By Mia Gallagher · Sports Editor
After opening their 2025-2026 programs with a 2-1 finish at their quad meet on Oct. 18, the Grove City College men’s and women’s swim and dive teams returned to action Oct. 25 against the Ashland Eagles.
Although the competition featured stellar performances from Wolverines across the board, the Eagles managed to edge out both squads to take the meet 154-137 on the men’s side and 169-131 on the women’s side.
Headlining the men’s performance was senior Caleb Einolf, whose one relay and three individual wins helped pace the Wolverines on the day. Individually, Einolf swept the 50 and 100 freestyle with times of 21.28 seconds and 47.05 seconds, respectively, and added a 51.41-second victory in the 100 butterfly for the Wolverines as well.
Following Einolf was junior C.J. Mayhew, whose individual victories in the 500 free, 1000 free and 400 individual medley (IM) kept the Wolverines afloat amidst the fierce competition.
Juniors Owen Hancock and Bryce Pope added individual victories of their own to round out the Wolverines’ effort, securing the 100 backstroke and 200 breaststroke, respectively.
Senior Nathan Beukema joined Einolf, Hancock and Pope for the meet-opening 200-medley relay, which the Wolverines clinched with a victorious 1 minute, 33.94-second finish over the Eagles.
From the women’s competition, five Wolverines turn in first-place finishes to keep the team competitive against the Eagles. Leading the charge was sophomore Hadleigh McNay, whose 1 minute, 9.85-second finish in the 100 and 2:33.42 mark in the 200 swept the breaststroke events for the Wolverines.
The team also swept the distance events as sophomore Freja Kile delivered an 11:25.87 win in the 1000 and freshman Abigail Vance produced a 5:35.66 victory in the 500.
Rounding the Wolverines’ first-place accolades were freshmen classmates Mary Anne Altman and Mollie Massella, who turned in victories in the 50 free and 200 butterfly, respectively.
After a week off, the Wolverines will host the Saint Vincent Bearcats Nov. 7 to open both their home and PAC schedule. Action will begin at 6 p.m. from the James E. Longnecker Competition Pool.
