As the 2025 G-MAC/MEC Championships drew to a close on Saturday, there was plenty for the Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team to celebrate. 

The Chargers had a strong finish to earn runner-up honors as a team for the third straight season, with 1,414.5 total points, and head coach Kurt Kirner was recognized as the G-MAC/MEC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in seven seasons as a result.

The accolades were the result of strong performances, several of which came on the final day.

Leading the way as she had for the entire week was senior Elise Mason, who ran away with the 1,650 freestyle title to win her third G-MAC/MEC crown of the weekend, and her fourth consecutive conference title in the 1,650 freestyle. The victory ensures Mason will finish her career having never lost a race in conference in the 500 freestyle, 1,000 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle, a record of complete dominance of the distance freestyle events that's unprecedented in Hillsdale College swimming history.

Mason was the leader of an impressive showing by the Chargers in the 1,650 freestyle, as the Chargers had four finishers in the top 11. Isabel Ondracek took eighth in 18:02.97, Jamie Parsons placed ninth in 18:04.74, and Irene Del Castro finished 11th in 18:39.30 as well.

Hillsdale also had an excellent swim in the 200 breaststroke, taking three of the top four spots, led by senior Joanna Burnham, who took runner-up honors in 2:24.53 in her final G-MAC/MEC race. Burnham just out-touched freshman Matilyn Wilhelmsen, who placed third in 2:24:54, and sophomore Lauren Kamp was right on their heels in fourth in 2:24.65 as well in a strong race for all three.

The Chargers also earned runner-up honors in the 400 freestyle relay. Seniors Megan Clifford and Lucia Ruchti capped their Hillsdale careers by swimming legs on the relay, along with sophomore Alyson Early and freshman Ella Schafer, and the team finished in 3:30.58.

Clifford also took sixth in the 100 freestyle for the Chargers in 52.42, with Schafer placing eighth in 52.67 and Ruchti placing 15th in 54.11. Del Castro led the Chargers in the 200 backstroke with a seventh-place finish in 2:09.98, and freshman Ella Malone took 13th in 2:14.07.

While this was the final meet of the season for many of Hillsdale's swimmers, the Chargers will be represented at the 2025 NCAA DII Championships in Indianapolis, beginning on March 11. Senior Mason and Clifford, both past All-Americans, should be locks to make the field, while Schafer and Burnham will both wait to hear if their B-cut times from this season will get them to the national meet. The field will be announced on February 26.