The SEC announced its weekly honorees on Tuesday. Here is who earned the distinction:
Men’s Swimmer of the Week: Robert Howard, Alabama
Alabama’s Robert Howard led No. 17 Alabama to a 162-136 win over No. 10 Texas A&M, winning the 50 and 200 freestyles and anchoring the Tide’s winning 200 medley and freestyle relays. His B-cut time 19.77 in the 50 free is currently tied for No. 1 in the nation. Howard is also ranked 11th nationally in the 200 freestyle and posted sub-19 second 50 free relays splits anchoring both the 200 medley and freestyle relays against the Aggies.
Men’s Diver of the Week: Sam Thornton, Texas A&M
Texas A&M’s Sam Thornton won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competition against No. 17 Alabama. He posted a season-best 393.60 in the 1-meter, and a score of 398.33 in the 3-meter.
Men’s Freshman of the Week: Shaine Casas, Texas A&M
Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas won the 200 backstroke, posting the best time among SEC freshmen and second-best time nationally among freshmen with a 1:46.45 in the dual meet against No. 17 Alabama. He also finished second in the 100 backstroke with a 48.79, the second-best time among SEC freshmen this year. He was a part of two Texas A&M relays that landed podium finishes—the 200 freestyle, which finished 2nd (1:20.53) and the 400 medley relay (1:29.79), which finished third.
Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Emma Barksdale, South Carolina
South Carolina’s Emma Barksdale swept her three events with NCAA B-cut times in both breaststroke events and the 200 IM in the Gamecocks’ win over No. 23 Arkansas. Barksdale’s 1:58.87 in the 200 IM is the third fastest in the country while both her 100 (1:01.58) and 200 (2:13.61) breaststrokes are national top-15 times. She also swam the final leg of the Gamecocks’ 400 free relay team that finished second with a time of 3:23.28, which was also a national top-15 time.
Women’s Diver of the Week: Brooke Schultz, Arkansas
Arkansas’ Brooke Schultz won both springboard events against South Carolina. She set the school record in the 3-meter with her score of 404.77. Schultz took the top spot in the 1-meter with a final score of 320.92.
Women’s Freshman of the Week: Hallie Kinsey, South Carolina
South Carolina’s Hallie Kinsey earned her first two career wins as she swept the butterfly events in South Carolina’s win over No. 23 Arkansas. Her first-place finish in the 200 fly (1:58.79) was the 13th fastest in the country and her first NCAA B-cut swim of the season. Kinsey touched the wall first in the 100 fly with a time of 54.35. She also finished third with a time of 2:04.96 in her first 200 IM of the season.
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