College Swimmers and Divers of the Week Roundup Includes Big East Sweep By Xavier

College swimmers are putting up spectacular times on the scoreboard while divers are impressing in the early goings of the college season. Their performances did not go unnoticed in their respective conferences, earning them much-deserved accolades.

Atlantic 10 Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Travis Lauri, George Mason
Lauri, a senior from Fairfax, Va., placed first in four events over the weekend to lead the Patriots against Davidson at the Richmond Duals. Lauri won the 50-yd freestyle (20.81), the 50-yd butterfly (22.69), the 100-yd butterfly (51.12) and anchored the 200-yd freestyle relay team that finished first with a time of 1:23.81.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Elise Lankiewicz, Davidson
Lankiewicz, the sophomore from Wilmington, Del., won all of her events on Friday night, as the Wildcats challenged the defending conference champion Richmond Spiders at the Richmond Duals. She then notched three victories in Davidson’s first ever Atlantic 10 swimming and diving victory over Duquesne on Saturday. Lankiewicz picked up wins in the 1,000-yd freestyle (10:15.35), finishing more than six seconds faster than the A-10’s next fastest performance, and 18 seconds better than the nearest competitor at the Richmond Duals. She followed that performance with a critical leg in Davidson’s 200-yd medley relay tie with Richmond, and impressive victories in the 200-yd butterfly (2:05.16), where her time leads the A-10 this season, and 500-yd freestyle (5:04.30). She also finished second in the 50-yd freestyle (24.36) and won the 200-yd backstroke (2:06.96) and the 100-yd butterfly (57.11).

Male Rookie of the Week: Trent Kindvall, Massachusetts
In his first collegiate meet, freshman Trent Kindvall from Westminster, Colo., finished second in the 1-meter dive with a score of 243.37. He was narrowly defeated by a teammate, finishing 0.83 points behind. Later in the day, the three time national qualifier posted a 44-point win in the 3-meter with a 271.81 score.

Female Rookie of the Week: Erin Barry, Richmond
Barry, a freshman from Millington, N.J., had a career weekend as the Spiders defeated Davidson and George Mason at the Richmond Duals this weekend. Barry posted a time of 1:05.30 in the 100-yd breaststroke, outpacing teammate Annie Lane by less than a half-second, before posting a time of 2:21.03 in the 200-yd breaststroke. On Saturday, Barry started her day off by swimming a leg of the 400-yd Medley Relay, which Richmond won in event two. She then won the 100-yd breaststroke with a time of 1:06.77 and the 200-yd breaststroke by improving her Friday time to 2:20.60 to complete her second day of competition.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Simonas Bilis, N.C. State

Bilis was sensational in the Wolfpack’s upset victory against top-five foe Georgia on Saturday. Bilis swept the three sprint freestyle events and sealed the team victory by anchoring the first place 400 free relay team that decided the outcome of the meet. Bilis recorded three NCAA ‘B’ cuts on the day, as he finished first in the 50 (19.96), 100 (43.74) and 200 (1:37.02) freestyle events.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Tanja Kylliainen, Louisville

Kylliainen grabbed ACC Female Swimmer of the Week after being named Swimmer of the Meet at the SMU Classic. The senior recorded three NCAA ‘B’ cuts on the day, as she finished first in the 200 IM (1:59.48), first in the 400 IM (4:10.89) and second in the 200 fly (1:57.30).

Male Diver of the Week: Jack Nyquist, North Carolina

Nyquist took home the ACC Male Diver of the Week for the second straight week after he won both events in the Tar Heels thrilling meet against Georgia. Nyquist has won three of four events in the last two weeks against SEC powers Tennessee and Georgia, while finishing second in the other event by less than one point. The sophomore led the Tar Heels to a top-3 sweep on the 1-meter board with a score of 375.98 and following that with a 396.90 score on the 3-meter board.

Female Diver of the Week: Shannon Lumbra, Georgia Tech
Lumbra was named ACC Female Diver of the Week for her noteworthy weekend in the pool. The junior registered NCAA qualifying zones in all four of her dives, earning two first place finishes on Saturday in the 1-meter (298.70) and 3-meter (308.50) along with two second place finishes in the 1-meter (285.95) and 3-meter (306.00) on Friday.

Big East Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Luke Johanns, Xavier
Johanns picked up a pair of individual race victories and swam the leadoff leg of a victorious 200-yard freestyle relay in Xavier’s 164-93 loss to Cincinnati last week. He took first in the 50 free in 20.86 and won gold in the 100 free in 46.66. His leadoff time of 20.72 in the 200 free relay is the fastest 50-free time in the BIG EAST this season and was the closest to an NCAA B-cut time achieved by a BIG EAST swimmer last week. In XU’s 142-113 loss to Miami (Ohio), Johanns added silver in the 50 free (20.98) and finished seventh in the 200 free (1:50.11). All four of his individual times were automatic qualifiers to the BIG EAST Championships.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Paxtyn Drew, Xavier
Paxtyn repeated as athlete of the week by posting four BIG EAST Championships qualifying times in three events in meets against Cincinnati and Miami (Ohio). Against the Bearcats, she won gold in the 200-yard back in 2:07.98 and finished fourth in the 100 back in 58.92. In the meet versus Miami (Ohio), she captured silver medals in both the 100 back (58.88) and 100 free (53.82), which are her season-bests in both events. Drew also competed as part of four relay foursomes that all finished in the top three in their events. Drew’s 100-back time against Miami was the best BIG EAST showing last week relative to an NCAA B cut.

Big Ten Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Matt Hutchins, Wisconsin
Among the top swimmers in Wisconsin’s historic win over Minnesota was Hutchins, who swept the distance freestyles last weekend. The sophomore from New Zealand recorded a lifetime best in the 1000 freestyle with a 9:07.66, putting him second in the collegiate standings so far this season. He also blazed to a 4:24.81 in the 500 free, good enough for fourth nationally.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Ivy Martin, Wisconsin

Martin continues to lead the Badgers in her senior season, winning the 50 and 100 freestyles against Minnesota. Her 50 free almost eclipsed the time she posted a couple of weeks ago to lead the nation, while her 100 free is a tick off her fourth-ranked time. She also placed second in the 100 fly and helped the Badgers place second in the 200 free relay.

Male Diver and Freshman of the Week: Steele Johnson, Purdue
Johnson was impressive at two recent meets. He won the 3-meter springboard event in the dual meet against Miami (Ohio) and at the Indiana Intercollegiates. His highest score came against Miami with 422.40 points.

Female Diver of the Week: Mary Beth Dunnichay, Purdue
Dunnichay won both springboard diving events at the dual meet against Miami (Ohio) and again at the Indiana Intercollegiates. Her highest scores came in the Miami meet, with a 298.58 on the 1-meter and 343.58 on 3-meter.

Female Freshman of the Week: Brooke Zeiger, Minnesota

Zeiger was one of the key swimmers in Minnesota’s defeat of Wisconsin’s women’s team, winning both backstroke events and the 200 IM. Her 2:01.78 in the 200 IM puts her just outside the national collegiate top 10.

Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association

Male Swimmer of the Week: Gregor Sporlein, UMBC
Sporlein led the charge for the Retrievers at the CCSA North Invitational, winning the 100 freestyle (46.30), the 50 freestyle (21.33) and the 200 freestyle (1:41.18). He has led the UMBC men’s team in each meet so far during the 2014-15 season and has won the freestyle events at both of the Retrievers’ home meets this season.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Emma Svensson, Liberty
Svensson helped lead the Eagles to a 175-120 victory over CCSA-rival Incarnate Word, touching first in two individual events and once as a member of a relay. The senior won the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.35 and won the 100 freestyle, finishing in 49.72. Svensson swam butterfly in the winning 200-yard medley relay, which combined for a time of 1:41.88.

Male Diver of the Week: Ryan Green, UMBC
Green swept the diving events at the CCSA North Invitational in Baltimore. He won the 1-meter with a score of 293.55 and also took the title in the 3-meter board with a 304.35 total. Green’s performances this season have already qualified for NCAA Zone Diving Competition this spring.

Female Diver of the Week: Kali Lents, Incarnate Word
Lents swept the diving events in Incarnate Word’s dual meet against Florida Gulf Coast. She scored a season-high 281.27 points on six dives off the 1-meter springboard. She also scored a 298.65 on the 3-meter board.

Conference USA

Female Swimmer of the Week: Erin Flanigan, Rice
Flanigan registered wins in the 500- and 1000-yard freestyle to guide Rice to a 176-117 victory over rival Houston on Oct. 16. The senior finished with a time of 4:58.65 in the 500-yard freestyle and 10:12.05 in the 1000-yard freestyle, both conference bests so far this season, to sweep the two events. The Austin, Texas, native was the only competitor at the meet to win two individual events. The Swimmer of the Week accolade is the first of the season for Flanigan and fourth of her.

Horizon League

Male Swimmer of the Week: Aleksander Danielewski, Oakland
Danielewski led the men’s team in the pool, collecting four individual victories. Against the Panthers, the sophomore won the 200-backstroke in a time of 1:50.03 and set a pool record at Milwaukee. He also came in first place in the 100-backstroke with a time of 51.43 and the 200-individual medley in a time of 1:54.96. In the second meet of the weekend against Green Bay, Danielewski won the 200-backstroke with a time of 1:50.44. In addition to his first place finishes, he also swam a personal record in the 100-breaststroke against the Phoenix with a time of 1:00.80.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Patricia Aschan, Oakland
Aschan had an outstanding weekend for Oakland in the pool, winning four events between the two dual meets. Taking on Milwaukee, the sophomore won the 200-individual medley in a time of 2:08.95 and the 200-butterfly with a time of 2:08.09. In the water versus Green Bay, she won the 200-butterfly for a second time clocking in at 2:09.41 and also tallied a win in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:12.16.

Male Diver of the Week: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
Heger picked up right where he left off a season ago on the diving boards for Milwaukee, winning both diving events in the dual meeting against Oakland. The senior was at the top of the scoreboard in the one-meter with a score of 295.95 and the three-meter tallying 289.57 points. In the season-opener, Heger just missed the NCAA Zone qualifying marks.

Female Diver of the Week: Tricia Grant, Oakland
Grant went undefeated on the diving boards for the Golden Grizzlies, collecting four individual victories in the two dual meets. Versus Milwaukee, she won the one-meter with a score of 306.15 and the three-meter collecting 302.32 points. The following meet against Green Bay, the senior claimed first place on the one-meter with a score of 315.98 and the three-meter with 317.10 points. Her scores over the weekend reached NCAA Zone qualifying standards.

Mid-American Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Garret Nevels, Missouri State
Nevels shattered the Missouri State school and pool records in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events on Thursday, Oct. 16, in the “Duel in the Pool” against 12-time DII national champion Drury University. Nevels dominated in the 1-meter event by finishing with a 411.87 in six dives and beat his own school record by more than 54 points. He also set the pool record by nine points, which was previously done last season by Missouri’s David Bonuchi.

Nevels also broke his own school record in the 1-meter dive by a little over 10 points, while also setting the new pool record with 388.58 points. The previous pool record was held by Evan Watters of Missouri with 378.38 in 2004.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Lauren Comer, Toledo
Comer won two of the three individual events she competed in on Saturday at a dual meet vs. Duquesne.

In her first event of the day, Comer placed first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:54.86. In the 500-yard freestyle, she finished nearly three seconds ahead of the second-place finisher with a time of 5:09.55 for her second win of the day. In Comer’s final event of the day, she recorded a runner-up finish in the 200-yard individual medley, and was less than a second behind the winner.

Missouri Valley Conference

Female Swimmer of the Week: Molly Lembezeder, University of Northern Iowa
In the first meet of her career, freshman freestyle swimmer Molly Lembezeder fell .04 seconds short of the UNI school record in the 50 Freestyle, taking first place in 23.77 seconds, which ranks 75th on the national best list. In the 100 freestyle, Molly Lembezeder continued her outstanding day with another near record-breaking performance. Lembezeder finished first place in the 100 freestyle against the Jackrabbits with a time of 52.39 seconds, which ranks her third on the UNI all-time list.

Female Diver of the Week: Wenting Zhang, Illinois State
All-American diver Wenting Zhang won both events on the boards Friday night at Illinois State’s first home meet against Truman State. Zhang beat her pool record in the 3-meter diving competition with a score of 372.5 and falling just shy of her school record. In the 1-meter competition, Zhang won with a score of 328.80.

Mountain West Conference

Female Swimmer of the Week: Morgan McCormick, San Jose State
The Colorado native won three individual events in the dual meet against UC-Davis last weekend. She posted a 56.81 in the 100 back, 2:02.89 in the 200 back and 2:05.63 in the 200 IM. Additionally, she was a part of the winning 200 medley relay. Her 200 back time ranks second in the Mountain West Conference, while her 100 back is third.

Female Diver of the Week: Cari Reiswig, San Jose State
Reiswig earns her second honor in a row with a new school record score of 296.48 points on the 1-meter in the dual against UC-Davis. She also won the 3-meter with a score of 312.60 points.

New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference

Female Swimmer of the Week: Peggy de Villiers, University of West Florida
De Villiers earned the award after she helped West Florida to a 1-1 record in a double dual with North Florida and Vanderbilt. She won the 50 freestyle with an NCAA B-cut time of 24.10, finishing ahead of 10 Division I swimmers in the process. She was fourth in the 100 free (53.51) and was part of the winning 200 free relay team (1:40.40). She was also a member of the 200 medley relay team that was second with an NCAA B-cut time of 1:46.84.

Female Diver of the Week: Josie McKee, University of West Florida
McKee competed in exhibition 6-dive events at the 1 and 3-meter heights in West Florida’s double dual against North Florida and Vanderbilt and placed first in both events. She scored 253.95 in 1-meter and 253.50 in 3-meter diving, and came within three points of qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 1-meter diving event.

Southeastern Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Chase Kalisz, Georgia

In Georgia’s meets at North Carolina on Friday and North Carolina State on Saturday, Kalisz won four individual events. Against the Tar Heels, he was first in the 200 butterfly (1:43.78), the 200 breaststroke (1:57.48) and the 400 individual medley (3:50.38). His 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke times rank first in the nation and he is No. 2 in the 400 individual medley. Against the Wolfpack, Kalisz placed first in the 200 individual medley (1:46.71). He also came in second in the 200 breaststroke (2:00.29) and the 200 butterfly (1:44.83).

Female Swimmer of the Week: Amber McDermott, Georgia

In Georgia’s wins at North Carolina on Friday and North Carolina State on Saturday, McDermott won two individual events and scored points in four others as she helped the Lady Bulldogs remain undefeated at 4-0. Against North Carolina, she won the 500 freestyle in 4:47.59 and the 400 individual medley in 4:13.47. McDermott also came in second in the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 9:50.14. Her 500 freestyle time ranks third and her 400 individual medley and 1,000 freestyle times rank fourth nationally. Against North Carolina State, McDermott placed second on the 400 freestyle relay (3:26.13), third in the 200 breaststroke (2:23.86) and fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.79).

Male Diver of the Week: Ian Forlini, Georgia
In Georgia’s meet at North Carolina State on Saturday, Forlini swept the springboards. He won the 1-meter with 346.73 points and the 3-meter with 367.95 points. Each total eclipsed the Zone requirements and marked season-highs for Forlini. Against North Carolina on Friday, he was fourth on 1-meter and fifth on 3-meter for Georgia’s top efforts.

Female Diver of the Week: Christa Cabot, Kentucky
Cabot won both diving events to help UK sweep all four diving events vs. Florida. She won the 1-meter and 3-meter competition, both with season-high scores. Cabot claimed her first victory of the season with a 327.83 in the 3-meter event. In the 1-meter event, she tallied a season-best win with a score of 327.45.

Male Freshman of the Week: Kevin Litherland, Georgia

In Georgia’s meets at North Carolina on Friday and North Carolina State on Saturday, Litherland won one event and scored points in four others. In the win over the Tar Heels, he won the 1,000 freestyle in 9:12.57. Litherland also placed third in the 200 freestyle in 1:39.79 and third in the 500 freestyle in 4:29.70. His 1,000 freestyle time ranks fourth nationally. Against the Wolfpack, Litherland came in second in the 500 freestyle in 4:28.85 and the 1,000 freestyle in 9:19.69.

Female Freshman of the Week: Kylie Stewart, Georgia

In Georgia’s wins at North Carolina on Friday and North Carolina State on Saturday, Stewart won four individual events and was on a victorious relay. Against the Tar Heels, she won the 100 backstroke in 53.64 and the 200 backstroke in 1:55.01. Stewart also anchored the 400 freestyle relay’s win in 3:21.23. Against the Wolfpack, she won the 200 butterfly in 1:59.31 and the 200 individual medley in 2:02.12. Stewart then placed second in the 100 butterfly (55.39) and on the 200 medley relay (1:44.06). She ranks fourth in the 200 backstroke and seventh in the 100 backstroke nationally.

Summit League

Male Swimmer of the Week: Ray Bornman, Denver
Bornman collects his first career Swimmer of the Week award after posting a pair of top-two finishes and CSM Natatorium Pool records. The freshman won the 200 free in a league-best and CSM Natatorium Pool record time of 1:41.19. He took second in the 100 fly with a time of 50.82, tying for the second-fastest league time this season. Bornman also set a CSM Natatorium Pool record with a 21.15 50-free split as part of the first-place 200 free relay team (1:27.49).

Female Swimmer of the Week: Amanda Sanders, Denver
Schutt captures her second-straight Swimmer of the Week award and third of her career after recording four top-three finishes over two days, including the three individual event wins. On Friday, the sophomore won the 200 free (1:52.83) and 500 free (5:02.52) at North Dakota. She came back the next day to win the 200 free (1:53.24) and finish third in the 100 free (53.22). Schutt ranks first in the league in the 200 free and second in the 500 free.

Male Diver of the Week: Cody Watts, IUPUI
Watts earns his second-straight Diver of the Week honor and third of his career after recording a pair of top-two finishes, including an NCAA Zone qualifier. On Friday, the junior won the three-meter dive with a league-best and NCAA Zone qualifying score of 340.50 and finished second in the one-meter with 257.55 points. He also took fifth in the one-meter dive (276.25) and sixth in the three-meter (284.70) at the Indiana Intercollegiates.

Female Diver of the Week: Greyson Hertting, South Dakota
Hertting collects her second consecutive Diver of the Week award and 12th of her career after posting four top-3 finishes, including three event wins. She swept the diving events on Saturday against North Dakota and Northern Colorado, winning the one-meter with 242.60 points and the three-meter with 256.55 points. The sophomore also won the one-meter (240.15) on Friday against the same two teams and took third in the three-meter (223.80).

Western Athletic Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Iegor Lytvenok, Grand Canyon

Lytvenok, a junior from Kryviy Rig, Ukraine (MP Dragomanov National Pedagogic University), won three individual events and was on the winning 400-yard free relay in Grand Canyon’s 190-109 win over Bakersfield on Saturday. Lytvenok won the 100 backstroke (51.78), the 200 backstroke (1:46.66) and the 200 IM (1:48.39), the latter by more than eight seconds. He then anchored the 400 free relay that won in a time of 3:03.41. His times in the 200 IM and 200 back are the best in the WAC this season.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Hannah Kastigar, Grand Canyon

Kastigar, a sophomore from Aberdeen, S.D. (Central HS) won three individual events in a 153-145 dual meet victory over Bakersfield on Saturday. She opened the meet with a victory in the 200-yard butterfly. Her time of 2:00.64 is nearly four seconds faster than the next best time in the WAC. She then posted a winning time of 4:58.78 in the 500 free and won the 200 IM by almost three seconds (2:04.98). All three times are the best in the WAC this season.

Male Diver of the Week: Nathaniel Zillweger, Air Force
Zillweger, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz. (Willow Canyon), won three of four diving events last weekend in helping the Falcons to four dual meet victories over North Dakota and South Dakota. On Friday, he set a new school record with a score of 345.20 points on the 1-meter board and then placed second on the 3-meter with a score of 268.40. On Saturday, he swept both events with a score of 317.70 on the 1-meter and 307.30 on the 3-meter.

Female Diver of the Week: Carlee Burks, Bakersfield
Burks, a sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif. (Centennial HS) won the 3-meter event in the dual meet against Grand Canyon with a score of 252.20, the third best score in the WAC this season. She placed second to her teammate in the 1-meter with a score of 226.75.

Some information in this article was taken from press releases.