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Tyler Houpt has announced his commitment to continue his education and swimming career at Hope College this fall. Houpt is from Mason, Ohio, where he recently graduated from Mason High School and is a member of the Mason Manta Rays.
In addition to pool swimming, Houpt plays water polo and has experience with open water races. He recently finished 7th at the 2024 Ohio Open Water Championship, improving on his 9th place finish from last summer. In 2022, he placed 27th at the USA Swimming Open Water Junior National Championship, which he followed up with a 4th place finish at the Central Zone Open Water Championship later in the summer.
“Hope College feels like a home away from home with the strong and incredibly welcoming team and coaching staff. The college itself welcomed me with open arms and a strong nursing program to go along with it.”
In the pool, Houpt swims a variety of events including distance freestyle, the 400 IM, and the 200 fly & breast. He wrapped up his short course season this spring at the Tim Myers Memorial SC Senior Championships, where he clocked a personal best of 16:07.07 in the 1650 en route to a 6th place finish. He also dropped nearly four seconds in the 200 breast (2:07.69) and hit a season best in the 200 fly (1:55.77) to finish 10th and 8th, respectively.
Houpt also represented his high school this spring at the OHSAA State Championship (Division I). He took 18th in the 500 (4:43.14) and 28th in the 200 IM (1:57.97), which is slightly slower than he was at this meet in 2023 when he finished 8th and 15th (4:37.42/1:54.65) in the same events.
Top SCY Times
- 500 free – 4:38.50
- 1650 free – 16:07.07
- 200 breast – 2:07.69
- 200 fly – 1:55.77
- 200 IM – 1:54.39
- 400 IM – 4:09.12
Hope College, located in Holland, Michigan, is a Division III program in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). This year, the men’s team finished 2nd at the MIAA Championships and 23rd at the NCAA Division III Championships.
Houpt is poised to make an immediate impact at the conference level, as his best times across all of his main events would have scored in the top-8 at this year’s meet. Bailey Smith was the team’s top distance freestyler this year after winning the MIAA titles in both the 500 (4:35.26) and 1650 (16:01.21), but will not be on campus when Houpt arrives this fall.
Houpt is joined by Noah Buist, Aaron Thomas, Everett Cox, Luke Newcomb, Blake Hetherington, Luke Wyrick, and George Marsh in Hope’s incoming class this fall.
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DonCheadle is slightly annoyed that someone named Aaron Thomas is going to hope.
Never in my life have I ever felt a joke go so far over my head 😂
RIP D3Swimmimg forums