Only two months into the season, freshman swimmer Chanel Bonin is making her mark on MSU’s record books.
She currently has the team’s top time for the women’s 50 back (26.38), which Bonin swam on Oct. 17 against Iowa. This past weekend in Buffalo, Bonin set the team’s season record for the 100-yard back (57.64) and the 200-yard back (2:05.88).
“There are a lot of people ahead of her in the pecking order because they have a lot more experience, but she could be one of the best ones we’ve ever had here,” head coach Matt Gianiodis said. “She has that kind of ability. She has a long career ahead of her.”
Prior to Bonin’s collegiate career, she was a five-time All-American and 15-time All-State swimmer at South Lyon High School. Three of her All-American honors were individual — one in 100-yard backstroke and two in 100-yard butterfly. Bonin is the Michigan Division 1 state record holder in 100-yard back, 2014 Division 1 state champion in 100-yard backstroke, and 2014 runner-up in 100-yard butterfly.
But now that she is dealing with bigger competition, her goals are set even higher.
“Before I leave I would really like to make it to NCAAs at least in one event by the end of my senior year and possibly make it in top eight in Big Ten and set a school record in the 100 back,” Bonin said.
As a junior in high school, Bonin tore her medial collateral ligament during a snowboarding incident — an incident that is still affecting her swim performance two years later.
“I’m really active outside of swimming — I snowboard, run and I used to play hockey with my cousins all the time. I have really weak joints,” Bonin said. “My right knee cap is really loose and my ligaments aren’t very strong.”
Last weekend, when MSU traveled to Buffalo, N.Y., Bonin hyperextended her knee in warm up. She sat out Friday to see if there would be any swelling, and when there wasn’t, she was back in the pool Saturday for the final day of competition. Coming off an injury, Bonin still placed first in the 200 backstroke and second in 400 medley relay.
“I’ve been getting back into things now and my times are starting to get back to where they should be,” she said. “Racing is getting a lot better and my strokes are improving to the point where they need to be at.”
