Tyler Horning/Collegian
An unidentified Charger swimmer competes in a freestyle event earlier this season.
The word “break” doesn't seem to show up very often in a swimmer's vocabulary.
While most students were buckling down and preparing for final exams in early December, the women's swim team was busy setting records the Notre Dame Invitational Dec. 1-4.
Additionally, when most were enjoying a vacation from the rigors of college life during winter break, the team headed down to Coral Springs, Fla. for a grueling eight-day training session.
“As a whole, the team did extremely well at winter training,” sophomore Amanda Smith said. “We stuck together through the hard times and the difficult practices. Our family became a little closer.”
Most recently, upon return from their training, the swimmers brought their record to 5-2 after defeating Alma College 64-39 and St. Mary's 70-30 on Jan. 15.
And they're still not finished.
Over the past week and a half, the swimmers have logged 70,000 yards in the pool as part of their overload training – the most physically demanding training of the entire season.
The training will taper off in the next few weeks, yet the intensity will be just as, if not more, demanding.
“In order for a coach to be successful, you have to design your season around academic workload, individual stress levels and what events each girl swims,” said head coach Mary Anne Gerzanick. “In the end, regardless of what events you swim, everyone does well.”
Their hard work seems to be paying off.
Hillsdale took the top spots in a variety of events against Alma and St. Mary's. The 200-yard medley relay of freshman Caitlin Coleman and Tyler Patterson, Smith, and junior Cylie Hoopingarner clocked in at 1:58.61, nearly 12 seconds before Alma.
Senior and team captain Julia Parsons took first in the 1,000-yard freestyle, followed by freshman Laura Axiak. In the 200 freestyle, freshman Mara Gushrowski placed first. Smith added another first place finish in the 50 yard freestyle.
In the 200 IM, freshman Tyler Patterson grabbed another top spot, and Parsons earned another victory in the 500-yard freestyle.
“The team has met every challenge I've put forth to them,” Gerzanick said. “They've really bonded as a group both inside and outside of the pool. As a coach, I've had a lot of fun this year.”
The team also finished ninth out of 13 teams in the Notre Dame Invitational Dec. 1-4, facing teams such as Bowling Green, Denison University, Truman State and Northern Michigan.
Hoopingarner managed to break two school records in the 100 fly and the 100 backstroke, placing seventh and fifth, respectively.
Patterson also did well, placing sixth in the 200 butterfly.
“My goal going into the Notre Dame Invitational was to place in the top eight,” Hoopingarner said. “I thought that might be tough considering how many schools were there, but I exceeded my own expectations. I was very pleased.”
In the second year that Hillsdale has participated in an early signing period for recruiting swimmers, three women have already signed to swim at Hillsdale next season. Last year, the swim team signed only one swimmer early. The team still has the opportunity to sign additional team members in April, when the second signing period occurs.
The team will host Ashland in the last dual meet of the season at 1 p.m. on Feb. 5.