Senior Colby Haan competed for Oakland University, a swim and dive team in their second year as members of the Horizon League. Pete Hovland is the head coach at Oakland University, assisted by Shawn Kornoelje, Katie Sullivan, Andre Latour, Blaine Dolcetti, and Larry Albright (Diving). Oakland Swimming and Diving is known for their long history of success in the pool, starting in the Division II days. In Division II, Oakland won 20 National Championships between the Men and Women’s teams. After Oakland moved up to Division I, the teams continued their winning tradition, being undefeated at the conference championships 16 years in a row. Oakland University athletes are also known as the Golden Grizzlies. (Oakland University Golden Grizzlies Athletics, 2015)
Background
Colby was born in 1993 to parents Doug and Patty Haan. At age 4, Colby began taking swim lessons, and after 6 years he decided to commit to the sport full time. Colby was 10 when he started swimming competitively.
High School
At Holland Christian High School, Colby swam on the Varsity Swim Team all four years. One of the highlights from high school was when Colby’s team finished runner-up his senior year at the MHSAA Division III State Meet. At the same meet, Colby was on the 1st place 400-yard freestyle relay. The Holland Christian High School record in the 200-yard freestyle relay was also broken at the state meet, which Colby was a swimmer on. Another highlight from Colby’s high school years was when he touched first individually in the 500-yard freestyle at the MHSAA DIII State Meet, by a narrow 0.04 seconds.
College
2011-2015: Now a senior graduating from Oakland University, Colby’s most favorite highlight has been competing as a Golden Grizzly at every conference championship, each one won by Oakland.
Colby will graduate from Oakland University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. All four years at Oakland, Colby was coached by Shawn Kornoelje in the Distance Group.
