INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – With six event titles, three school records, two Horizon League records, and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, Oakland dominated day three of the Horizon League Championships. Both the men’s and women’s teams enter the final day atop the standings.
Day three featured the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, women’s one-meter dive, and the 400 medley relay.
100 FLY AND 400 IM
In the women’s 100 fly final, sophomore Viviane Partridge was Oakland’s lone representative, with all five finalists from last year having graduated. She placed sixth in 56.34. The men’s 100 fly saw senior Micah Scheffer finish fourth (47.06) and freshman Caleb Rohacs take seventh (47.29).
Oakland once again owned the IM events, claiming both the men’s and women’s titles. In a come-from-behind victory, sophomore Kelley Hassett struck gold in the women’s 400 IM with a time of 4:22.11, improving on her fourth-place finish from a year ago. Junior Delaney Buckner also reached the final, placing sixth.
Four Golden Grizzlies qualified for the men’s 400 IM final. In his first Horizon League Championship, freshman Cooper Dillman touched first in 3:48.10. Junior Andrew Gelston captured bronze in 3:52.61, while freshman Victor Teeters and junior Carson Ricker finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
200 FREE
Like Thursday’s freestyle final, the Oakland women dominated the 200 free, filling five of the eight lanes. Seniors Mia Englender and Erika Pietras led the way, taking second (1:49.68) and third (1:50.28). The Golden Grizzlies completed a 2-3-4-5 showing, with Partridge and freshman Avery Beal in fourth and fifth. Junior Casey Sanders rounded out the group in seventh.
After breaking the 200 free school record during morning prelims, senior Harry Nicholson lowered it again in the finals, setting a Horizon League record, and won in 1:34.12. Teammates Nicholas Karel Subagyo, Joseph Countryman, and Ike Martinez joined him in the finals, placing fifth, sixth, and seventh.
100 BREAST
Oakland’s underclassmen continued to impress, even in a women’s 100 breast final largely composed of juniors and seniors. Sophomore Maya Dobry placed fourth, while freshman Grace Aguilar-Fernandez finished seventh.
On the men’s side, what initially looked like heartbreak for senior Christopher Palvadre turned into the opportunity of a lifetime. The reigning Horizon League champion was seeking a repeat title and an invitation to the NCAA Championship. He swam a 52.20, hitting the NCAA cut, but touched second behind IU Indianapolis and seemingly losing both the title and the trip.
However, after the race, it was announced that IU Indianapolis was disqualified for illegal double pulls/kicks, making Palvadre the champion and the first Golden Grizzly to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships. The meet will be held from March 18-21 at McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Palvadre’s win also moved junior Alexander Lakin up to third (53.45), while freshman Trevor Boodt finished in seventh.
100 BACK
After dominating the backstroke events all season, freshman Lydia Soldatke finally had her chance to race her signature event individually— and delivered. She won the women’s 100 back in 53.89, with junior Clarissa Bezuidenhout about a second behind in third. Joining them in the final were sophomore Grace Albrecht and freshman Kendra Venter, who placed sixth and eighth.
The second school record of the day came from freshman Ajjuub Ezzat, who finished second in the men’s 100 back with a time of 46.27. Alongside him were juniors Max Haney and Eli Stoll, taking fourth and sixth.
WOMEN’S ONE-METER DIVE
Senior Victoria Sanders and sophomore Elizabeth Woollcott once again advanced to the diving finals, this time on the three-meter board. Sanders qualified second out of prelims with 265.65 points, while Woollcott secured the eighth and final spot.
In her last Horizon League Championship appearance, Sanders closed out her career with another podium finish, taking third with 274.85 points. Woollcott placed eighth in the final.
400 MEDLEY RELAY
The evening concluded with the 400 medley relay. Soldatke, Dobry, Venter, and junior Ava McNamara claimed second in the women’s final with a time of 3:41.26.
Nicholson, Ezzat, and Scheffer returned to the relay for a second consecutive night, joined this time by Palvadre. In a tight battle with IU Indianapolis, Nicholson pulled away on the anchor leg to secure the win. Ezzat, Palvadre, Scheffer, and Nicholson clocked 3:06.92, setting a new school and Horizon League record and capping the session with another historic swim.
Similar to the previous days, at least one Golden Grizzly competed and placed sixth or better in the finals. At the conclusion of day three, the Oakland women continue to extend their lead, while the men have climbed back into the top spot. With only one day remaining, the Golden Grizzlies aim to hold their positions and bring home yet another Horizon League title.
STANDINGS – DAY THREE
Women
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- Oakland: 611
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- Milwaukee: 455
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- IU Indianapolis: 393.5
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- Cleveland State: 314
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- Youngstown State: 292
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- Green Bay: 190.5
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- Northern Kentucky: 99
Men
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- Oakland: 581
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- IU Indianapolis: 487.5
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- Youngstown State: 315
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- Milwaukee: 295
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- Cleveland State: 273
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- Green Bay: 142
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- Northern Kentucky: 121.5
UP NEXT: The Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships continue on February 21, beginning with prelims at 10 a.m. (ET). Early heats of the 1650 free will start at 2 p.m. (ET). Finals of the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, men’s three-meter dive, and 400 free relay will begin at 5 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.
