Freshman Sasha Babenko during Saturday’s meet. | Courtesy: Ashley Van Hoose
Hillsdale women’s swim clinched first place in two dual meets Nov. 8 and Nov. 9, with freshman Sasha Babenko named Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Swimmer of the Week.
Competing in Albion, Michigan on Friday, the Chargers scored 106 points over Davenport University and 66 points over Albion College.
The following day, the Chargers celebrated Senior Day by swimming against Aquinas College and Indiana Wesleyan University at home. They placed 76 points over Aquinas and 77 points over Indiana Wesleyan.
Head coach Kurt Kirner wrote about the team’s goals going into the weekend and how well they handled the pressure of back-to-back meets.
“Our goals were to hold our own in these meets and defend our home turf,” Kirner said. “Four wins met our expectations and consequently winning nine of 13 events on Friday and nine of 11 events on Saturday. We spent much time preparing for the back-to-back action and the team truly rose to the challenge.”
Sophomore Ella Malone, took first place in the 100 butterfly, was on the 400 freestyle relay placing first, and the 400 medley relay placing second during the meet against Albion and Davenport. In the meet against Aquinas and Indiana Wesleyan she placed third in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.60 and was on the winning 200 medley relay team finishing in 1.50.80.
“I was proud of the team for pushing ourselves in every race,” Malone said. “We beat all four teams by quite a few points, but nobody threw a race because they were tired or knew they’d win. We competed against ourselves too.”
Babenko took first place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.30 and in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.24. She was also on the winning 400 freestyle relay team. During the meet against Aquinas and Indiana Wesleyan she won the 200 backstroke with a time of 2.08.38, the 200 individual medley at 2.13.22, and led the first place medley relay team.
“I think my personal goal was to win all my events,” Babenko said. “I wanted to defend our home pool. We were all really well prepared, mentally and physically, to swim both days in a row. It was hard but we were prepared to do it. I’m proud and glad I had God to help me through that.”
At the home meet, the team also honored the sole senior on the team, Rotem Andegeko.
Kirner said Andegeko’s outstanding hard work and commitment to the team is a contribution to its success.
“Rotem is always willing to fulfill roles that help the team be successful,” Kirner said. “Her leadership, especially this season, has been above and beyond as she has connected in a special way with all of her teammates.”
Malone commented on the impressiveness and value of Andegeko’s leadership and lively disposition.
“I’ve especially appreciated Rotem this year as she’s a team captain and our only senior on the team,” Malone said. “It’s not ideal to carry that much on your own, yet she still makes me laugh every single day at practice with her lightheartedness.”
The team will next travel to Ohio to compete against the University of Findlay and Lewis University Nov. 15.
