Oakland Snags Trio of 2021 Verbals from Alyssia Betancourt, Kaitlyn Killinger, Sam Thiessen

Photo Courtesy: Oakland Athletics

Alyssia Betancourt, Kaitlyn Killinger, Sam Thiessen all commit to Oakland.

NEW COMMITS: Oakland University has scored three new verbal commitments for their growing class of 2025 from Alyssia Betancourt (Ajax, Ontario), Kaitlyn Killinger (Katy, Texas), and Sam Thiessen (Winnipeg, Manitoba).

All three talented swimmers will suit up for the Golden Grizzlies at the start of the 2021-22 season along with Logan Belanger and Ajete Eggers.

Under head coach Peter Hovland, Oakland claimed their 26th-straight team title at the 2020 Horizon League Championships.

ALYSSIA BETANCOURT

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to Oakland University!! I chose OU because of the excellent coaching staff, outstanding academics and strong team spirit. I am grateful for the encouragement and support of my family, coaches, friends and mentors to help me get to where I am now. Thank you to all of you. I can’t wait to join the Golden Grizzlies in 2021!!!”

A talented sprint freestyler and butterflyer, Betancourt swims year-round with Ajax Swim Club and notched three best times at Ontario Winter Junior Championships in March and finaled in the 200 fly at the Speedo Eastern Canadian Championships in 2019. Last summer, she flew to seventh place in the 100m fly at Far Westerns.

Her best times include (LCM):

50m free – 27.66
100m free – 1:00.79
50m fly – 30.14
100m fly – 1:05.03

KAITLYN KILLINGER

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at Oakland University! I’m so thankful to God, my parents, coaches, and teammates getting me here. Go Grizzlies! #OUPride ???”

Primarily a butterflyer and IMer, Killinger does her club swimming with Katy Aquatics and most recently placed tenth in the 200 IM at the Gulf Coast Championships while recording five best times at Southern Zone Seniors last summer. A rising senior at Seven Lakes High School, she placed seventh in the 200 IM and ninth in the 100 fly as a junior at the UIL 6A Region 05 Championships.

Her best times include:

100 fly – 58.98
200 fly – 2:09.92
200 IM – 2:12.77

SAM THIESSEN

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I’m excited to announce my commitment to Oakland University. I chose Oakland because of their coaching staff, tightly knit team, and strong history. Go Golden Grizzlies!”

A versatile freestyler, Thiessen trains with Manta Swim Club and won the mile at the Prairie Winter Invite in December where she was the 100m free runner-up. She finished fourth in the 100m free with four additional top-16 finishes at the Canadian Junior Championships last long course season.

Her best times include (LCM):

100m free – 59.16
200m free – 2:07.29
400m free – 4:27.66
800m free – 9:17.56
1500m free – 17:43.36

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

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Jane Welborn

3 years ago

Yay Kaitlyn!!! Congrats!