Swim teams’ season taking stride

By Dan Fenner and Reanna Douglas, Sports Editor and Staff Intern

With the end of the season fast approaching, Oakland University’s swimming and diving teams are rounding into shape under the guidance of head coach Pete Hovland as the Summit League Championships are now less than a month away.

Oakland has continually placed first at the conference championships for both the men’s and women’s teams for the better part of the last decade, and this season isn’t likely to be an exception.

“Winning the conference championship is the team’s goal. Qualifying an individual or two for the NCAA Championships is also a goal,” Hovland said. “Whether a relay team makes it this year, I am not sure yet. But that’s always big if a relay (team) gets invited.”

With all of the talent that moved on due to graduation last season, Hovland said he faces a unique situation this year with his team in a bit of a rebuilding mode, though not in the sense that it’s a down year for the program. He said the team is right about where it should be and has met his expectations.

“There’s been a lot of teaching, and there is a lot of heartache that goes with the success and the growth,” Hovland said. “I think we’ll do extremely well once we get to the championships.”

Women’s team

The women’s team is strong once again this season, with several standout performers on the team. 

“They have a chance in the next three weeks to compete, and depending on how well they perform, this could be one of those seasons they remember for a long time,” Hovland said. 

The most accomplished swimmer among the group is senior Agnes Solan, an international recruit from Poland. 

Solan has narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships in recent seasons, but Hovland said he expects her to get there this year. She holds several school and conference records, specializing in the backstroke events.

“She’s the one that leads our team,” Hovland said.

A strong candidate for the conference Newcomer of the Year award is freshman Sandra Czerska, also from Poland. Czerska has not lost a single event this year in the dual-meet’s she has participated in.

“She’s having a banner year and we go into every meet knowing we have a good shot at winning because of her,” Hovland said.

For the diving team, junior Chelsea Oates has also had an impressive season, recently breaking the school’s 3-meter diving record against Eastern Michigan, something that Hovland said is practically unheard of in the dual-meet season. Heading into the conference championships, Oates is atop the leaderboards for female divers.

Men’s team

The men’s team graduated two-thirds of its members from last season, and experienced a bit of an adjustment period early in the season.

“We’ve taken a few bumps along the way as far as the dual-meet season is concerned, but I think with this team, as young as it is, will be a very good championship-type team,” Hovland said.

Leading the way for the men’s team is last season’s standout swimmer Anders Jensen. A native of Denmark, Jensen was a Division I All-American last year, a rare feat for a freshman. 

Hovland said he thinks Jensen can improve on his times from last season simply because he will be competing for the second time, and will be more comfortable having “been there, done that” last season.

“I think there’s a lot to be said for (experience),” Hovland said. “As much as it’s a cliché, it’s a cliché because it’s true.”

Some of this season’s other standouts have been seniors Pat Downing and Eddie Toro.

Things to come

Oakland will compete in three more meets in the coming weeks before the championship season begins. The Grizzlies will host Cleveland State University Friday for a dual-meet before traveling to face in-state rival Michigan State Saturday.

“These last three meets that we have will really help them fine-tune things. It will be their last opportunity so that they really feel good about themselves …we just hope that they start building up steam,” Hovland said.

The Summit League Championships take place in Indianapolis Feb. 18-20.