COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - In Oklahoma Christian's first meet of the 2025-26 season, Cash Strickland for the OC men and Vanessa Weatherford on the women's side were named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Swimmers of the Week, the conference announced Thursday, Oct. 2.

Strickland and Weatherford's performances helped OC to season-opening victories against conference-foes UT Permian Basin and Nebraska-Kearney. The men defeated UTPB, 1015-653, while the women bested both the Falcons and UNK, 943-459 and 943-660, respectively. 

Strickland, a freshman from Keller, Texas, won a pair of individual events in his first ever collegiate race. The Lone Star product's evening started with a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:42.87 to garner 20 points before ending his evening with a win in the 200 individual medley (1:55.19) for another 20 points towards OC's victory.

"Cash was one of the top swimmers coming out of Texas so we knew he would be good but it is really fun to see him in person competing with us for the first time," head coach Josh Davis said. "I am glad to see our great tradition of mid-distance freestylers continue with the likes of Cash."

Weatherford, a junior from New Braunfels, Texas, laid claim to three event wins, including a pair of individual nods, to put forth 80 points. The upperclassmen, prior to Strickland's winning of the 200 free, delivered her own podium-topping finish in the same race, besting the field with a time of 1:57.09.

After a first-place swim in the 50 butterfly (25.96), Weatherford served as the final leg of the women's 200 freestyle relay as she helped OC to a five-second defeat of Nebraska-Kearney with a swim of 1:37.67 for 40 points.

"Vanessa has been leading by example since her freshman year but now as a junior and team leader, she brings up the level of everybody around her," Davis said. "She trained well over the summer and is already in a great place so we are excited to see her hard work and consistency pay off."

Oklahoma Christian will now head south to Dallas, Texas, to swim against a trio of NCAA Division I opponents as the Eagles take on meet-host SMU, Incarnate Word and North Texas Friday, Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. Coverage of the meet can be found HERE.