The swim team will race Nov. 17-19 for an invitational at Davenport University.  Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

The Charger swim team fell to its G-MAC rival Findlay University, as well as out-of-conference Lewis University, in a tri-meet last weekend.

“It was good for us to see the challenge ahead,” head coach Kurt Kirner said. “Their times will help fuel our motivation as we look toward the end of the season.”

Hillsdale scored 110 points to Findlay’s 152 and Lewis put up 163-99. Despite falling short of a win, Hillsdale decreased its margin of loss by about 10 points compared to the same meet last year when the 2023 G-MAC champions put up 157 to Hillsdale’s 105. 

“They have some great swimmers and always challenge us to step up to the next level as competitors,” junior captain Emma Dickhudt said about Findlay.

Kirner said there were some good performances at the meet, despite the team’s tiredness after weeks of tough training without much rest.

“Megan Clifford came through again in the 200 fly placing first,” he said. “Our distance team — Elise Mason, Izzy Ondracek and Jamie Parsons — showed why they are dominant in our conference with great performances. A couple of role competitors like Lauren Kamp and Caroline Holmes put up some very gritty performances.”

Junior Megan Clifford swam a 2:06.49 in the 200 butterfly for Hillsdale’s only first-place win at the meet and her second-fastest time of the season.

In both distance events, junior Elise Mason and freshman Isabel Ondracek finished second and third respectively, with an out-of-conference Lewis athlete taking first both times. In the 1000, Mason swam a 10:46.03 and Ondracek finished in 10:50.74. In the 500 freestyle, Mason just out-touched Ondracek, going 5:14.35 and 5:14.43 respectively.

“I am really happy with how I raced and I was close to my times from earlier meets in the season when training was lighter,” Ondracek said. “I was pleased with where I placed and I felt strong racing.”

Hillsdale also had second-place finishes in 200 freestyle and 200 breaststroke events. Holmes swam a 1:57.44 in the 200 freestyle, just 1.24 seconds behind the first-place finisher from Lewis.

“Caroline put up such a good fight her whole race, finishing second and touching out two Findlay girls,” Dickhudt said.

Freshman Alyson Early and sophomore Jamie Parsons finished eighth and ninth in the same event, going 2:01.20 and 2:05.05 respectively.

In the 200 breaststroke, Dickhudt finished second in 2:30.14, closely followed by junior Joanna Burnham (2:32.20). Freshman Lauren Kamp finished fifth in the same event in 2:34.02.

Holmes also took third in the 200 yard backstroke, going 2:11.18. Freshmen Irene Del Castro and Inez McNichols followed her in sixth and ninth, going 2:18.80 and 2:21.90.

Hillsdale swimmers finished third, fifth, and sixth in the 200 yard individual medley. Burnham took third (2:16.56), Kamp fifth (2:18.53), and Dickhudt sixth (2:18.59).

To close the meet, Hillsdale’s 400 medley relay comprised of Holmes, Early, junior Lucia Richti, and Clifford took third in 3:41.03, which was 18.41 seconds faster than Hillsdale’s time at the Oct. 28 home meet this season.

The Chargers will race for the last time this semester Nov. 17-19.

“We have started to taper and get ready for our mid-season meet,” Ondracek said. “I am excited to see how we perform this weekend and watch all our hard work pay off.”

The meet is a three-day invitational at Davenport University. Hillsdale will race Davenport, Saginaw Valley State University, Wayne State University, and three NAIA teams with “good rosters” according to Kirner.

“Scoring at the meet is not our main focus — unfortunately diving events play a large role here and we do not field divers,” he said. “Getting great times is our first priority. We should be rested and ready to swim a series of great times.”