The women’s swim team has lost some swimmers but has grown in spirit and ability. The team has so far had a good record, especially for new team on such a small campus. Since the beginning, most of the team has been focused and determined, according to team manager first-year Mallory Malkin. And despite a 1-3 record, that attitude hasn’t changed.

“We’re on a very competitive level … the scoring (at meets) is always very close,” Malkin said.

The 18-person team, 12 of whom are first-years, has competed against well-established teams such as Randolph-Macon in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). The team beat out Emory and Henry, not a member of ODAC, in the first meet of the season on Oct. 30, with a score of 148-28.

So far, the team has done well in the individual events, Malkin said. According to Robin Judge, a first-year backstroker, the team is “still experimenting with (events).”

Coach Steve Kaczmarek, who previously served as the Natatorium Supervisor and Aquatic Director for the Corpus Christi (Tex.) Independent School District, could not be reached for comment. But Judge said that “He does an awesome job as a coach.”

Malkin and Judge say that the team has yet to really set up a strong relay, but as Judge said, “we haven’t developed relays yet, so individually, I think we’re stronger.” Both Judge and Malkin are pleased with how the team has developed.

“There aren’t any bad parts … well, except the morning practices,” Malkin said.

The team competed at the Yellow Jacket Invitational Meet in Ashland, Va., Dec. 3-4. Despite high spirits, the team placed eighth out of eight teams competing. First-year Elena Soliz placed fourth in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.46 seconds; the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) qualifying time (which is used to determine who is eligible to swim in the NCAA championships) is 24.49 seconds. Two other Guilford women competed in the 50 freestyle: first-year Genny Uhl placed fourteenth with a time of 29.84, and sophomore Kristen Hohn placed twentieth with a time of 31.79 seconds.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Judge, sophomore Nikki Mallman, and first-year Melissa Narro placed sixth out of seven teams with a time of 2 minutes flat. The NCAA qualifying time is 1:39.59.

In the 400 freestyle relay, the team of Soliz, Narro, and Uhl placed fourth out of seven teams competing, with a time of 4:06.70. The qualifying time for the NCAA is 3:38.59.

As winter break approaches, the team is gearing up for the remainder of the season, which ends with the ODAC championships, Feb. 18, 19, and 20. The next meet is at Randolph-Macon Women’s College on Jan. 22. They have no home meets this season.

First-year Amy Drolet, who has attended several of the meets, commented that “its incredible that they can go that far, that long. I think they’ve done really well… they practice constantly, they’re incredibly supportive. They’ve done a great job for their first season.”