The Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team faced the toughest competition it's seen so far this season on Saturday, falling to host and three-time defending G-MAC/MEC champion Findlay 175-86 but beating Lewis 177-84 in a double-dual event.
In against challenging competition, two Chargers freshmen found the top of the podium.
Avery May won the 1,000 freestyle for the Chargers in 10:43.14, and also took second in the 500 freestyle in 5:15.05, just a second behind first place.
Fellow freshman phenom
Sasha Babenko won the 50 backstroke in 27.28 for the Chargers, and also took second in the 100 backstroke (59.40) and fourth in the 50 freestyle (25.23). Babenko also teamed with freshman
Kate Potwardowski and sophomores
Ella Malone and
Ella Schafer to place second in the 400 medley relay (4:00.91).
Schafer added three more runner-up finishes to her relay leg, placing second in the 100 freestyle (54.60), 200 freestyle (1:56.15) and 200 individual medley (2:14.43), while Potwardowski also took second for the Chargers in the 50 breaststroke (30.35) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.50) and also placed fifth behind Schafer in the 200 IM (2:17.21).
Malone was runner-up for the Chargers in the 50 butterfly (26.83) and third in the 100 fly (1:00.82) as well for Hillsdale, while junior
Inez McNichols took fourth in the 50 fly (27.22) and fifth in the 100 fly (1:01.18) as well for Hillsdale.
Lauren Kamp took fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.40) and fifth in the 50 breaststroke (32.29) for the Chargers,
Rylee Harris placed fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:59.59),
Alyson Early placed fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:59.78) and
Isabel Ondracek took fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:24.95).
Hillsdale swims in its final meet before Christmas Break next weekend, traveling to Grand Rapids for the three-day Don Kimble Invite. This meet is always a critical one for the Chargers, who will wear their fast suits and look to set national qualifying times before embarking on training over break for the second half of their season starting in January.
