Despite strong individual event performances from the trio of Ellie Watson, Audrey Dalrymple, and Kate Griffin, the Belles' squad lost to MIAA defending conference champion Calvin 179-113 on Friday and to Albion 169-115 on Saturday. The two losses left Saint Mary's still searching for a team meet win as they dropped to 0-4 in meets this season.
In the season's final home meet on Friday, Belles sophomore Watson shined against the experienced Knights, winning the 500-yard and 1,000-yard freestyle with times of 5:21.93 and 10:55.48, respectively. Her 1,000-yard freestyle performance placed her third in the Saint Mary's record books for the event and was her first sub-11 minute performance in the event while at Saint Mary's. Watson closed the day with a second-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley by half a second with a time of 2:21.93 over Calvin's Elizabeth Schleh.
Junior Dalrymple led the Belles Friday with three individual victories in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.82), 200-yard breaststroke (2:30.49), and 200-yard individual medley (2:18.71).
Sophomore Katie Griffin took first in the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.90) and the 100-yard butterfly (1:01.69) after leading the field throughout both events. Sophomore Kristyn Gerbeth was 14-hundredths of a second faster than her closest competition in the 100-yard freestyle (57.79), earning her another individual victory.
The Belles placed poorly in both relay races, with the "A" team finishing no higher than third.
Saturday's meet offered the Saint Mary's both a chance to comeback after Friday night's performance and a challenge as they took on a well-rested Albion team. But the results proved much of the same as Friday's.
Watson again earned first in the 500-yard freestyle and 1000-yard freestyle, while Dalrymple placed first in the 200-yard individual medley. Griffin also contributed to the effort with two wins in the 100-yard butterfly (1:03.87) and 100-yard backstroke (1:03.61), topping the competition by over one second.
The Belles once again struggled in the relays, with the "A" and "B" teams taking second and fourth, respectively, in both the medley and free relays.
Saint Mary's will look for a win in its last MIAA meet before the conference championships on Saturday when they take on Hope and Alma at 1 p.m. in Holland, Michigan.
