The Hillsdale College women's swimming team had a strong performance at the Bethel Invite on Saturday in Elkhart, Indiana, beating host Bethel, Lindsey Wilson and Indiana Wesleyan in duals to improve to 5-1 on the year.

The Chargers won six events, led by a dominant performance from senior Megan Clifford, who grabbed three first-place finishes by herself in the meet. Most notable was Clifford's win in the 200 butterfly, the event where she's twice been an NCAA DII All-American in prior seasons. The senior won the event in a season-best time of 2:04.82, a NCAA B-cut time in the event that puts Clifford on the fast track to a third-straight NCAA DII national meet appearance. Clifford also won the 100 butterfly in 58.45, with teammate Ella Malone taking third in 1:00.76, and also took first in the 100 freestyle, in 53.46.

Hillsdale also got an excellent debut meet from freshman Matilyn Wilhelmsen, who competed for the Chargers for the first time at Bethel and won the 1,000 freestyle in an impressive time of 10:49.15. The Chargers had a strong showing in both distance races, as senior Elise Mason took first in the 500 freestyle as well in 5:14.93, with sophomore Isabel Ondracek taking third behind Mason in 5:29.65. 

Mason also placed second in the 200 backstroke (2:12.44) and third in the 200 freestyle (2:00.35) for the Chargers.

Senior Joanna Burnham also brought home a first place finish for Hillsdale, winning the 200 individual medley in 2:16.84. Burnham also placed second in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.07), and sophomore Lauren Kamp took runner-up honors in the 200 breastroke (2:29.55) as well for Hillsdale.

The Chargers will continue a packed fall schedule with their first showdown with a conference opponent on Saturday, as Hillsdale travels to Canton, Ohio to take on host Malone University and Wooster in a tri-meet on Nov. 2.