Flying Dutch swim toward success at Wheaton

THE FACES OF HOPE SWIMMING — Chloe Palajac (left) and Meg Peel (right) have both been
instrumental thus far in the success of the Flying Dutch swim and dive team. Palajac, the senior out of Dearborn, MI, has long been a dependable asset for the Dutch, while Peel, the freshman out of Spring Lake, is a fresh face and talent here in Holland. (Hope College)

Last Friday, the Flying Dutch swim and dive team traveled to Wheaton College to participate in the five-team Wheaton Invitational. While the Flying Dutch took third overall, the team took first in six separate events and set two school records.

Chloe Palajac (’18) won both the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:08.49, the 200-yard individual medley with at time of 2:09.64 and 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.00. Meg Peel (’21) continued her dominating first season with the Dutch, posting a NCAA Division “B” Cut qualifying time of 2:01.00 in the 200-backstroke on the first day of the competition. This time also represents a school-record time in that event, surpassing Molly Meyer’s (’17) 2016 record of 2:01.61. Peel then proceeded to set another school record the following day, winning the 100- yard backstroke with a time of 56.38 to break Meyer’s 2015 record of 56.50.

The Dutch also won the 200-yard medley relay with a team of Peel, Paula Nolte (’20), Palajac and Sydney Asselin (’19), and a time of 1:47.19, as well as the 400-yard medley relay with a team of Peel, Emma Schaefer (’20), Palajac and Asselin, and a time of 3:56.98.

The Dutch’s performance at Wheaton Invitational showcased their strong lineup, particularly highlighting the talents of senior staple Palajac as well as the youthful talent of Peel. This Hope College women’s swim and dive team has excellent potential this year and a lot to look forward to in coming years.