Winter Sports Highlights

Hope College extended its lead in the MIAA Commissioner’s Cup standings with a strong performance during the winter season that included the seventh sweep of league titles in men’s and women’s swimming and diving, an outright crown in men’s basketball, and a co-championship in women’s basketball. The feat marked the second time in school history that Hope won four MIAA championships within the same winter season.

Four Hope student-athletes received Most Valuable honors in their respective sports: freshman diver Abby Koops, freshman swimmer Sara Kraus, women’s basketball senior guard Kenedy Schoonveld, and men’s basketball junior guard Evan Thomas. Twenty-five winter Hope student-athletes claimed All-MIAA honors. Senior diver Kamaron Wilcox was chosen as the inaugural men’s recipient of the MIAA’s Senior Impact Award.

Hope competed in all six possible NCAA Championships. In Indianapolis, Sara Kraus swam to two All-America honors, finishing fifth in the 200-yard backstroke and seventh in the 100-yard backstroke. In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the men’s distance medley relay placed fourth in the nation at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Freshman Connor Vachon, senior Nathan Woolum, junior Eli Meder, and senior Nick Hoffman earned All-America distinction in the relay.

The women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to a third season and 61 games — tying for third all-time in NCAA Division III women’s basketball history. Hope posted a 77-1 record the past three seasons combined.

Sophie Hall runs a leg of the women’s distance medley relay at the MIAA Indoor Championships at Trine University.
Clayton Dykhouse dribbles at the top of the key against Calvin University at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Conner Halberg swims at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis.
Evan Thomas cuts down the net at DeVos Fieldhouse after leading the men’s basketball team to an MIAA Tournament title.
Eli Meder runs a leg of the men’s distance medley relay at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Sara Kraus poses with her NCAA trophy at the Division III Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.
Abby Koops competes in diving at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis.
Purple Game Check From left, Carol Girod ’81 Van Andel, Joey Stark, Rylee Schultz, Jeremiah Purnell, President Matthew Scogin ’02, David Van Andel ’83.

Sophie Hall runs a leg of the women’s distance medley relay at the MIAA Indoor Championships at Trine University.

Clayton Dykhouse dribbles at the top of the key against Calvin University at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Conner Halberg swims at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis.

Evan Thomas cuts down the net at DeVos Fieldhouse after leading the men’s basketball team to an MIAA Tournament title.

Eli Meder runs a leg of the men’s distance medley relay at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Sara Kraus poses with her NCAA trophy at the Division III Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.

Abby Koops competes in diving at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis.

Purple Game Check From left, Carol Girod ’81 Van Andel, Joey Stark, Rylee Schultz, Jeremiah Purnell, President Matthew Scogin ’02, David Van Andel ’83.