Courtesy: Hillsdale Athletic Department
The Hillsdale swim team is gearing up for its competitive season this week with its annual Blue and White intrasquad meet at home Sept. 27.
The team has only one senior and six new freshmen, according to head coach Kurt Kirner. Despite the team’s proportionally young age, Kirner said it is one of the most individually talented teams he’s coached at Hillsdale.
“We’re getting really good kids in,” Kirner said. “We’re young, yet experienced enough to challenge for a conference title.”
The team also welcomed a new assistant swim coach, Maddie London, this semester. Junior team captain Inez McNichols said London brings a great change of pace to the team.
“Her energy and ambition have already made a difference at practice, and she’s been a great help in pushing us to get serious about our goals,” McNichols said.
McNichols said the freshman class has integrated wonderfully and demonstrated a really impressive work ethic.
“I’m excited to watch this group of girls we have grow into a real, cohesive team this year,” McNichols said. “We are going to value support, respect, and hard work.”
Junior captain Alyson Early said the small size of the team could be an advantage.
“It’s good and just means we get to be closer to each other,” Early said.
Early said the closeness of the team helps her focus on those around her.
“I’m doing this for them,” Early said. “This isn’t just for me. Then I feel less pressure on myself, but I also feel uplifted by the women around me.”
Both captains said they were excited for the upcoming season and focused on growing as a team and pursuing their fastest times.
“We have some really fast girls coming onto the team, and I think that’s going to push everyone,” Early said.
McNichols said she is eager to get started.
“I’m excited for meets to start but because I really do think that they start to unify us — around competition as well as shared adversity,” McNichols said.“The bonds that we get to take with us after the season is really the best part of it all.”
The Chargers will be traveling over fall break to Oberlin, Ohio for its first competition in the season Oct. 10-11.
