HOLLAND, Mich. -- The 2026 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships Presented by Collegiate Credit Union concluded Saturday at the Holland Aquatic Center, with host Hope College winning the team title with 1,284 points. The championship marks the Flying Dutch’s sixth-consecutive title and ninth meet championship in program history under the current format.
Calvin University sophomore Zoe Poe opened the evening with a meet-record performance in the 1,650 freestyle, winning in 17:11.60 to surpass the previous record of 17:14.63 set in 2013. Hope junior Natalie Pitera finished second in 17:57.90, while Calvin freshman Avery Russell placed third in 18:03.60.
Hope newcomer Makenzie Baldwin captured the 200 backstroke title in 1:59.36. Calvin junior Emma Merkel finished second in 2:01.37, followed by Hope senior Katie Hermann in third at 2:02.30.
Hope swept the top three positions in the 100 freestyle. Senior Laurel Wasiniak won in 50.29, classmate Bella Turner finished second in 50.98, and freshman Claudia Busse placed third in 51.69.
Calvin junior Elise Bajwa claimed the 200 breaststroke title with a time of 2:19.39. Hope senior Madi Remenschneider finished second in 2:21.11, and sophomore teammate Riess Estep placed third in 2:22.02.
Hope sophomore Emme D’Errico set an MIAA meet record in the 200 butterfly, winning in 2:03.58 to break the previous mark of 2:03.94 set in 2016 by Kalamazoo College assistant coach Colleen Orwin. Calvin sophomore Grace Schutter finished second in 2:13.31, while Hope senior Ashlea Swingewood placed third in 2:14.37.
Hope earned the top two spots in the one-meter diving competition. Freshman Grace Dawson won with a score of 441.25, followed by junior Laura Zupancic in second at 436.50. Kalamazoo sophomore Parker Keim finished third with 431.15.
Calvin closed the meet with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay, posting a time of 3:28.14. The winning quartet included Merkel, sophomore Ella Andrews, sophomore Maria Heeres, and senior Meghan Bengelink. Kalamazoo finished second in 3:38.67 with senior Olivia Bagwell, senior Frannie Turner, junior Jackie Stoddard, and sophomore Mallory Gentry, while Alma College placed third in 3:42.11 with senior Sofia Floros, freshman Delilah Zingelewicz, freshman Sierra Scott, and senior Laney Voisinet.
Calvin finished second in the final team standings with 990 points, followed by Kalamazoo in third with 466. Alma placed fourth with 407 points, ahead of Albion College (344), while The University of Olivet finished sixth with 125.
Qualifiers from the meet will compete next at the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships, scheduled for March 18–21 at the Indiana University Natatorium.
MIAA Champions - Friday
1650 Free - Zoe Poe, Calvin (MIAA Record)
200 Back - Makenzie Baldwin, Hope
100 Free - Laurel Wasiniak, Hope
200 Breast - Elise Bajwa, Calvin
200 Fly - Emme D'Errico, Hope (MIAA Record)
1m Dive - Grace Dawson, Hope
400 Free Relay - Calvin | Emma Merkel, Ella Andrews, Maria Heeres, Meghan Bengelink | 3:28.14