Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
The Big Ten Conference has honored Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson and Minnesota’s Conner McHugh as its weekly top swimmers. Read more about all award-recipients below.
Female Swimmer of the Week
Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
So. – Madison, Wis. – Verona
- Recorded three first place finishes and four NCAA B Standard qualifying times
- Was a part of four event wins and grabbed a runner-up finish in the Badgers’ quad dual at Minnesota which now ranks her in the Big Ten lead in the 200 butterfly (1:58.01), second in the 200 backstroke (1:54.28), second in the 100 fly (53.95) and third in the 200 IM (1:58.27)
- Earns her first career Swimmer of the Week honor
- Last Wisconsin Swimmer of the Week: Cierra Runge (Dec. 7, 2016)
Female Diver of the Week
Addison Walkowiak, Rutgers
Sr. – Ballston Spa, N.Y. – Ballston Spa
- Won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events at Rutgers’ penta-meet against Georgetown, Pittsburg, Seton Hall and Villanova
- Posted a season high score of 343.55 on the 3-meter springboard and earned NCAA zone qualifying scores for both events scoring as high as 308.35 on the 1-meter
- Earns her fifth career Diver of the Week award and the first of the season
- Last Rutgers Diver of the Week: Addison Walkowiak (Feb. 1, 2017)
Female Freshman of the Week
Freya Rayner, Ohio State
Sutherland, United Kingdom – Southmoor Community School
- Helped Ohio State win three races in a triangular meet against Denison and Akron
- Took first in the 50 freestyle with an NCAA B Standard time of 22.87, which ranks as the third fastest time in the Big Ten
- Earns her first career Freshman of the Week award
- Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Mikayla Murphy (Feb. 16, 2016)
Male Swimmer of the Week
Conner McHugh, Minnesota
Sr. – Sturgeon Bay, Wis. – Sevastopol
- Placed first in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and set the thirteenth fastest time in the nation in the 100 (54.57) and the second fastest national time in the 200 (1:56.79)
- Recorded NCAA B Standard qualifying times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke
- Earns his first career Swimmer of the Week honor
- Last Minnesota Swimmer of the Week: Nick Orf (Oct. 14, 2015)
Male Diver of the Week
Steele Johnson, Purdue
Jr. – Carmel, Ind. – Laurel Springs
- Swept the diving events against Iowa for his 11th consecutive collegiate regular-season events sweep dating back to October 2016 and remained a perfect 8-for-8 in event victories this season in the springboard events
- Recorded NCAA zone qualifying marks in the 1- and 3-meter dives scoring 445.50 and 456.45, respectfully, winning on 3-meter by 69 points and 1-meter by 58 points
- Earns his sixteenth Diver of the Week award and the fourth of the season
- Last Purdue Diver of the Week: Steele Johnson (Nov. 1, 2017)
Male Freshman of the Week
Matt Novinski, Wisconsin
Grand Island, Neb. – Central Catholic
- Won the 100 backstroke in the Badgers’ quad dual at Minnesota with a time of 48.04
- The NCAA B Standard time ranks him third in the Big Ten this season
- Earns his first Freshman of the Week award
- Last Wisconsin Freshman of the Week: Cooper Hodge (Dec. 7, 2016)
Press release courtesy of the Big Ten.
Congratulations Beata & Matt…
#OnWisconsin
#GoBadgers