HOLLAND – While the MIAA championship was a foregone conclusion for the Hope College women’s swim team, the Hope men were on the cusp heading into the final day, needing to start with some energy.
It came from the unlikeliest of events, but Hope sophomore Joe Engle trailed throughout the 1,650-yard freestyle and continued to creep up on his Calvin opponent.
“I saw him way out in front the entire race and in the back of my mind, I knew I had done enough training to know I could catch him,” Engle said. “That last 100, I just went all out. I wanted it. I wanted to win it back-to-back.”
He took the lead on the final turn and hung on for three-tenths-of-a-second win that fired up his teammates after a time of 16:03.67.
“For Joe to do what he did right out of the gate, just energized everyone,” Hope coach Jake Taber said. “This place was electric for a mile. Ahead of time, Joe said he wanted this one and he literally said if he wasn’t winning until the 1,600 he didn’t care. He was going to get that hand on the wall. We have laughed about that since because that is exactly where his first lead happened. That is everything that the men needed from the start.”
Hope scored 1,215.5 points over four days to win the MIAA title on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Holland Aquatic Center. Calvin was second with 1,125, followed by Kalamazoo (402), Alma (364.5), Albion (364) and Olivet (20).
It was Hope’s first title since 2023 and just its second since 2010.
The Flying Dutchmen overcame a relay disqualification on Thursday after it appeared they had come back to beat Calvin by one hundredth of a second, and still had enough to get it done.
“It was one of the most exciting races I have ever seen and to have that get turned over was tough. But it shows how resilient our guys are,” Taber said. “For them to turn around and respond the way they did, against incredible fierce competition – I am just so proud of them.”
The women continued their dominance, winning with 1,284 points for the seventh time in a row. Calvin was second (990), followed by Kalamazoo (466), Alma (407), Albion (344) and Olivet (125).
Engle’s mile was part of a huge night for Hope, particularly Holland-area swimmers.
Freshman Makenzie Baldwin (West Ottawa) won her third event of the meet, crushing the field in the 200 backstroke (1:59.36) in the second-fastest time of her career. She also won the 100 back and 500 freestyle.
“This was the most electric meet I have ever been to,” Baldwin said. “Watching everyone go crazy for each other and do crazy things in the pool was an amazing experience.”
Christian Hoeksema (Holland Christian) surged from a sixth seed to finish runner-up in the 200 breaststroke (2:03.21), behind teammate Josh Bordovsky (2:00.16).
Then senior Madi Remenschneider (West Ottawa) dropped 2.5 seconds from prelims and surged to second place in the women’s 200 breaststroke (2:21.11) by passing several swimmers in the final 50.
“She finishes that 200 breast as well as anybody. If she is within striking distance, she is going to send it and charge home,” Taber said.
For the senior, it was a memorable final race.
“It was emotional and really fun. Going on a high note like that was the best way to possibly end my swimming career,” Remenschneider said. “I am so happy and proud of everyone on my team. It is crazy being a part of a team this dominant. It is just so fast and so fun.”
Hope’s Laurel Wasiniak won the 100 free in 50.29, going 1-2-3 with Bella Turner (50.98) and Claudia Busse (51.69).
“There is no better storybook ending,” Wasiniak said. “This senior class wanted to jump in together, and that was a pretty euphoric moment. These people are my family.”
Emme D’Errico crushed a meet record in the 200 butterfly for the win in 2:03.58 – 10 seconds ahead of the field.
“She has been learning that event better and better. She knew her 2:03.9 from earlier would probably qualify for nationals, but she wanted it and those tenths will make a difference,” Taber said. “It was also cool that Kalamazoo coach Colleen Orwin, the previous meet record holder, was the one who gave her the medal.”
“I would never have thought I could go that fast at the beginning of the year,” D’Errico said. “Having Colleen give me the award was super special.”
Grace Dawson won 1-meter diving with 441.25 points, followed by teammate Laura Zupancic (436.50). Dawson was named MIAA Most Valuable Diver.
Most Valuable Swimmer went to Greta Gidley, who earned the honor for the second time.
On Friday, Gidley won the 100 butterfly in 55.45, going 1-2 with Claudia Busse (57.20). Gidley then stunningly won the 100 breaststroke just a half hour later, finishing in 1:01.89. Remenschneider was third (1:03.89).
“It was so fun to go a best time in the 100 breast and be able to win two in one night was super exciting,” Gidley said. “The team was so amazing this week, winning again like this was just so special.”
Hope’s Baldwin, Gidley, Busse and Bella Turner won the 200 medley relay in 1:41.46.
After winning the 500 free in an MIAA record, Baldwin won the 100 backstroke in 56.29, leading a 1-2-3-4-5 sweep with Avery Bills (58.22), Madeline McGee (58.27), Ella Cabbage (58.60) and Paige Potter (59.56).
After putting seven in the finals in the 200 IM, Hope did the same thing in the 400 IM. D’Errico won the event in 4:24.06, followed by Katie Hermann (4:27.63) and Anna Stolle (4:33.81).
Wasiniak took second in the 200 free (1:50.99) and Bella Turner was third (1:54.74). Calvin’s Emma Merkel won the event in 1:50.04. Maria Heeres (Holland Christian) was fifth (1:56.22). Meghan Bengelink (Holland Christian) was eighth in the 100 back (1:00.71) and fifth in the 100 free (52.34). Harris was seventh in the 100 free (53.46). Elisabeth Bajwa won the 200 breast (2:19.39).
In the men’s meet, Graham Eisenmann won the 100 butterfly (48.07). Luke Newcomb won the 100 breaststroke (54.92). Christian Hoeksema (Holland Christian) was fourth (55.64). Everett Cox was second in the 200 free (1:38.26).
Hope went 1-2-4-5 in the 400 IM. Luke Wyrick won in 4:00.22, followed by Alex Pierce (4:01.85). Tyler Houpt was fourth (4:05.32) and Joseph Engle (4:06.92).
Calvin’s Jackson Merkel won the 100 backstroke (47.53) and 200 backstroke (1:45.70). Calvin won the 200 medley relay in 1:28.63, ahead of Hope (1:30.39). Charles Platt won the 100 free (43.15) and was MIAA Most Valuable Swimmer.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hope swims to stunning sweep of MIAA titles, led by amazing mile comeback
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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