The Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving program has made its mark at the national level the past few seasons, with All-American performances in each of the last three campaigns.

As the page turns to the upcoming 2025-26 season, Hillsdale continues to add talent with six freshmen joining the squad who will look to help the Chargers remain in contention for G-MAC/MEC titles while also making a splash at the national level.

Sasha Alles (Otsego, MI/Portage Northern) is a local product from the Kalamazoo area, just over 90 minutes northwest of Hillsdale College. An All-State swimmer for the Huskies in the 50 freestyle at the MHSAA D2 Championships last November with a time of 24.66, Alles also set the Portage Northern pool record in the 100 backstroke and should be a factor for Hillsdale in both events at the college level. Alles also stood out on the club circuit with the Greater Kalamazoo Crocs and was an excellent student at Portage Northern, graduating Summa Cum Laude this past spring.

Sasha Babenko (Fort Lee, NJ/Biomedicine Academies at Englewood) is also a standout backstroke and sprint freestyler from New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from New York City. Babenko's high school swim experience was exclusively through her club, Phoenix Aquatic Club, where she swam excellent times in the 100 backstroke, including a 57.01 mark in the 100 back to place in the A final of the TYR Senior Metro Winter Championships this past February. Babenko is a stellar student who graduated high school Summa Cum Laude this past spring and won the AP Scholar award.

Rylee Harris (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston) is another in-state prospect who comes to Hillsdale from the metro Detroit area with strong performances in freestyle and backstroke events. Focusing on club swimming with OLY Swimming, Harris stood out in freestyle events, with a best 100 freestyle time of 53.13 and a best 200 freestyle time of 1:54.05 at the 2024 Michigan Inter-Club Swimming Championships. A strong student at Clarkston, Harris earned membership in the National Honor Society and graduated with honors this past spring.

Aine Maloney (Fairfax, VA/Trinity School at Meadow View) is an impressive breaststroke and butterfly prospect from the DMV metro area just outside Washington DC. Competing for Trinity School and at the club level with the Fairfax Foxes, posting times of 1:00.62 in the 100 fly in the 2024 VISAA State Championships, 1:08.85 in the 100 breaststroke and 2:29.81 in the 200 breaststroke. Maloney helped found the swim team at Trinity School in 2023, was team captain for each of the program's first two seasons, and also was an excellent student in high school, winning her school's Thaumazein Award for Excellence in Math and Sciences and graduating with high honors this past spring.

Avery May (Chattanooga, TN/Homeschooled) arrives at Hillsdale from Tennessee with excellent times in the breaststroke and freestyle events. A standout performer in club swimming for McCallie/GPS and the club record holder in the 800m freestyle, May was the Tennessee club state champion in the 500 freestyle in 2023 with a time of 4:58.67 and a 2024 NISCA All-American in the breaststroke in 2024 with a time of 1:02.93. Not just an impressive performer in the pool, May was a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars during her time in high school thanks to her achievements in the classroom.

Kate Potwardowski (Carlsbad, CA/The Cambridge School) is another breaststroke standout who will give Hillsdale a formidable lineup in the event this winter. Competing for the Cambridge School in California, Potwardowski was a CIF state finalist and team captain for her high school, with a top time of 1:04.52 in the 100 breaststroke in the CIF San Diego Section DII Championship this past spring. Potwardowski also has solid potential in the individual medley, with a time of 2:12.32 in the same event. Also a standout on the club scene for Racho San Dieguito, Potwardowski excelled in the classroom, earning faculty commendations for her work and graduating with high honors this past spring.

Photos are courtesy of the athletes. From left: Sasha Alles, Sasha Babenko, Rylee Harris, Aine Maloney, Avery May, Kate Potwardowski