Saint Mary's swim team made a splash into their season with a 151-84 victory over Rose-Hulman Saturday.

The Belles had recently competed in the Notre Dame Relays and were looking to build on that performance.

"Each meet we'd like to see improvements in different areas," said first-season coach Gregg Petcoff. "So the basis of our view is from the Notre Dame Relay meet."

After a seventh place finish at the Notre Dame Relays, the Belles went back to the practice pool with a new focus.

"We have been training harder and longer than we had been going into the early-season Notre Dame Relay meet," said Petcoff. "I'm not surprised with our somewhat mixed results with regard to times, but the technical improvements I was looking for were clearly there this weekend."

Many of the swimmers made a point of improving their individual times.

"One group that really stood out in their times, improvement and technically were our breastrokers," said Petcoff. "[They] all seemed to have at least one best ever collegiate in-season time."

Petcoff was especially pleased with sophomore Maureen Palchak's performance.

"Not only did Maureen lead our sprint freestyle swimmers in the 50, 100, and 200 yard freestyles," said Petcoff. "But she was a fantastic aid to the coaches and captains in helping with the many first-year swimmers we have who were swimming their initial collegiate individuals events."

Junior captain Lauren Smith said she was satisfied about how things are falling into place in the team's training and performances so far this season.

"As a team we did really well," said Smith. "It wasn't a high pressure meet."

Smith, along with sophomore Megan Ramsey, won multiple events. Ramsey took first in the 100-and 200-yard butterfly races. Smith dominated the pool in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events and the 200-yard individual relay.

Smith credits her performance on Saturday to the team's new coach this season.

"I think [Petcoff] is doing a great job. I couldn't be happier," she said. "It's been two years since I felt this good about how I swam."

The Belles now turn their focus toward three big meets that will begin at the end of next week. They will be facing two Division I schools, Western Ontario and Texas Christian University, and then compete in an Invitational at Wabash College.

Petcoff looks to build off this victory and continue to improve with each meet.

"I can see that the beginning of the next training cycle this week will continue the progress that they have been making so far this season."

• Bringing a fresh attitude
  
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• Saint Mary's blows Rose-Hulman out of water