The Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team opened the season with impressive victories at host Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday, beating the Wildcats 213-65 and Campbellsville 207-55 in double-dual action.

Hillsdale won 12 of the 14 swimming events contested and were runner-up in the remaining two in a comprehensive performance. Leading the way with a strong collegiate debut was freshman Cali Kissel, who made immediate waves with three first place finishes. Kissel won the 100 backstroke, heading a 1-2-3 finish in the event for the Chargers, in 58.37, recording the eighth-fastest swim in that event in Hillsdale College history. She also won the 50 backstroke in 27.76 and took runner-up honors in the 50 freestyle 25.34 as part of two more 1-2-3 finishes for Hillsdale, and teamed with Kate Powardowski, Inez McNichols and Avery May to win the 200 medley relay in 1:51.43.

Junior Matilyn Wilhelmsen also had a strong season debut for Hillsdale. Looking fully healthy after battling injuries last season, Wilhelmsen beat out Kissel to win the 50 freestyle (24.84) and also took first in the 100 freestyle in an impressive time of 53.48. She also swam a leg on Hillsdale's winning 400 freestyle relay team that ended the meet, teaming with Ella Schafer, Ella Malone and Avery May to finish in 3:41.54.

May was a four-time champion as well for the Chargers, winning both the 200 freestyle (2:00.56) and 200 individual medley (2:16.43) along with her two top relay finishes, while Schafer won the 100 IM for Hillsdale (1:03.09) and took runner-up honors in the 100 freestyle (55.76). Malone, meanwhile, won the 50 butterfly (26.75) and 100 butterfly (1:00.44) for the Chargers and also took third in the 100 freestyle (56.56).

Hillsdale sophomore Kate Potwardowski won the 50 breaststroke in 30.72 and had a pair of runner-up finishes in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.69) and 200 IM (2:17.39) as well.

Isavella Stergiou was another freshman with an impressive first meet to start her collegiate career, taking second behind Kissel in both the 50 backstroke (29.00) and 100 backstroke (1:02.03).

Senior Inez McNichols posted two runner-up finishes for the Chargers in the 50 fly (27.40) and 100 fly (1:01.96) to go with her win in the medley relay, and fellow senior Isabel Ondracek was runner-up in the 500 freestyle (5:33.78) and third in the 200 freestyle (2:05.35) as well.

Harris took third in both the 500 freestyle (5:37.22) and the 50 freestyle (26.17) as well for the Chargers, Botha placed third in the 50 backstroke (29.56), senior Alyson Early took third in the 100 IM (1:05.30) and sophomore Sasha Alles placed third in the 100 backstroke (1:04.70).

With a strong start in the books, Hillsdale will head home to prepare for one of its biggest meets of the season, hosting defending G-MAC champion Findlay and a strong Davenport team for a double-dual on Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. The meet also will be senior day for the Chargers, as Hillsdale salutes six swimmers in their final season with the program.