Oakland University senior Julia Vela is in the home stretch of her tremendous swimming career as a Golden Grizzly. With just the Horizon League Championship left, a win would be the most appropriate way to cap off Velta’s successful time at OU.

Vela in her final season is also on the brink of graduation as well and will soon graduate with a degree in international relations and Spanish. Hailing from nearby Clarkston, Vela’s familiarity for OU can also be attributed to her older sister and OU alum Alyssa Vela who also had a decorated career of her own.

It’s your senior year, can you talk a little bit about what this season has been like for you?

I feel the team itself is a lot closer than the last three years, were more a family as a whole rather than off in our own groups, it made it a lot more fun especially with a few challenging meets we had with bowling green, and Illinois, and we overcame both teams. Especially Illinois where even our Coach didn’t think we would win and we did.

As your career here at Oakland winds down, what are your thoughts?

I’m definitely ready to move on, to try new experiences, at the same time I’m very sad its coming to an end because I’ve been swimming for 15 years of my life.

When you get into the water for the last time as an Oakland Golden Grizzly, will that be something on your mind to fuel you or will it not be something you give much thought too?

I think it will definitely be on my mind, my last race is the 200 fly, it’s one of my best races but also one of the most challenging, it’s a very mental race, you have to think about pacing, so I think knowing that it’s my last chance, my last race ever, I think it’s really going to help get me through it and keep my endurance up.

What’s the most memorable moment in your career to date?

Definitely overall winning the summit league the last three years has been great and really motivating. Also a few dual meets standout, my freshman year when we swam Michigan State, it was probably one of the best dual meets I’ve ever experienced, it was home and homecoming weekend, the stands were full and there was so much support, just so much momentum created from that with everything that lead into that meet.

How do you feel you have grown here during your time at Oakland?

I’ve definitely become more independent, and also learned how to be a leader within the team as well. Coming in I was very nervous about everything and I followed my sister around, but especially these last two years  without her here I’ve become more my own person.

So in closing is there anything you’d like to add regarding your time here at OU?

It’s been a very memorable experience, I’ve made the closest friends ever, despite all the challenges there’s a great support system that help you through everything and that’s really helped me get through these four years and to graduate.

Oakland will now prepare for the 2014 Horizon League Championship Feb. 26-March 1, hosted by Cleveland State.