Senior Rotem Andegeko swimming the 200 breast Nov. 8 at the Senior Day meet Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department
The Hillsdale women’s swim team jumped back into the competitive season by taking second in a quad meet against Saginaw State Valley University, Ashland University, and Lake Superior State University hosted by Saginaw State Valley University on Jan. 10.
In final scoring, the Chargers held 496.3 points total, defeating Ashland by 74.9 points and Lake Superior State by 128.6 points. They were overcome by first place finisher Saginaw Valley State with 513.1 points.
Head coach Kurt Kirner said he was impressed by the team’s performance.
“Normally coming off break-training the first meet is a struggle, however, the team performed very well,” Kirner said. “Our team dominated our opponents in the most important phase of short course swimming, which is underwater technique.”
Freshman Sasha Babenko placed first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.94 and in the 100 backstroke with a time of 58.21. She also led the first place 400 freestyle relay team with a time of 3.38.75. Babenko credits the team’s opportunity to continue practicing over break for a week in Florida as a key part of why they performed so well.
“The team did amazing this meet,” Babenko said. “We all worked hard on our training trip. We used this trip to focus on the details which played a key role in our wins this meet. Everyone’s walls starts and push offs looked incredible.”
Sophomore Matilyn Wilhelmsen won the 200 freestyle in 1.56.66 and placed third in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5.19.72. She anchored the 200 medley relay touching in second with a time of 1.52.27.
“I was injured all season and this was my first meet back in the game,” Wihelmsen said. “I gave everything into my races and had some great outcomes. Racing my teammates and fellow competitors was something I missed dearly and I am so happy to be racing again and for a wonderful team.”
Other notable swims from this meet include freshman Avery May’s second place 1,000 freestyle time of 10.52.03 and her second place 200 individual medley time of 2.14.34, a season’s best. Freshman Kate Potwardowski also placed second in the 100 breaststroke in 1.09.15.
Kirner emphasized their focuses heading into the last leg of the competitive season.
“I made the theme of this meet about expectations, execution, experience, and excitement,” Kirner said. “Each of these had a heightened role in our approach to the beginning of the last phase of our season. Saturday’s meet marked exactly one month until our G-MAC championships.”
The Chargers compete next at California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pennsylvania, Jan. 16-17.
