Hope Ernhart – 15 in 2015

// Student, Benton High School // 6.5 years in Saline County

Hope Ernhart was diagnosed with Crohn’s in the spring of her seventh grade year. At the time, she had missed about 5 weeks of school, weighed 81 pounds and could barely walk. She quit all sports she was involved in, which were softball, soccer, basketball, swimming.

Following the diagnosis, Hope went to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for a five-day treatment, and immediately her Crohn’s went into remission. She started gaining weight, and resumed involvement in sports. She began swimming a couple of times a week with the Dolphin-Laser swim team in Little Rock, and even entered a meet a few months later.  At a swim meet the next year, she finished dead last in all of her events except the 50 freestyle, where she finished 25th in her age group.

During her eighth grade year, Hope switched to the CASC Racers swim team in Bryant. That summer, she qualified for her first state swim meet in the 50 yard freestyle, and has steadily achieved more success every year since then. In her ninth grade year, Hope ranked eighth in the high school state swim meet in the 100 freestyle. During her tenth grade year, she won the 50 free and came in second in the 100 free in the high school state competition. Her eleventh grade year brought a win in the 50 and 100 free in high school, and the 50 free in the USA swimming competition. She also won the 50 free in long course state championship, and came in second in the 100 free, qualifying for sectionals and NCSA Junior Nationals. She is now nationally ranked swimmer.   

“Hope isn’t a quitter, she has put 100% into her swimming. We are so proud of her and all she’s overcome. She doesn’t use Crohn’s disease as an excuse for anything” shares her mother, Beverly Brister.

Hope continues bimonthly Crohn’s disease treatments at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. There is currently no cure for the disease, but Hope maintains a positive attitude and outlook on life. “Hope does everything in her power to keep herself strong to fight the disease. She watches her diet, and maintains her fitness. She doesn’t let things get her down. She just keeps marching forward,” says Beverly.

Through all of her trials and successes, Hope has maintained a 3.92 grade point average and is ranked 15th in her class at Benton High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and intends to swim competitively in college. Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Arkansas have all expressed interest in having Hope join their team. Saline County can be proud to stand up and cheer for Hope both in and out of the pool, as she is showing us all how to overcome setbacks and hardships and emerge a true champion.