LEWISVILLE, Texas (Feb. 12, 2019) – Within Oklahoma Christian's swimming programs, there's a phrase often used: "No one knows." That's because most of the NCAA Division II swimming world doesn't give OC's second-year program much of a thought – yet.
The goal of the Eagles and the Lady Eagles is to change that, starting this week when they compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships. The RMAC meet at the Lewisville Westside Aquatic Center will run Wednesday through Saturday, with preliminary rounds starting in the morning and finals in the evening each day.
"We really do believe that we're going to do well," OC assistant coach
Nathan Townsend said. "It's nice to know there's really no pressure, because no one is expecting Oklahoma Christian to do anything, really. It's nice to not have a target on our back and just go enjoy racing and just enjoy going fast.
"Our saying is 'no one knows.' It's a cool secret to have, but we're hoping we get to show a little bit of what we've been doing and make people realize that OC swimming is actually the real deal. We want to put OC swimming on the map."
The RMAC is one of Division II's toughest leagues, thanks in good part to Oklahoma Baptist and Colorado Mesa, which have their men's and women's teams ranked in the top 25 in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America poll – OBU at No. 24 (men) and No. 18 women, Mesa at No. 8 (men) and No. 9 (women).
The RMAC men's meet will include OC and Colorado Mines along with OBU and Mesa, while the women's meet will have those four schools, along with Adams State (Colo.), Western Colorado, Colorado State-Pueblo, Nebraska –Kearney and league newcomer Dixie State (Utah).
"It's a top-three conference in Division II, in my opinion," Townsend said.
It's been a tough climb for head coach
Josh Davis, Townsend and graduate assistant coach
Noah Yanchulis to build a program while having to compete at the conference level against such quality opponents, but the OC squads have taken numerous steps forward this season.
Based on times entering the meet, OC should have nine swimmers seeded for A finals and 20 others for B finals, a major improvement over last season, when the Eagles had just one swimmer – backstroker
Noah Woollweever – make an A final in any event.
OC's women should have four swimmers seeded for A finals, eight more for B finals and 12 for C finals.
OC's top hopes for A finalists for the men include Woollweever, a sophomore from Beckley, W.Va., in the 100-yard backstroke and 200 backstroke; freshman
Bergen Davis of Juneau, Alaska, in the 200 backstroke; freshman
Brandon Heredia of Maryville, Mo., in the 50 freestyle; sophomore
Zac Hawes from Houston in the 100 breaststroke; sophomore
Andrew Assaleh of Oklahoma City in the 200 breaststroke and sophomore
Derek Duckworth in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle.
Sophomore
Jamie McGarrigle of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., will swim in three individual events (50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle) and four relay events for the Lady Eagles.
Other top hopes for OC's women will include freshman
Gabrealla Badillo of Coppell, Texas, in the 1,650 freestyle; freshman
Grace Hill of Santa Clarita, Calif., in the 400 individual medley; sophomore
Riley Powelson of Edmond in the 200 butterfly and sophomore
Heidi Fritscher of Mandeville, La., in the 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke.
"The goal is to wipe the (school) record board clean," Townsend said. "We're definitely anticipating everyone to have their best times. It's a long, grueling four-day meet, with prelims and finals every day. But we're really excited. We've been practicing really hard and I feel like we're peaking at the right time."
