Nikki Flynn, Holly Morren and Mario Rusnak each had two individual wins and a leg in a relay victory to lead Oakland swimming and diving to a dual meet win over Wayne State Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Aquatics Center. The men's team scored a 179.5-113.5 victory while the women's team won with a score of 167-126.
Flynn won the 500 free (5:07.45) and 50 free (24.23) while Morren captured wins in the 100 free (52.65) and 50 butterfly (26.16). Each were part of Oakland's 200 medley relay win to start the meet, joining Kyra Rietveld and Melissa VanderMeulen to touch first in 1:46.32.
Rusnak started the meet with the third leg of Oakland's winning 200 medley relay (1:32.79) before capturing wins in the 100 butterfly (50.29) and 50 fly (22.77).
"It's not often we get to swim the shorter event distances, and the athletes look forward to it when we do," Oakland head coach Pete Hovland said. "It was also a festive day for us celebrating last year's team accomplishments and parent's day. A lot of excitement in the stands as well. It was a festival atmosphere, and I think we got some good swims out of today."
Three more Oakland athletes posted two individual wins against Wayne State: Tricia Grant remained unbeaten in the 1-meter (307.27) and 3-meter (316.35) diving events, while Hrafn Traustason won the 50 breaststroke (27.22) and 100 breaststroke (59.41). Jacob Pearson was a two-time winner as well, taking the 200 free (1:43.32) and 500 free (4:42.97).
For the women, the Golden Grizzlies got individual wins from Patricia Aschan (1000 free, 10:27.65), Arynn de Leeuw (200 free, 1:54.78), Takara Martin (50 breast, 30.94), Rietveld (100 back, 58.03) and VanderMeulen (100 breast, 1:05.92).
On the men's side, individual winners included Aleksander Danielewski (50 back, 23.37), Jeremiah Morren (50 free, 21.26), Jorden Merrilees (100 back, 51.13) and Stirling Fordham (3-meter diving, 294.15). Tuomas Kiviluoma tied for first in the 100 free in a time of 46.66.
Prior to the meet, Oakland recognized the 2014 Horizon League men's and women's swimming and diving conference championship teams with a ring ceremony. The swimming and diving squads were the first Oakland teams to capture Horizon League titles in Oakland's inaugural season in the Horizon League.
Oakland returns to action Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. when the Golden Grizzlies host Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green at the Oakland Aquatics Center.
