ASHLAND -- Splashing into competition for the first time in the 2024-25 season, the Heidelberg University Swim teams fell in a dual meet at Ashland University on Saturday. The Eagles won 187-34 on the women's side and 192-24 on the men's side.  

Highlights from the meet for the second-year team included the first men's relay since the restart of the program … Lance Koch, Ian Bain, Zach MacDonald and Evan Eaglin swam a 1:50.50 in the 200 Medley. The quartet also swam the 200 Free relay to close the meet. 

After competing with eight women and two men last in their inaugural season, the team has grown to 11 women and six men under the tutelage of Head Coach Ben Rath and Assistant Coach Brooke Dobrzanski.  

"I was happy with the way we competed today. Not being in the water for almost two months to start our season and the results we had are a good indication of what's to come," said Rath. "The front half of our races are there but we told the team that the back end is what we're training for. It's great to see them being aggressive early and taking risks. This is a great benchmark for them to understand where they need to go from here."

The early season schedule was altered because of delays on the total reconstruction of the pool at the Tiffin YMCA, Heidelberg's home pool. Despite the setback, the Student Princes will host a pair of meets next weekend -- taking on Ohio Wesleyan on Friday at 6 p.m. and Ohio Northern on Saturday at 11 a.m.