Oakland Swimming Continues Dominance With Horizon League Sweep

Photo Courtesy: Oakland University Athletics

Oakland swimming and diving concluded their final day in the Horizon League Championships for the 2022-23 season returning the championship title for the women with a score of (983) and the men (852).

The night started off with the 1650-yard freestyle events resulting in remarkable second and third-place finishes from swimmers Ben Davis (15:19.66) and Jonas Cantrell (15:30.64). And Lola Laenen the third place swimming in at a time of (17:00.51).

Following was the backstroke champion, Susan LaGrand taking the women’s 200-yard backstroke to her name once again with a time of (1:54.74). And very notably, senior Kiera Brough earned her third-place finish after her speedy performance in the event with a time of (2:01.44). Not only this but the Golden Grizzlies doubled up with men’s wins in the 200-yard backstroke as Marko Khotynetskyi (1:42.76) and Harry Nicholson (1:43.96) swept the first and second-place titles.

Jordyn Shipps hammered down the women’s 100-yard freestyle with a victorious time of (49.85), and teammate Ronja Riihinen was close following in third place with a time of (50.63). And after a tight race for the men’s event, Oakland’s Christian Bart defended the first-place spot by touching the wall at a time of (43.43). Sam McKenzie landed his third-place finish in the event recording a time of (43.82), respectively.

Taylor Bailey secured a second-place finish behind her performance in the women’s 200-yard breaststroke with a time of (2:15.15), right ahead of Golden Grizzly Bella Gary with a third-place time of (2:15.63). And placing second in the men’s 200-yard backstroke was Chris Palvadre with a final time of (1:56.44).

In the 200-yard butterfly event, Ajete Eggers landed the second place spot with a final time of (2:03.13), in front of Sohvi Nenonen in third clocking a time of (2:03.53).

And for the final event of the weekend, the conference championships were closed out by the 400-yard free relay events for both the men’s and women’s teams. Nevertheless, the team delivered their absolute performances resulting in incredibly energetic first-place wins on both teams with the women including LaGrand, Thiessen, Riihinen, and Shipps with a time of (3:20.61), and the men’s relay team consisting of Khotynetskyi, Bart, McKenzie, and Brown with a new conference record time of (2:52.70).

Day 3

Day three of Horizon League Championships wrapped up in Indianapolis in a leading position for the women’s team at 643 points, and the men are at a close second place position with 568 points.

Jordyn Shipps took the victory out of the gate for the Golden Grizzlies in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of (53.82) in the lanes.

Then Susan LaGrand came in and dominated the 400-yard IM with a finishing time of (4:13.17), right ahead of Sohvi Nenonen with a third-place time of (4:20.83) for Oakland.

The title for the women’s 100-yard breaststroke was taken by Bella Gary with a speedy time of (1:02.60). Notably, Taylor Bailey finished third in the event with a time of (1:03.41).

Kiera Brough roped in a third-place finish behind her performance in the women’s 100-yard backstroke finishing in a time of (57.06).

On the Oakland men’s team, Sam McKenzie took the gold in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of (1:36.26). And notably, teammate Jonas Cantrell swam in beside him to finish second place with a time of (1:36.63).

Following was Christian Bart’s remarkable school and conference record performance in the men’s 100-yard breaststroke in a time of (51.91), and Christopher Palvadre claimed the third-place spot in a time of (53.62).

Marko Khotynetskyi brought his best in the pool resulting in a first-place finish in the men’s 100-yard backstroke event in a time of (46.69). Harry Nicholson finished third alongside Khotynetskyi in a time of (48.19).

The last event of Friday night’s competition included the 400-yard medley relay, and Oakland answered in both the men’s and women’s events with a dominating first-place finish to wrap up day three of competition in the IU Natatorium. The women swam in at a time of (3:41.50) with LaGrand, Gary, Shipps, and Keranen. On the other side, the men recorded a conference record time of (3:09.88) behind the efforts of Khotynetskyi, Bart, Balladone, and McKenzie.

Day 2

Oakland Swim and Dive brushed through day two of a four-day excursion in Indianapolis to defend the Horizon League title. The Golden Grizzlies stand at first place for the women with 361 points and the men in second place with 294 points after concluding the races tonight.

Lola Laenen kicked it off for the team placing fourth in the women’s 500-yard freestyle with a time of (4:56.30), and following was Jonas Cantrell punching his first-place spot for the men’s 500-yard freestyle in a time of (4:22.87). Notably, Oakland’s Ben Davis made a speedy second-place finish in the men’s 500-yard freestyle with a time of (4:25.24).

The 200-yard IM events were then swept by school and meet records set by Susan LaGrand in the women’s event with a remarkable time of (1:57.23), and Marko Khotynetskyi in the men’s event recording a finishing time of (1:45.39). Additionally, teammate Sohvi Neonen was right behind LaGrand swimming in at second place with a time of (2:01.38).

Similarly, Oakland held their ground and answered with another solid capture of the 50-yard freestyle in both the women’s and men’s events with Jordyn Shipps leading the women and touching the wall at a time of (22.95), and following her was Ronja Riihinen with a third-place time of (23.45), and Mia Keranen with a time of (23.62). For the men, Christian Bart claimed the victory with a time of (19.77).

Ellie Chalifoux and Victoria Sanders outdid their competition off the diving board for the women’s one-meter diving contests resulting in first and second place finished with Chalifoux tallying a final score of (280.30), and Sanders a score of (266.75).

Lastly, the women wrapped up the night with a victorious first-place finish in the 200-yard free relay behind the speed of Shipps, Keranen, Sam Thiessen, and Riihinen with a time of (1:32.34). And notably, the men secured a second-place finish in the relay event with Charles Brown, Bart, Sofus Balladone, and Micah Scheffer in a time of (1:19.70).

Day 1

The Oakland Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive teams completed day one of a three-day stretch in Indianapolis for the Horizon League Championships resulting in a first-place finish for the women scoring 80, and a second-place finish for the men scoring 91.

Concluding the competition was the 800-yard medley relay races, and the team held their own in the lanes by showcasing their speed across both men’s and women’s teams as they swept both first-place titles. The women’s team strung by LaGrand, Jordyn Shipps, Mia Englender, and Sohvi Neonen clocked a time of 7:14.98, and the men’s team including Khotynetskyi, McKenzie, Harry Nicholson, and Jonas Cantrell recorded a time of 6:23.41. Both of these times set new school records, respectively. The Oakland Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive teams completed day one of a three-day stretch in Indianapolis for the Horizon League Championships resulting in a first-place finish for the women scoring 80, and a second-place finish for the men scoring 91.

More College News

Oakland blew it out of the water smashing five first-place wins in events and breaking school and meet records across the board. First, we saw the women’s team compete in the 200-yard relay behind swimmers Susan LaGrand, Taylor Bailey, Sophia Davis, and Ronja Riihinen as they rallied up a victorious time of 1:40.59. Then the men’s team composed of Marko Khotynetskyi, Christian Bart, Sofus Balladone, and Sam McKenzie jumped in to finish second in a nail-biting 200-yard relay race falling just short of the IUPUI jags in a time of 1:25.98, nonetheless, breaking the Oakland school record.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Oakland University Athletics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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