ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland University's swimming and diving team returns to action in the new year, taking on Miami (OH) and Denison at the OU Aquatic Center. The two-day tri-meet will begin at 4 PM on Friday, January 9, and continue at 10 AM on Saturday, January 10. 

Oakland has faced Miami (OH) during the regular season since the 2021-22 season. However, this will be the first time the Golden Grizzlies compete against Denison since the 1998-99 season, when Oakland was transitioning from Division II to Division I athletics.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW
In their last competition, just over a month ago, the Oakland University women finished in third place in the first annual Golden Grizzly Classic. Notable victories during the four-day meet include Victoria Sanders' win in the 1-meter dive and Lydia Soldatke's sweep of the 100 and 200 back, where Soldatke broke her own pool record in the 200 by 0.06 seconds. 

Both Sanders and Soldatke were recognized as the #HLSD Diver and Swimmer of the Week, respectively, for the week of December 3-9 with their top-finishing performances.

MEN'S PREVIEW
Also competing in the Golden Grizzly Classic, the men also finished in third place alongside the women. First-place highlights included the 200 medley relay team consisting of Charles Brown, Alexander Lakin, Micah Scheffer, and Harry Nicholson, as well as individual victories from Ike Martinez in the 500 free, Max Haney in the 200 IM and 200 back, Joseph Countryman in the 200 free, Lakin in the 100 breast, and Cooper Dillman in the 1650 free.

With his two first-place finishes, Haney earned his first #HLSD Swimmer of the Week recognition on the men's side, joining Sanders and Soldatke in receiving the weekly honor.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
Oakland has been competing against Miami (OH) since the 2020-21 season, when the men's team took part in the Miami Last Chance Meet in Oxford, Ohio. From the 2021-22 season onward, the Golden Grizzlies and Redhawks have faced one another annually during the regular season.

Last season, the Black and Gold traveled to Oxford, where both the women's (82-218) and men's (121-179) teams fell to the Red and White. Despite the loss, multiple athletes recorded season and personal-best times. Top performances came from Christopher Palvadre, Nicholas Karel Subagyo, and Mia Englender.

This year, the Redhawks have faced competition similar to the Golden Grizzlies. Miami (OH) has competed against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, with both the men's and women's teams falling to the Bearcats and Panthers. Oakland's men secured a victory over the Bearcats, 192.5-154.5, while they fell to Pittsburgh. On the women's side, OU dropped their matchups against Cincinnati and Pitt. However, in those losses for both teams, the Golden Grizzlies scored more points than Miami (OH) did in its meets against the same opponents. The Redhawks also competed against Northern Kentucky, a conference competitor Oakland will see later this season at the Horizon League Championships.

SCOUTING DENISON
Denison will compete against Oakland for the first time in over 25 years during the tri-meet. In their last meeting, during the 1998-99 season, Oakland was in the midst of transitioning from Division II to Division I athletics, and the Golden Grizzlies came away with the win. Before the final transition, the "Big Red" and the then "Pioneers" met eight times in nine years, beginning with the 1990-91 season.

Currently, Denison's men's swim team is ranked first, and the women's team is ranked fourth among Division III swimming and diving programs, according to the CSCAA polls. Last season, the men won their sixth NCAA Division III championship. The women have won two national championships in their program's history, most recently in 2023.

ORDER OF EVENTS
Friday | 4 PM Start
200 Medley Relay 
400 IM 
200 Free
100 Fly 
1M Diving (W) 3 Meter (M)
100 Breast 
50 Free 
500 Free 
100 Back 
400 Free Relay 


Saturday | 10 AM Start 
400 Medley Relay
1000 Free
200 IM 
200 Back 
1M Diving (M) 3 Meter (W)
100 Free 
200 Fly 
200 Breast 
200 Free Relay

How to Follow Oakland Swimming and Diving: For complete information on Oakland Swimming and Diving, follow the team on Instagram and on X at @OAK_swim_dive.