As fall classes get underway at Oakland Community College, the OCC Owls are kicking
off another season of competition with Cross Country, Golf and Volleyball teams taking
center stage.
Here's a look at the teams heading into the fall season.
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country
OCC Cross Country enters the season with experience and momentum after the Men’s team
earned Academic All-American honors last year and two Women's team runners earned
individual Academic All-American honors.
After beginning last season without any returning runners, the Owls welcome back five
men and one woman this year, bolstering the teams’ competitiveness for the coming
season.
All-American performer Napoleon Lino leads the Men’s team, joined by returning runners
Jihad El Farouj, Quinn O’Shea, Suman Thapa and Karl Wegner. This season’s newcomers
include Brian Dobigma, Mason Johnson, Ronan MacArthur, Gavin Oxenreider and Deshawn
Williams.
Candy Torres returns for the Women’s team, joined by experienced racers Layah Cociuba,
Lucie Harvey, Emma Hoffmeyer, Angela Guajardo, Bobryel Jones, Meghan Mullen, Victoria
Montserrat and Ava Tereau.
“The Cross Country team is growing out of a 12-year slumber to being a competitive
team,” said Cross Country coach Tony Baracco. “This year we have six experienced athletes
competing for a second year and look to improve with the largest number of student
runners this decade."
The Owls opens the season Sept. 4 at the Golden Grizzlies Open at Oakland University.
Men’s Golf
OCC 's Men's Golf team is looking to contend for a conference championship this season,
led by returning sophomore Nick Moore, who is poised to build on the valuable experience
he gained competing as a freshman last year.
He is joined by a strong group of incoming freshmen who were standouts on their high
school teams, including Sebastian Davila, Troy Farnum, Alex Lotsis, Evan Michalski,
Lance Milton, Justin Rebandt and Nolan Williamson.
“With a mix of new players with limitless potential, familiar tournaments, and challenging
competition, we will look to use the fall season to establish ourselves among the
league's top programs while building momentum heading into the spring portion of the
season,” said Coach Steve Himmelsbaugh.
The Owls open the season Sept. 11 at the Kirtland Invitational.
Volleyball
OCC Volleyball returns three players from last year's team, which came close to earning
a spot in the post-season tournament. Mattea Ball, Sam Jones and Parker Kitts return
to lead a new-look roster after eight players graduated. They are joined by newcomers
Emma Dice, Lilah Eliassen, Isabella Harding, Isabella Hormillosa, Adaya Luvene, Jessa
Romine and Steffaney Utter.
“We have great returners coming back with a solid group of freshmen and a transfer
who all have great experience at multiple levels," said Coach Colleen Szakacs. “We
are looking to keep building on that progress and hope to place at least in the top
four of our league and advance to the postseason tournament.”
The Owls opened the season Aug. 22 at Marian University Ancilla.
Follow the teams throughout the fall season at OCC Owls.
About OCC
Oakland Community College (OCC) has educated over one million students since 1965.
OCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs and is committed to student
success with affordable tuition, support services, flexible class options and top
transfer opportunities. The College serves more than 20,000 students annually while
advancing our community through education, training and career support. OCC is nationally
recognized as Michigan’s top online college, and seventh in the U.S., by Newsweek’s
America’s Top Online Colleges 2025. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
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Media Contact: Marketing & Communications | (248) 341-2020 | contactus@oaklandcc.edu