Charger women's swim team schedules virtual meets to help kick off 2020-21 season

Fresh off the program's first-ever conference title in 2019-20, the Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team was ready to roll right into the upcoming season with even bigger goals in mind.

But the uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly surrounding when the Division II women's swimming and diving season will start and end, has forced the Chargers to adjust their plans and their focus.

"Coming off of last season and the positive energy and momentum we had generated, I think we were ready to come back this fall well ahead of where we were at this time last year," Hillsdale College women's swim coach Kurt Kirner said. "Obviously, the situation we are in has forced us to change our approach.

"We've really refocused around our mindset and honing our mental strength. When we come out of this period and the season starts, we really want to be able to say to ourselves that we used this time better and came out of it stronger than any other team in the country. That's our goal right now."

While it's still a little uncertain when the Chargers will be able to compete in the same pool with swimmers from opposing schools, Hillsdale has stayed busy with training, and is preparing to begin competition of a virtual kind starting on Oct. 17.

Hillsdale has signed up to take part in the CSCAA Fall Virtual Cup against schools from around the nation. For four weeks in the fall, the Charger swimmers will run timed events in the Jack McAvoy Natatorium, and the marks they achieve will be sent to SwimCloud and compared directly against swimmers from other schools doing time trials in their own pools.

The fastest time at the end of the schedule for each event and in each Division will receive a "Champion Cup" from the CSCAA.

Because teams participating in the Virtual Cup are not swimming directly against opposing schools, and the times in these events will not be used for NCAA Championship Qualification, Hillsdale can compete in the Cup without using up official competition dates, giving the Chargers flexibility for when in-person competition starts back up.

"I think it's tremendously important that we give our athletes some kind of goal to chase and some way to fuel their competitive spirit," said Kirner, who was one of the coaches working with the CSCAA to help bring the Virtual Cup about. "Swimming is a grueling sport to train for, and unlike a lot of sports, it doesn't give that instant feedback about how you're doing unless you can race against and measure yourself against your competitors.

"Having this kind of competition, it gives our training a clearer sense of purpose and makes it easier for our swimmers to stay motivated in the pool."

A list of the virtual meets and in-person meets Hillsdale has scheduled thus far is available below. More meets will be added as the season progresses, including the G-MAC/MEC Championship in early 2021. The Chargers are hopeful they will be able to begin in-person competition with a tri-meet at Findlay scheduled for Nov. 7.

It should be an exciting season for Hillsdale swimming when in-person competition begins. The Chargers have holes to fill in their lineup after graduating a talented eight-person senior class, including five all-conference honorees, from the 2019-20 team.

But several major contributors to Hillsdale's conference championship team return, led by senior Katherine Heeres (Zeeland, MI/Holland Christian), the 2018 G-MAC Freshman of the Year and an individual conference champion last season, and sophomore Leah Tunney (Mequon, WI/Homestead), the 2020 G-MAC Freshman of the Year and an individual champion as well.

Tunney was part of a sensational freshman class that helped push the Chargers to the title in 2019-20, and who all return for their sophomore season, including first-team All-G-MAC honorees Marie Taylor (Austin, TX/Anderson) and Madison Pyhel (Saint Petersburg, FL/Saint Petersburg), as well as Sarah Clark (Jackson, MI/Lumen Christi), an honorable mention All-G-MAC honoree.

All-G-MAC first-teamer Madeline Breay (Grand Rapids, MI/Catholic Central) also returns for her junior year, as well as several other contributors, and Hillsdale has added another large and decorated freshman class for the 2020-21 campaign as well.

The focus for the Chargers is on a repeat G-MAC/MEC crown, and on posting more record-breaking performances.

"As a program, we've really emphasized the team aspect of swimming, and (assistant) coach (Zoe) Tracey has done a really great job of making that real for our athletes," Kirner said. "I really feel like the bond our swimmers have developed and their support for each other has given us an edge in the pool the last few years, and explains a lot of our success.

"This situation has made it harder in a lot of ways to build that team dynamic, but it's also made it even more important for us to maintain and improve that dynamic."

For more updates on the 2020-21 Hillsdale College women's swim team and any schedule changes that should arise, check the women's swimming and diving page at hillsdalechargers.com.

Fall 2020 Hillsdale College Women's Swimming and Diving Calendar

 *virtual meets are exhibition events under NCAA rules and times posted do not count for NCAA Division II Championship qualification purposes