TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's swimming & diving team will embark on its 2022-23 season this Friday when it hosts Oakland in a non-conference meet at 5:00 p.m. in the UT Student Recreation Center Pool.

Head Coach Brie Globig, now entering her fourth season at the helm, welcomes 17 returning student-athletes and eight new student-athletes to the pool. She said the combinations of a strong group of veterans and newcomers will help to shape the program and continue its upward trajectory established in 2021-22.

"I look forward to seeing them come together to continue to redefine our program's success and culture," Globig said. "We also have some student-athletes that were limited or out most of last year that are making their return. I really look forward to seeing the impact they will have as well. They're all hungry for success and putting in a lot of great work."

The Rockets return 17 swimmers and three divers, including senior freestyler Kennedy Lovell who was part of four school records set last season. Other top returners are seniors Jovanna Duric, Ashley LeFever, and Lauren Kilgore, and junior Sydney Conrad.

"Kennedy, Lauren, Ashley, Sydney and Jovana will be standouts again this year," Globig added. "Nejla Karic is having a huge improvement year so far and I think we will really see her talent shine in meets coming up."

Lovell had 14 wins last season, including five personal-best times. She set the school record in the 100 freestyle, was a member of both the record-setting 200 and 400 relay teams, and also set the 50 freestyle school record at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships. 

Kilgore is a top returner who succeeded in numerous events last season. She recorded 21 top-five finishes with eight wins, including both school records in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. She recorded nine career-best swims last season in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, the 50, 100, 150 and 200 breaststroke, and the 100 and 200 IM events.

LeFever, a member of the freestyle and butterfly groups, was an Academic All-MAC and President's List honoree with a 4.0 GPA in 2021-22. LeFever swam on the record-setting 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams, collected two individual wins, and recorded four personal-best times.

Conrad is the top returner for the butterfly group. She collected six wins, recorded three personal-best times, and set two school records during the 2022-21 season. Conrad swam on the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams that set school records at the Mid-American Conference Championships.

Duric is a strong member of the freestyle group. She won six events last season and had two podium finishes at the MAC Championships: seventh in the 500 freestyle and third in the 1650 freestyle. In the postseason, Duric represented Toledo in four events at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships.

On the diving boards, Toledo has three veteran and three additions as well as a new diving coach, Gabby Han.

Madison Giglio is the top diver for the Rockets, who won five events including the consolation bracket at the UB Diving Invitational. She qualified for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships and finished 37th in both the one-and-three meter boards.

About Oakland
Oakland is well into its 2022-23 season with three meets already completed. The Golden Grizzlies defeated Wayne State on Sept. 9, lost to Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 20, and most recently lost to Michigan on Oct. 8. Oakland has won the last five meetings with Toledo, dating back to Jan. 9, 2016, the last being by a 186.5-113.5 final score.

Follow the Rockets
Be sure to follow the Rockets' swimming and diving team on social media:

• Twitter: @ToledoSwimDive
• Instagram: 'toledoswimdive'
• Facebook: 'Toledo Swim Dive'