ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland Swim and Dive team expands as a total of 15 new faces splash into the 2023-24 season. From a mix of freshmen and transfers, the team adds some impressive talent on deck for the Golden Grizzly squad.
To get to know the new swimmers, make sure to check out these short bios regarding their outstanding accomplishments and backgrounds as athletes.
Men's Team Additions:
Alex Lakin - Naperville, IL Breaststroke/Free
- 8X All-State in high school
- 6th in the 50 Breast at NCSA
- 2nd in the 100 Breast at high school state
- USA Summer Junior National Finalist 100 Breaststroke
Joey Countryman - Chicago, IL Freestyle
- 2X scholastic all American (3rd pending),
- 57 career broken records (high school),
- 3X varsity MVP,
- 16X South suburban conference champion,
- 2X sectional champion,
- 4X state finalist,
- 2X nisca all American
Carson Ricker - Rochester, MI Breastroke/IM
- Summer Juniors Qualifier
- Winter Junior Finalist
- NCSA A-Finalist
- USSC BR and IM records/15-16 800 FR Relay and 17-18 400 MED Relay MI State Records (SCY)
- USA Swimming Scholastic All American
- National Merit Scholarship Commended Student
- AP Scholar with Distinction
Max Haney - Fenton, MI Back/Fly/IM
- All American
- 11 school varsity records
Andrew Gelston - West Richland, WA Back/Fly/IM
- 4X Mid Columbia Conference Athlete of the Year
- 2X State Champion
- USA swimming Scholastic All-American
Dane Charleston - Acworth, GA IUPUI Transfer Back/IM
- GA State Champion in the 200IM
- GA Stae Record in 17-18yo 800 free-relay
- Chosen as the Horizon League Swimmer of the Week in 2022-23
Auben Nugent - Rochester, MI Florida State Transfer Fly/Back/IM
Top Times
100 fly - 47.80 | 200 fly - 1:46.32
100 back - 49.43 | 200 back - 1:47.62
100 free - 45.40 | 200 free - 1:38.54 | 500 free - 4:33.73
200 IM - 1:48.28 | 400 IM - 3:52.78
⁃ Voted "Most Improved" during the 2021-2022 season at FSU.
⁃ 2021 NCSA Summer Junior National Team Champion
⁃ OLY Fall Classic Event Winner
⁃ Named Departmental Student of the Year during High School
Sean Diffenderfer, Commerce Township, MI, Distance Free
- 3.96 GPA
- Academic All-American
- 3 years as a NHS student
- 2x D2 state champion in the 500
- 5x D2 All State
- Futures Cuts
- Sectional Cuts
Women's Team Additions:
Casey Sanders - Farmington, MI Freestyle/Breaststroke
- 3-time YMCA Nationals Finalists (100 breast, 200 breast, 500 free)
- MHSAA All-State 100 breaststroke 2021
- OAA White Division Swimmer of the Meet 2022
- USA Futures Cuts (100 breast, 200 breast, 500 free)
- Michigan Seal of Biliteracy (Spanish)
- OU Pescovitz Scholar
- 4.3 weighted GPA
Ari Rice - Tecumseh, ON Breaststroke
- Attended both Junior Canadian Trials and Canadian Senior Championships.
- 6th in the 200m Breast at the Eastern Canadian Championships
- 7th in the 100m Breast at Eastern Canadian Championships
- 4X Honor Roll Student
Clarissa Bezuidenhout - Cary, NC Backstroke
- First YNAT cut at 13 in the 200 back
- 1st place at 2022 Capital Classic
- Sub 2:00 200 Backstroke
Jordyn VerHaeghe Shelby Twp, MI Diver
- Utica High School 6 & 11 dive record holder
- Macomb County Division 1 1st Team
- Macomb County Division 1 Dream team
- Macomb County Diver of The Year
- Regional Runner Up
- State Finalist
Ava McNamara - Hastings, MN Fly/Free
- Academic all-American.
- Top 8 3X at the Minnesota State High School League Meet
Maria Kristjansfottir - Transfer Campbell University Hafnarforour, Iceland Breastroke/IM
- Freshman of the year at Campbell University
- Academic honor roll 2X
- Icelandic National Team Member since 13
- National Champion in the 200 & 400 IM and 200 Butterfly
- 3rd in the 200 IM at the 2019 Nordic Championship
- 3rd in the 400 IM at the 2019 Small Nations Games
- Multiple Club records in the both Open and Age Groups for SCM & LCM
Delaney Buckner Muskegon, MI Back/Fly
- 4.488 GPA
- Futures Qualifier
- All-State in 100 Fly
With that being said, the Golden Grizzlies are excited to hop back in the pool for their first home meet this fall against Wayne State on September 14th in the Oakland Aquatic Center.
