Oakland University has brought their 14-year conference championship streaks to a new conference this year, but despite a new conference, the team’s success hasn’t faltered.
The Grizzlies took 3 out of the conference’s 4 weekly honors after sweeping Xavier and Cleveland State, plus losing in close duals with in-state foes Michigan State in the last 7 days.
The Men’s Swimmer of the Week went to Jorden Merrilees of Australia. Merrillees kept the Grizzlies in the hunt against the Spartans before they ultimately fell by 11 points with three individual victories: a 1:39.11 in the 200 free, a 1:50.07 in the 200 back, and a 1:51.88 in the 200 IM.
Then, against Cleveland State and Xavier, he swept the 500 (4:34.60) and 1000 (9:21.56) freestyles, the latter of which was the fastest time in the Horizon League this year.
The Women’s award went to Kyra Rietveld, who hails from New Zealand originally. She won the 200 back against Michigan State, as the Grizzlies fell by about 30, with a 2:07.83. Then on Saturday against Xavier and Cleveland State, she won the 100 back (56.60) and the 200 back (2:05.44). Rietveld won the award over teammate Takara Martin, who swept the breaststroke races against Michigan State.
The Women’s Diver of the Week award is also headed to Oakland in the hands of Tricia Grant for the 6th time this season, after she won the 1-meter against Michigan State and swept the two springboards against Xavier and Cleveland State.
And for a change of pace, K.J. Heger from Wisconsin-Milwaukee won the Men’s Diver of the Week award after winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter at the UIC Diving Invite.
All of this season’s winners are below.
2013-14 Horizon League Men’s Swimmer of the Week
Oct. 15: Jorden Merrilees, Oakland
Oct. 22: Clement Quilliec, Wright State
Oct. 29: Kei Ishimaru, UIC
Nov. 5: Clement Quilliec, Wright State
Nov. 12: Kenny Stelpflug, Milwaukee
Nov. 19: Alex Lewis, Cleveland State
Dec. 3: Amr el Sayed, Oakland
Jan. 7: Kei Ishimaru, UIC
Jan. 14: Willem Poelmans, Green Bay
Jan. 21: Jorden Merrilees, Oakland
2013-14 Horizon League Women’s Swimmer of the Week
Oct. 15: Emily McClellan, Milwaukee
Oct. 22: Parker Wolf, Green Bay
Oct. 29: Natalie Johnson, Milwaukee
Nov. 5: Karin Tomeckova, Oakland
Nov. 12: Anna Yontz, Milwaukee
Nov. 19: Natalie Neuwirth, Green Bay
Dec. 3: Emily McClellan, Milwaukee
Jan. 7: Parker Wolf, Green Bay
Jan. 14: Rowan Elbadry, Cleveland State
Jan. 21: Kyra Rietveld, Oakland
2013-14 Horizon League Men’s Diver of the Week
Oct. 15: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
Oct. 22: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
Oct. 29: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
Nov. 12: Danny Roberts, Cleveland State
Nov. 19: Danny Roberts, Cleveland State
Dec. 3: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
Jan. 7: Mark Ciesielski, UIC
Jan. 14: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
Jan. 21: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
2013-14 Horizon League Women’s Diver of the Week
Oct. 15: Tricia Grant, Oakland
Oct. 22: Tricia Grant, Oakland
Oct. 29: Tricia Grant, Oakland
Nov. 5: Samantha Sposet, Cleveland State
Nov. 12: Tricia Grant, Oakland
Nov. 19: Whitney Johnson, UIC
Dec. 3: Tricia Grant, Oakland
Jan. 7: Whitney Johnson, UIC
Jan. 14: Rachel Margis, Milwaukee
Jan. 21: Tricia Grant, Oakland