Oakland Tabbed to Win Summit League

The Oakland University women's and men's swimming and diving teams are expected to capture their 10th consecutive league championship. 

"I'm not surprised by the results of the poll," said head coach Pete Hovland, who is the reigning Summit League Coach of the Year. "This is something I would expect of our program. I know who we have graduated, but I also know who we have coming in. We have certainly replaced the talent we lost from last season. I fully expect both teams to be at least as strong as last year, if not stronger."

The Golden Grizzlies collected five first-place votes and accumulated 25 points. Centenary picked up the remaining first place vote and is ranked second behind Oakland with a total of 21 points. The remaining schools in the poll were Western Illinois in third (17), Eastern Illinois in fourth (11), IUPUI came in fifth (9) and South Dakota State rounded out the poll with seven points.

Oakland returns Summit League Swimmer of the Year, junior Marcin Unold, who won three league titles last season, breaking two records, and also placed fifth in the 200 back and ninth in the 100 back at the 2008 NCAA Championships. Senior Aaron Holdsworth leads the pack of 10 returning all-league performers, after capturing the 1,650 free and 200 fly last year at the league championships. Summit League Newcomer of the Year, sophomore John Ledda Jr., and junior Eddie Toro, who set a championship record time in the 400 IM at the league meet, are also coming back for the Golden Grizzlies.

OU kicks off their 2008-09 season with the Black and Gold Intrasquad Meet on Friday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the Recreation and Athletics Center.