The Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team picked up exactly where they left off from the 2021-22 campaign to start the new season at home this Saturday.
In the Chargers' only home meet of the 2022-23 season, Hillsdale picked up impressive dual meet victories over Indiana Wesleyan, 123-95, and Davenport, 125-111 to start the season undefeated. Those victories continue a streak of 17 straight dual meet victories for the Chargers that now spans three different seasons.
Hillsdale took first place in seven of the 13 contested events, led by an outstanding day from sophomore Megan Clifford.
Clifford broke the pool record in the 100 yard butterfly that had stood since 2004 with a time of 58.29 to win the event, an incredible feat this early in the season, and also took first place in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:58.18, out-touching teammate Caroline Holmes who took second in the 200 free in 1:59.82.
The sophomore was also part of a 1-2 finish for the Chargers in the 200 medley relay, teaming with Holmes, Emmalyse Dickhudt and Marie Taylor to take first place in 1:50.33. Hillsdale's team of Sydney Slepian, Joanna Burnham, Anika Fassett and Julianna Weir also took second for the Chargers in 1:51.62 in the same race.
Hillsdale also took first in the meet-ending 200 free relay, as the team of Taylor, Slepian, Lily Golladay and Weir won the race in 1:40.28. Taylor also recorded a first-place finish individually in the 100 free, winning in 54.86, while Weir took first in the 50 free, winning in 25.16 and out-touching Golladay, who took second for the Chargers in 25.60, at the finish.
Dickhudt also brought home an individual title for the Chargers in the 100 breaststroke, winning in 1:09.60 to lead a 1-2-4 finish for Hillsdale. Burnham took second (1:09.90) and Hannah Douthitt finished in fourth (1:11.59) for the Chargers.
Hillsdale also placed three in the top five in the 500 freestyle, as sophomore Elise Mason finished second in 5:23.84), just ahead of Amy Mills in fourth (5:30.86) and Sarah Clark in fifth (5:31.25). Mason also took third in the 1,000 freestyle (11:01.60) and Clark took fifth (11:22.16).
Burnham rounded out a solid day for the Chargers with a runner-up finish in the 200 IM (2:10.52), and Holmes took third (1:00.58) and Slepian fifth (1:02.32) in the 100 back.
As today's meet was Hillsdale's only home event in the 2022-23 season, the Chargers also paid tribute to its senior class of Sarah Clark, Hannah Douthitt, Anika Fassett, Madison Pyhel, Sydney Slepian, Marie Taylor and Leah Tunney before the start of the event. All seven swimmer have played critical roles in three consecutive G-MAC/MEC Championships and will look to add a fourth this spring to cap their careers.
The Chargers compete again next Friday, traveling to Grand Rapids for a double-dual against host Calvin and Grand Valley State University, beginning at 5 p.m.