Ryan Mauldin/Collegian
The butterfly stroke is a routine part of Charger swim team practice. The team has spent countless hours in the pool and in dry-land conditioning to prepare for the season.
The Hillsdale College swim team opened its season with a pair of wins over the University of Findlay and Alma College at Findlay Saturday.
The Chargers beat Alma 86-17 and Findlay 64-39, opening the season with an undefeated 2-0 record.
“A 2-0 record is a great way to start the season,” freshman Kathryn Hogan said.
“It was an awesome meet,” head coach Mary Anne Gerzanick said. “They did exceedingly well. The swimmers did exactly what they were supposed to do in terms of placing and time.”
Gerzanick said she was extremely impressed by the performance of the entire team, especially the freshmen.
Sophomore Laura Axiak agreed: “With the freshmen on board, we have a very good and strong team dynamic.”
Hogan and freshman Anne Verhoeff made Hillsdale’s all-time top five list for the 200-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle, respectively.
“I was really pleased by Anne and my races this weekend,” Hogan said. “We both swam strong, and, at the same time, I think we both have a lot of potential for improvement over the rest of the season.”
Verhoeff also tied Findlay’s school and pool record in the 100-meter freestyle.
According to Axiak, the 100-meter freestyle was the turning point of the meet. With Verhoeff taking first place and junior Amanda Smith taking second place, the team earned 13 points for that event alone, boosting the Chargers toward their success over Alma and Findlay.
According to sophomore Abbie Henry, some of the other meet highlights were Axiak’s two wins in the 1000-meter and 500-meter freestyle events and sophomore Tyler Patterson’s first place performance in the 400-meter IM and 200-meter butterfly.
Gerzanick said Smith’s performance also stood out. Smith dropped 1.1 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle and swam a season best in the 50-meter freestyle.
Five swimmers had lifetime best swims at the meet. Henry swam lifetime best times in the 200-meter backstroke and the 100-meter freestyle. Sophomore Laura Swenson also swam a lifetime best in the 200-meter backstroke. Freshman Catherine Wood had lifetime best swims in the 200-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter freestyle. Freshmen Kathryn Herrmann and Becky Holland both swam lifetime best times in the 1000-meter and 500-meter freestyle events.
Nineteen swimmers also beat their times from the intra-squad Blue and White Meet held Oct. 29.
“This meet made me incredibly enthusiastic about the rest of the season,” Gerzanick said.
“I think the meet really showed how strong the team is this year,” Hogan said. “It’s really exciting to know that even if the teams we face are bigger, have more divers or seem intimidating, we still present a lot of competition.”
The Chargers’ next meet will be against Olivet and Ohio Northern University for their first home meet this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Sports Complex.