Editor’s note: From Monday-Sunday, April 1-7, Hope College Athletics is celebrating NCAA Division III Week with member schools across the country as we observe and celebrate the impact Division III athletics and student-athletes have on campus and in the surrounding community. There are special events planned at Hope Athletics home events throughout the week. Check out Hope Athletics social media accounts for more stories. As part of Division III Week, Hope softball pitcher and communication major Grace Connelly ‘25 is profiling four peers throughout Division III Week for the Hope Athletics blog.
Kyle Langdon’s experience as a student-athlete on the Hope College men’s swimming and diving team exemplifies how athletics and academics can work together in life-changing ways.
It started before the now senior swimmer for the Flying Dutchmen even decided to enroll at the college.
From the beginning of the recruiting process, Langdon explained, “[Coach Jake] Taber instilled personal hope in me, and the fact that he believed in me was huge for my confidence as an athlete.”
Langdon (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa HS) quickly saw his life transformed on campus.
After taking a leadership class as a freshman and connecting with the material, Langdon discovered a passion for leadership and the joy that comes from developing others.
He is now pursuing a minor in leadership along with his business major. He values the skills that he has been learning, implementing them into practices and daily interactions with his teammates.
“In every conversation I have with a teammate, I want them to be impacted positively, or I want to take away something more personable allowing us to be more connected than before,” he said.
His commitment and leadership led to him being named team captain during the 2023-24 season, a sign of how he had grown into the potential that his coach had seen four years earlier.
“Kyle is one of those guys who finds a way to bring the best out in others,” Taber said. “His value comes from who he is, what he’s doing behind the scenes and how accountable he is to his teammates.”
As Langdon approaches graduation and reflects on his time at Hope, he appreciates the confidence that he has gained as a student-athlete, leader, and professional.
He also believes that growth as a student-athlete at Hope will continue to make a difference to him in the future.
“I feel like I know myself a little bit better now,” he said. “I now know who I am, what I value and who I value. I have a good sense of direction of where I want to be and I’m most proud of those I’ve impacted in a positive way.”