Hillsdale splits double-dual meet, triumphs over Lewis Flyers

By Maddy Welsh Assistant Editor

The swim team took a tough loss to rival Findlay University this past weekend.

The Oilers put up 157 points to the Chargers’ 105. At the same meet, the Chargers took down Lewis University Flyers 154-108, giving the team a 4-3 record for the season.

“It was a good meet for us even though we were not able to take down Findlay,” head coach Kurt Kirner said. “We actually won more individual events than either Findlay or Lewis.”

Kirner said Findlay had a good year for recruiting and added twelve freshmen women to its rotation, while Hillsdale only has five new swimmers this fall. The Oilers simply had more people

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in the water scoring points at this meet than the Chargers did according to Kirner.

“I think this experience really lit a fire under the team,” senior Marie Taylor said. “I think we will be able to use this to fuel ourselves at G-MACs.”

Another factor in the Oilers’ favor was the choice to race 50 yard and 100 yard stroke events rather than 100 yard and 200 yard events, which Hillsdale swimmers are stronger in.

“These events will not be the ones we will swim at G-MACS, so we can definitely come back from that and beat them in the events that matter at G-MACS,” sophomore Elise Mason said. Findlay showed its strength in the opening event, the 200 yard medley relay, finishing first and third with Lewis in second. Hillsdale came fourth with a time of 1:51.16.

“Relays are always fun because you get to work together as a group and you really do focus on how you're swimming for the team,” Mason said.

Mason had a commanding first place finish in one of her top events, the 1000 yard freestyle, with a time of 10:57.07. Senior Sarah Clark followed in third with a time of 11:21.09.

In a nail-bitingly close 50 backstroke race, senior Leah Tunney finished third with a 28.33, just out touching senior Sydney Slepian in fifth at 28.83.

Sophomore Megan Clifford topped the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 58.01, just 23 hundredths of a second ahead of the second place finisher.

Taylor finished first in the sprint freestyle events, swimming the 50 in 24.80 and the 100 in 53.84, a season best time for her.

“There was good competition in the 50 free and I always swim my best when that’s the case,” Taylor said. “It is definitely a great motivator.”

The 100 yard backstroke saw Tunney in third place with a time of 1:00.12. Junior Caroline Holmes finished fifth in 1:00.63.

The 400 yard individual medley saw three Charger swimmers in the top five. Burnham glided into an easy first place finish with a time of 4:41.87. Senior Amy Mills finished fourth (4:52.72) and Mason was fifth (4:53.07).

The Chargers closed the meet with a second place fin- ish in the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 1:39.34. Taylor, freshman Julianna Weir, sophomore Lily Golladay, and Clifford worked together in this race.

“The 200 free always tends to be a close race given how fast it is, and I felt that we did our best to try and catch our competitors,” Taylor said. “Relays with Jules, Lily, and Megan are very fun as we all can turn on that pure sprinting mindset. I always love to watch Megan anchor the relay, as her motivation shows during all her races.”

Charger swim will spend this weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Davenport University Invitational meet. This is the team’s last chance to race this semester before winter break.

“I am looking forward to seeing the team rested and in our competition suits, especially the freshman,” Taylor said. “I just can’t wait to see how we will race with our first rest of the season. It should be a great glimpse into how we will perform at G-MACs.”

Kirner said the team is looking good going into the Davenport Invitational.

“I have been extremely impressed with how our team is building each other up in practices. For example, we have had some optional sessions and will get a collective group that pushes each other to be there and create challenges for each other,” Kirner said. “Support for each other at meets is at an all-time high. They invest in each other which collectively adds to the team’s strengths.”