Seven swift swimmers from Hope College have claimed All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association honors for the 2019-20 season.
Seniors Erin Emmert and Paula Nolte, juniors Hope Reynolds and Emma Schaefer, sophomore
Emma Engle, and freshmen Emily Kurt and Tarah Lang represent the Flying Dutch.
Schaefer is the MIAA’s Most Valuable Swimmer. The junior from DeWitt, Michigan (St.
Johns HS) was league champion in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and the 200 individual
medley as well as the 400 medley and 800 freestyle relays.
Head coach Jake Taber said Schaefer’s successes are a testament to her work ethic
and commitment to come as close to her potential ceiling as humanly possible.
“She beats people with more talent than her all the time because she's willing to
do things they aren't,” Taber said. “People think twice before hopping into Emma's
lane to train.”
Emmert is a four-time All-MIAA honoree. The senior from Grand Blanc, MIchigan (Flint
Powers Catholic) swam on the MIAA-champion 400 medley relay.
“Erin might swim the toughest event combination in the league and she relishes it,”
Taber said. “She refuses to back down and just has this calm confidence about her.
She's relentless in her approach and her competitiveness.
Nolte, a senior from Elmhurst, Illinois (York Community), also is a four-time, All-MIAA
selection.
Paula has grit. She's among the brightest swimmers I've coached and she knows herself,”
Taber said. “Her swimming IQ has created the opportunity for her to do some very special
things in the water over a very decorated career here at Hope.”
Reynolds, a junior from Exon, Pennsylvania (Villa Maria), earned All-MIAA honors for
the first time.
“Hope swam free over the weekend and with confidence,” Taber said. “She has moved
into a more difficult event combination doubling the 400 IM and 100 back on Friday,
and she's embraced it because it's what her team has needed her to do.”
Engle earned All-MIAA honors in her first season with the Flying Dutch. The sophomore
from Kalamazoo, Michigan (Home School) was MIAA champion in the 1,650 freestyle.
“Emma's season was a remarkable one in that she was recovering from a shoulder injury
that sidelined her for much of her freshman year at Green Bay,” Taber said. “We were
limited early in the year, but she was committed to being great and the mile we saw
on Saturday night is an accumulation of that work and process. We are very proud of
her and thrilled she's here at Hope.”
Kurt, a freshman from South Lyon, Michigan (South Lyon), was a member of Hope’s MIAA
champion 400 medley and 800 freestyle relays.
“When Emily is in her element, look out, she's gifted,” Taber said. “She found herself
at the MIAA Championships last weekend and fought for her team all weekend long.
She's someone you love to have on your side!”
Lang, a freshman from Marshall, Michigan (Marshall), was MIAA champion in the 200
freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay.
“Tarah is a competitor and I love it,’ Taber said. “She is the person that wants to
be on the end of the relay in a close race and we saw that to start the meet when
she dove in for the 800 free relay on Wednesday night leading the relay to victory.
She set the tone for the team for the weekend.”