A native of Royal Oak, Michigan, Hanna Leestma came to Alma after spending her freshman year at Division I Ohio University. From the moment she stepped on campus, she made an immediate impact as member of the Alma College Swimming and Diving program.
As a sophomore, Leestma earned event wins in six of her first seven dual meets, finishing runner up in the lone contest where she didn’t bring home first place. She earned a pair of NCAA qualifying scores in a one-week period, and went on to finish 4th on the three-meter board, and 5th on the one-meter board at MIAA Championships.
Hanna saw limited competition in her junior season due to an injury, but still managed four podium finishes in dual meet action, including a win on the three-meter board against Olivet.
Entering her senior season, Hanna won the first three meets of the season. She claimed wins against the University of Findlay, Hillsdale College, and Hope College, all on the one-meter board. Leestma scored an NCAA qualifying score on four different occasions on the one-meter board. During the MIAA Championships, she set an Alma College record for the one-meter 11-dive, with a score of 411.10. On the three-meter board, Hanna qualified for the NCAA meet three times, including hitting the qualifying mark twice during the MIAA Championships.Â
Leestma was invited to the NCAA Division III National Championships, held at the University of Minnesota. She placed 8th on the one-meter with a score of 393.80, earning First Team All-America honors. On the three-meter, she placed 15th with a 390.95.
Overall, Leestma posted 20 individual event wins, and 36 top three finishes in 46 total events.
