WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Competing with a limited roster, the Salem swimming team opened its 2021-22 slate on Saturday, October 9th, as the Spirits took on Pfeiffer.

Salem, with just Allison Wakefield and Abigail Hawkins competing, took part in five events over the course of the afternoon. Wakefield closed out the competition with a pair of second-place finishes along with two fifth-place performances. Hawkins, competing for her first time as a collegiate swimmer, had one third-place finish, two fourth-place outings and a sixth-place finish against the Falcons.

The Salem pair finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 100-yard freestyle event. Wakefield, who completed the event in 1:19.59, touched the wall ahead of Hawkins, who notched a time of 1:19.72.

In the fifth event of the afternoon, the 50-yard freestyle, Hawkins posted a fourth-place time of 35.78. Wakefield quickly followed, posting a time of 36.62, as she capped off the race in fifth.

Wakefield followed that by earning a second-place finish in the 50-yard backstroke, posting a time of 38.54. Meanwhile, Hawkins finished fourth with a mark of 41.94.

Hawkins picked up the first Top-3 finish of her career in the 50-yard butterfly in a time of 42.28, placing third. Wakefield capped off the day with a second-place finish for Salem in the 1000-yard freestyle, finishing in 17:04.33, while Pfeiffer's Elithe Hudson managed a time of 14:32.22.

Salem returns to action on Saturday, October 30th, when the Spirits host Greensboro, Southern Virginia and Roanoke at the Salem Aquatic Center.