Charger Swimming suits up for the season
Jeff Ventrella
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Sports
The Hillsdale College swim team kicks off their season in a week and is looking forward to the competition. With speed in the pool, smarts in the classroom and a tough but beloved coach, the Chargers look to be a potent force.
"We're going to be competitive in the GLIAC," junior co-captain Alison Roberts said.
Roberts said the transition from the previous season has gone well and the new members, including a transfer and two walk-ons, have made a smooth transition to the collegiate level of swimming.
"I'm really, really excited. Not only are they very talented, but they're great girls," Roberts said.
Head coach Kurt Kirner, beginning his third season at Hillsdale, said he aimed to improve the team in both the athletic and academic aspects, The Lady Chargers have the 10th highest GPA in NCAA Division II swimming.
"We wanted to do two things: get faster, get smarter." Kirner said. "And we brought in a very good group of student-athletes."
The team has already begun to practice at a higher level of intensity earlier in the season and just last week began morning practices. Kirner intends to push his swimmers to take every opportunity possible, whatever it may be, to improve both as athletes and as individuals.
"I have a saying: 'Accept the challenge'," Kirner said. "You're here to get hard work."
Kirner said he stressed this theme at a team retreat Sept. 11-13 at the Rockwell Lake Lodge, which is owned and operated by the college. The girls bonded as a team with activities such as karaoke and came back a more cohesive unit.
While the Lady Chargers remain a very young team with only six upperclassmen, Roberts said this has not affected their camaraderie.
"We get along really well," freshman Sarah Leitner agreed.
Leitner said she and the other new swimmers have found that the transition from high school to college has been challenging, both academically and athletically, but is well worth it.
"We're going to be competitive in the GLIAC," junior co-captain Alison Roberts said.
Roberts said the transition from the previous season has gone well and the new members, including a transfer and two walk-ons, have made a smooth transition to the collegiate level of swimming.
"I'm really, really excited. Not only are they very talented, but they're great girls," Roberts said.
Head coach Kurt Kirner, beginning his third season at Hillsdale, said he aimed to improve the team in both the athletic and academic aspects, The Lady Chargers have the 10th highest GPA in NCAA Division II swimming.
"We wanted to do two things: get faster, get smarter." Kirner said. "And we brought in a very good group of student-athletes."
The team has already begun to practice at a higher level of intensity earlier in the season and just last week began morning practices. Kirner intends to push his swimmers to take every opportunity possible, whatever it may be, to improve both as athletes and as individuals.
"I have a saying: 'Accept the challenge'," Kirner said. "You're here to get hard work."
Kirner said he stressed this theme at a team retreat Sept. 11-13 at the Rockwell Lake Lodge, which is owned and operated by the college. The girls bonded as a team with activities such as karaoke and came back a more cohesive unit.
While the Lady Chargers remain a very young team with only six upperclassmen, Roberts said this has not affected their camaraderie.
"We get along really well," freshman Sarah Leitner agreed.
Leitner said she and the other new swimmers have found that the transition from high school to college has been challenging, both academically and athletically, but is well worth it.
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