By Kathryn Swenor
Mal Vishwanath (’20) has made a splash during her first season on the Rangers swimming and diving team. In December, Vishwanath represented both Drew and India at the 13th FINA World Championships. Vishwanath was awarded the ECAC Division III Metro Women’s Swimming Rookie of the Week during the week of February 5. This past weekend she became the Rangers’ first Landmark champion with a victory in the women’s 500-yard freestyle. Overall, in her short time here at Drew University, she has proven to be a top performer.
Heading into the championship weekend, Vishwanath led in the conference’s top times in the 200, 500 and 1,650 Freestyle events, and the 400-yard individual medley. And after the first two days, the women’s swimming and diving team was in fourth place out of the eight teams competing.
Before hitting the road for the championship, Vishwanath discussed her thoughts on the season so far, “It’s been a complete turn around for Drew Swimming, I feel like we have come so far, and have done things that haven’t been done in decades, we have shattered records, and ended the season on a winning record.” The women ended their season with a record of 11-3.
Vishwanath, born in India, decided to come to Drew due to the recruiting of her coach, Richard Munson, “Coach Munson played a huge part in recruiting me, letting me meet the team, skyping in with future teammates and getting me know the campus.”
Looking towards the future and her next three years at Drew, Vishwanath has both individual and team goals. Individually she wants to make the NCAA and as a team she hopes the Rangers will win conference and have people seeded in the top five in all the events during conference championships.
