Swimming and Diving

Erin Oeltjen

Event(s)BACK/FLY
ClassSenior
HometownOmaha, Neb.

Honors & Awards

  • Nebraska Team Captain (2016, 2017)
  • U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier (2016)
  • CSCAA Scholar All-American (HM, 2014, 2016, 2017)
  • Four Letters (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) 
  • Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2017)
  • Academic All-Big Ten (2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017; Spring 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
  • Herman Team GPA Award (2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Nebraska Heart & Soul Award (2018)
  • Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award (2016)
  • Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)

2016-17 (Senior)
As a senior captain, Erin Oeltjen helped the Huskers to an undefeated 2016-17 dual season with 14 individual top-five finishes on the year. She came out of the gate strong, having a hand in four event wins in the season opener against Iowa State. She set the Devaney Natatorium record in an exhibition race in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 54.20 against Omaha. Oeljten also had an impressive run in the Big Ten Championships, setting a school record in the 100-yard backstroke in the prelims (53.23). She was part of the 400-yard medley relay (Julia Roller, Samantha Hedrick, Allie Worrall and Oeltjen) that earned a No. 50 national ranking from CollegeSwimming.com (3:39.56). Oeltjen was ranked 13th in the Big Ten in the 100-yard backstroke and 12th in the 200-yard backstroke by CollegeSwimming.com. A 10-time selection to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll, Oeltjen claimed academic All-Big Ten honors for the third straight season. Oeltjen also made the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team five consecutive years. 

2015-16 (Junior)
Oeltjen was a leader in the pool, the classroom and the community as a junior for the Huskers. She accumulated 20 top-five finishes, including five victories as a junior. Oeltjen set career bests in the 50-yard freestyle (23.22), 100-yard butterfly (54.42) and 200-yard backstroke (1:57.46). At the 2016 Big Ten Championships, Oeltjen took 15th in the 100 fly and claimed 16th in the 200 back. She added a 33rd-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle. The junior also qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials held in Omaha. In the classroom, Oeltjen earned academic All-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive year. She also claimed a prestigious Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award as one of of the most committed Huskers across all sports to community service. She was a member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team for the third year.

2014-15 (Sophomore)
After an outstanding freshman season, Oeltjen was even better during her sophomore campaign, earning 15 top-five finishes, including three victories. Oeltjen had a strong Big Ten Championships, setting then-career best in the 50-yard freestyle (23.33) and the 100-yard butterfly (54.79). All three of Oeltjen's victories came in the 200-yard backstroke, with wins against Washington State, Illinois and Omaha. A standout in the classroom, Oeltjen earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2015.

2013-14 (Freshman)
In Oeltjen's debut season, she competed in eight different events and produced 13 top-five performances, including four victories. Oeltjen set six career bests in her first season for the Big Red. She competed well at the Big Ten Championships, where she set then-career bests in the 100-yard backstroke (55.81) and the 100-yard butterfly (55.84). Oeltjen also earned herself a NCAA B cut at the Iowa Invitational in the 200-yard backstroke. She got off to a solid start in the classroom by claiming spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters of 2013-14.

Previous
Oeltjen joined the squad as a three-time Nebraska high school state champion in the 100-yard backstroke. She competed for Head Coach Tracy Stauffer at swimming powerhouse Millard West High School, where Oeltjen was a part of three state championship teams. Individually, Oeltjen won the 100-yard butterfly state championship in 2011 and 2013 and finished second in 2012's 200-yard individual medley. She earned Millard West Swimmer-of-the-Year honors in 2012 and 2013, the NHSCC State Outstanding Swimmer in 2013 and All-America honors in the 100-yard butterfly in 2013. Oeltjen was a four-year member of Millard West's honor roll, a member of the National Honor Society and a three-time recipient of the Outstanding Female Student award.

Personal
The daughter of Craigh and Julie Oeltjen, Erin was born on Sept. 15, 1995, in Naples, Italy. She has a younger sister, Hannah. A biochemistry major and a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection, Erin was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2017. She was also a 10-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. A five-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, Oeltjen earned a prestigious Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award in 2016. In May of 2018, Oeltjen participated in the Nebraska Life Skills Service Trip Abroad to Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Career-Best Times

Event

Time

Meet (Date)

50 Free

23.22

Big Challenge (2015)

100 Back

53.43

Big Ten Championships (2017)

200 Back

1:55.17

Big Ten Championships (2017)

100 Fly

53.63

Big Ten Championships (2017)