Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, October 16
Ypsilanti, Mich.
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
University of Toledo
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Swim & Dive Set to Open 2026-27 Season with Eastern Classic
10/14/2026 1:00:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Eagles host Toledo, Wayne State, and Aquinas College Friday-Saturday
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University swim and dive opens its 2026-27 competitive season Friday, Oct. 16, at Jones Natatorium when the Eagles host the Eastern Classic, a two-day meet featuring the University of Toledo, Wayne State University and Aquinas College.
The Eastern Classic runs Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Jones Natatorium in Ypsilanti. Friday's first swim session begins at noon, followed by diving at 3 p.m., and the second swim session at 6 p.m. Saturday's action will begin with the second dive session set for 9:30 a.m., followed by the final swim session at 11 a.m. Live results will be linked on our schedule page here.
Last Meet Recap Green vs. White
Eastern Michigan held its annual Green vs. White intrasquad exhibition Saturday, Oct. 10, at Jones Natatorium, giving the roster its final competitive tuneup before the Eastern Classic.
Captains
Eastern leads the 2026-27 season with four captains guiding the program. Emma Littrell (Taylor Mill, Ky./St. Henry District), Siporah Sang (London, Ontario/Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School) and Lucy Noble (Flagler Beach, Fla./Flagler Palm Coast) serve as the swim captains, while Aisling Gutierrez (New Kent, Va./New Kent) leads the diving group as dive captain.
Key Returners
The senior class provides the veteran backbone. Nina LaRosa (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) enters her fourth year ranked third in program history in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.25. Marlee Christie (Seminole, Fla./Seminole) holds the third-fastest marks in school history in both the 50 freestyle (22.83) and the 100 freestyle (49.77). Tristen Mina (Santa Clara, Calif./The King's Academy) owns the fifth-fastest time in program history in the 100 butterfly at 54.59, and Littrell checks in at 10th all-time in that same event at 55.44.
Also returning with program top-10 marks are Nehir Oz (Istanbul, Turkey/Cevre), who ranks ninth all-time in the 1,650 freestyle (16:44.48), and Marianna Fardella (Serres, Greece/40 Geniko Lykeio Serron), who holds the ninth-fastest time in program history in the 200 backstroke (2:01.17). Shayne Patrick (Reno, Nev./TMCC Magnet High School) rounds out the group with the 10th-fastest 200 butterfly mark in school history at 2:02.86. Fourth-year swimmers Sophie Gatrall (Windsor, Ontario/Tecumseh Vista Academy), Morgan Hofmeister (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty), Noble and Sang also return to lead the senior class.
The diving corps also returns a pair of award-winning third-year divers. Meg Lupa (Campden, Ontario/West Niagara Secondary) and Rose Kendrick (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) have each earned freshman diver of the year honors in the last two seasons, respectively, and bring that decorated experience into the Eastern Classic.
Up Next
Following the Eastern Classic, Eastern returns to Jones Natatorium Friday, Oct. 30, to open conference competition against the University at Buffalo. The two-day series continues Saturday, Oct. 31, with an 11 a.m. start.
Follow Us
For the latest in EMU swimming & diving, stay tuned to EMUEagles.com, and follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
The Eastern Classic runs Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Jones Natatorium in Ypsilanti. Friday's first swim session begins at noon, followed by diving at 3 p.m., and the second swim session at 6 p.m. Saturday's action will begin with the second dive session set for 9:30 a.m., followed by the final swim session at 11 a.m. Live results will be linked on our schedule page here.
Last Meet Recap Green vs. White
Eastern Michigan held its annual Green vs. White intrasquad exhibition Saturday, Oct. 10, at Jones Natatorium, giving the roster its final competitive tuneup before the Eastern Classic.
Captains
Eastern leads the 2026-27 season with four captains guiding the program. Emma Littrell (Taylor Mill, Ky./St. Henry District), Siporah Sang (London, Ontario/Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School) and Lucy Noble (Flagler Beach, Fla./Flagler Palm Coast) serve as the swim captains, while Aisling Gutierrez (New Kent, Va./New Kent) leads the diving group as dive captain.
Key Returners
The senior class provides the veteran backbone. Nina LaRosa (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) enters her fourth year ranked third in program history in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.25. Marlee Christie (Seminole, Fla./Seminole) holds the third-fastest marks in school history in both the 50 freestyle (22.83) and the 100 freestyle (49.77). Tristen Mina (Santa Clara, Calif./The King's Academy) owns the fifth-fastest time in program history in the 100 butterfly at 54.59, and Littrell checks in at 10th all-time in that same event at 55.44.
Also returning with program top-10 marks are Nehir Oz (Istanbul, Turkey/Cevre), who ranks ninth all-time in the 1,650 freestyle (16:44.48), and Marianna Fardella (Serres, Greece/40 Geniko Lykeio Serron), who holds the ninth-fastest time in program history in the 200 backstroke (2:01.17). Shayne Patrick (Reno, Nev./TMCC Magnet High School) rounds out the group with the 10th-fastest 200 butterfly mark in school history at 2:02.86. Fourth-year swimmers Sophie Gatrall (Windsor, Ontario/Tecumseh Vista Academy), Morgan Hofmeister (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty), Noble and Sang also return to lead the senior class.
The diving corps also returns a pair of award-winning third-year divers. Meg Lupa (Campden, Ontario/West Niagara Secondary) and Rose Kendrick (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) have each earned freshman diver of the year honors in the last two seasons, respectively, and bring that decorated experience into the Eastern Classic.
Up Next
Following the Eastern Classic, Eastern returns to Jones Natatorium Friday, Oct. 30, to open conference competition against the University at Buffalo. The two-day series continues Saturday, Oct. 31, with an 11 a.m. start.
Follow Us
For the latest in EMU swimming & diving, stay tuned to EMUEagles.com, and follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
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