The Hillsdale College women's swimming and diving team kicked off the 2026 G-MAC/MEC Championships on Tuesday at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio with a solid first day of action, including several fast times.

The Chargers had their best finish in the 1,000 yard freestyle, with three in the top six and two of the top three competitors. Freshman Avery May led the way for the Chargers with a runner-up finish in a new collegiate best time of 10:32.29, making her the seventh fastest Hillsdale swimmer in the history of the event.

Sophomore Matilyn Wilhelmsen was close behind, coming out of the morning heats to finish third in 10:35.59 as well for the Chargers, while junior Isabel Ondracek took sixth in 10:44.44 as well for Hillsdale. Freshman Rylee Harris finished 10th in 11:02.54 and Irene Del Castro took 16th in 11:18.12.

Hillsdale also put three in the finals of the 200 individual medley, with sophomore Ella Schafer leading the way with a third place finish in a new collegiate best time of 2:09.21, the eighth fastest time in Hillsdale history. She just edged out teammate Alyson Early, as the junior placed fourth in 2:09.47, now the ninth fastest time in the event in program history.

Junior Inez McNichols placed 12th in 2:14.30 as well for the Chargers, senior Rotem Andegeko took 14th in 2:15.03 and freshman Kate Potwardowski placed 15th in 2:15.77.

Freshman Sasha Babenko represented Hillsdale in the 50 freestyle, placing fourth in the sprint event with a collegiate best time of 24.01, the fourth-fastest time in the event in Hillsdale history.

The Chargers also took third place finishes in both relays held on the night.  Hillsdale's team of sophomore Ella Malone, Potwardowski, McNichols and Schafer finished the 200 medley relay in 1:46.42, while Hillsdale's 200 free relay team of Babenko, Early, Harris and May touched in third in 1:37.76.

Hillsdale finishes the first of four days of competition in second place with 362 points behind defending champion Findlay, and with a solid lead over third-place Ashland. The Chargers will be back in the pool on Wednesday at 10 a.m. with prelims in the 100 butterfly, 400 IM and 200 freestyle, with finals in those three events and the 400 medley relay to follow at 6:30 p.m.