The 2023-24 Kalamazoo College women's swimming and diving team began pre-season workouts last week and will start its season on Oct. 14 by hosting Albion in a dual. The Hornets will look to get into the top two of the conference this season after finishing third at the MIAA Championships in 2022-23.
Schedule Breakdown
- Five of the first six events will be home duals for Kalamazoo, beginning with Albion on Oct. 14.
- After competing at the MIAA Relays (unscored) on Oct. 20, the Hornets will host Aquinas (Oct. 21), Hope (Oct. 27), Olivet (Oct. 27), and DePauw (Nov. 3).
- The last home contest before winter break will be on Nov. 4, when Kalamazoo hosts Hope, Chicago, and DePauw in a quad.
- To wrap up the 2023 portion of the season, the Hornets will compete at the three-day Wooster Invite from Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
- The first meet back in 2024 is the Michigan-Illinois Quad that will take place at Wheaton, with Hope and Lake Forest also attending, on Jan. 13.
- Kalamazoo will travel to Calvin to take on the Knights and Olivet in two road duals on Jan. 20.
- The regular season will wrap up on Feb. 3, as the Hornets host Alma on a dual.
- The attention will then turn to the MIAA Championships that Hope will host on Feb. 21-24.
Roster Breakdown
- Kalamazoo brings back 12 swimmers and four divers from the 2022-23 season and will add three new members for a total of 19 heading into 2023-24.
- The five seniors will lead a team of five juniors, seven sophomores, and two freshmen.
Returning Statistical Leaders
- Sam Vande Pol comes back as the top diver for the Hornets after finishing third in the 1-meter (406.10 points) and second in the 3-meter (413.45 points) at the MIAA Championships last season.
- Anni Schnell had a sixth-place finish in the 100 Fly (59.00) and 200 Fly (2:15.99), in addition to competing in the 200 Free, 200 Medley, and 400 Medley relays.
- Frannie Turner also finished sixth in the 200 Fly (2:15.99) and was on the 800 Free Relay team.
- Olivia Bagwell competed in four different relays in last years MIAA Championships, including the 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, and 200 Medley Relays.
Head Coach Logan LaBerge
Coach LaBerge enters his second season at the helm of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams here at Kalamazoo. In his first season, LaBerge coached the MIAA Most Valuable Diver in Sam Ankley and saw Camille Misra break two school records. He has had two individuals selected to the All-MIAA Swimming & Diving Teams. Before Kalamazoo, LaBerge was the assistant head coach at Washington and Lee University from 2014-2022. There, the Generals set 76 team records, achieved over 100 NCAA time standards, won two NCAA III individual national championships, and earned a program-record seventh-place national finish in 2017. In addition, as recruiting coordinator, Coach LaBerge has led efforts to recruit 126 student-athletes to the program through last season. He also coached at Mount Union from 2012-2014 and Miami (Ohio) from 2010-12.
Quoting Coach LaBerge
"Our women really stepped-up last year and came away with a hard-fought third place at the MIAA Championships. With some heavy departures due to graduation, our younger team members are poised to take up the mantle in more prominent roles to keep the momentum going. This is a group who will continue to get better throughout the season!"