Bertirotti Named SEC Swimmer of the Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. February, 8. LSU swimmer Colleen Bertirotti was named SEC Female Swimmer of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Bertirotti, a native of San Antonio, Texas, enjoyed a phenomenal performance in the Lady Tigers' 130-81 victory over Tulane on Friday. The junior won all three events she swam in against the Green Wave, highlighted by her 22.19 pace in the Lady Tigers' 200 freestyle relay win.

Joined by Katherine Noland, Katie Gilmore and Heather Brand, LSU set a new pool record, school record and the fastest time in the SEC this season (1:31.52) in the 200 free relay. The strong "B" cut shattered the old school record of 1:32.68 set in 1993. It was also clocked as the fourth-fastest time in the nation.

"Colleen loves to race and compete and that is something you can't really teach," said head coach Adam Schmitt. "Once you have that, you can work with that. It shows if you work hard, have goals, good things will happen."

Bertirotti opened the meet by helping LSU win the 400 medley relay (3:52.63). In her only individual event of the day, she won the 50 free in a NCAA provisional time of 23.36.

Bertirotti becomes the first LSU swimmer to earn SEC Swimmer of the Week honors since Evan Martinec captured the award on Feb. 3, 2003. She is also the first female to receive the award since Mandy Leach did so on Jan. 2, 2002.

Bertirotti and the Lady Tigers return to action at the SEC Championships, Feb. 15-18, in Knoxville, Tenn.

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