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Spartan Aquatic Club’s Sean Diffenderfer will swim for Oakland University beginning Fall 2023. Diffenderfer specializes in the distance freestyle events, and is a 2023 Futures qualifier in the 500 free, 1000 free, and 1650 free. Moreover, Diffenderfer is a 2x Michigan Division 2 High School state champion in the 500 freestyle.
“I chose Oakland University because it is a beautiful campus with great educational programs. They have an amazing, highly competitive swim team that preforms extremely well. I felt at home once I stepped on the campus. I cannot wait for the next four years. Go Golden Grizzlies!”
Sean Diffenderfer competes for Walled Lake Northern High School during the Michigan high school swim season. Diffenderfer had a memorable meet at the Michigan Division 2 State Championships as a senior, defending his state title in the 500 yard freestyle with a winning time of 4:34.70. Additionally, Diffenderfer took home 4th place in the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 1:43.41. Both swims at the State Championships that weekend were best times for Diffenderfer.
Spartan Aquatic Club recently rounded out their 2022-2023 short course season at the Michigan Ultra Championship meet. Diffenderfer had several top 8 finishes at the meet, placing 5th in the 200 freestyle, 2nd in the 500 freestyle, 2nd in the 1000 freestyle, and 2nd in the 1650 freestyle. His 1000 time of 9:26.39 was a new personal best time by a margin of 20 seconds.
Top Times:
- 200 free- 1:43.41
- 500 free- 4:34.70
- 1000 free- 9:26.39
- 1650 free- 16:01.74
At the 2023 Horizon League Conference Championships in Indianapolis, the Oakland University men came out on top, winning the meet with 11 event titles. 5th year Ben Davis and sophomore Jonas Cantrell led the charge for Oakland distance, with Davis finishing 2nd in both the 500 free (4:25.24) and the 1650 free (15:19.66). Cantrell won the 500 free for the Grizzlies (4:22.87) and placed 3rd in the 1650 (15:30.64).
Diffenderfer would have contributed points for the Grizzlies at the Horizon League Championships this year in both the 500 freestyle (14th) and the mile (13th) with his best times.
In addition to Diffenderfer, the Oakland University 2023 men’s recruiting class currently consists of Joey Countryman, Max Haney, Andrew Gelston, and Carson Ricker. Alongside Diffenderfer, Haney and Gelston are solid in the distance events, with best times of 4:34 and 4:36, respectively. With senior Christian Bart potentially being out of the question next season, incoming breaststroker Carson Ricker is set to add much-needed depth to the Oakland breaststroke events. Countryman specializes in the sprint freestyle events.
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He’s going to make a diffenderference