Coming off another strong season in the pool, the Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team had an impressive showing in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference end-of-season awards, announced on Thursday afternoon by the G-MAC.
Eight Chargers women's swimmers earned recognition from the G-MAC, with five Hillsdale athletes receiving first team honors from the conference for their achievements at the G-MAC/MEC Championships in February, where Hillsdale finished runner-up in the 10 team event behind champion Findlay.
Leading the way for the Chargers on all-conference teams were the program's two 2023 All-Americans, sophomores Elise Mason and Megan Clifford. Mason repeated as the G-MAC/MEC Champion in three events -- the 500 freestyle, 1,000 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle -- to earn first-team honors for the second straight season. Mason went on to place 11th in the nation in the 1,650 freestyle at the NCAA DII Championships in March to earn honorable mention All-American honors, becoming just the sixth athlete in Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving history to earn NCAA DII All-American status.
Joining Mason on the first team is Megan Clifford, who also earned All-American honors at the NCAA DII Championships by placing seventh in the 200 butterfly. That performance earned Clifford first-team All-American recognition, and gave Hillsdale two All-Americans at the NCAA DII level for the first time in program history. At the G-MAC/MEC Championships, Clifford swam on the title-winning 400 medley relay to earn first team honors, and also took second in the 100 butterfly and third in the 200 butterfly, as well as swimming legs on the runner-up 400 and 800 freestyle relays for the Chargers.
All four members of the winning 400 medley relay -- senior Marie Taylor, sophomore Joanna Burnham and junior Caroline Holmes -- earned first-team honors from the Chargers. Taylor brought home an individual championship as well for Hillsdale, repeating as G-MAC/MEC Champion in the 50 freestyle, while Burnham also added an individual crown with an excellent winning swim in the 400 individual medley. Holmes, meanwhile, earned runner-up honors in the 200 freestyle individually, and third in the 100 backstroke, while also swimming legs on the runner-up 400 and 800 freestyle relays.
Along with Hillsdale's five first-team honorees, Hillsdale had three swimmers earn second-team honors for their work on relays at the G-MAC/MEC Championships.
Senior Leah Tunney joined Taylor as the only four-time All-G-MAC honorees in program history by swimming legs on three runner-up relays -- the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 800 free relay. Tunney also finished third in the 200 backstroke individually for Hillsdale.
Chargers freshman Julianna Weir also swam on three runner-up relays to earn second-team All-G-MAC honors for Hillsdale, swimming legs on the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay. Weir also placed sixth in the 50 freestyle in her first G-MAC/MEC Championships.
Senior Anika Fassett also earned All-G-MAC honors for the second time in her career as a part of Hillsdale's runner-up 200 medley relay. Fassett also took sixth in the 200 butterfly for Hillsdale at the G-MAC/MEC Championships.
While Hillsdale loses several strong senior contributors, the Chargers also return four of their five first-team honorees for the 2023-24 season, including both All-American swimmers, as well as Weir and several other important swimmers. It's the makings of another strong squad for Hillsdale head coach Kurt Kirner as he looks to continue to push the program forward in the coming seasons.