Albion, MIALBION, Mich. – Sensing an opportunity for his team to upset Division II Hillsdale College, Albion College Head Coach Jake Taber tinkered with the lineup late in the dual meet.
Taber's decision to move Alexandra Horman into the 100-yard individual medley paid off as Albion scored what is believed to be the program's first ever victory over Hillsdale, 158-133.
A first-year swimmer who prepped at Forest Hills Central High School, Horman edged Hillsdale's Danielle Lebleu by .24 seconds. Horman also scored first place in the 400 medley relay (with Kylene Slocum, Anna Moore and Mary Noble) and the 100 freestyle, and she was the runner-up in the 200 butterfly.
"I figured we needed to win one of the last two events," Taber said. "I originally had Alex in the relay, but the IM ended up being the difference. Alex had a gutsy swim to get her hand on the wall first."
Moore scored first place in the 50 and backstroke events and she also joined Nicole McCann, Molly Blank and Abigail Slager for first place in the 200 freestyle relay.
It didn't hurt Albion's cause to compete unopposed in the diving events. Lauren Young and Julia Russell were the top two performers in the 3-meter competition, while Marisa DeCamp, Young and Russell swept the 16 points in 1-meter.
"We had a great environment," Taber said. "The meet was so much fun from start to finish. We had a lot of fun today."
Albion will look to continue the fun Oct. 21 when it squares off against its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rivals for the first time this season with a relay meet in Holland, Mich.