Season Preview: Women’s Swimming and Diving excited to build off of last season’s success

By Wes Mayberry 

| 2022-23 Women's Swimming & Diving Schedule |

ADA — Coming off its best Ohio Athletic Conference Championships finish in six years, the Ohio Northern women's swimming and diving team is ready to return to the pool for competition in 2022-23 under fifth-year head coach Austin Veltman.

"We had a really good season last year, and we're looking to continue to improve as a team," Veltman said. "Two of our seniors won individual OAC championships from last year, so we return a lot of experience and leadership."

The Polar Bears return 13 letter winners from last year's squad that went 4-0 in the OAC during the regular season en route to placing second at the conference meet for its best finish there since 2016.

That group is headlined by three OAC champions from a season ago in senior captains Shelby Starkey (Bellefontaine) and Abby Schauer (Beavercreek) and sophomore Mara Brown (Fremont/Ross).

Starkey won OAC championships in the 100 back and 400 medley relay and was All-Conference in the 200 back and 200 medley relay last season. She enters this season as a three-year letter winner and seven-time All-OAC performer.

"Shelby works hard and correctly, has a great attitude, manages her time well and really cares about the team and her teammates," Veltman said. "She won her first individual OAC championship last year, and I'm excited to see where she can go as a senior."

Schauer, another three-year letter winner, won her second OAC title last season, doing so in the 400 IM. She was the OAC champion in the 200 back in the 2020-21 season and is a five-time All-Conference performer.

"Abby is really competitive in races," Veltman said. "She has a knack for winning touch-outs for that very reason. She's very determined and wants to win."

Brown is coming off an impressive freshman campaign in which she was part of the OAC champion 400 medley relay team and earned All-Conference accolades in the 100 breast, 100 fly, 200 IM, 400 free relay and 200 medley relay. She was a two-time OAC Swimmer of the Week last season and currently holds the third-fastest time in school history in the 100 fly.

"Nobody likes to lose, but there are some swimmers who hate it. Mara is the latter. She hates to lose, and that drives her in practice and in races," Veltman said. "I know she's got her eye on winning events at the OACs this season."

Senior Gabbie Grant (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Lakeview), junior Katie Bend (Carmel, Ind.) and sophomore Hannah Eversole (Cincinnati/Mt. Notre Dame) round out ONU's returning group of All-OAC performers from last season.

Grant, a three-year letter winner, earned Academic All-OAC honors last season and was All-Conference in the 400 free relay.

"Perseverance is the word that comes to mind for Gabbie. She's overcome a lot of adversity," Veltman said. "There were some big highlights for her last year, which were very memorable. She's a senior now and is ready to lead even more."

Bend earned All-OAC honors in the 500 free and 1650 free last season, giving her three All-Conference accolades in her career. A team captain, she currently owns the third-fastest times at ONU in the 1000 free and 1650 free.

"Katie is a very cheerful, positive person," Veltman said. "She always encourages others and lifts their spirits. She is a very effective leader for that reason."

Eversole was All-Conference in the 400 IM as a freshman a season ago and has been training to compete in some different events this year than she has in the past.

"Hannah is a really versatile swimmer who can compete in lots of different events, so she can help the team in a lot of areas," Veltman said. "I think she's going to have a great season."

Juniors Kaitlyn Sullivan (Kettering/Fairmont), Logan Pippenger (Goshen, Ind./Northridge) and Elise Boudreau (Kankakee, Ill.) and sophomores Sydney Selinsky (Dover/Tuscarawas Central Catholic), Annie Richters (Troy/Miami East), Aubrey Pritchard (Delaware/Olentangy Berlin), Alina Miles (Manteno, Ill.) and Morgan Fernandez (Huber Heights/Wayne) round out the returning letter winners for ONU.

The Polar Bears open the 2022-23 season on Oct. 21 at home against Wilmington and will travel to John Carroll on Oct. 29.

Northern will compete at the Calvin (Mich.) Quad on Nov. 4-5 and the Chicago (Ill.) Phoenix Fall Classic on Nov. 18-20.

ONU opens the 2023 portion of its schedule with a meet against Kenyon and Oberlin at Kenyon on Jan. 13 followed by a dual at Mount Union on Jan. 14.

The Polar Bears close out their regular season with a meet against Ohio Wesleyan and Bluffton at OWU on Jan. 20 before returning home for matchups against Baldwin Wallace on Jan. 21 and Grove City (Pa.) on Jan. 28.

The 2023 OAC Championships are scheduled for Feb. 15-18 in Akron.

The 2023 NCAA Division III Championships are scheduled for March 15-18 in Greensboro, N.C.