The Hillsdale College women's swimming team kicked off the 2024-25 season with a dominant showing in the pool on Saturday, downing host and NAIA-ranked Indiana Wesleyan as well as Campbellsville in a double-dual meet.

Hillsdale topped the Wildcats by a score of 161.5-95.5, and Campbellsville by 199-51, with 10 event victories in the meet.

Three members of Hillsdale's decorated senior class won multiple individual events to kick off the season. Returning All-American Megan Clifford captured the 200 yd butterfly title in a good early-season time 2:06.09 and also won the 100 freestyle in 53.62, with teammate Lucia Ruchti taking third in 55.97. Clifford also swam legs on both of Hillsdale's winning relays, teaming with Ruchti, senior Joanna Burnham and freshman Ella Schafer to take first in the 200 medley relay (1:52.31) and with senior Elise Mason, Ruchti and Schafer to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:40.98.

Another past All-American for the Chargers, Mason, also got her season off to a good start, with titles in the 1,000 freestyle in 10:51.21 and in the 200 backstroke in 2:13.17. Junior Jamie Parsons finished third in the 1,000 freestyle behind Mason for Hillsdale in 11:41.28, while sophomore Inez McNichols took third in the backstroke in 2:22.39.

Also winning two individual events was Burnham, who rolled to the 200 individual medley title in 2:19.50 and led a 1-2 finish in the 100 breaststroke, taking first in 1:10.25 ahead of teammate and sophomore Lauren Kamp who was runner-up in 1:10.46.

Schafer, a freshman, had a stellar first meet for the Chargers, adding a title in the 200 freestyle (2:00.16) and a runner-up finish in the 50 freestyle (25.56) to her two relay wins. Sophomore Isabel Ondracek took first in the 500 freestyle (5:32.80) and finished third behind Schafer in the 200 freestyle in 2:03.54, while Kamp also added a runner-up finish in the 200 breaststroke in 2:32.98.

Freshman Ella Malone had a pair of runner-up finishes for Hillsdale in her first meet, taking second in both the 100 butterfly (1:02.13) and the 100 backstroke (1:04.10).

Hillsdale is in action again this coming Saturday, traveling to Detroit for a dual meet against host Wayne State.

Photo Courtesy of Malone Athletics