HOLLAND, Mich. -- Day two of the 2026 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships Presented by Collegiate Credit Union took place Thursday at the Holland Aquatic Center, as teams competed in six finals events to continue the four-day meet hosted by Hope College from February 18–21.
Hope opened the evening with a victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay, posting a time of 1:31.89. The winning quartet featured fifth-year senior Greta Gidley, freshman Claudia Busse, senior Laurel Wasiniak, and senior Bella Turner. Calvin University finished second in 1:33.48 with sophomore Ella Andrews, junior Emma Merkel, senior Elyse Radawski, and senior Meghan Bengelink, while Kalamazoo College placed third in 1:39.96 behind senior Olivia Bagwell, freshman Ani Bellows, sophomore Mallory Gentry, and junior Jackie Stoddard.
A meet record fell in the 500 freestyle as Hope freshman Makenzie Baldwin won in 4:58.09, breaking the previous mark of 4:59.53 set in 2006. Calvin sophomore Zoe Poe finished second in 4:59.79, and Hope freshman Allyson O’Brien placed third in 5:13.88.
Gidley added another title in the 200 individual medley, winning in a meet record time of 2:00.47 to surpass her previous record of 2:00.79 set in 2024. Hope senior Katie Hermann finished second in 2:04.11, followed by Hope sophomore Emme D’Errico in third at 2:04.57.
Hope swept the top three positions in the 50 freestyle. Wasiniak captured the title in 23.05, Busse placed second in 23.16, and Turner finished third in 23.41.
On the diving boards, Albion College junior Wen Wadsworth-Curcuru won the three-meter competition with a score of 451.90. Hope freshman Grace Dawson finished second at 451.50, while junior teammate Laura Zupancic placed third with 449.95.
The Flying Dutch concluded the night with a win in the 400 medley relay, touching in 3:44.74. The relay included Baldwin on backstroke, Gidley on breaststroke, Busse on butterfly, and Wasiniak on freestyle. Calvin finished second in 3:49.11 with Merkel, junior Elise Bajwa, senior Elyse Radawski, and Bengelink, while Kalamazoo placed third in 4:06.30 with junior Jackie Stoddard, senior Mary Muenzenmaier, Bagwell, and Gentry.
After two days of competition, Hope leads the team standings with 471 points, followed by Calvin with 349. Kalamazoo sits third with 198 points, ahead of Alma College (165), Albion (163), and The University of Olivet (52).
Competition resumes Friday with preliminary heats at 10:00 a.m. and finals at 5:00 p.m. at the Holland Aquatic Center.
MIAA Champions - Thursday
200 Free Relay - Hope | Greta Gidley, Claudia Busse, Laurel Wasiniak, Bella Turner | 1:31.89
500 Free - Makenzie Baldwin, Hope | 4:58.09 (MIAA Record)
200 IM - Greta Gidley, Hope | 2:00.47 (MIAA Record)
50 Free - Laurel Wasiniak, Hope | 23.05
3m Dive - Wen Wadsworth-Curcuru, Albion | 451.90
400 Medley Relay - Hope | Makenzie Baldwin, Greta Gidley, Claudia Busse, Laurel Wasiniak | 3:44.74