Meghan Kluck, now a junior health science major at Chapman, unsuspectingly started what would turn into a successful swimming career in the lowest-level swim team at Edison High School. Despite only being a freshman, she was moved up to varsity after her first meet when the coaches quickly noticed her talent.

Kluck’s skills are not going unnoticed at Chapman either, since the swimmer broke Chapman’s record for the 100 breaststroke on day two of the East Los Angeles College winter invitational (Nov. 20). She shaved off two seconds from her preliminary time that day, for a new school record of 1:05.17.

“Competition really brings out the best in her, ” said Dennis Ploessel, head coach of Chapman’s swimming and diving programs.  

Later that same day,  Kluck competed again in the 200 medley relay alongside sophomore Marah Kane, freshman health science major Kiana Tanizaki-Hudson and freshman Avery Hall. The team swam a time of 1:48.93 — half a second faster than the previous record.  

Kluck swam the breaststroke leg of the record-breaking relay, bringing the energy from her first race. She mentioned how the quartet was hyping each other up as opposed to keeping to themselves while warming-up. 

“We were all super optimistic (and) super supportive of each other,” Kluck said. “We had that energy going in (to the race).”

The team ended up getting sixth overall at the event, and Ploessel credited Kluck with “leading the pack” of women to victory.

Before the relay, Eric Lesser, the assistant swimming and diving coach, informed the team about the previous top time. Kluck said her response was straight to the point:  “We’re going to get it.” 

Kluck, Kane, Tanizaki-Hudson and Hall strategized in warm-ups, focusing on the times each individual needed to get in order to beat their past record.

“(Kluck is) always very positive at practice and she works really hard,” Tanizaki-Hudson, who swam the butterfly stroke in the relay, said of her teammate. “She shows true dedication and I admire that.”

Tanizaki-Hudson told The Panther the quartet was initially disappointed when they thought they didn’t break Chapman’s previous relay record. Since they had accidentally looked up the men’s team times, it wasn’t until the group checked in with Lesser and Ploessel afterward they realized they had set a new record for the women’s 200 medley relay.

“It was just an awesome moment,” Kluck said, describing the team’s reaction to hearing they had broken the record. “We were all hugging each other, and we were just so stoked. It was great to end the day (by) getting a record.”  

Kluck said specific training habits have been an important part of her swim career, such as weightlifting, which she noted Chapman’s swim team regularly incorporates into their workouts. 

“Weights kind of add a good supplement to swimming,” Kluck explained.

As a sprinter, Kluck said building strength in training is what “makes the difference” in her performance.  

The team starts with stretches and then heads off to the weight room, which isn’t always standard for swim programs, according to Kluck. However, she said she appreciates all the strength training coaches have integrated into her exercise routine.

Something new Kluck experienced on Chapman’s team is how swimmers have the option to choose the swim strokes they want to work on. Once they have lifted in their discipled groups, they take to the pool and rotate into different groups to individually hone in on which strokes are weak points.

Despite receiving a Division I offer from the University of Nevada, Kluck said she chose Chapman for their “close, family-like” team.  The swimmer attributes this friendly atmosphere to her coaches and teammates. 

Going forward this season, Ploessel said the team could potentially end with “four individual records, and maybe four relay records this year.” 

Kluck is eager to break more records at Chapman with the relay team and in her personal pursuits. She said she is determined to get back to her personal best 100 breaststroke time of 1:03:00 and possibly set an even better time. 

“I feel confident,” Kluck said. “That’s kind of what I’m gearing towards. I love breaststroke, it's always been my thing.”