Despite a successful swimming career at Southmont High School in Crawfordsville, Ind., freshman backstroker Hilary Mishler said she knew collegiate meets would be tough to compete in.

But she didn’t realize how much more difficult they would be until the first day of practice as a Lady Topper.

“Oh my gosh,” Mishler said. “The very first day of practice, we did more yardage than I had done all summer. I was dying. I was wearing flippers before the end of practice.”

The intensity of college practice has paid dividends for Mishler, who has become a consistent point-producer for the Lady Toppers. Her hard work was first reflected in the pool during Western’s season-opening meet against Atlantic Coast Conference foes Georgia Tech, Miami and Clemson, when she placed second in the 100-yard backstroke.

Mishler then showed off her versatility in the Lady Toppers’ meet against Cumberland on Oct. 31, winning the 200-yard freestyle. And Mishler’s results have only improved since winning her first collegiate race.

“She’s been a big factor so far,” Head Coach Bruce Marchionda said. “She’s put up some good times.”

Mishler was a double-event winner against Xavier a week after the meet against Cumberland, earning victories in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke. She followed that performance by doing the same at the Hilltopper Invitational, reducing her times in both events.

“I’m very pleased,” Mishler said. “I’m half a second off my (personal record) in the 100 back, and that’s when I was suited up and tapered and everything. And I went two-and-a-half seconds better than my previous PR in the 200.”

Mishler said her goal for the season is to earn USA National cut times in her backstroke events. Picking up an NCAA cut in either event would be a “bonus.”

“It’s me and my friend Laurel (Chaney)’s goal to go together,” Mishler said.

Mishler’s fast start parallels Western’s success in the pool. The Lady Toppers are 4-1-1 going into this weekend’s meet at Tulane at 1 p.m. on Friday, while the Toppers have a 4-2 record.

Senior Sean Penhale said the teams’ underclassmen have had a huge impact on results.

“Our freshman class — on both the men and women’s side — has been really good,” Penhale said.

Mishler said she hopes to stretch her double-event winning streak to three straight meets this weekend, but that’s not her primary goal.

“I’m not necessarily going for first,” she said. “I’m going for times.”