Saturday, Oct. 28 marked the beginning of the season for the Wheaton Women’s Swim team. They faced off against the number seventh-ranked Chicago Maroons. The Thunder fell to the Maroons 115-90.
Junior Brooke Barnes led the Thunder women with three wins. She had individual wins in the 50 free (24.71) and 100 free (53.79). Barnes led the 400 free relay with a time of 3:43.12. Senior Kristen Garner and sophomores Maggie Franke and Ashley Bowen were also on the relay with Barnes.
“For my personal performance,” Barnes said, “I give all the glory to the Lord… The Lord has been gracious with allowing me the success that I credit to my coaches, Meghan and Jacob.”
Garner swam against Barnes in the 50 free, taking third (25.74). Sophomore Michaela Sandeno took fourth in the event (25.96). Franke placed third in the 100 free (56.79) and second in the 200 free (1:59.48). Sophomore Ashley Bowen took first in the 1000 free (11:15.91) and third in the 500 free (5:46.82).
In the 200 backstroke, senior Meredith Clarkson swam into first with a time of 2:17.32. Sophomore Aleah Perkins was the next Thunder swimmer to finish after Clarkson, taking fourth (2:23.38). Sandeno led the Thunder in the 200 breast, finishing third overall (2:32.37). Junior Bethany Doyle finished fourth in the 200 butterfly (2:21.44), leading Wheaton in the event. Swimming the 200 IM, senior Carrie Steggerda placed fourth for the Thunder (2:22.82).
Wheaton took both first and second place in the 400 free relay. The second place team was made up of senior Noah Cameron and freshmen Anna Ganser, McKenna Lenderink and Kirsten Peters (3:51.59). In the 400 medley relay, Wheaton put two teams in the top three, but U Chicago took first place. Clarkson, Sandeno, Garner and sophomore Liz George pushed their way into second with a time of 4:12.93. Wheaton’s third place team, comprised of Peters, Ganser, Steggerda and senior Alice Zhang, finished right behind them at 4:20.38.
Looking forward, Barnes stated that the team is “definitely not letting up as continue to train hard and earn times through each practice.” This Friday, Wheaton will look to bring their season record up to 1-1 against the NCAA Division I UW-Milwaukee Panthers. The Panthers are 3-0 and are coming off a 177-71 win against Wright State. The Thunder will kick off against the Panthers Friday, Nov. 3 in the Lederhouse Natatorium at 4:30 p.m.