WASHINGTON - Gallaudet women's swimming team celebrated their seniors at home while facing Hollins University in a dual meet this Saturday. GU's team of 13 swam their hearts out, some swimming as Bison for the last time. Despite the effort, Gallaudet (1-9) came up short to Hollins (5-4) with a final cumulative score of 127-72.

The team gave everything they had, leaving it all in the pool as many of the Bison swimmers contributed second place finishes to the overall score. In back-to-back victories, first year Anita Makhnyk (Mississauga, Ontario) secured first place in the 200-yard freestyle (2:20.47), keeping her energy high to attain second place in the following race, the 50-yard freestyle (29.33). She later went on to seize first place once again in the 500-yard freestyle, besting her runner up competition by over 40 seconds (6:27.31). While Makhnyk was the only GU swimmer who beat Hollins for gold, the team tallied eight bronze finishes in the competition. 

Junior Molly Headrick (Vista, Calif.) achieved bronze in all three of her events, swimming the 200-yard freestyle in 2:36.53, the 100-yard backstroke in 1:21.75, and the 500-yard freestyle in 8:01.52. Sophomore Sam Michaelson (Southwick, Mass.) swam for third in the 100-yard freestyle (1:22.46) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:49.21). 

The seniors on the squad came up with their own third place finishes to contribute to the team score. In the last meet of their collegiate career, Mara Land (Dells Rapids, S.D.) swam two bronze finishes in the 200-yard IM (3:04.48) and the 100-yard butterfly (1:31.46). Before officially retiring their suit, they then swam the 100-yard backstroke in 1:25.16 for fourth place. Jaelynn King attained her third place finish in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 17:17.64, also competing for fifth in the 200-yard IM (3:41.6) and 100-yard butterfly (2:05.24). 

In their first year as GU swimmers, graduating seniors Alecia Miller (Litchfield, Ill.) and Melany Salcedo Benavides (Woodbridge, Va) also participated in the senior day meet. Miller finished fourth in 100-yard freestyle (1:35.87) and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle (3:28.29), while Salcedo Benavides completed the 500-yard freestyle in fourth (10:58.88) and the 100-yard freestyle in fifth place (1:52.76). With her own fourth place finish, senior Tiadra Vang (Kansas City, Kan.) swam the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:53.14, also swimming sixth in the 50-yard freestyle (37.98). 

BISON TRACKS

• Joy Watkins finished the 1000-yard freestyle in fourth place (21.09.27).
• Thea Wrenn finished the 200-yard IM in fourth place (3:25.06) and the 100-yard backstroke in fifth place (1:30.07).
• Elizabeth Peterson finished the 100-yard breaststroke in fifth place (2:12.42).
• Kathe Wilken-Yoder finished the 50-yard freestyle in fifth place (36.90).
• Competing in the 200-yard freestyle relay, a team of Miller, Peterson, Salcedo Benavides, and Watkins finished second (2:50.17). 
• A team of Watkins, Michaelson, Danielle Fisher, and Peterson finished second in the 200-yard medley (3:13.05). 

Hollins won 9 of the 11 events.

UP NEXT
Bison Swim will face Immaculata University at the field house pool, Saturday Jan. 18 at 1:00 P.M.