Oakland Closes Out Last Home Meet of the Season With Sweep of Cleveland State

Oakland vs Cleveland State

• Saturday, January 28, 2023
• Rochester, Mich.
• SCY (25 yards)
• Results
• Team Scores
  • Women: Oakland 181.5, Cleveland State 98.5
  • Men: Oakland 183, Cleveland State 73

Courtesy: Oakland Athletics

ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland University Swim and Dive teams competed for the last time in the Oakland Aquatic Center for the 2023 regular season resulting in a win across the board for both the women’s team (181-98), and the men’s team (183-73) against Cleveland State. 

After an exciting start to the meet with senior recognition, the Golden Grizzlies kicked off the meet with none other than the 200-yard relay with an energetic win from the women’s A relay team consisting of Jordyn Shipps, Susan LaGrand, Sophia Davis, and Mia Keranen with a time of (1:45.07). And the men’s A team consisting of Marko Khotynetskyi, Christian Bart, Sofus Balladone, and Samuel McKenzie jumped in and took the first-place win with a time of (1:29.29).

The Golden Grizzlies conquered the 1000-yard races with a very energetic performance from the women when senior Lola Laenen swam in at a time of (10:38.00) to take the first-place title. On the flip side, Oakland’s own Jonas Cantrell claims the title in the men’s event with a time of (9:31.98).

Speeding things back up with the 200-yard free, LaGrand took another win in the 200-yard free with a time of (1:52.01), and for the men, senior Sam McKenzie knocked down a first-place finish with a time of (1:39.45).

Notably, Kiera Brough made a speedy second-place finish at (58.37) within .11 seconds of the first-place contestant from Cleveland State in the women’s 100-yard backstroke event. And Khotynetskyi came back in to claim another first-place win in the 100-yard backstroke for the men at a time of (48.38).

Taylor Bailey finished first in the women’s 100-yard breaststroke with a remarkable time of (1:05.34), and for the men, the breaststroke event was won by Bart with a time of (55.18). 

The women’s 200-yard butterfly was won by Oakland’s Angelina Baker in a time of (2:08.58), and for the men, and James Hart made a second-place finish from his performance in the pool finishing at a time of (1:52.32).

The quick 50-yard freestyle events were roped in by Jordyn Shipps at a time of (23.97) for the women’s team, and notably, Dane Herrick swam a solo run in heat one of the men’s 50-yard freestyle finishing with a time of (21.36). And Micah Scheffer defeated his competition in the second heat of the event with a time of (20.74).

Scott Scrivano secured the win off the diving board in the men’s three-meter diving event with a final score of (294.75), and Ellie Chalifoux dominated the women’s three-meter competition and tallied a final score of (258.23).

Returning after the break, Oakland’s Mia Keranen swam an impressive run in the women’s 100-yard freestyle and took the first-place slot with a time of (53.02). Additionally, for the men, McKenzie came back to claim another win with a time of (44.61).

LaGrand swam in at a time of (2:00.92) to claim the win in the women’s 200-yard backstroke, and Harry Nicholson touched first in a tight race to take the victory in the men’s 200-yard backstroke with a time of (1:49.91).

Brough returned to the lanes to claim her win in the women’s 200-yard backstroke with a time of (2:26.64), and Bart also made another winning finish for the men’s event with a time of (2:04.02).

Shipps stacked another win for her fast performance in the 500-yard freestyle finishing at a time of (5:07.44). And for the men, Khotynetskyi claimed the first-place spot with a time of (4:32.33).  

To start off the first heat of the women’s 100-yard fly Kaitlyn Killinger recorded a notable time of (1:00.31), and in the second heat, Sohvi Neonen swam incredibly fast to tie for first at a time of (58.86). And Scheffer swam in the men’s event resulting in a second-place finish with a time of (50.46).

Bailey recorded a first-place finish in the women’s 200-yard IM with a time of (2:08.87), and Khotynetskyi touched first for the men with a time of (1:50.84), and right behind him was senior Andrew Bernsdorf with a time of (1:54.00) for second place.

The meet was topped off by the 400-yard freestyle relay that was won by Cleveland State’s A relay team, but Oakland’s A relay team with Ronja Riihinen, Erika Pietras, Nora Molnar, and Mia Keranen finished in a close second with a time of (3:34.17). And for the final event of the competition, the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay was secured by Oakland’s A relay team consisting of Mckenzie, Nicholson, Cantrell, and anchored by Bart in a first-place time of (3:01.24) setting a new seed time and best for this relay team.

The Golden Grizzlies will head out to the highly anticipated Horizon League Championships on February 15-18 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Courtesy: CSU Athletics

ROCHESTER, Mich. – Cleveland State competed in their final tune-up before the Horizon League Championships this afternoon at Oakland. The women fell to the Golden Grizzlies 181.5-98.5.

“Today was truly a special day for us as it was our final outing before championship time,” said head coach Hannah Burandt. “It was Coach Hovlands last home meet after a 44-year career and this being my fourth year, it was truly remarkable to have the privilege to compete with the absolute best of the best.”

The Vikings will now turn their attention to the championship meet which begins on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and goes through Saturday, Feb. 18 in Indianapolis.

Coach Burandt continued, “I’m proud of how our team focused on the pieces of the process, on each other, and not getting distracted by the external environment. We had massive improvements in all our races and excited for what is to come.”

Grace Chelf claimed the top-spot in the 100-yard backstroke with a season-best time of 58.26.

Ellie Mckibbin tied for first in the 100-yard butterfly after touching the wall in 58.86.

Cleveland State capped off the meet with a win in the 400-yard freestyle with Ana Sofia Sousa, Madison Taker, Rachel Contich, and Grace Chelf in 3:33.68.

The Vikings also turned in eight second-place finishes with Chelf leading the way with two.

ROCHESTER, Mich. – Cleveland State competed in their final tune-up before the Horizon League Championships on Saturday afternoon at Oakland. The men suffered a 183-73 setback against the Golden Grizzlies.

“Today was truly a special day for us as it was our final outing before championship time,” said head coach Hannah Burandt. “It was Coach Hovlands last home meet after a 44-year career and this being my fourth year, it was truly remarkable to have the privilege to compete with the absolute best of the best.”

The Vikings will now turn their attention to the championship meet which begins on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and goes through Saturday, Feb. 18 in Indianapolis.

Coach Burandt continued, “I’m proud of how our team focused on the pieces of the process, on each other, and not getting distracted by the external environment. We had massive improvements in all our races and I am excited for what is to come from this team.”

Thomas Lundin was the lone winner on the day for the Green and White, winning both the 100-yard butterfly (49.67) and 200-yard butterfly (1:51.44) with season-best times.

Cleveland State turned in seven runner-up finishes on the afternoon led by Nathen Eberhardt and Paddy Johnston with two apiece.