Charger swimming bested Albion College 111-100 in a dual meet last Saturday, with multiple swimmers claiming event titles. The meet marks another milestone for the team as they look toward the Great Midwest Athletic Conference finals, which will be held in Canton, OH Feb. 12-15.

Head swim coach Kurt Kirner said he wanted to take some pressure off of his athletes going into this meet but still find a way to compete at a high level.

“Albion was a down meet, but we needed to get some good racing in so I decided to mix things up and keep things fun,” Kirner said. “All swimmers swam off events to take some pressure off of them going into the final stretch.”

Still, according to Kirner, the team performed at a high level and responded with some quality performances.

The Chargers swept two different individual events. Senior Megan Clifford led the way in the 200 yard freestyle in 1:58.94. Junior Jamie Parsons placed second and freshman Kathryn Viecelli completed the sweep for the Chargers.

Parsons gave credit for the results to last week’s high intensity training.

“This past week we practiced a few quality swims where we had to swim at race pace and visualize how we would swim during a meet,” Parsons said. “And that helps because it gives us a gauge heading into race day.”

Hillsdale also took the top three spots in the 100 yard butterfly. Freshman Ella Malone edged senior Joanna Burnham by 11 hundredths of a second for first place, winning in 1:02.66. Senior Elise Mason took third in 1:03.14.

Burnham and Parsons each added an event to the win total. Burnham won the 100 yard backstroke and Parsons took the 500 yard freestyle. McNichols touched the wall just behind Parsons for a runner-up spot.

“Knowing that the G-MAC taper is coming soon has helped us keep pushing through the tough training right now,” sophomore Inez McNichols said. “I know that all of the difficult practices we’ve completed this season are helping to boost our confidence as we go into meets.”

A relay team of Viecelli, Mason, and freshmen Matilyn Wilhelmsmen and Ella Shaffer took the 200 yard freestyle relay in 1:45.03.

“In preparation for the conference meet, next week we will be going into an extended taper which allows for rest and very specific focus into their optimal race plans,” Kirner said.

The Chargers race next at Davenport University in East Kentwood, MI on Saturday, Jan. 25.