The Charger swim team will travel to Jenison, Mich., on Feb. 8 for the 2011-12 GLIAC Championships where the success of their season will be determined.
With first through third all but held down by conference powerhouses Grand Valley State University, defending champions Wayne State University, and Indianapolis University, the Chargers have their eyes set on a fourth place finish.
The team’s goal since the beginning of the season was to outdo their fifth place performance last year, and after a 6-1 finish on the season, the women said they are optimistic about their chances.
The Charger’s competition for that fourth place spot will be the University of Findlay, Ashland University, and Northern Michigan University.
Senior captain Linda Okonkowski said she was hesitant to distinguish any frontrunners.
“It could be really anyone’s game from fourth place on,” she said.
The GLIAC Championship is formatted to have preliminary races in the morning and finals at night. The top 16 swimmers in prelims earn the chance to swim finals.
Hillsdale’s swimming has suffered in morning races but with added focus the team hopes to overcome their early morning struggles.
“Our team has been improving on morning and afternoon swims,” said freshman Rachel Kurtz. “We’ve been doing a lot of quality sets at morning practice.”
Getting good races early means more Hillsdale swimmers in the finals. Taking advantage of the team’s depth will be crucial to a strong finish.
“We want as many girls in finals as possible so we can rely on our depth,” junior Emily Peltier said.
In addition to team depth, experience will serve the Chargers well as they return nearly the entire lineup that finished fifth last season. The team also showcases freshmen who potentially could make an impact at the meet.
“I’m nervous, but for me going into a big meet, it’s always good to be a little nervous,” Kurtz said. “It’s exciting more than nervous.”
With everyone on the team swimming faster after a record-breaking year in 2010-11, Okonkowski said the team has high expectations that more records will fall.
“All the events, everything is going to be faster,” Okonkowski said. “Anyone can get their name on the record board. There will be quite a variety up there.”
With Okonkowski being the only swimmer this season to have broken a record — the McAvoy Pool record in the 200-yard butterfly — many swimmers will be looking to swim their fastest times of season after more than a week of tapering.
The team is cutting back yardage from roughly 6,000 yards last week to 3,000 this week.
Tapering means not only fresh bodies but renewed spirits, and focus, as well.
“We seem relaxed,” Peltier said. “Tapering usually takes the pressure off. We’ve been having a good time with it.”