Missouri’s Miclaus and Nigh Named Big 12 Swimmers of the Month

DALLAS, November 1. THE Big 12 Conference announced on Thursday the swimmers and divers for the month based on performances in October. Selections were made by a vote of the league's head swimming and diving coaches.

The coaches selected Missouri's Radu Miclaus and Evan Watters as the Big 12 Male Swimmer and Diver of the Month, respectively.

On the women's side, Andrea Nigh of Missouri was voted the Female Swimmer of the Month, while Texas A&M's Katie Williams earned the Female Diver of the Month honor.

Miclaus, a senior for the Tigers, recorded three first-place finishes in addition to placing second four times and fourth once this month. Most recently, he took home first in the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard medley relay and second in the 100 butterfly at the Fall Illini Classic in Champaign, Ill., on Oct. 26.

In that meet, he helped his team defeat Michigan State, 177-122, and Southern Illinois, 158.5-140.5. At the Big 12 Relays on Oct. 11 in Lincoln, Neb., Miclaus was a member of the runner-up 400-and 800-yard medley relay teams as well as the fourth-place 200 medley team. Then, in a 172-128 loss to A&M the next day, the Sibiu, Romania, native paced the team with wins in the 100 and 200 butterfly races and a second-place showing in the 200 medley relay.

While Miclaus led the MU men's swimming team, Watters provided a spark for the Tigers' diving squad. In only two meets this season, he has qualified for the NCAA Diving Zone Regional. The San Antonio, Texas, freshman accomplished this feat by winning the one-meter spring board competition with a 295.25 score at the Fall Illini Classic. Watters followed that performance with second-place finish on the three-meter board (303.20). Against A&M, he was fourth and fifth in the three- and one- meter boards, respectively.

Another Missouri swimmer produced quality performances this month in league Female Swimmer of the Month Nigh. The Castle Rock, Colo., junior, has won all eight of the races she has swam in so far this season. In Tiger victories at Nebraska, versus Texas A&M and at the Fall Illini Classic (Illinois, Michigan State and Southern Illinois), Nigh claimed the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races along with victories as a member of the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams.

Williams won the one-meter board with a score of 244.65 in her only diving competition of the season against Missouri and Nebraska. She also was seventh in the three-meter spring board. Williams, a junior from Richmond, Va., aided the Aggies in defeating Nebraska 169-117, but A&M dropped their meet to Missouri 142-158.

In November, swimming and diving awards will be given twice, Nov. 13 and 27.

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