ROCHESTER, Mich. - On Thursday, the Horizon League named
Susan LaGrand Horizon League Swim and Dive Athlete of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
After closing out an incredible fifth year, LaGrand has continued to raise the bar and prove worthy of the award given her performances during the season.
"Everyone involved with Oakland Swimming knows and appreciates everything Susan has meant to our program. With today's announcement, I am grateful to see that the Horizon League Coaches have recognized all that she has accomplished as well" said Head Coach Pete Hovland.
During the regular season, LaGrand competed in all of the 14 events continuing to fine-tune her speed and precision in the lanes. To wrap up the season, LaGrand competed alongside her teammates in the Horizon League Championships securing the Championship title for the tenth consecutive year. Following regular season performances and conference championships, LaGrand made an appearance at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships alongside her team in Elkhart, Indiana.
Covering her remarkable efforts and victories in the lanes, LaGrand has stacked up a number of accolades over the season including Co-Swimmer of the Horizon League Championship Meet in Indianapolis, along with being named three-time Horizon League Athlete of the Week following her individual performances in the regular season.
Additionally, LaGrand has taken multiple school and mid-major records under her belt including holding the fastest mid-major time in the 100-yard IM 55.57 halfway through the season, shattering various school and conference records at Horizon League Championships further elevating the standard of excellence for the Golden Grizzlies Swim and Dive Program.
"Susan epitomizes everything that is good in our sport. Her growth and development academically, athletically, and socially is a testament to what someone can do when they have well-defined goals and you are willing to work really hard to achieve them" said Hovland.
Post-season, the Grand Rapids native punched her ticket for the third consecutive year to the NCAA Championships to showcase her skills against the best swimmers in the nation. Now, LaGrand holds the most consecutive appearances for a Golden Grizzly to appear in NCAA's.
During her run in Knoxville, LaGrand qualified and swam in both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke where she carved out a new school record in the 200 by clocking a time of 1:53.12. Additionally, she jumped in the pool to compete in the 200-yard IM matching her seed time of 1:57.54.
"(Susan) has been a beacon for her teammates and future Golden Grizzlies, all the while, becoming an ambassador for our sport, the Horizon League, and Oakland University as a whole. I am a big fan of Susan, and I am really fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach and mentor her these past five years" said Hovland.
