A Winter Season of Joy
There were plenty of reasons to cheer as Hope College student-athletes brought home 17 All-America honors, five conference titles and four MIAA Most Valuable Athletes during winter competition.
In March, junior swimmer Greta Gidley led the Flying Dutch’s charge to a 15th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships in Greensboro, N.C., and a fourth consecutive MIAA title at the Holland Aquatic Center in February. Gidley, the MIAA’s Most Valuable Women’s Swimmer, placed second in the nation in the 200-yard individual medley for the second consecutive season. Hope earned All-America Second Team honors in eight more events at nationals. Junior Abby Koops was the MIAA’s Most Valuable Diver for the third consecutive season. Head coach Jake Taber ’04 was voted as the MIAA’s Women’s Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year.
In women’s indoor track and field, sophomore sprinter Sara Schermerhorn raced away with the school’s first All-American honors in the 400 meters with a seventh-place finish at nationals. Schermerhorn, the MIAA’s Most Valuable Indoor Track Athlete, also helped the Flying Dutch repeat as MIAA champion in February at Trine University as part of MIAA records in the 200 and 400 meters and the 4×400 relay. Head coach Kevin Cole ’88 was selected as the MIAA’s Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.
The Flying Dutch basketball team earned a third consecutive MIAA title with an outright championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 14th time in program history. Led by MIAA MVP, D3hoops.com all-region and junior guard Jada Garner, Hope finished with a 26-4 overall record after starting five new starters. In January, head coach Brian Morehouse ’91 became the fastest basketball coach in NCAA history, in any gender, to reach 700 wins (795 games). Morehouse was chosen as the MIAA Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
The Flying Dutchmen basketball team claimed a third consecutive MIAA Tournament championship by defeating host and eventual national champion Trine University in the finals and then sixth-ranked Calvin University in the semifinals at Trine. Led by All-MIAA and D3hoops.com all-region forward Tanner Wiegerink, Hope posted a 23-7 overall record. Head coach Greg Mitchell ’89 was voted as the MIAA Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
In men’s swimming, Hope claimed All-America Second Team honors in seven events at nationals and placed runner-up at the MIAA Championships. The 200 medley relay of junior Colin Kalkman, junior Christian Dunaitis, senior Ben Catton and freshman Graham Eisenmann led the Flying Dutchmen at nationals with a 12th-place finish.
In men’s indoor track and field, the Flying Dutchmen recorded their highest finish at the NCAA Championships with a runner-up effort at Trine. Hope won three conference titles, including senior Eli Meder in the 800 meters.
The Flying Dutchmen hockey team repeated as Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference Vezina Cup champions with a pair of shutout victories. Hope finished with a 27-6 overall record after competing in pool play at the ACHA Division 3 national championships. In December, head coach Chris Van Timmeren ’97 announced the Flying Dutchmen would begin skating at the ACHA Division 1 level during the 2025-26 season.