Orediggers Gear Up for a Thrilling Showdown at DU!

Written by: Sam Boender

M Swimming: #25 Mines at Denver – Denver, Colo. – Friday, 3 p.m. [Live Video]

W Swimming: #21 Mines at Denver – Denver, Colo. – Friday, 3 p.m. [Live Video]

RETURN TO COMPETITION
It has been over 40 days since the last official competition for the Colorado School of Mines Men’s and Women’s Swimming squads. This Friday heralds the Orediggers’ comeback from a break as they travel to the University of Denver for a dual meet with the NCAA Division I Pioneers. The host team will commence one and three-meter diving at 12 p.m., followed by Senior Day celebrations for DU at 2:40 p.m. The race is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
 
LIVE BROADCAST
The events on Friday will be streamed live and at no cost on YouTube. Live results will also be available on the “Meet Mobile” app, which can be downloaded on mobile devices and does require a subscription.
 
EVENT SCHEDULE
The agenda for Friday features a compact arrangement comprising nine individual events and two relays. The complete lineup is outlined below and is subject to modification.
– 200-medley relay
– 1000-free
– 200-free
– 50-free
– 400-IM
BREAK
– 200-fly
– 100-free
– 200-back
– 500-free
BREAK
– 200-breast
– 400-freestyle relay
 
HALF-TERM REVIEW
Mines officially commenced its season on Thursday, Oct. 24, with a women’s duel against NCAA Division I New Mexico State. Since that time, the Oredigger women have achieved a 3-1 record in dual competitions, with two victories against Adams State and one against CSU Pueblo. The men have gone 3-0, boasting two wins versus Adams State and an additional triumph over Colorado College. Mines finished the first half of its season at the TYR/CMU Invitational held by Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colo. After four days and seven sessions of competition, the men placed third with 573 points, while the women secured fourth with 405 points. The midseason invite yielded one program record alongside various NCAA qualifying times.
 
RECORD-SETTING RELAY
At the previously mentioned TYR/CMU Invitational, Mines’ women excelled in the 400-freestyle relay during the final session on the last day of competition. The Oredigger team of Jennifer Pierson, Jordan Tierney, Maggie Wells, and Kylie VanderMeer clocked an actual time of 3:28.24, which adjusted for altitude changed to 3:27.84; both times qualify for the program record book. This performance eclipsed the former record established during the 2019-20 season, marking the first program record of the season for either the men’s or women’s teams at Mines.
 
IN THE STANDINGS
Following a strong November, both Mines’ men’s and women’s teams reentered the College Swimming and Diving Coaches’ Association of America’s (CSCAA) 2024-25 Division II Top 25 dual meet rankings. The Orediggers began the season with the men rated #23 and the women #25, but fell out in November. The December national rankings saw the men ranking #25 and the women climbing to #21. So far this season, the Oredigger men and women boast 24 times positioned 25th or higher in NCAA Division II. Vladislav Kazakin’s seventh-ranked 1000-free and Jordan Tierney’s 10th-ranked 200-breast lead the charge for the Orediggers. Drury’s men and Colorado Mesa’s women topped the latest polls.
 
NEW FACE ON DECK
Noah Hensley has joined the Mines swimming staff over the summer as the program’s second full-time assistant coach in its history. Hensley brings nearly a decade of experience as both a student-athlete and coach at the collegiate level. Most recently, the four-time NCAA All-American served as the associate head coach for the men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams at NCAA Division I Miami University of Ohio. His experience also includes tenures at IU Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI) and North Carolina State University, where he also competed as a student-athlete. Fans can explore Hensley’s full profile HERE.
 
ADDITIONAL STAFF ADDITIONS
Head Coach Claire McDaniel expanded her team further by appointing assistant coach Jackie Mudd and graduate assistant Colin Fenster. Mudd arrives at Mines after competing collegiately at Biola University in California. She hails from Littleton, Colo., and is an alumna of Columbine High School. Fenster was a student-athlete at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. This pairing, alongside the previously mentioned Hensley, completes the Oredigger staff, which is led by McDaniel, alongside veteran assistant Andy Foley.
 
AT THE COMMAND
Colorado School of Mines Swimming Head Coach Claire McDaniel is currently in her sixth season leading the Oredigger men and women. McDaniel received her third RMAC Coach of the Year accolade on the men’s side after steering the Orediggers to a team silver at the 2023-24 RMAC Swimming & Diving Championships. She has also earned three RMAC Coach of the Year honors for the women’s side. Throughout five seasons, McDaniel has mentored five RMAC Swimmers of the Year, four RMAC Freshmen of the Year, and witnessed 25 all-American performances, including 21 individual events and four relays.
 
UPCOMING
The January series of duals will continue on Saturday, Jan. 11, as Mines travels to Air Force. The men will compete against the Falcons while the women’s team will participate in a tri-meet alongside Northern Colorado.
 
Fans can follow Mines swimming on “X” (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram at @MinesSwimming. They can also stay updated on Colorado School of Mines Athletics throughout the year on Facebook, “X,” and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.