The Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team got off to a solid start to 2026 in its return from Winter Break on Saturday, beating Ashland (145-92) and Lake Superior State (170-14) and falling to the 19th-ranked team in the nation, Saginaw Valley State (136-86) in a quad meet hosted by the Cardinals.

Freshman Sasha Babenko picked up where she left off in 2025 to continue a strong debut season at Hillsdale, winning two events and swimming leadoff leg on a victorious relay as well. Babenko took first place in both the 50 freestyle (24.94) and the 100 backstroke (58.21), and teamed with fellow freshmen Rylee Harris and Avery May and sophomore Ella Schafer to win the 400 freestyle relay (3:38.75).

Also bringing home a first place finish for the Chargers was sophomore Matilyn Wilhelmsen, who swam her first meet of the season after injuries forced her to sit out the first semester. Now healthy, Wilhelmsen won the 200 freestyle (1:56.66), took third in the 500 freestyle (5:21.36) and teamed with sophomore Ella Malone, freshman Kate Potwardowski and junior Inez McNichols in a runner-up finish in the 200 medley relay (1:52.27).

May brought home a pair of runner-up finishes to go with her relay win, taking second in the 1,000 freestyle (10:52.03) and in the 200 individual medley (2:14.34) for the Chargers, while Potwardowski finished runner-up in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.15) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:18.26) for Hillsdale. Schafer also had several strong individual races in addition to her relay work for the Chargers, placing third in the 200 freestyle (1:57.34) and fourth in the 100 freestyle (55.17).

Sophomore Yvonne Bothe took third in the 100 backstroke (1:02.42) and junior Lauren Kamp finished third in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.13) as well for Hillsdale, and Ella Malone placed fifth in both the 50 freestyle (25.80) and 100 butterfly (1:00.94).

Freshman Aine Maloney took fifth in the 200 IM (2:21.03) and 100 breaststroke (1:12.73), Rylee Harris placed fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:26.54), Irene Del Castro placed fifth in the 1,000 freestyle (11:31.06) and Alyson Early placed fifth in the 100 freestyle (55.67) for Hillsdale.

The Chargers will be back in action next Friday and Saturday, traveling to California, Pennsylvania for a pair of meets on the two days hosted by California (PA) University.