The Charger swim team added a quad-meet win to its season record on Friday.
The team travelled to Ohio where they defeated Ohio Northern, Findlay, and Defiance.
“The team did really well and everyone had such an amazing attitude the entire time. Everyone was very supportive and encouraging, it was a great atmosphere to be in,” junior captain Zoe Hopkins said.
After losing to Findlay in the season opener on Oct. 17, the Chargers were out to avenge themselves.
The Chargers opened the meet with an impressive second place finish in the 200 Medley Relay. Seniors Rachel Kurtz, Cayley Cruickshank, junior Naofa Noll, and sophomore Emily Shallman put up a stellar time of 1:53.41.
Kurtz continued her streak of racking up victories in the 50-yard freestyle, swimming a 24.48 – one of her best times this season.
Junior Sarah Rinaldi swept the competition in two events, winning the 200 IM and the 200 Breaststroke with times of 2:14.08, and 2:29.99.
Another team standout was junior Mikalah Smith. Smith swam a time of 11:07.2 to win the 1000-yard Freestyle.
The highlight of the night, however, was the 200 Freestyle relay with juniors Jennifer Wheeler, Alissa Jones and senior Jordan Rucinski. The Chargers’ relay team secured a win over the Panthers by finishing less than a second before them.
“At that point the meet was tied up between us and University of Findlay and we really pulled together as a team to get the few extra points needed for the win, and it was exciting to see us really race the girl next to us like we have been focusing on in practice,” Rucinski said.
Hopkins then placed second in both the 200 Freestyle and the 500 Freestyle giving her team enough points to close the meet with a victory.
This coming Friday the Hillsdale swim team will be hosting their first home meet of the season. The team’s seniors will be honored before they compete against Albion and Tiffin at 5 p.m.
“It will be hard closing this chapter of my life,” senior Rachel Kurtz said of the senior night home meet. “However, instead of the senior night being the last meet of the season, this year it is early. So rather than being sad I think it is inspiring. It will remind the seniors that this is our last season and our last chance to influence the team.”
