids. "It makes me feel like I made the right choice. I wanted to come here and prove that I belong. I wanted to prove it to myself. To be able to do that is a big impact for me."

Wasiniak, a freshman from Northville, also broke the school record in the 200 freestyle.

"I think it is really surreal being here after committing early. Coming into the season, I just wanted to do my part as a team player. I enjoy getting to know people and that was a big component of why I was able to do what I did. The team is so positive and fun that there wasn’t really any pressure that got to me. I was just able to go out there and do it for my team," Wasiniak said. "That race, I was really focusing on the small things I have worked on in practice. Getting off the walls and the blocks. There is plenty still to work on. But racing home, it clicked. I was really pushing it. I don’t really know what I expected, but seeing that time, it was like ‘Whoa.’"

The team felt the same way.

But Wasiniak, Monroe and Swingewood are not the only fast freshman for the Flying Dutch. Katie Hermann, Bella Turner, Madi Remenschneider among others, have had fast starts to their first seasons at Hope.

"We feel like it doesn’t start and stop with the freshman breaking records. There are more opportunities for more records from people who haven’t done it yet. It is really exciting and shows where we are going as a program," Taber said.

Gidley brings another new racer to the mix after transferring from the University of Michigan. She was on the 200 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay school records so far this season.

"Being able to break school records in relays when we all know that we have more to give is really special. It gives us the realization that we can do something even more special at the end of the season. It is a good affirmation that we are on the right track," Gidley said.

Kraus, the defending MIAA Most Valuable Swimmer, has rebroken two of her school records so far this season, the 100 backstroke and 200 IM. She was one the 800 free relay as well.

"It is definitely really exciting to see things like this so early in the season. We all work really well together and are all very driven," she said. "We know there are great things ahead."

Of course, it isn't just freshmen or transfers or the league MVP making waves.

Hope is loaded with talented upperclassmen too, swimmers like Delaney Wesolek, Madeline Tessin, Aubrey East, Paige Kuhn, Alyssa Kerkman, Jess Estabreook, Katie Weedon, Ashley Geddes, Macey Mayer, Maggie Hoerner, Lauren Ryle, among others, plus divers like Abby Koops, Allie Graver, Cameron Hamilton

"It has been exciting to see the team grow and develop the past few years. It has been awesome to be a part of. The energy on the team has gotten better and better each year. We all work so well together," Wesolek said. "For us to do these things so early in the season is awesome. There is still work to be done, but it keeps us excited for what’s to come."

Subscribe:Get complete local sports coverage with this offer

The Flying Dutch are aiming for another MIAA title, which is always the first goal, but after the performances this year, Hope is looking to bring a large and consistent group to the NCAA Championships this year and for years to come as the team looks to be a top 10 team in the country.

"I am really excited for the next few years to see what talent comes up and if we can keep breaking records, that would be awesome," Wasiniak said. "We want to keep swimming at a national level."

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hope College women's swimming transformed into national force