Jorden Merrilees was a three-time individual winner while John Schihl and Tuomas Kiviluoma each won twice as the Oakland men's swimming and diving team defeated instate foe Michigan State 148.5-145.5 Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Aquatics Center. Oakland's women's squad dropped their dual to the Spartans, 186-108.
The Golden Grizzlies started out strong on the men's side, winning the opening 200 medley relay with a time of 1:30.79 by Aleksander Danielewski, Schihl, Kiviluoma and Jeremiah Morren. Oakland followed up with a victory by Seth Timmons in the 1000 free (9:29.81) and the first of Merrilee's wins in the 200 free (1:37.98).
The men's team would get nine more individual wins, including Schihl's sweep of the breaststroke in the 100 (56.41) and 200 (2:03.79). Kiviluoma touched first in the 100 freestyle (45.75) and 100 butterfly (49.84) while Merrilees added wins in the 200 backstroke (1:49.92) and 500 free (4:34.57). Also capturing individual wins were Mitch Alters (200 fly, 1:51.02), Morren (50 free, 21.01) and Stirling Fordham, who turned in a career-best 344.85 on the 3-meter diving board.
For the women, Nikki Flynn and Takara Martin were twice victorious, with Flynn adding a relay victory with her leadoff in the 200 free relay. Flynn touched first in the 200 free (1:53.58) and the 100 free (52.16) where Oakland went 1-2 with a second-place finish by Holly Morren (52.65). In the 200 free relay, Flynn teammed with Arynn de Leeuw, Cassie Misiewicz and Morrne to win in 3:29.15.
Martin swept the breaststroke events, winning the 100 (1:03.11) and 200 (2:18.80); the Golden Grizzlies had three of the top four finishes in the 200 breast, with Rachel Waite taking second (2:20.69) and Melissa VanderMeulen placing fourth (2:23.91).
Prior to the meet, the Golden Grizzlies recognized the accomplishments of their 13-member senior class: For the women, Allison Bellford, Jill Carps, Nichole Contesti, Tricia Grant, Megan Hunter, Kyra Rietveld, Bronte Stewart, Grace Waller and Kathleen Zintsmaster; and for the men, Colby Haan, John Lubisco, Jake Quinnan and Mario Rusnak.
