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D3 Week Spotlight: Nick Wever, Men’s Basketball
Apr 13, 2026
25m 46s
NCAA Champions Greta Gidley and Sara Schermerhorn – Orange and Blue Podcast
Apr 6, 2026
31m 27s
Caroline Curnutt: Orange and Blue Podcast
Dec 15, 2025
26m 19s
Tim Peterson: Orange and Blue Podcast
Nov 3, 2025
41m 46s
Cole Luhmann: Orange and Blue Podcast
Aug 1, 2025
29m 03s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/13/26 | ![]() D3 Week Spotlight: Nick Wever, Men’s Basketball✨ | basketballcoaching+4 | Nick Wever | Hope CollegeMIAA Tournament+1 | Marysville, Ohio | basketballcoaching+5 | — | 25m 46s | |
| 4/6/26 | ![]() NCAA Champions Greta Gidley and Sara Schermerhorn – Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | NCAA Championshipsstudent-athletes+3 | Greta GidleySara Schermerhorn | Hope CollegeHope Athletics | Birmingham, AlabamaIndianapolis | NCAAHope College+6 | — | 31m 27s | |
| 12/15/25 | ![]() Caroline Curnutt: Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | lacrosseathletics+4 | Caroline Curnutt | Hope CollegeMIAA | Fishers, Indiana | lacrosseHope College+5 | — | 26m 19s | |
| 11/3/25 | ![]() Tim Peterson: Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | cross countrynursing+4 | Tim Peterson | Hope CollegeHope College Athletics+1 | Portage, Michigan | Tim PetersonHope College+5 | — | 41m 46s | |
| 8/1/25 | ![]() Cole Luhmann: Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | footballacademic success+4 | Cole Luhmann | Hope College | Rochester, MichiganStoney Creek High School | Cole LuhmannHope College+7 | — | 29m 03s | |
| 7/1/25 | ![]() Connor Vachon: Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | student-athlete experiencerunning achievements+3 | Connor Vachon | Hope CollegeFlying Dutchmen+2 | Jenison, MichiganPinckney, Michigan | Connor VachonHope College+5 | — | 35m 37s | |
| 6/9/25 | ![]() Alison DeWeerd: Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | volleyballstudent-athlete experience+3 | Alison DeWeerd | Hope College | — | Alison DeWeerdHope College+4 | — | 30m 11s | |
| 4/14/25 | ![]() Nolan Holtrop and Grace Wesley: Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | student-athletesacademic success+4 | Nolan HoltropGrace Wesley | Hope CollegeAmerican Collegiate Hockey Association+2 | ZambiaWalker, Michigan+3 | Hope Collegehockey+6 | — | 31m 38s | |
| 4/12/25 | ![]() Dallas Fisher: Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | swimmingacademic success+3 | Dallas Fisher | Hope CollegeFellowship of Catholic University Students | Costa RicaMichigan+1 | Hope CollegeDallas Fisher+5 | — | 31m 42s | |
| 4/9/25 | ![]() Tyler King and Olivia Dieppa: Orange and Blue Podcast✨ | student-athlete experiencesacademic success+3 | Tyler KingOlivia Dieppa | Hope CollegeNCAA Division III+1 | KenyaVillabrook, Illinois+1 | Hope CollegeNCAA Division III+7 | — | 30m 08s | |
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| 4/7/25 | ![]() Hope for Humanity Award recipient Jerry Root ’75: Orange and Blue Podcast | Inspired by Colossians 1:16, Jerry Root ’75 has loved to meet and get to know Hope College student-athletes and coaches over the past 17 years. A former college athlete and youth coach himself, Root enjoys talking sports with anyone, especially Hope College teams. Yet, he revels even more in digging deeper with individuals, learning who they are and walking alongside their faith journeys. Jerry Root ’75 Root’s calling to minister at Hope the past 17 years has garnered the appreciation of hundreds and, now, the college’s H-Club “Hope for Humanity” Award.  The volunteer associate chaplain of athletics will be honored during a reception at the college’s kinesiology office on Monday, April 14, and during the Hope Athletics HOPEYs awards ceremony that evening at DeVos Fieldhouse. Root is a special guest on the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast series that is airing during NCAA Division III Week across the country. Sports and the Christian faith Root played basketball for the Flying Dutchmen, transferring to Hope from Grand Rapids Junior College long before the transfer portal became en vogue like it is today. He graduated from Hope with a degree in education and worked in the field for 33 years before retiring. In 2008, Root began volunteering as an athletics chaplain at his alma mater.  A curious and caring nature, modeled by his loving mother growing up, drew Root to teaching and coaching, then ministry. God’s words in Colossians make balancing sport and Christian faith possible, Root said. “One of my favorites Bible verses I share a lot is Colossians 1:16. It talks about us being made by God and for God,” Root said. “It so fits into the athletic life of training and eating properly. To translate this into ‘I have this body. I have this platform. I have this message.’ Athletics does mesh quite nicely with our Christian faith.” Three more Orange and Blue Podcast episodes will be available this week: Wednesday, April 9, junior Olivia Dieppa (women’s soccer) and senior Tyler King (cross country, and track and field) share their Hope stories, including a Sport Evangelism to Equip Disciples (SEED) mission trip to Kenya last summer; Friday, April 11, senior Dallas Fisher (swimming) talks about his experience on a Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) mission trip to Costa Rica last summer; Sunday, April 13, seniors Grace Wesley (swimming) and Nolan Holtrop (hockey) discuss their experiences on a SEED mission trip to Zambia last summer. | — | ||||||
| 7/29/24 | ![]() Cara Anderson and AJ Boucher: Orange and Blue Podcast | Cara Anderson and AJ Boucher pour themselves into everything they do for Hope College and Hope College Athletics. Anderson, who is graduating this December after majoring in social work, has been a team manager for the Flying Dutch women’s lacrosse team. The Adrian, Michigan, native and Lenawee Christian High School graduate also works in the college’s admissions office as a tour guide and team leader. Boucher is a junior elementary education major and a midfielder on the Flying Dutchmen soccer team. The Delton, Michigan, native and Richland Gull-Lake High School graduate also works as a campus tour guide. Earlier this summer, Anderson and Boucher stepped away from familiar roles to serve during a Sports Evangelism to Equip Disciples (SEED) mission trip to Costa Rica. Both talked about their experience in Season 4’s fifth episode of the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. “Emotional” journey As part of the mission trip, the group delivered Sawyer water filters to remote areas of the country. These filters, which can last for as many as 20 years, provided a poignant reminder of how God can work through us, Anderson said. “We did some sports camps with kids out in those communities. One of these days we were up in the mountains … and it was super hot,” Anderson said. “One of the girls on our team asked one of the little girls she was with ‘Do you want some water?’ For the first time, that girl could have been like ‘I have clean water.’ That made me so emotional. We are so blessed here [in the United States]. We have clean water. In those communities, they rely so heavily on each other and the community that’s right there. Taking them clean water was such a gift. “We got to share the gospel with the water filters. Jesus makes us clean and he doesn’t care if we’re dirty and messy and no matter what, we come out clean. The combination of all those things was such a gift, really shifted my perspective.” Boucher felt God working throughout the sports camps as well. “We had lacrosse, soccer, and basketball. We did some jump rope. We blew some bubbles as well,” Boucher said. “Every single one of them [soccer] was their favorite sport. I think for me, it touched me because it brought me a new joy to see that to my sport. I think I appreciated soccer a little bit more coming back to the States.  “Honestly, it has given me a reason why I want to be a coach in the future. I want to see kids with that joy that I saw playing the sport that I love in Costa Rica. I want to see that joy here in the States. I think right now, soccer’s growing, but I want it to get to a point where it’s the most popular thing and it just brings that joy that I saw in Costa Rica. That really impacted me a lot.” Written transcript | — | ||||||
| 7/16/24 | ![]() Justice Mims and Samantha Smith: Orange and Blue Podcast | Samantha Smith Justice Mims On a recent Hope College Athletics SEED mission trip, juniors Justice Mims and Samantha Smith felt God’s spirit moving within them. The two student-athletes and kinesiology majors spoke about their time in The Dominican Republic on the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. Season 4’s fourth episode featured a conversation with Mims, a guard on the men’s basketball team, and Smith, a goalie on the women’s lacrosse team. Hope Athletics recognizes that sport provides an opportunity for athletes to have a significant platform from which to influence others. In traveling with the Sports Evangelism to Equip Disciples (SEED) program, Hope College students utilize their passion for sport to share the love of Christ with individuals around the world.  Through participating in the SEED program, students are intentionally challenged to use their experiences to sow the seed and water the harvest so that the Good News of Jesus Christ takes root in their own lives as it is shared around the world.  Mims, a native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, near Detroit, remembered how he felt after his group brought and instructed residents of villages to use Sawyer water filters that clean the water. Rich in spirit “Yes, they’re underprivileged, but they’re not poor, they’re rich in spirit, 100%,” Mims said on the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. “I always say this to people whenever I talk about the SEED trip. I really believe the biggest difference is that they have God in everything. “They welcome us in, even though we don’t even speak the same language as them. We’re just strangers, foreigners, and they’re still inviting us in. Having the hospitality to give us their grace, it was just awesome. I really do think that because they had God in everything, it didn’t matter what the situation was, they are much happier than what is perceived.” Smith, a native of Westfield, Indiana, near Indianapolis, was grateful for how those she met through the SEED mission trip, brought God into every conversation. “They see God in everything,” Smith said on the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. “One of the biggest things that I noticed was our leader, John, told us that when we were done having a conversation with someone, we’d say, dios te bendiga, which means God bless you. Everybody on the trip picked it up immediately. We would say it every two seconds after every conversation, even if we didn’t say ‘Hi’ to someone, we’d say that.  “I just realized that in our community here, if we told a group of 20 20-year-olds, ‘Hey, after every conversation say ‘God bless you’, we’d all be like, ‘No, that’s kind of random, kind of weird.’ But just because of the community they have created, that’s completely normal and it’s encouraged. That’s something that I’ve been trying to incorporate here in my life, and I’ll definitely try to incorporate it at Hope. There’s always room for God in a conversation.” Written transcript of the interview | — | ||||||
| 7/2/24 | ![]() Keegan DeKuiper and Annie Lockett: Orange and Blue Podcast | When injuries sidelined Hope College’s Keegan DeKuiper and Annie Lockett from competition last season, they put aside their disappointment and focused on supporting their teammates and coaches. Their servant leadership drew praise from those around them, including their respective men’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams. They were announced as Anchor Award recipients in April at the 2024 Hope Athletics HOPEYs ceremony. The Male and Female Anchor Awards are presented to athletes who anchor their teams, inspiring their teammates to train and perform at their best.  Annie Lockett Keegan DeKuiper DeKuiper and Lockett spoke about their experiences and lessons learned during Season 4, Episode 3 of the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. They both said they relied on their Christian faith to help navigate a challenging time in their lives. “It was super tough, but God just has a way of changing your heart (and) changing your mindset,” DeKuiper said. Added Lockett, “Ultimately, we serve a God who turns these poor things into good things, and he does that through people.” Ultimate Teammates A goalkeeper, DeKuiper went from starting nine games as a sophomore in 2022 to missing the entire 2023 season. The exercise science major from Norton Shores, Michigan (Mona Shores HS) rose to the occasion, head coach David Blahnik said. “Keegan is the ultimate teammate,” Blahnik said. “Whether he is the star of the game or injured on the sideline you can always count on him to be a servant leader to his teammates and coaches to help in whatever way possible.”  Lockett earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors as an outside hitter in 2022 and helped the Flying Dutch reach the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.  The business major from Mason, Ohio (William Mason) never saw the court in 2023 but still poured herself into her teammates, head coach Becky Schmidt said. Hope finished as national runner-up last season. “Annie is a selfless leader who was able to impact the team despite not having one stat this year,” Schmidt said. “Her willingness to put the team first, celebrate her teammates and bring wisdom and perspective to the team was inspiring.” Written transcript of the interview | — | ||||||
| 6/17/24 | ![]() Dylan Clem: Orange and Blue Podcast | Dylan Clem is poised to build a successful and fulfilling career as a structural engineer with a foundation set at Hope College and his hometown of Stevensville, Michigan. The All-American offensive guard has one more college football season to play, though. Clem is returning for a fifth season with the Flying Dutchmen this fall. Hope is coming off an 8-2 season despite one of the toughest schedules in NCAA Division III. The Flying Dutchmen’s home and season opener is Saturday, Sept. 7, at 1 p.m. against Loras College (Iowa) at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium. Clem appeared on the Hope College Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast and spoke about preparing for the upcoming season while also interning in the Washington, D.C., area. “I took that leap of faith to come down here and spend the money on rent, for knowledge and a little bit of money. The first four weeks have been great,” Clem said. “A lot of what Hope taught me in the engineering program has correlated, along with just the ability to work hard and that comes in the classroom and the football field and just honestly campus in general. That’s just why I love Hope. Everyone has that mission to want to succeed, to want to work hard, to want to do all those things. I’ve really felt the presence of Hope in my life around here in D.C.” In April, Clem was named the 2024 male recipient of the Be Strong. Be True. Award at the annual HOPEYs ceremony The honor is presented to a junior or senior who demonstrates the true essence of being a student-athlete and embodies the Division III motto of Discover, Develop, Dedicate.  This student-athlete is in high academic standing (minimum GPA of 3.5), plays a significant role on the team, and is involved in the Hope and Holland community. Career Builder The award was one of many for the Lakeshore High School alum. In May, Clem received one of two Senior Engineering Prizes from the Hope College Engineering Department. In January, he was chosen for the Academic All-America First Team by College Sports Communicators. In December, he was selected as an All-American by D3football.com. Dylan Clem Along his journey at Hope, Clem served as a team captain for two years, as a member of the Athletes Coming Together / Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (ACT/SAAC), and was part of the athletic mentoring program, Team 43. He also worked as a research student in Dr. Courtney Peckens’ lab. Clem expressed gratitude for Hope’s embrace of allowing student-athletes to follow their passions on and off the field. He said he did not always find that through his college recruiting process. “When I came to Hope, the first thing Coach [Peter] Stuursma said was ‘All right, let me get you to a football player who’s an engineer.’ He showed me Dan Romano who was probably the smartest person I know,” Clem said. “Ever since then, Hope’s been that place where I felt like I could do it all. Coach Stuursma and all of our coaches really gave us that chance to succeed and gave us that chance to feel like we can do whatever we want.” Hope’s Engineering Department also set him up for success as well, Clem said. “The coolest thing about the Hope engineering program was that their intro class takes you through all different types of engineering. You’ll do civil two weeks. You’ll do mechanical two weeks. You’ll build circuits and do electrical,” Clem said. “I really loved the bridge section of the civil and then we got to make concrete and crush it. I was like, that’s pretty cool. I stuck with civil and I’ve loved it ever since.” Written Transcript | — | ||||||
| 5/28/24 | ![]() Kara VanderKamp: Hope Athletics Podcast | H-Club Hope for Humanity Award Kara VanderKamp ’95 poses for a picture with head women’s soccer Leigh Sears and Associate Athletic Director Lindsey Engelsman. Kara VanderKamp ‘95 carries the lessons she learned on the soccer field and at Hope College into her missionary work in Niger. The 2024 H-Club “Hope for Humanity” Award recipient and Remember Niger Coalition CEO talked about her drive to support educational opportunities for youth in Niger (pronounced knee-jeer), the landlocked western African nation between Libya, Mali, Chad and Nigeria.  “I think one of the things I really love about soccer is it truly is a team sport that everybody has to play at their best in order to be successful and to win as a team,” VanderKamp said. “You have to sacrifice for the team. As far as leadership is concerned, I think really trying to find the strengths of every person on the team and then drawing that out of them, I find that I use that all the time in the work that I’m doing now. I’m just trying to find the right people with the right skill set, then encouraging one another, being positive, and challenging each other as well to bring out the best.” VanderKamp’s interview kicks off the fourth season of the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast this summer. The Orange and Blue Podcast features interviews with Hope student-athletes, coaches, staff and alumni. They share their stories of academic success, competitive excellence and transformational experiences at Hope. Hope for Humanity Award Recipient VanderKamp received the Hope for Humanity Award in April on campus. The award is presented to Hope College alumni athletes who have demonstrated Christian commitment and service to others in their careers after Hope. It was first awarded in 1990 and is presented by the college’s H-Club, which consists of Hope alumni who were athletic letterwinners and other honorary letter winners. VanderKamp graduated from Hope with a degree in political science and an elementary teaching certificate. A midfielder on the women’s soccer team, she served as co-captain during her senior year, was named to the All-MIAA First Team in 1993 and 1994, became the first Hope women’s soccer player to gain all-region honors and ended her career as Hope’s all-time leader in assists. The Remember Niger Coalition, under VanderKamp’s leadership, partners with 18 schools and serves over 5,400 students. Each year, more than 400 students graduate from primary school and matriculate to middle school. Remember Niger partner schools have a 90% pass rate on the national exam.  During the past 15 years, 80 classrooms have been constructed in 13 communities, four solar-powered wells have been built, thousands of children have received school meals.  In addition, 115 teachers receive training annually, and 400 boys and girls in primary school and 98 girls in middle and high school who would not otherwise be able to afford the cost of going to school receive financial assistance from sponsors.  Expanding Education in Niger Kara VanderKamp kicks a soccer ball past a defender at Buys Athletics Field. As CEO of Remember Niger Coalition, VanderKamp leads the initiative to spread the word about the organization and its mission, raise funds and support, and implement, monitor and evaluate projects in Niger. She is actively engaged in leading the staff and serving on the board of directors.  VanderKamp travels around the United States as a public speaker in churches, rotary clubs, schools and businesses. She regularly travels across Niger to visit each school partner and work closely with each one to ensure that the schools have what they need and students are receiving a quality education. She oversees annual teacher trainings in Niger, and she and her team evaluate and monitor the health and wellness of the students, making sure that students receive school meals and extra healthcare in emergency situations.” VanderKamp has served as the CEO of the Remember Niger Coalition for the past 15 years. “What became apparent to me pretty quickly was that they had everything that they needed. They had the, they had the vision. They had a pretty concrete plan. They knew what they were doing. They knew how to start schools in their community in their country. What they lacked were partners,” VanderKamp said. “I thought I could be more useful going back to the United States and helping them find more partners. That’s how Remember Niger started.” Read a transcript of the interview. | — | ||||||
| 10/9/23 | ![]() SEED Mission Trips: Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast | On the season’s final episode of the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast, four Hope College student-athletes joined Sports Information Director Alan Babbitt to discuss their service-filled and life-changing SEED trips this summer. Senior Libby Strotman, senior Madeline Tessin, junior David Brace and junior David Hesselbein each took part in a Sports Evangelism to Equip Disciples (SEED) mission trip. The program annually provides opportunities for Hope student-athletes to serve in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Uganda, and Zambia. Hope students will utilize their passion for sport to share the love of Christ with individuals around the world. Through participating in the SEED program, students will be intentionally challenged to use their experiences to sow the seed and water the harvest so that the Good News of Jesus Christ takes root in their lives as it is shared worldwide. Central America Hesselbein (Barrington, Illinois / Barrington Community HS) is a goalie for the Flying Dutchmen. The physical and health education major traveled to Costa Rica. “We were partnered with an organization called Push the Rock,” Hesselbein said. “For the first half of the trip, we did mostly sports camps and a lot of ministry in schools and prisons. The second half of the trip, we went into more tribal areas, less populated and a little bit more off the grid. That’s when we started partnering with Sawyer (Products) to bring water filters to provide clean water for people who didn’t have a source of clean water. That was really cool, too.” Tessin (Waxhaw Ridge, N.C. / Marvin Ridge) is a swimmer for the Flying Dutch. The exercise science major went to the Dominican Republic. “We worked with a ministry called Go Ministries and they work specifically through sports and church planting,” Tessin said. “While we were there, we traveled around a lot to different communities. We did a basketball practice with one group, then we just played with kids with another. Daniel mentioned the water filters, and we did those near Haiti.” Africa Stratman (Park Ridge, Illinois / Maine Township) competes in throwing events on the track and field team. The physical and health education major traveled to Zambia. “We served the people in Choma, then the two surrounding communities. While we were there, we ran a three-day sports camp,” Strotman said. “We also had a day of service where we built a softball field, which was super cool, and then got to play on it with other people in the community. We partnered with a group called Poetice, which has a lot of Hope history, and was really cool to work with.” Brace (Plymouth, Michigan / Plymouth) is a midfielder for the Flying Dutchmen lacrosse team. The business major went to Uganda. “We went to southern Uganda and worked there with Sports Outreach, which brings in children from neighboring communities and teaches the ministry through sports,” Brace said. “We were holding sports camps, and then we’d go into communities in that area and deliver the Sawyer water filters as well. We also went to northern Uganda and it was a little more rural. We gave away a lot of those water filters. It was a great experience. We’re so thankful that Sawyer and Sports Outreach took us in with open arms.” Read a transcript of the interview. | — | ||||||
| 8/28/23 | ![]() Sisters Ana and Heleyna Tucker: Hope College Athletics Podcast | Heleyna Tucker Ana Tucker Sisters Ana and Heleyna Tucker reflected on their memorable run as Hope College student-athletes and teammates during the latest episode of the Hope College Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. The former cross country and track team champions spoke with Sports Information Director Alan Babbitt about their unique family bond as part of a set of triplets, their different educational pursuits and their shared passion for running. Both Midland, Michigan, natives graduated from Hope College in May. They are now pursuing post-graduate studies and living apart for the first time in their lives. Ana is working on her doctorate in physical therapy at Grand Valley State University while also running competitively for the NCAA Division II Lakers. The exercise science major at Hope posted 11 NCAA All-America efforts over three sports during her Flying Dutch, including in each of the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track seasons as a senior. Heleyna is studying applied statistics in graduate school at the University of Michigan. The mathematics major joined Ana in helping the Flying Dutch win four MIAA titles in cross country and three apiece in indoor and outdoor track and field. Accomplished Family Their brother, Charles, recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in computer science. He now works for the United States Department of Defense. “We all have different personality traits and over time, I think we really just learned how to balance each other out, “Each other strengths would fill each other’s weaknesses. That bond is really noticeable. When Heleyna and I went to Hope, it was very noticeable that Charles was away and that there wasn’t that balance.  Now, Heleyna and I are going to separate schools, to separate grad programs. It’s definitely noticeable that we’re apart. Charles actually started running too and he’s doing quite well. We go on triplet runs sometimes together.” The Tucker sisters also expressed their gratitude for their time at Hope College and all the different people who supported them, taught them and coached them. “I bet we would both say Norty, our head cross country coach,” Heleyna said, mentioning Mark Northuis, Hope College’s head cross country coach and distance coach for track and field. “He’s definitely been someone to shape us and talk to us if we’re struggling. He helps us in any other aspect because going to college is a big transition is not having your family there. You don’t have your parents to talk to and I feel like your coach kind of becomes like that, an adult figure for you to talk to you if you have an issue. They kind of know if something is wrong. You walk in and can just tell.  “I’d say, all the math professors have been such amazing influences on me. I mean to name one, I remember in my freshman year I took a Calc 2 class with Aaron Cinzori. He just really impacted me my freshman year and made me really want to pursue being a math major and look more into that in the future. All the math faculty, they’re amazing.” Read a written transcript of the interview. | — | ||||||
| 7/31/23 | ![]() David Blahnik: Hope College Athletics Podcast | During a recent jog, Hope College men’s soccer coach David Blahnik listened to the “Revisionist History” podcast episode that explored the vision, impact and potential of the college’s “Hope Forward” initiative. David Blahnik, Hope College men’s soccer head coach In the segment, titled “A Good Circle”, best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell spoke with Hope College President Matthew A. Scogin regarding the college’s revolutionary approach to removing tuition as a barrier for access to college while building generosity and community along the way. Scogin’s words during the episode resonated, Blahnik said, and provided inspiration for the Flying Dutchmen soccer program as well. “He talked about the idea of running towards challenges and that really resonated with me. I was laughing. I was actually running while I was listening,” Blahnik said earlier this month while recording the latest episode of the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast.  “I like the idea of we wan our program to be something where you’re running towards the challenges: on the field, off the field, in the locker room, and all those other areas I thought about, so when somebody leaves here as a Hope grad, they really are able to go and, in a sense, conquer whatever they want to conquer in their life going forward.” Blahnik is heading into his second season leading the Flying Dutchmen. His team reports to campus on Friday, Aug. 19, to begin preparations for the 2023 season opener on Friday, September 1, against Ohio Wesleyan University at Van Andel Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Hope is aiming to challenge for an MIAA regular-season title after finishing runner-up last season in the standings and the league tournament. The Flying Dutchmen went 7-5-6 overall. Soccer: A Life’s Passion On the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast, Blahnik talks about this season’s schedule, his coaching staff and what to expect from the Flying Dutchmen. Blahnik also chats about his journey to Hope College, including how he decided between two sports he loved playing — soccer and baseball, and his time as a student-athlete and head men’s soccer coach at his alma mater, Olivet Nazarene University, near Chicago.  Off the field, Blahnik balances coaching soccer at a high level with being a loving husband and father of two sons, ages 9 and 4. His wife, Karlynn, is a local kindergarten teacher, so the month of September is an extremely busy one for his family. “It’s difficult but awesome to be a college head coach and have a family,” Blahnik said. “You spend a lot of time with others, but at the same time, my 9-year-old thinks it’s the coolest thing in the world to be around the guys. My son’s over at Hope Tennis Academy right now during their summer season with my niece and my 4-year-old is watching. We love the community. “We want our kids to go to Hope, whether I am working here or not, so when the opportunity arose (to coach here) it was a no-brainer for us. We’ll figure it out. I don’t think any head coach who’s married has the perfect way of doing it, but we try to make the most of it for us.” Read a written transcript of the interview. | — | ||||||
| 7/17/23 | ![]() Delaney Wesolek: Hope College Athletics Podcast | Delaney Wesolek’s daily calendar fills up quickly as a Hope College swimmer and nursing student. Time is precious as a student-athlete with early-morning practices, classes or clinicals during the day, afternoon practices, and evening homework or relaxation. Delaney Wesolek Maximizing all of the opportunities, Wesolek handles daily tasks at an extremely high level. In April, the senior from Bay City, Michigan (John Glenn HS) was named the 2023 Hope College Be Strong. Be True. Female Athlete of the Year. One month earlier, Wesolek competed on relays at the NCAA Division III Championships and helped the Flying Dutch finish 10th in the nation. Wesolek recently joined the Hope College Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast, along with head swimming and diving coach Jake Taber, to talk about what it is like to be a Division III student-athlete at Hope. In addition to swimming and studying, Wesolek has been involved with Dance Marathon at Hope, an annual fundraiser for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, and helped start Team 43, a support group for Hope student-athletes that focuses on mental health. “Old school” time management How does Wesolek keep on top of everything?  “For me, I would say I’m kind of old school in how I do my time management. My paper planner is my best friend, and I rely on it so much,” Wesolek said. “It definitely keeps me in line. I hold myself accountable by making my schedule.  “I’m a big list person as well. That’s something that (Coach) Taber can even talk about whenever we have little meetings, I come in, I have my list and he’s like, ‘All right, what’s on the list? Let’s just get to it.’ That’s just kind of how I roll because I love crossing things off and just working off my list and using my planner and that’s something that I did do in high school,” Wesolek said. “I would say when I got to the college level, it was definitely an adjustment itself with a different class schedule. That’s different than what high school was but also just unique training schedules as well. That was definitely new and I had to learn how to navigate my time and how I manage that.” Taber was thrilled to see Wesolek chosen as one of two Be Strong. Be True. Athletes of the Year. Football’s Dan Romano was the male recipient. “For me, it’s funny to hear Delaney say how shocked she was. I wasn’t,” Taber said. “The experience that, we and our coaching staff have had working with her every day for the last three years is that she embodies what it means a Christian student-athlete. She’s involved in her community. She continues to excel at a very high level. “She gets it done in the pool, on campus, in the community, and she isn’t just involved in these things. I mean she’s got leadership roles and she has a tremendously high impact in everything that she’s involved with. When you look at what we’re about, from a student-athlete standpoint here at Hope College, I can’t think of a better representative than Delaney.” Read a written transcript of the interview. | — | ||||||
| 7/3/23 | ![]() Kevin Wolma: Hope College Athletics Podcast | The Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast has returned this summer for a third season with a special series of interviews with Hope College student-athletes, administration and staff.  Kevin Wolma For the season’s third episode, sports information director Alan Babbitt sits down with Kevin Wolma, Hope College’s Assistant Athletic Director for Student Wellness and Compliance. In this new role, Wolma will be advocating for and leading programs which will benefit the comprehensive wellness of Hope College student-athletes, while also supporting coaches and staff in their efforts to have a transformational impact.  “The wellness piece is a little bit new as far as a titled position,” Wolma said. “We do a lot of great things for student-athletes here at Hope College. The role is about tying a lot of that into one space and having somebody that will be working with different partnerships on campus and with our coaching staff to ensure that student-athlete experience for them, to provide the resources that they need, whether it’s social, emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical wellness. “We’ve got a lot of pieces already on campus. It is just exciting to tie into that and create this mental health experience, an overall wellness experience, for them that will be transformational for the student-athletes when they leave Hope.” A Career in Education and Wellness Prior to joining Hope Athletics, Wolma worked for two years as Associate Director of Admissions at Hope and for 25 years in education as a teacher, a coach and an administrator. Wolma served as athletic director for Hudsonville Public Schools for 10 years from 2011 to 2021. He taught secondary health and physical education at Hudsonville from 1997 through 2011.  He also coached three varsity sports at Hudsonville: girls golf from 2009 to 2011, boys basketball from 2000 to 2006, and girls tennis from 1997 to 2002. He also coached varsity boys basketball at Caledonia from 1997 to 2000.  Wolma started his career in education at Roscommon, where he taught secondary science for one year. While new to athletics administration in college, Wolma is well-versed in what Hope has to offer. He and his wife, Gina, have three children who attend Hope. Jordan and Kayla, twin brother and sister, will be seniors at Hope this fall, while Kelsey will be a freshman. Read a written transcript of the interview. | — | ||||||
| 6/19/23 | ![]() Angelique Gaddy-McElveen: Hope College Athletics Podcast | The Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast has returned this summer for a third season with a special series of interviews with Hope College student-athletes, administration and staff.  For the summer’s second episode, sports information director Alan Babbitt sits down with Angelique Gaddy-McElveen, Hope College’s Assistant Athletic Director of Philanthropy. Angelique Gaddy-McElveen In this new role, Gaddy-McElveen leads Athletics’ philanthropy efforts in collaboration with the college’s Philanthropy and Engagement Division. This strategic partnership will allow Athletics to broaden and strengthen its commitment to providing a transformational experience where student-athletes can thrive academically and athletically through programs focused on their holistic development and preparing them for lives of leadership and impact. “I did a lot of listening, then also pulled into some efforts that we had already started over the last year,” Gaddy-McElveen said of her work as Assistant Athletic Director of Philanthropy since January when she started. “When I wasn’t in this role yet, last October, we started corporate sponsorships for athletics that was headed by Keagan Pontius, women’s lacrosse coach. We worked very closely together. We also have our Orange and Blue Fund; that’s headed by Dan Osterbaan. The three of us do a lot of things regarding annual giving and corporate sponsorships.  “I was brought on to lead those efforts to put more synergy behind the direction of them altogether, acting as one. I’ll be working more so with some of those major gifts and cultivating those relationships of how can we really pair, whether it’s parents, alumni, fans, friends of the college, how can we pair what their passions are, their desires for student-athletes, coaches, programming, and make that a real opportunity for those different areas on campus.” Hope-Full History Prior to joining the Hope Athletics administration, Gaddy-McElveen served on the college’s admissions team for three years and was responsible for admissions recruitment in the Chicagoland area and seven schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Most recently, she taught a first-year seminar titled “Mamba Mentality and Motivation”. She serves as a first-year advisor. In 2019, Gaddy-McElveen earned her Master’s degree in Sport Management from Western Michigan University. In 2017, she graduated from Hope with bachelor’s degrees in business and communication. After graduating from Hope, Gaddy-McElveen worked as a compliance specialist at Grand Valley State University for two years. At Hope, Gaddy-McElveen was a standout student-athlete on the women’s basketball team that posted a 103-11 overall record over four seasons. The Flying Dutch made four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances and claimed three MIAA titles between 2014 and 2017. A guard, Gaddy-McElveen received All-MIAA First Team honors as a junior and All-MIAA Second Team honors as a senior. She was elected team captain as a senior and junior. Read a written transcript of the interview. | — | ||||||
| 6/6/23 | ![]() Dan Romano: Hope College Athletics Podcast | The Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast is returning this summer for a third season with a special series of interviews with Hope College student-athletes, administration and staff.  Dan Romano For this summer’s first episode, sports information director Alan Babbitt sits down with recent graduate Dan Romano ‘23, this year’s male recipient of the Hope Athletics Be Strong. Be True. Athlete of the Year award, and Flying Dutchmen head football coach Peter Stuursma. The Be Strong. Be True. Athlete of the Year award is presented to a male and female junior or senior who demonstrates the true essence of being a student-athlete and embodies the Division III motto of Discover, Develop, Dedicate. This student-athlete is in high academic standing (minimum GPA of 3.5), plays a significant role on the team, and is involved in the Hope and Holland community.  Later this summer, we will chat with the 2023 female recipient, senior swimmer Delaney Wesolek, and head swimming and diving coach Jake Taber. Both Wesolek and Romano received their awards during the HOPEYs ceremony in April. “Taking advantage of every opportunity” Romano packed in a lot of activity as a student-athlete at Hope: Majored in biomedical and mechanical engineering, minored in mathematics;  Two-year starter on the football team while earning All-MIAA Second Team honors as a junior and recording a pair of 200-yard rushing games; Semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s Campbell Trophy that recognizes a college football student-athlete for his academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership;  Served on Hope’s and MIAA’s ACT-SAAC (Athletes Coming Together-Student Athlete Advisory Council); Participated in a SEED (Sport Evangelism to Equip Disciples) trip in 202’ Co-lead Bible study for the football team. After graduating last month, Romano married Hannah Cross ‘23 and began working at Gentex Corporation as a product design engineer. On the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast, Romano said he used his time as a student-athlete at Hope as an opportunity to grow, to meet people, to become just to become the better version of himself.  “I did find myself saying yes a lot and taking advantage of every opportunity that I could,” Romano said. “That just led me down a road to one being busy, but also just really growing in every aspect of my life. Whether it was football, academics my faith with the Bible study being a leader on ACT-SAAC, or repping the MIAA, they were all just like really cool opportunities I didn’t want to pass up on. “I saw it more as like I want to excel in it and be the best that I can be in it.” Read a written transcript of interview | — | ||||||
| 6/23/22 | ![]() Elly Douglass ’04 Jordan: Hope Athletics Podcast | Elly Douglass ‘04 Jordan was not born yet when Title IX came into law on June 23, 1972, but is grateful every day the legislation did. A fulfilling journey from childhood to adulthood would not have been possible without the federal civil rights law which prohibits sex-based discrimination by any educational institution that receives federal funding. Title IX also gave girls and women the equal opportunity to compete in sports across the country. At Hope College, Jordan ran on the cross country and track and field teams before graduating with a degree in social sciences.  Elly Douglass ’04 Jordan Now, Jordan is a supervising attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and leads a team in providing trauma-informed legal services to refugee and immigrant kids who have experienced persecution and human trafficking. Jordan talked about Title IX, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, as a guest on the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. “Title IX is such a simple piece of legislation really that embodies the principle that we shall not have discrimination on the basis of sex in education,” Jordan said. “Since I’m 40, it predates me. So many of the women that we stand on the backs of were the people that really pioneered for us. I was rarely the first woman to do a lot of things. I know there have been a lot of women that have gone before me.” Read More from Hope College’s Title IX at 50 Series Opportunities Created Upon graduation from Hope College with a degree in social sciences, Jordan moved to El Salvador with her husband to work as a missionary with the SHARE Foundation. Upon realizing she was in a position of privilege and could use that to do more to serve, she attended law school, where she excelled.  After graduating from law school, Jordan worked as a law clerk for the US Court of Appeals, then joined Warner Norcross and Judd, LLP. Jordan left Warner to work as the Supervising Attorney at the Michigan State University College of Law Immigration Clinic. Jordan then served as the Lead Attorney for the Survivor Law Project at the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence before working at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. In April, Jordan was presented with the “Hope for Humanity” Award which is presented to Hope College alumni athletes who have demonstrated Christian commitment and service to others in their careers after Hope.  “(Title IX) has impacted me quite a bit. I think it would be easy for me to take for granted a lot of the promise that Title IX has fulfilled thus far. Far be it for me to become lazy, to rest on my laurels and not continue to encourage that Title IX continues to fulfill its full promise.” Orange and Blue Podcast Transcript | — | ||||||
| 6/10/22 | ![]() Arinn King and Jack Radzville: Hope Athletics Podcast | Arinn King and Jack Radzville displayed similar excellence on the field and in the classroom during their Hope College careers. The 2022 Be Strong. Be True. Female and Male Athletes of the Year sat down together for an interview for the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. They talked about their athletics and academic experiences and offered advice for incoming freshmen student-athletes. From left, Arinn King and Jack Radzville King, a standout second baseman in softball, and Radzville, a decorated attacker in men’s lacrosse, graduated last month and concluded their playing careers. King, an exercise science major, is headed to physical therapy school. Radzville, an electrical engineering major, has accepted a job with Ford Motor Company. In April, King and Radzville received their Be Strong. Be True. honors during the annual HOPEYs awards ceremony. The Be Strong. Be True. Athlete of the Year distinction is presented to a junior or senior who demonstrates the true essence of being a student-athlete and embodies the NCAA Division III motto of Discover, Develop, Dedicate.  This student-athlete is in high academic standing (minimum GPA of 3.5), plays a significant role on the team, and is involved in the Hope and Holland community. Saying Thank You Both student-athletes expressed gratitude for their four years on campus and all the people who supported them along their journeys. King earned all-region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association this spring. Hope posted a a 26-12 overall record. “I would definitely say thank you to all of my coaches and my teammates. They pushed me on the field in the classroom, in my faith just and life in general with their friendships,” King said. “They pushed me to be my best in all aspects, taught me to be more confident in who I was. I’m definitely a better version of myself since walking into Hope because of them.” Radzville received honorable-mention All-America honors from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The attacker was voted as the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s Most Valuable Offensive Player this season. Hope finished with 15-2 overall record and earned the MIAA’s regular-season title. “I want to say thank you to all my friends, teammates, coaches and my family because they have had my back and encouraged me to do the best I can,” Radzville said. “They’re always proud of what I’ve done, but they always pushed me to do better. I want to shout out Andrew Conlon, Cole Scheffler and my coaches, Mike Schanhals, Chris Scheldt, for always pushing me to do better academically and athletically.” Written transcript of the Orange and Blue Podcast interview | — | ||||||
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