Seven members of the MIAA champion Hope College women's swimming team have qualified for the NCAA Division III championships to be held March 11-13.
Seven members of the MIAA champion Hope College women's swimming team have qualified for the NCAA Division III championships to be held March 11-13.
The competition will be hosted by Principia College in St. Peters, Mo.
Hope qualifiers are senior Audrey Arnold of Richmond, Ind. (Richmond HS), sophomore Lisa Ekdom of Holland, Mich. (Holland Christian HS), senior Haley Martin of Battle Creek, Mich. (Lakeview HS), freshman Lisa Smith of Dearborn, Mich. (Dearborn HS), senior Michelle Smith of Olympia, Wash. (Home School), junior Sarah Smith of Dearborn, Mich. (Dearborn HS) and junior Erika Steele of Portage, Mich. (Portage Northern HS).
Coach John Patnott's Dutch have qualified for five relays and nine individual events.
Qualifying relays with their seeding are 800-yard freestyle relay (seeded #6), 400-yard freestyle relay (seeded #7), 200-yard freestyle relay (#13), 200-yard medley relay (seeded #21) and 400-yard medley relay (seeded #21).
Senior Michelle Smith and freshman Lisa Smith are each eligible to compete in three events. Lisa Smith is seeded fourth in the 100-yard butterfly (:57.53), 28th in the 200-yard butterfly (2:10.45) and 38th in the 50-yard freestyle (:24.62). Michelle Smith is seeded 19th in the 500-yard freestyle (5:06.26), 40th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:57.11) and 51st the 100-yard freestyle (:56.37)
Junior Erika Steele is among the top-10 seeded swimmers in two events -- #4 in the 100-yard freestyle (:51.59) and #8 in the 50-yard freestyle (:23.93).
Senior Audrey Arnold will compete in the 200-yard backstroke (seeded #23, 2:08.92) and 200-yard individual medley (seeded #24, 2:10.80) while Lisa Ekdom will compete in the 100-yard butterfly (seeded #35, :59.39) and 100-yard freestyle (seeded #40, :53.65).
Haley Martin and Sarah Smith will join Hope's other qualifiers in comprising the relay team entries.