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Swimming & Diving Jordyn Berg

Oakland Reigns as Horizon League Champions Behind Incredibly Energetic Performances in the Lanes

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Oakland Swim and Dive 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). 

Ellie Chalifoux roped in the first-place title for her amazing performances off the diving board in the women's three meter diving contest tallying () total points for the night. 

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).

After an incredible weekend in Indianapolis, the Horizon League has named three Golden Grizzly athletes to the 2023 #HLSD Championships Specialty Awards including Ellie Chalifoux for women's diver of the meet, Susan LaGrand for co-women's swimmer of the meet, and Marko Khotynetskyi for men's swimmer of the meet. Not only this, but Coach Lary Albright was named women's diving coach of the year, and our legendary head coach, Pete Hovland earned the honor of women's swimming coach of the year. 

2023 #HLSD Championships Specialty Awards
Women's Freshman of the Year – Gabby Puryear-Lynch, IUPUI
Men's Freshman of the Year – Sebastian Otero, IUPUI
Women's Diver of the Meet – Elleanna Chalifoux, OAK
Men's Diver of the Meet – Sebastian Otero, IUPUI
Co-Women's Swimmers of the Meet – Emmaleigh Zietlow, IUPUI & Susan LaGrand, OAK
Men's Swimmer of the Meet – Marko Khotynetski, OAK
Women's Diving Coach of the Year – Larry Albright, OAK
Men's Diving Coach of the Year – Eric Barnes, IUPUI
Women's Swimming Coach of the Year – Pete Hovland, OAK
Men's Swimming Coach of the Year – Damion Dennis, IUPUI


After performances in the IU Natatorium, that's a wrap for the 2022-23 season. Stay tuned for updates about NCAA regionals.
 
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Players Mentioned

Taylor Bailey

Taylor Bailey

Breast/IM
5' 8"
Graduate Student
Christian Bart

Christian Bart

Sprint Free/Breast
6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
Kiera Brough

Kiera Brough

Back/IM
5' 9"
Senior
Jonas Cantrell

Jonas Cantrell

Free
6' 2"
Sophomore
Ellie Chalifoux

Ellie Chalifoux

Diving
5' 8"
Junior
Ben Davis

Ben Davis

Distance Freestyle
6' 0"
Graduate Student
Ajete Eggers

Ajete Eggers

Fly/ Free
5' 8"
Sophomore
Marko Khotynetskyi

Marko Khotynetskyi

Back/Free
6' 4"
Senior
Lola Laenen

Lola Laenen

Breast/Free
5' 8"
Senior
Susan LaGrand

Susan LaGrand

Back/IM/Free
5' 8"
Graduate Student
Sohvi Nenonen

Sohvi Nenonen

IM/Fly/Free
5' 11"
Senior
Ronja Riihinen

Ronja Riihinen

Sprint Free
Junior

Players Mentioned

Taylor Bailey

Taylor Bailey

5' 8"
Graduate Student
Breast/IM
Christian Bart

Christian Bart

6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
Sprint Free/Breast
Kiera Brough

Kiera Brough

5' 9"
Senior
Back/IM
Jonas Cantrell

Jonas Cantrell

6' 2"
Sophomore
Free
Ellie Chalifoux

Ellie Chalifoux

5' 8"
Junior
Diving
Ben Davis

Ben Davis

6' 0"
Graduate Student
Distance Freestyle
Ajete Eggers

Ajete Eggers

5' 8"
Sophomore
Fly/ Free
Marko Khotynetskyi

Marko Khotynetskyi

6' 4"
Senior
Back/Free
Lola Laenen

Lola Laenen

5' 8"
Senior
Breast/Free
Susan LaGrand

Susan LaGrand

5' 8"
Graduate Student
Back/IM/Free
Sohvi Nenonen

Sohvi Nenonen

5' 11"
Senior
IM/Fly/Free
Ronja Riihinen

Ronja Riihinen

Junior
Sprint Free