M Swimming & Diving: #20 Mines vs. Air Force – Mines Natatorium – Saturday, 8 a.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Results]
W Swimming: #12 Mines vs. Western Colorado – Mines Natatorium – Saturday, 10:30 a.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Results]

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UPDATE: The start of diving was changed to 8 a.m. after the original release of this preview. Apologies for any confusion.

HOME FINALE
Saturday marks the home finale for the nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines men's and women's swimming & diving programs. The Orediggers' final home contest of the 2025-26 campaign will be a dual with Mines' men facing NCAA Division I Air Force and the Oredigger women taking on RMAC foe Western Colorado. Action begins with diving at 8 a.m. Senior Day festivities will take place around 10:20 a.m. with racing. There will be no diving break during swimming. Admission is free and all of Oredigger nation is encouraged to come out and support the teams.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
All action this weekend will have live results provided through the swimcloud platform at www.college swimming.com with a direct link through www.minesathletics.com/swimlive. There will also be live video with a subscription to the RMAC Network.
 
RMAC NETWORK CHANGES
During the fall, the RMAC Network moved to a pay-per-view model for all events. Fans can purchase monthly and annual subscriptions that will provide them access to all regular-season, championship, and archived broadcasts on the RMAC Network. A monthly subscription costs $25, and an annual subscription costs $130. Single-game passes are available for $10, which grants access to a single game for 24 hours. For technical support questions, fans can contact Hudl Support or email the RMAC directly (rmac@rmacsports.org). For further support, fans can visit the RMAC Network Help page.
 
FORMAT AND SCORING
Saturday is a standard swimming & diving dual with regular team scoring applied. Individual events carry point values of 9-4-3-2-1-0 for placing first through sixth, respectively. Relay point values are 11-4-2-0. Individuals can score in up to three events between relays and individual races. Some events may include exhibition swimmers which will not count toward the team totals. The current slate features two heats of each event with six of eight lanes used for competition. Diving point values are the same for finishing first through sixth. There will be 1-meter and 3-meter diving with each going six dives.
 
RACE ORDER
Eleven races plus 1-meter and 3-meter diving make up Saturday's slate. Two of the races are relays with nine individual events. The tentative order is laid out below.
- 400-medley relay
- 1000-free
- 200-free
- 50-free
- 400-IM
BREAK
- 100-fly
- 100-free
- 100-back
- 500-free
BREAK
- 100-breast
- 200-freestyle relay
 
MEET THE SENIORS
Mines looks forward to celebrating its senior class on Saturday as part of Senior Day. The main festivities will take place starting at 10:20 a.m. with individual recognition of each senior on the pool deck as a personal tribute is read over the public address system. The eleven seniors include Ava Burger, Joe Hutchinson, Emi Jedryka, Savannah Karas, Charlie Krone, Mattie Oberley, Cameryn Schmidt, Jake Sherman, Jordan Tierney, Kylie VanderMeer, and Jakson Winn. Learn a little bit about each senior below.
 
AVA BURGER
Burger arrived at Mines in time for the 2021-22 season after graduating from Cathedral Catholic High School in California. She immediately made an impact as part of the 200-medley relay which was Second-Team All-RMAC at the conference meet. She continued registering team points at the conference meet as a sophomore in the 100-breast and 200-breast. Injury disrupted her junior season, but Burger returned in 2024-25 stronger than ever. In addition to earning her bachelor's degree in engineering design, she also racked up team points for Mines in four individual events and as part of two relays at the RMAC Championships. For the 2024-25 season, she was top-100 in the nation in the 100-breast, 200-breast, and 100-IM. She's currently working towards a master's degree in engineering & technology management.
 
JOE HUTCHINSON
Hutchinson came to Golden by way of Virginia Beach, Va., and First Colonial High School in 2022-23. By his sophomore season, Hutchinson had earned CSCAA Second-Team Scholar All-America honors and ranked top-100 in the nation in the 50-breast and 200-breast. Last year, as a junior, Hutchinson was First-Team All-RMAC as part of the 200-medley relay and 400-medley relay while stacking points for Mines in two individual events at the conference races. He was top-100 in the nation in the 50-breast, 100-breast, and 200-breast. Earlier this season, Hutchinson helped the Orediggers break the program record in the 400-medley relay at the TYR/CMU Invitational in Grand Junction, Colo. He'll graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
 
EMI JEDRYKA
Since 2022, Jedryka has competed as one of the Orediggers' top backstrokers after a successful prep career at Buffalo Grove High School in Arlington Heights, Ill. She exploded on the scene as a true freshman by qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championships in the 200-back and as part of four different relays. She was a CSCAA Second-Team All-American as part of the 400-freestyle relay and was First-Team All-RMAC as part of the 800-freestyle relay. Her success continued as a sophomore with team points at the conference meet in the 100-back, 200-back, 200-freestyle relay, 400-freestyle relay, 800-freestyle relay, and 400-medley relay. As a junior, Jedryka was Second-Team All-RMAC thanks to her role on the 400-medley relay while tallying points for the Orediggers in a total of seven events at the conference championships. She's currently top-50 in the nation in the 200-back. Jedryka will graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree in quantitative biosciences and engineering.
 
SAVANNAH KARAS
A native of Driftwood, Texas, and a graduate of Dripping Springs High School, Karas has competed for the Orediggers since 2022. She was Second-Team All-RMAC in the 200-fly as a true freshman. By her sophomore season, Karas had broken the program record in the 200-fly which stood until earlier this season. Her sophomore campaign included team points for Mines in three different events at the conference meet while ranking top-100 in the nation in the 50-fly, 100-fly, 200-fly, and 100-IM. Her 200-fly best was a NCAA "B" cut that season as well. Last year, Karas scored team points for Mines in four individual events and as part of one relay at the RMAC Championships. Currently, she ranks #19 in the nation in the 200-fly with a NCAA "B" time as well. Karas will graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
 
CHARLIE KRONE
Krone arrived at Mines after competing for three seasons at the University of Tennessee where he completed a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in just three years. In less than one season as an Oredigger, Krone has broken four different program records – all during the TYR/CMU Invitational. His altitude-adjusted records are in the 200-free, 100-fly, as part of the 400-medley relay, and as part of the 800-freestyle relay. He currently ranks #36 in the nation in the 200-free and #29 in the 100-fly. Krone is currently working on a master's degree in mechanical engineering as a graduate research assistant in the Colorado Fuel Cell Center where he works on a NASA co-op project.
 
MATTIE OBERLEY
Oberley is in his fourth season with the Orediggers after competing for Salem High School in Virginia Beach, Va. He's appeared on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll for two straight seasons. As a sophomore, he scored multiple team points for Mines at the RMAC Championships in the 100-fly, 200-fly, and 1000-free. In that same season, he finish top-100 in the nation in the 1000-free, 200-fly, and 50-fly. Oberley has also served as a team captain and will graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
 
CAMERYN SCHMIDT
Schmidt started her collegiate career as an Oredigger in 2022 after completing her prep career at Naperville North High School in Illinois. During the first three years at Mines, she was First-Team All-RMAC in the 200-freestyle relay and 200-medley relay with Second-Team All-RMAC finishes in the same relays. As a sophomore, Schmidt collected CSCAA First-Team Scholar All-America distinction, appeared on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll, and was named RMAC Swimmer of the Week. She also qualified for the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships and finished 22nd in the nation in the 100-breast. Schmidt's junior season was cut short, but she still ranked top-50 in the nation in the 50-breast and top-100 in the 100-breast while earning RMAC Academic Honor Roll distinction again. Along the way, Schmidt has broken and still holds multiple program records. Her name is currently #1 in Mines history in the 50-free, 50-breast, as part of the 200-medley relay, and 200-freestyle relay. Furthermore, Schmidt boasts the fastest 50-fly and 50-breast in Mines Natatorium history. She'll graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering with an automotive focus.
 
JAKE SHERMAN
Sherman came to Golden by way of Tampa, Fla., and H.B. Plant High School. Since 2022, he has racked up team points for Mines at two different RMAC Championships in a combined eight total races. Sherman's specialty in the 1000-free and 1650-free led to a pair of eighth-place finishes at the conference meet last season. Both of those finishes also yielded NCAA "B" times and he finished the season ranked top-100 in the nation in the 500-free, 1000-free, and 1650-free. Other scoring races for Sherman included the 500-free, 200-free, and roles on the 200-freestyle relay, and 800-freestyle relay. He was also top-100 in the nation in the 1000-free and 1650-free as a sophomore. Thus far in his senior campaign, Sherman ranks top-50 in the nation in the 1000-free and is #30 in the nation in the 1650-free. He'll graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering with an automotive focus.
 
JORDAN TIERNEY
An illustrious prep career at Appoquinimink High School in Middletown, Del., prefaces Tierney's arrival at Mines. Since coming to Golden, Tierney has qualified for the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships each year she's been eligible and continued to make history for the Orediggers. As a freshman, she was CSCAA Second-Team All-America in the 200-breast, 400-freestyle relay, and 400-medley relay, named RMAC Freshman of the Year, finished First-Team All-RMAC in the 100-breast, 200-freestlye relay, and 400-medley relay. As a sophomore, Tierney finished third in the nation in the 100-breast while earning CSCAA First-Team All-American and Second-Team All-America distinction. Last year, she was CSC Second-Team Academic All-America and First-Team All-RMAC in the 200-breast and 200-medley relay. Overall, Tierney is a five-time all-American, eight-time First-Team All-RMAC swimmer, six-time Second-Team All-RMAC swimmer, and two-time RMAC Champion. Her name is listed 17 times in the program record book including for the 100-IM, 100-breast, 200-breast, and with four of the five relays. She holds the Mines Natatorium records in the 100-breast, 200-breast, and 100-IM. Currently, Tierney is #20 in the nation in the 100-IM, #16 in the 50-breast, #5 in the 100-breast, and #33 in the 200-breast. She will graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree and master's degree in computational and applied mathematics.
 
KYLIE VANDERMEER
VanderMeer came to Mines via Spicewood, Texas, and Lake Travis High School Since her arrival, she has only gotten better. As a freshman, VanderMeer scored team points for Mines at the RMAC Championships in the 100-fly, 200-fly, as part of the 400-medley relay, and as part of the 400-freestyle relay. Her sophomore season yielded a Second-Team All-RMAC finish as part of the 800-freestyle relay along with numerous other team points and an appearance on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll. Last year, the Texan was First-Team All-RMAC as part of the 200-medley relay, Second-Team All-RMAC on the 400-medley relay and 200-freestyle relay, named CSC Academic All-District, and RMAC First-Team All-Academic. Her junior campaign also included program records in the 200-freestyle relay and 400-freestyle relay. VanderMeer was also a two-year captain. She'll graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering and continue working on a master's degree.
 
JAKSON WINN
Winn started at Mines in 2022 after competing for Mercer Island High School in Washington. He was First-Team All-RMAC as a freshman in the 200-medley relay and Second-Team All-RMAC in the 200-freestyle relay and 800-freestyle relay as well. Furthermore, Winn's first collegiate season saw him qualify for the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships where he helped the 200-medley relay finish 18th in the nation. As a sophomore, Winn was First-Team All-RMAC thanks to his role on the 200-freestyle relay. Last year, he recorded four First-Team All-RMAC finishes and had a Second-Team All-RMAC finish while earning RMAC Swimmer of the Week as well. Winn has broken and rebroken multiple program records. Currently, he holds Mines' fastest 50-back and 100-back and was a part of four record-breaking relays. Going into Senior Day, Winn ranks top-20 in the nation in the 100-back. He's slated to graduate from Mines with a bachelor's degree in computer science.

DENVER RECAP
Mines returned from the holiday break with a dual against University of Denver last weekend. The Pioneers recorded winning scores on both sides. Along the way, the Orediggers had multiple runner-up finishes. Those started with Mary Flikkema, Jordan Tierney, Kaya Flaherty, and Jennifer Pierson in the 200-medley relay. Mikaela Khan touched second in the 200-fly. Vladislav Kazakin collected silver in the 500-free. Anna Bream was second in the 200-breast. The men's 400-freestyle relay of Brenden Cook, Dan Berke, Jack Fulham, and Jakson Winn closed the day.
 
REWRITING RECORDS
Earlier this season, the TYR/CMU Invitational produced multiple program records and a major overhaul of the Oredigger record books. On the women's side, Cameryn Schmidt broke the 50-free record, Anna Bream broke the 400-IM record, and four different relay records went down. Mary Flikkema, Schmidt, Kaya Flaherty, and Jordan Tierney teamed up in the 200-medley relay. It was Flaherty, Tierney, Schmidt, and Jennifer Pierson in the 200-freestyle relay. The 400-freestyle quartet was made up of Tierney, Ava LaBrose, Flaherty, and Pierson. LaBrose, Pierson, Michelle Murphy, and Bream rounded things out in the distance relay. On the men's side, Charlie Krone went off and captured Mines' 200-free and 100-fly records. Jakson Winn struck twice in the 50-back and 100-back. The men had three relay records as well. Winn, Joe Hutchinson, Krone, and Dan Berke did the work on the 400-medley relay. Brenden Cook, Winn, Berke, and Jack Fulham toppled the 200-freestyle relay mark. Krone, Cook, Cameron MacMillan, and Vladislav Kazkin were the record-breaking foursome on the 800-freestyle relay.
 
THAT'S NOT ALL
Prior to the mid-season invite, the Orediggers were already slaying records. Vladislav Kazakin brought down the Mines Natatorium record in the 500-free on opening weekend. The return of Oredigger diving saw Bruno Albertoni break the program's best score in the 1-meter, six-dive event in his very first collegiate action. Ava LaBrose provided the women a facility record in the 200-free as well – a mark previously held by Oredigger star Mia Wood.
 
BUTTERFLY EFFECT
A number of program records broken at the TYR/CMU Invitational were reset multiple times between prelims, finals, and relay leadoffs. However, the most exciting exchange was arguably the women's fastest mark in the 200-fly. On the final day in Grand Junction, Colo., the program record in the 200-fly exchanged hands four times. Mikaela Khan started by breaking her own record in prelims of the 200-fly. One prelim heat later, Kaya Flaherty topped Khan's time. Then, during the evening "B" finals, Savannah Karas put her name at the top of the list. In the end, Khan reclaimed her record in the 200-fly by winning the entire event in 2:02.28 which also fell under the NCAA-qualifying standard. Khan's previous collegiate best in the event, without adjustment for altitude, was 2:05.87 against Colorado College.
 
#1 IN THE NATION
As of Jan. 9, 2026, Anna Bream's altitude-adjusted 4:18.23 in the 400-IM ranks #1 in all of NCAA Division II this season. She produced the mark while racing to gold at the TYR/CMU Invitational in November. Additionally, Bream is #5 in DII in the 200-IM and #9 in the 200-breast. While Bream is the Oredigger ranked #1 in any event, she's not the only one ranked top-10 in the nation so far this season. Julie Gill is #10 in the 1000-free, Mary Flikkema is #10 in the 50-back, Jordan Tierney sits #5 in the 100-breast, Mikaela Khan ranks #6 in the 200-fly, and the women's 800-freestyle relay from the TYR/CMU Invitational is #6 in DII. On the men's side, Vladislav Kazakin leads the way, sitting #5 in the 1000-free, #6 in the 1650-free, and #8 in the 500-free.
 
NATIONALLY RANKED
The Colorado School of Mines men's and women's swimming & diving teams both made significant jumps in the December edition of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches' Association of America's (CSCAA) Division II Top 25 Dual Meet Rankings. The Oredigger men went from receiving votes to #20 in the nation. Mines' women leapt from #18 to #12. Both improvements come after an extremely successful November trip to the TYR/CMU Invitational in Grand Junction, Colo, where both teams overhauled their respective program record books. The polls are voted on by a committee consisting of Division II coaches and are meant to reflect the top dual meet teams in all of NCAA Division II. The national rankings are not meant to predict the top finishers in a championship meet format. Drury's men and Tampa's women each checked in at #1 in the nation. Colorado Mesa was the only other RMAC squad in the men's poll, slotting at #6. Fellow RMAC squads in the women's rankings included #3 Colorado Mesa and #16 Simon Fraser with Oklahoma Christian receiving votes.
 
DIVING RETURNS
Earlier this fall, Mines announced the return of men's and women's NCAA Division II diving starting this season. Katherine Andrie will coach and look to regrow the program in the coming years. The history of Mines diving includes 12 all-Americans, an individual national champion, one of the first women in Mines Athletics, and multiple members of the Harry D. Campbell Oredigger Hall of Fame. A few of those hall of fame members include NCAA Division II National Champion Rick Williamson, former head coach Bob McCandless, the 1983 Women's Swimming & Diving team, and the Men's Swimming & Diving teams from 1981-84. That rich history threads perfectly with the current goals of the program and the department.
 
HOW DIVING WORKS
In full disclosure, the author has only recently learned the basics of competitive diving. Fans should note there are numerous nuances beyond what's laid out below. In college diving, there are two basic types of diving competitions – six dive competitions and 11 dive competitions. In those events, divers either perform six dives or 11 dives to collect a total score determined by the judges. The very basic types of dives include forward, back, reverse, inward, and twisting. Those terms refer to how the competitor begins their dive. After determining how the dive starts, there are also somersaults, or rotations. Along with somersaults and rotations, there is the position. The position could be straight, pike, tuck, or free. The later often includes multiple positions. All of those things are announced before the dive through a series of numbers along with a letter to clarify straight, pike, tuck, or free. In six dive competitions, all dives are optional and can be picked by the competitor. In 11 dive formats, there are six optional dives and five voluntary, or designated, dives  Also, everything mentioned above can happen on a one meter board or a three meter board. Mines does not have platform diving. And with that, the author has exhausted his understanding of diving. Good luck.
 
STAFF UPDATES
Mines Head Coach Claire McDaniel bolstered her swimming & diving staff during the offseason. The newcomers include Katherine Andrie, Brad Shannon, and Graham Walker. Andrie, as previously introduced, will serve as the men's and women's diving coach. Shannon arrives at Colorado School of Mines as McDaniel's top assistant. Walker competed as a student-athlete for McDaniel at the University of Denver and has since gained coaching experience around the metropolitan area. The trio joins veteran Oredigger assistants Andy Foley and Colin Fenster.
 
MEET KATHERINE ANDRIE
As referenced above, Coach Andrie will serve as the lead lady for the Mines diving teams. She joins the staff with both an impressive résumé as a diving coach, and a personal familiarity with Colorado School of Mines. Two of her children, Marty and Carlie, attended Mines and competed for the Orediggers. Marty was a nine-time all-American in cross country and track & field and a member of the 2015 Men's Cross Country team which won the NCAA Division II Championship. That team was inducted into the Harry D. Campbell Oredigger Hall of Fame in 2023. Carlie competed in triathlon and for the club water polo team during her time at Mines. On deck, Coach Andrie boasts multiple decades of high school and club coaching experience with stops at numerous high schools in the Denver area including Valor Christian, Littleton, Douglas County, Smoky Hill, and more. She was named East Metro Diving Coach of the Year in 2011 and CHSAA 4A Dive Coach of the Year in 2018.
 
MEET BRAD SHANNON
Shannon arrived in Golden, Colo., over the summer following two years as the head man at William Peace University in North Carolina. He and his staff earned 2024-25 Independent South Swimming Conference Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding WPU's men to second-place finish at the conference meet while the women took team bronze. The Pacer's 2023-24 squads combined for six gold medals at the ISSC meet and broke nine program records. Prior to William Peace, Shannon was an assistant at the University of Rochester from 2019-23. Additional professional experience includes work as a counselor at both the University of Florida and N.C. State swim camps. Collegiately, Shannon competed at Ohio State University and earned Ohio State and Big Ten Scholar Athlete distinction all four years. He was a USA Swimming Olympic Trial Qualifier in 2016 as well. He owns a bachelor's degree in international studies with a specialization in security and intelligence from OSU. Shannon earned his master's degree from Concordia Chicago in applied exercise science. Fans can read more about Shannon's accomplishments in his online bio.
 
MEET GRAHAM WALKER
Walker joins the Oredigger staff following an elite amateur and collegiate swimming career. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Walker represented Team Kenya at both the All-Africa Games and the Commonwealth Games. He went on to compete for the University of Denver under coach McDaniel. His high-level performance in the pool also led to serving as team captain his final two years with the Pioneers. Walker's coach career started while he was still in college, teaching swimming lessons, and continued after graduation. He eventually accepted a formal coaching role with the University of Denver Hilltoppers Swim Club in 2022. Since then, Walker coached multiple state champions and program record holders. He returned to DU as an assistant coach in 2024 and helped oversee conference titles and continued competitive success. Fans can also find his bio online.
 
AT THE HELM
Colorado School of Mines Swimming Head Coach Claire McDaniel is in her seventh season at the helm for the Oredigger men and women. McDaniel won her fourth RMAC Coach of the Year on the men's side after guiding the Orediggers to team silver at the 2024-25 RMAC Swimming & Diving Championships. She also owns three RMAC Coach of the Year awards on the women's side. Through six seasons, McDaniel has coached five RMAC Swimmers of the Year, four RMAC Freshmen of the Year, and 27 all-American performances including 23 individual events and four relays.
 
UP NEXT
Following Saturday's home finale, Mines will train for the First Chance Invitational at DU Feb. 6-7. A full preview and live coverage will be available the day before at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines swimming on "X" (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram at @MinesSwimming. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.