College Aquatic Athletes of the Week Roundup: Several Schools Sweep Awards

PHOENIX, Arizona, November 19. A few swimmers and divers will have plenty to be thankful for next week after being honored by their conference offices for their efforts in competition this past week.

American Athletic Conference
Male Swimmer of the Week: Lachezar Shumkov, Connecticut
UConn beat Pennsylvania by just six points in a dual meet last weekend, and Shumkov helped the Huskies with wins in 100 breast (57.08) and 200 breast (2:03.66).

Female Swimmer of the Week: Jackie Keire, Cincinnati
The freshman won two events at the dual meet against Western Kentucky, setting school records in both and breaking longtime pool records. She posted a 49.64 in the 100 free and 1:47.46 in the 200 free, times that put her in the top 15 among college swimmers so far this season.

Atlantic 10 Conference
Male Swimmer of the Week: Jimmy Martin, St. Bonaventure
As part of the team’s Senior Day celebrations, Martin won two events in the dual meet against Canisius. The senior took the 100 free in 46.75 and the 200 free in 1:43.09.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Megan Polaha, Fordham
Swimming in the Princeton Invitational, Polaha put together her best meet of the season. She won the 400 IM with a 4:28.45, then followed it up with a 2:03.28 to win the 200 fly. In addition, she was third in the 200 IM (2:06.84) and 100 fly (56.40).

Male Rookie of the Week: Zepher Begnell, George Mason
Begnell was part of both winning relays in the dual meet against La Salle, and also won the 50 free with a 21.71.

Female Rookie of the Week: Steff Maurer, George Mason
Like Begnell, Maurer also won three events against La Salle, though two of hers were in individual events. She won the 200 free with a 1:54.11 and the 500 free with a 5:06.26. She also was a part of the winning 200 free relay.

Atlantic Coast Conference
Male Swimmer of the Week: Frank Dyer, Notre Dame
Notre Dame takes all four ACC honors this week thanks to big dual meet wins. Dyer won the 50 free in the meets against Michigan State and Wisconsin, and took the 100 free in 45.87 against Michigan State. In racing against the Badgers, he was victorious in the 200 free (1:39.25) and 500 free (4:31.42).

Female Swimmer of the Week: Emma Reaney, Notre Dame
Reaney, an NCAA title contender in the breaststrokes, got the opportunity to race other events last weekend, and posted some surprising wins. She did race the 100 and 200 breaststrokes against Wisconsin, winning those handily, and added the 200 free to her win column with a time of 1:50.42. She won the 200 fly and 100 free in the dual against Valparaiso.

Male Diver of the Week: Joe Coumos, Notre Dame
Coumos qualified for the NCAA zone championships with wins in both diving events in the dual meet against Michigan State, then improved on those scores the following day in the dual meet against Wisconsin. On the 1-meter, he earned a score of 335.10 points and got 381.52 points on the 3-meter.

Female Diver of the Week: Allison Casareto, Notre Dame
Casareto also qualified for zones last weekend, posting a top score of 361.20 on the 3-meter against Valparaiso and 321.40 on 1-meter against Wisconsin.

Big Ten Conference
Male Swimmer of the Week: Derek Toomey, Minnesota
Racing in the Arena Grand Prix last weekend helped raise Derek Toomey’s exposure in the collegiate ranks. He now has the fastest times of the collegiate ranks in the 50 free and the 100 free thanks to strong performances in his home pool. He was fourth in the 50 freestyle with a 19.48 and posted a 43.56 in the prelims of the 100 free before finishing fourth with a 43.63.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Kierra Smith, Minnesota
Smith won two individual events in her home pool at the Arena Grand Prix, posting a quick 2:06.43 in the 200 breast to become the first swimmer to automatically qualify for the NCAA championships this season. She also won the 200 IM with a 1:57.80 and helped out the Golden Gophers as they won the 400 medley relay. Her times in the 200 breast and 200 IM were lifetime bests.

Male Diver of the Week: Andrew Cramer, Northwestern
Another athlete helping to raise his program’s exposure was freshman Cramer, who won both diving events in the dual meet victory over Wisconsin. His scores of 317.90 on 1-meter and 386.70 on 3-meter helped qualify him for the NCAA zone championships.

Female Diver of the Week: Abby Grilli, Iowa
In the Hawkeyes’ tri-meet with Nebraska and South Dakota State, Grilli won both diving events and qualified herself for the NCAA zone championships. Her scores of 285.60 on 1-meter and 310.95 on 3-meter are her best of the season.

Male Freshman of the Week: Filip Bujoczek, Purdue
The freshman had an outstanding meet at the Arena Grand Prix, posting times of 1:37.80 in the 200 free and 4:22.69 in the 500 free. His 500 free time gets him within two seconds of the school record.

Female Freshman of the Week: Breanne Siwicki, Minnesota
Like her other Minnesota teammates, Siwicki was impressive at the Arena Grand Prix, finishing third in the 400 IM with a 4:13.40. Being a Canada native, the time is naturally a lifetime best for the newbie to short course yards, and it puts her in the top five in the collegiate ranks.

Horizon League
Male Swimmer of the Week: Kenny Stelpflug, Milwaukee
In helping Milwaukee win another Border Battle Invite team title, Stelpflug won two events and placed second in two others. He posted a winning time of 4:41.28 in the 500 free and 16:45.50 in the 1650 free. He was second in both individual medley events and also swam on the winning 800 free relay.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Anna Yontz, Milwaukee
In addition to swimming on three winning relay teams, Yontz got an individual victory in the 200 free with a 1:55.20.

Male Diver of the Week: Danny Roberts, Cleveland State
Roberts’ sweep of the diving events (296.85 on 1-meter, 303.45 on 3-meter) helped Cleveland State beat Niagra in last weekend’s dual meet.

Female Diver of the Week: Tricia Grant, Oakland
Grant continues to pile on the weekly honors with impressive performances on the diving boards. She set a team record on the 3-meter with 344.47 points and also won the 1-meter with 290.10 points.

Mid-American Conference
Female Athlete of the Week: Beth Rogers, Toledo
As part of a dominating win over Eastern Michigan, Rogers won the 50 free with a 23.75 and also won the 100 fly with a 55.59.

North Coast Atlantic Conference
Male Swimmer of the Week: Ian Reardon, Kenyon
In a very convincing win over Ohio Northern, Reardon was the only swimmer to win multiple events. He swam a 1:54.85 in the 200 IM and 2:07.10 in the 200 breast.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Courtney McGovern, Wooster
McGovern won three individual events in the dual meet loss to Westminster. She posted a 1:00.93 in the 100 back and 2:12.48 in the 200 back, as well as a 2:17.40 in the 200 IM.

Presidents’ Athletic Conference
Male Athlete of the Week: Nicholas Smith, Westminster
Competing in two dual meets over the past week, Smith racked up five individual wins. In the meet against Washington & Jefferson, Smith won the 1000 free (10:22.98), 200 fly (2:01.26) and 100 fly (55.44). Three days later, he won the 200 fly again in the dual meet against Wooster with a 2:01.63 and posted a 5:02.24 to win the 500 free.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Samantha Tower, Westminster
Tower won three individual events in the two dual meets last week. Against Washington & Jefferson, she posted a 1:10.61 to win the 100 breast and 2:34.60 to win the 200 breast. Her 1:10.67 against Wooster was good enough for the win at that meet.

Southeastern Conference
Male Swimmer of the Week: Doug Reynolds, Georgia
Reynolds posted his first two victories of the season with a 45.51 in the 100 free and 1:39.30 in the 200 free against Emory last week. He was also a part of the winning 200 free relay.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Melanie Margalis, Georgia
Just as she was the week before in the meet against Florida, Margalis was a standout in the dual against Emory, swimming some off events. She put up a 23.24 to win the 50 free and 1:58.84 in the 200 fly. For good measure, she also swam breaststroke on the winning 400 medley relay.

Female Freshman of the Week: Olivia Smoliga, Georgia
Known mostly as a sprinter, Smoliga showed she has promise in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:58.75 to win the event against Emory. She also got the opportunity to swim butterfly on the winning medley relay and as part of the winning 200 free relay.

Summit League
Male Swimmer of the Week: Jacob Knowles, South Dakota
Knowles won both breaststroke events in the three-day Border Battle Invitational with times of 59.90 and 2:13.04. He was also second in the 200 breast with a 2:12.06 in a meet against Green Bay.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Sam Schuttinger, South Dakota
The freshman won the 200 free at the dual meet against Green Bay with a season-best 1:54.88. Though she was unable to win any events in the Border Battle Invite, she posted some season-best times in the 500 free (5:08.72) and 200 back (2:12.93).

Male Diver of the Week: Dustin Gens, South Dakota
Gens posted his best scores of the season in the Border Battle Invitational, winning the 1-meter with a score of 281.95 and the 3-meter with 319.10 points.

Female Diver of the Week: Greyson Hertting, South Dakota
Continuing South Dakota’s impressive performances last week, Hertting swept the diving events at the Border Battle Invitational with scores of 268.10 on the 1-meter and 261.55 on 3-meter.

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