INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – On day two of the Horizon League Championships, the Oakland swimming and diving team did not slow down, claiming three event titles and setting one new school and league record on Thursday.

The day-two lineup featured the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, men's one-meter dive, and the 200 free relay.

500 FREE
In the finals of the women's 500 free, five Golden Grizzlies made up the field. Sophomore Kelley Hassett and freshman Megan Donnelly led the way for Oakland, with Hassett taking second in 4:53.03 and Donnelly third in 4:54.57. Seniors Mia Englender and Erika Pietras placed fourth and fifth, while junior Casey Sanders finished seventh.

With Oakland's former men's 500 free champion now graduated, the title was up for grabs this year. Senior Nicholas Karel Subagyo, who placed third at last year's championship, fought his way to a second-place finish, improving his time by nearly two seconds. He was joined by freshmen Ike Martinez, Cooper Dillman, and Victor Teeters, who placed fourth, fifth, and seventh, respectively.

200 IM
Oakland's first championship title of the day came in the 200 IM from junior Clarissa Bezuidenhout. Last season, she competed in only two regular-season meets and missed the championships. As a freshman, however, Bezuidenhout was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year and earned first-place finishes in the 100 back, 200 back, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay.

Looking like no time had passed since her standout freshman season, the junior won the 200 IM in 2:01.68. Behind her, freshman Lydia Soldatke claimed second place in 2:02.58. Sophomore Grace Albrecht and freshman Grace Aguilar-Fernandez also reached the final, placing fifth and seventh.

Keeping the momentum going, junior Max Haney won the men's 200 IM. Haney touched first in 1:44.68, just 0.02 seconds off the school and league record set in 2024 by Oakland. Fellow junior Carson Ricker finished fourth, with both athletes climbing one podium spot from their finishes last season.

50 FREE
In the shortest race of the championships, Oakland's freshmen women broke through the field packed with upperclassmen to reach the finals. Kendra Venter claimed second in 22.95, while Avery Beal finished seventh.

On the men's side, last year's champion, senior Charles Brown, looked to defend his title in the 50 free. Despite improving his time by 0.09 seconds in the championship race, Brown finished in 19.60, as the winner from IU Indianapolis set a new Horizon League record and punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships. Senior Harry Nicholson placed fifth in the highly competitive race with a time of 19.93.

MEN'S ONE-METER DIVE
Both Oakland divers advanced to the finals after the preliminary and consolation rounds earlier in the day. Senior Liam James entered the finals seeded sixth from prelims, while freshman Owen Cox was ranked fourth.

After earning high marks on multiple dives, James moved up to finish third with 297.70 points. It marked the first time he reached the finals in the one-meter event and his first career top-three finish on the board at the championships. Cox earned an eighth-place finish after a very competitive diving final.

200 FREE RELAY
Wrapping up the night was the 200 free relay. As with the 200 medley relay, only Albrecht returned from last year's second-place squad. Beal again joined her in this relay, while Venter and Pietras were new additions to the lineup. The group went on to finish second with a time of 1:32.49, matching last season's result.

Brown, Nicholson, and fellow senior Micah Scheffer returned in the men's 200 free relay, looking to reclaim the title. Joined by freshman Ajjuub Ezzat, the team had to play catch-up from the opening leg before Brown pulled away from the field on the anchor to secure the victory. With a time of 1:17.16, Ezzat, Scheffer, Nicholson, and Brown set a new school and Horizon League record, breaking the mark the three seniors set just a year ago. 

Every event once again featured Golden Grizzlies on the podium, with at least two Oakland athletes placing in the top eight. After day two, the Oakland women remained in first place, while the men currently sit at second behind IU Indianapolis, bolstered by the Jaguars placing four divers in the top six of the men's one-meter dive. 

STANDINGS - DAY TWO
Women

1. Oakland: 321
2. Milwaukee: 231
3. IU Indianapolis: 179.5
4. Cleveland State: 161
5. Youngstown State: 147
6. Green Bay: 118.5
7. Northern Kentucky: 54

Men

1. IU Indianapolis: 320.5
2. Oakland: 292
3. Youngstown State: 183
4. Milwaukee: 155.5
5. Cleveland State: 119
6. Green Bay: 84
7. Northern Kentucky: 83

UP NEXT: The Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships continue on February 20, beginning with prelims at 10 a.m. (ET). Finals of the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, women's one-meter dive, and 400 medley relay will begin at 5:30 p.m. (ET). All sessions are available to stream on ESPN+. More information on streaming can be found HERE.

Additional information can be found on Horizon League Championship Central.

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.