Ryan Murphy, Katrina Konopka Named Pac-12 Swimmers of the Month

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The Pac-12 conference announced Wednesday that Cal senior Ryan Murphy and Arizona sophomore Katrina Konopka have been named swimmers of the month for December. Read more about those honors below, as well as those of Divers of the Month Daishiell Enos (USC) and Eloise Belanger (UCLA).

Male Swimmer and Diver of the Month

Murphy (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) earned seven first-place finishes in the month of December in the pool, winning seven of his eight events at the Georgia Fall Invitational. His winning times in the 100 (44.61) and 200 (1:38.65) yard backstroke are the fastest of the season to date. Murphy also competed in three winning relays (400 yard free relay – 2:49.84, 200 yard medley relay – 1:23.76 and 400 yard medley relay – 3:03.82) with the Cal squad’s times the fastest in the nation as of Jan. 3, 2017. Murphy’s remaining wins came in the 200 free yard relay (1:16.94) and the 800 yard free relay (6:16.22). He also placed third in the 200 yard IM with a time of 1:42.53. With Murphy’s assistance, Cal won the Georgia Fall invitational. California now has 10 all-time monthly accolades and Murphy now has three all-time after receiving two honors last season.

Enos (Studio City, Calif.) teamed with fellow Trojan Henry Fusaro to win a 2016 USA Winter National title on synchronized 3-meter with 740.67 points in December. He also finished fourth in the 3-meter final with 1136.75 points, just 50 points away from a top-two finish. This is USC’s sixth all-time winner in the category.

ALSO NOMINATED
Swimmer: Chad Idensohn, ARIZ; Dylan Carter, USC.
Diver: Josiah Purss, UTAH.

Female Swimmer and Diver of the Month

Swimmer of the Month: Katrina Konopka, Arizona
• Earned a total of three individual NCAA ‘B’ cuts and four relay ‘A’ cuts at the Texas Invitational.
• Broke a school record as a part of the 200 medley relay with a 1:34.63 to earn one of the four automatic NCAA qualifying standards.
• Earned her first international gold medals for team USA at the FINA Short Course World Championships in Windsor, Canada.
• Helped set a world record to win the gold as a member of the 4x50m medley relay and earned another medal from swimming in the prelim of the 4x100m free relay.
• This is Arizona’s seventh all-time nod.

Diver of the Month: Eloise Belanger, UCLA
• Won three diving events during the month of December brining her season total to eight wins.
• Placed first in the 1-meter, third on the 3-meter and second on platform at the UGA Fall Invite.
• In a dual meet at Hawai’i, placed first in both the 3-meter and the 1-meter.
• This is UCLA’s 13th nod all-time, the most of any diving program.

ALSO NOMINATED:
Swimmer of the Month: Louise Hansson, USC; Chloe Isleta, ASU; Linnea Mack, UCLA
Diver of the Month: Mara Aiacoboae, ASU

Press releases courtesy of the Pac-12.

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Catsfan99

7 years ago

Konopka is a sophomore

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David Rieder - Senior Writer

7 years ago

Reply to Catsfan99

Whoops, she most definitely is. Fixed. Thanks for catching that!