Wyoming Earns Three of Four Swimming & Diving Weekly Accolades

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, January 25. THE University of Wyoming earned three of four Mountain West Conference Swimmer and Diver of the Week awards, sweeping the women's side with sophomore Aimee Stinson receiving swimming honors and senior Saara Haapanen earning diving plaudits. For the men, Cowboy senior Kevin Bretting was named the MWC diver of the week, while Air Force's Chris Knaute was voted the swimmer of the week.

Stinson, a Colorado Springs, Colo., native, led the Cowgirls to dual meet wins past Washington and UNLV last week to improve Wyoming to 6-0 on the season and the best start in school history. She won five events, including every distance freestyle race. Against Washington, Stinson won the 500 free in 5:06.49 and the 1,000 free in 10:38.03, while helping the 400 free relay to a 3:34.97 win. Against the Rebels, she again won the 500 and 1,0000 freestyles in respective times of 5:08.58 and 10:37.45.

Haapanen, from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, won all four diving events last week, setting a pool record against Washington. She posted a 289.57 in the one-meter dive for a new Corbett Pool mark, breaking a record that had stood since 1990. She then posted a 275.32 win in the three-meter event. In the Cowgirls' MWC win past UNLV, Haapanen won the one-meter with a 271.73 and the three-meter with a 286.13.

Bretting, a Loveland, Colo., native, turned in the second best three-meter score in school history with a 367.42 against Washington, which is also the top score in the league this season. He also won the event against UNLV with a 360.23 and finished second in the one-meter dive with a 295.73.

Knaute, from Houston, Texas, led Air Force to a 175-125 win past two-time defending MWC champions UNLV last week, leaving the Falcons as the only undefeated men's team in league action at 2-0. He posted four wins against the Rebels, clocking a 1:53.03 in the 200 butterfly, a 4:38.38 in the 500 free and a 9:46.25 in the 1,000 free. He also anchored the winning 400 free relay to a 3:05.60 before posting a 1:40.80 in the 200 free against Denver. He was also on the winning 200 free relay team (1:24.30) in the win over the Pioneers to give the Falcons a 12-1 dual record.

2006-07 Swimmers and Divers of the Week
Date MSwimmer MDiver WSwimmer WDiver
10/25/06 Adam Oliver (Utah) Kevin Bretting (WYO) Aimee Stinson (WYO) Brittany Wainwright (WYO)
11/1/06 Chris Knaute (AFA) Andrew Jones (Utah) Erica Tate (TCU) Jennifer Ferguson (TCU)
11/8/06 Chris Knaute (AFA) Andrew Jones (Utah) Alison McInturff (Utah) Jennifer Ferguson (TCU)
11/15/06 Scott McCracken (TCU) John Lynch (WYO) Leilani Roberts (BYU) Jennifer Ferguson (TCU)
11/22/06 Brett Allen (BYU) R.J. Hesselberg (TCU) Natasha Menezes (BYU) Jennifer Ferguson (TCU)
11/29/06 none
12/6/06 Jonas Andersson (UNLV) Andrew Jones (Utah) Amber Walter (Utah) Brittany Wainwright (WYO)
12/13/06 none
12/20/06 Brandon Nelms (UNLV) R.J. Hesselberg (TCU) Bailey Kustermeyer (UNLV) Wendy Williams (UNLV)
01/10/07 Alex Larkin (WYO) John Lynch (WYO) Krista Jones (WYO) Saara Haapanen (WYO)
01/17/07 Guillermo Ramirez (TCU) R.J. Hesselberg (TCU) Amber Walter (Utah) Kelsey Patterson (Utah)
01/24/07 Chris Knaute (AFA) Kevin Bretting (WYO) Aimee Stinson (WYO) Saara Haapanen (WYO)

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