Julia Benthem
Parents: Jared and Susan Benthem

How do I get pumped up for a meet: Doing cheers with the team!

Plans for next year: Calvin University studying Spanish.

Advice to teammates: Don’t be scared to try new things, you never know if something good could come from it. 

Favorite swim memory: Doing prank wars against Unity Christian during the state meet.

Favorite Bible verse: 1 John 4:10-12 ‑  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Katherine Brandt
Parents: Joel and Sarah Brandt

How do I get pumped for a meet: listen to music

Plans for next year: Hope College to study political science

- Advice to teammates: show up to team bonding and make an effort to be friends with everyone on the team

Favorite swim memory: Coach Collin breaking his chair during a distance set

Favorite Bible verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 ‑ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.^[a

Audrey Brouwer
Parents: Bruce and Shari Brouwer

How I get pumped up for a meet: I listen to pump up music in the car ride to the meet.

Plans for next year: Go to college. Undecided

Advice for teammates: Focus on improving yourself instead of comparing yourself to others.

Favorite swim team memory: Meet Meat!

Favorite Bible verse: Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Ali Buist
Parents: Don and Kelly Buist

How I get pumped up for a meet: Cheering my teammates until I lose my voice.

Plans for next year:v Attend college and major in Psychology and Pre-Med

Advice for teammates: Just have FUN! The friends you make on this team might become some of the best friends you'll ever have, so make each moment count.

Favorite swim team memory: My lane this year, taking a picture every single day at practice and meets. (I love you, Anni, Liv, and Rory!)

Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 6:34 ‑ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Maeve Harkness
Parents: Matthew and Emily Harkness

How I get pumped up for a meet: I like to listen to Offset, Travis Scott and NF!

Plans for next year: I will be continuing my swimming career at Illinois Wesleyan University studying premed and Spanish. 

Advice for teammates: My advice for teammates is to try your absolute best for that day and you will get better!

Favorite swim team memory: My favorite memory is being introduced to Chipotle for the first time before the cottage party! I am obsessed with Chipotle now! 

Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 43:2 ‚— When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze.

Veda Harkness
Parents: Matthew and Emily Harkness

How I get pumped up for a meet: Listening to NF!

Plans for next year: Studying biology and environmental studies while continuing my swimming career at Illinois Wesleyan University 

Advice for teammates: You are more than your times!

Favorite swim team memory: Cheering for my sister, Maeve, when she got her state cut in the 50 free, freshman year, in her time trial!

Favorite Bible verse: Matthew 14:22-33 (summary: Jesus is teaching that as long as we keep our eyes on Him, rather than the storm around us, we can stand firm and move forward in faith.)

Juliana Mills
Parents: Ben and Elisabeth Mills

How I get pumped up for a meet: Listen to hot wings

Plans for next year: study business and Spanish at U of M or a school in the South. 

Advice for teammates: Just have fun! Don’t get caught up in a bad race or dive because it doesn’t define you. Get to know your teammates because you spend so much time with them and they may become your closest friends. Four years goes by so quickly, and this team will be one of your best high school memories.

Favorite Memory: Team sleepovers and being able to bond with teammates outside of the pool. 

Favorite Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11 ‑ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Lucy Molenbeek
Parents: Tim and Lindsay Molenbeek

How I get pumped for a meet - listening to Spanish music in the car and doing cheers with the team

Plans for next year: I am hoping to go to college and become a nurse practitioner.

Advice for teammates: High school goes by pretty fast so try and be present in the moment and make the most of everything.

Favorite swim memory: I love spooky relays, specifically the sprite chugging one, and playing the cap game at school.

Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 41:10 — So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Emily Setlock
Parents: Mike and Sarah Setlock

Plans for next year: Continue my diving career at Duquesne University while majoring in business.

Advice for teammates: My advice is to be a good teammate to everyone. The bonds you form here will be some of the strongest relationships you’ll ever have. Also go to all the team bonding activities!

Favorite swim team memory: When the dive team used to go get McDonalds every team sleepover. Also, the cottage party is always super fun every year!

Favorite Bible verse: Romans 8:18 ‑ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Karson VanDenend
Parents: Brad and Jill VanDenend

How I get pumped up for a meet: Listening to Spanish music, specifically Bad Bunny 

Plans for next year: Study elementary education and Spanish

Advice for teammates: As hard as the season can be, live in the moment, make the best every day, and have fun with everything. It goes by faster than you can imagine. Try to branch out as much as you can. Some of my best friends I got to know just from the swim team. 

Favorite memory: Every year my favorite memory is always spooky relays, especially the event where chug sprites in between laps.

Favorite Bible verse: Zephaniah 3:17 ‑ The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Dear Seniors!

Congratulations on making it to your senior night! It has been an absolute joy to walk alongside you as you swam, dove, learned, and grew over the past four years. We remember your very first practice with our team clearly — we were locked out of the Northview pool.

From that day on, we've appreciated your flexibility, perseverance, and grace. You've been a group that has cheered loudly for your teammates since day one, and we're excited to see the new teams and communities you'll join. 

As you discover and transition into whatever God has planned for you next year, we pray that you carry with you the lessons you've learned on this team and that you use them to bring God glory. We know you Your will. coaches, your team, and I will be praying for you in this next chapter- cheering you on, always! Go Eagles! 

With love, Elena, Kimble, Hope, and Collin