SHAWNEE – Newly-minted head coach
Matt Hood has released his men's and women's swimming and diving schedule ahead of the Sam Freas Invitational this Saturday from 1-4 p.m. in Edmond.
The Bison, in conjunction with Oklahoma Christian, will host the Sam Freas Invitational at the Edmond YMCA Recreation and Aquatic Center located at Mitch Park. The Invitational is in honor of the late Dr. Sam Freas, whose legendary tenure on Bison Hill resulted in seven NAIA National Championships, as well as multiple Top 10 finishes for the women and 20 finishes for the men at the NCAA Division II Championships.
As the Bison progress through the season, the most notable change is an increased emphasis on dual meets. Oklahoma Baptist will go head-to-head in seven different meets this season.
Following their debut this Saturday, the Bison will turn around to take on Rose State College on Oct. 5 in Midwest City. The meet will serve as a tune-up for the Arkansas-Little Rock Invitational on Oct. 19. Oklahoma Baptist took both the men's and women's titles at the same meet last year.
November kicks off with the Hendrix Relays and Classic on Nov. 1-2. It's the first time OBU has made the trip to Conway, Arkansas, since the 2016-17 season when OBU swept both the men's and women's titles in both the Relays and Classic Invitational.
The next week, Nov. 8-9, the Bison travel to Springfield, Missouri, for the Drury Invitational. A two-week break ensues for OBU following the Drury Invitational before they go back to Missouri for the Mizzou Invitational in Columbia on Nov. 20-22.
After the calendar turns to the new year, Oklahoma Baptist will have their home debut with a triangular against Sterling College and Rose State on Jan. 11. The following Saturday, Jan. 18, sees the Bison head to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for a neutral site meeting with Drury.
The final home action of the season takes place on Jan. 25 when the Bison face off with the Eagles of OC.
January closes, and February begins, with a trip to Arkadelphia, Arkansas. First up for the Bison is Ouachita Baptist on Jan. 31. Oklahoma Baptist closes out the trip on Feb. 1 against Henderson State.
With the final dual meet in the books, OBU sets its sights on the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships in Grand Junction, Colorado. The championship event is set for Feb. 11-15.
The NCAA Division II Championships take place a month later on March 11-14 in Geneva, Ohio.
