Sporting Blitz 1/29

Jackson Gilbert|January 27, 2014

Track and Field

The Oakland University team was scheduled to travel to Fort Wayne for a Jan. 24 meet, however the event was cancelled. The throwers of the team elected to travel to the Findlay Classic the next day in Findlay, Ohio. Andrew Stebbins, Gino Vitella, and Katelynne Hartman all participated. Stebbins finished 13th in the shot on the men’s side and Hartman 11th for the women. OU is currently waiting to announce where their meet will be this week to make up for the cancellation.

Swimming and Diving

Oakland swimming and diving had a busy week. On Thursday, January 23rd, the men and women competed at a dual meet against Michigan State, losing a tightly contested matchup. Jorden Merrilees won three events and Amr el Sayed, Grant Harding, Takara Martin and Patricia Aschan all won two events. But that was not enough for the Golden Grizzlies, with the men falling 154.5-143.5. The women also suffered a narrow defeat, 163-135. OU then went on to top Cleveland State and Xavier in a double dual meet Saturday, Jan. 25 at the OU Aquatic Center. Oakland had 19 top finishers throughout the meet, led by Jorden Merrilees for the men and Takara Martin for the women. Cleveland State’s men’s team, the previous Horizon League champ, was blown out of the water by Oakland, 184-109. The men also decisively defeated Xavier with a 213-69 victory.  Oakland finishes out the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 1 at IUPUI.

Women’s Tennis

The OU Tennis team competed against Eastern Michigan Saturday, Jan. 25, losing the match 5-2. Cam Sabourin and Elizabeth Guy both won their matches but it was not enough for the Grizzlies to overcome Eastern Michigan. Oakland will match up against Western Michigan on Friday, Jan. 31.

News and Notes

Oakland University athletes are making their presence known in the Horizon League. 781 student-athletes were announced for the Horizon League Fall Honor Roll and OU accounted for 120. Of the nine Horizon League schools, Oakland had the most nominated to the list. Valparaiso was second with 117. 

OU men’s basketball coach Greg Kampe has no interest in becoming the school’s new athletic director following the resignation of Tracy Huth, according to The Oakland Press. “I have no desire to become the athletic director at Oakland,” Kampe said. “I have every desire to try and beat Youngstown State next Friday.”