ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Oakland University swimming and diving program hanged tough but dropped a pair of non-conference dual meets to Michigan on Saturday afternoon inside the Canham Natatorium. The women's team lost 174-117, while the Oakland men fell 189-105. 

OU won four events and added 19 runner-up finishes. Seven Golden Grizzlies placed second or better in multiple individual events. 


Susan LaGrand, Taylor Bailey, and Jordyn Shipps came away with individual victories on the women's side. LaGrand, an All-American a season ago, claimed the top spot in the 100-yard backstroke (56.20) while also finishing second in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:01.90. Bailey led the charge in the 200-yard breaststroke with a first-place finish at 2:20.24. She added a second-place mark in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.56). Shipps strung out a trio of top-three finishes, as she won the 200 individual medley (2:05.38), placed second in the 100-yard butterfly (57.04), and third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.01). 

On the boards, Ellie Chalifoux earned runner-up marks in the one- and three-meter dives with scores of 264.08 and 269.10, respectively. The Golden Grizzlies also tabbed the second-fastest times in both relays. 


Christian Bart paced the Golden Grizzly men with the meets top time in the 100-breast (55.37) and a second-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle (46.41). Marko Khotynetskyi and Andrew Bernsdorf raced to second place in a pair of individual events. Khotynetskyi was runner-up in the 100- and 200-back with times of 50.70 and 1:52.67, while Bernsdorf took home second in the 200-IM (1:56.76) and 200-breast (2:14.13). Rudy Aguilar (200-free / 1:40.79), Jonas Cantrell (500-free / 4:39.10), and Mack Flowers (100-fly / 50.42) shined with second-place marks as well.

The quartet of Aguilar, Flowers, Khotynetskyi, and Bart closed the meet with a runner-up finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay, touching the wall at 3:04.40. 

The Golden Grizzlies will return to the pool to take on Toledo on Friday, Oct. 22, inside the Oakland Aquatic Center.