Season Review: Dedication pays off for Women’s Swimming & Diving in 2022-23

By Wes Mayberry

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's swimming and diving team had another solid showing in the 2022-23 season, capping it with its third straight top-three finish at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships.

"The ladies had some great swims at the OACs," fifth-year head coach Austin Veltman said. "They brought a lot of energy to the meet and had a lot of fun. They worked really hard this year, and it was nice to see their dedication pay off."

The Polar Bears posted a 4-5 record in their regular-season dual meets before placing third at the 2023 OAC Championships at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.

Northern closed the year with 14 All-OAC honors among six student-athletes.

Sophomore Mara Brown (Fremont/Ross) and senior Shelby Starkey (Bellefontaine) led the way in that department, finishing with a combined nine All-OAC accolades.

Brown earned All-OAC recognition with second-place finishes in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 100 breast and was a member of 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams that both posted second-place showings. She was the top scorer for the Polar Bears at the meet, finishing with 84 points.

She is now a 10-time All-OAC honoree, which includes one conference title.

Brown also earned Academic All-OAC and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition this season.

"Mara can swim a lot of different events, and that versatility is so valuable to the team," Veltman said. "She is always willing to swim whatever is needed for the team, and she gives her absolute best in every race."

Starkey earned four All-OAC honors this season, placing second in the 100 back and 200 back and joining Brown on the 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams. She finished with 65.5 points at the conference meet, which was third-best on the team. Starkey was also named the OAC Women's Swimmer of the Week on Jan. 23.

A two-time OAC champion, Starkey owns seven All-OAC accolades in her career.

"Shelby continues to lead by example every year," Veltman said. "Her consistency in meets and practices is fantastic. She's extremely team-oriented, which is why she is an effective leader."

Seniors Abby Schauer (Beavercreek) and Gabbie Grant (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Lakeview), junior Katie Bend (Carmel, Ind.) and freshman Meghan Mattison (Easton, Pa.) also brought home All-OAC accolades this season.

Schauer was All-Conference in the 200 medley and 400 medley relays, giving her seven such honors in her career, which includes a pair of OAC championships. She finished this year's conference meet with 64 points, which ranked fourth on the team.

"Abby does an excellent job of encouraging her teammates, especially during tough practices and the grind of the season," Veltman said. "She has been invaluable in that respect this season."

Grant earned All-OAC recognition in the 400 medley relay and ranked second on the team with 70 points at the OAC Championships. She is now a two-time All-OAC honoree.

Grant also joined Brown in earning Academic All-OAC and CSC Academic All-District recognition.

"Gabbie continued to improve this year with another great meet at the OACs," Veltman said. "As an education major, she has had the added challenge of balancing swimming with student teaching, and she excelled in both areas."

Bend earned All-OAC status with her third-place finish in the 1,650 free and now owns four All-Conference accolades in her career.

"I don't know that I've met a more positive person than Katie. She just enjoys swimming and being with her teammates," Veltman said. "Through success and adversity, she always has a great attitude."

Mattison rounded out ONU's All-OAC honorees, earning the recognition in the 200 medley relay.

The Polar Bears also had a successful season in the classroom, earning recognition as a CSCAA Scholar All-America team after posting a teamwide 3.24 GPA in the fall 2022 semester. Additionally, sophomores Morgan Fernandez (Huber Heights/Wayne) and Annie Richters (Troy/Miami East) made it four Polar Bears on the Academic All-OAC and CSC Academic All-District teams.

Looking ahead to next season, Veltman is excited to build on the success his team had in 2022-23.