College Weekly Athlete Honors Roundup: Kylie Stewart Keeps Collecting SEC Accolades

Above photo by Peter H. Bick

With many collegiate student-athletes in the United States wrapping up midterm exams, it was time to get back to swimming fast and earning big diving scores in dual meets across the country. For their efforts, they were honored with athlete of the week honors from their respective conferences.

Atlantic 10 Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Mattias Glenesk, La Salle
Glenesk, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, finished first in the 1,650-yd freestyle with a time 15:57.84 to finish more than 30 seconds ahead of the next fastest finisher against St. Bonaventure this past weekend. Glenesk also recorded a victory in the 500-yd freestyle with a time of 4:37.51.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Tanja Kirmse, St. Bonaventure
Kirmse, a sophomore from Burghausen, Germany recorded three victories in a tri-meet against Duquesne and La Salle. She picked up victories in the 200-yd freestyle (1:45.59), the 200-yd butterfly (2:06.99) and the 500-yd freestyle (5:01.92).

Male Rookie of the Week: Trent Kindvall, Massachusetts
Kindvall, a freshman from Westminster, Colo., earned his third consecutive A-10 weekly honor after winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events against Binghamton this past weekend. Kindvall recorded a career-high score on the 1-meter springboard with a score of 288.53 and the 3-meter springboard with a score of 303.75. Through three meets this season, he has four first-place finishes and two second-place performances

Female Rookie of the Week: Emma Roush, Massachusetts
Roush, a freshman from Overland Park, Kan., posted her highest scores of the season in both the 1-meter (252.23) and 3-meter (247.80) dives. She picked up the victory in the 1-meter and runner-up in the 3-meter.

Big Ten Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Anze Tavcar, Indiana
Tavcar earns the honor for the second time this season after sweeping the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events in the IU men’s sweep of Kentucky and Tennessee last weekend. Tavcar posted NCAA provisional times in the 50 (20.10), 100 (43.69) and 200 (1:36.08) and also helped lead Indiana to victory in the 400 freestyle relay (2:57.20). He currently ranks first in the 200 free, 10th in the 50 free and second in the 100 free on the NCAA top times list.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Emma Sougstad, Iowa
Sougstad posted the seventh-fastest 100 breaststroke in the collegiate standings this season with a 1:01.28 to win against Minnesota. She also took the 200 breast with a 2:15.66 and was a part of the winning 200 medley relay for the Hawkeyes.

Male Diver of the Week: Michael Hixon, Indiana

Hixon is the Big Ten Diver of the Week for the second week in a row after taking both the 1-meter and 3-meter titles against the Wildcats and Volunteers. Hixon posted a season best score of 417.70 on the 1-meter and another season best of 414.75 on the 3-meter. Both are NCAA Zone qualifying marks.

Female Diver of the Week: Mary Beth Dunnichay, Purdue
Dunnichay was victorious in the 1-meter event against Notre Dame with 315.14 points, while settling for second on the 3-meter with a score of 305.25.

Female Freshman of the Week: Kennedy Goss, Indiana

Goss is the freshman of the week for the second time this year after four first-place finishes to help lead the Indiana women to a sweep of Kentucky and Tennessee. She won the 100 free (49.86), 200 free (1:46.45) and 500 free (4:48.83), while also taking part in the winning 400 freestyle relay (3:21.21). Goss ranks fourth in the 200 free and 11th in the 100 free on the NCAA list.

Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association

Male Swimmer of the Week: Scott Quirie, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Quirie broke school records and finished first in the 100 backstroke (53.25) and the 200 individual medley (1:58.36). He also won the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:56.08 and teamed up with Richard Seffrin (Glassboro, N.J.), Collin Moore (Paso Robles, Cal.) and Anthony Czar (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) to win the 400 medley relay, in which Quirie swam the backstroke.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Prudence Rooker, Liberty
Rooker won the 100 breaststroke (1:05.58) and the 200 individual medley (2:07.27) on Friday as the Lady Flames downed Richmond, 189-105. Her 100 breast was the fastest of the event by the Liberty team this year and the 200 IM broke the LaHaye Aquatic Center pool record. She added a second-place finish in the 200 breast with a personal record time of 2:23.08 and also swam the breaststroke portion of the 200 medley relay, which won with a time of 1:46.94. Rooker ranks No. 4 on Liberty’s all-time top five in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events.

Horizon League

Male Swimmer of the Week: Clement Quilliec, Wright State
Quilliec was impressive in the water during both dual meets and collected five individual victories and was a member of three winning relays. He won the 100-breaststroke against the Panthers with a time of 58.25 and hit the mat for a pool record at Green Bay recording a time of 55.76. In the 200-breaststroke, the sophomore clocked in at 2:07.30 to win over Milwaukee and quickened his time versus the Phoenix with a 2:06.82 finish. To round out his individual victories, Quilliec won the 400-individual medley at Green Bay with a time of 4:06.63.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Holly Moren, Oakland
Morren earned her first collegiate career wins over the weekend for Oakland in a double-dual meet against Ohio University and Youngstown State and a dual meet versus Wayne State. The freshman garnered four individual wins and contributed to two relay victories. Against the Bobcats and Penguins, Morren swam the fastest time in the 100-freestyle for the Golden Grizzlies this season with a 52.15 finish and went for a time of 52.65 the next day. Her winning 50-freestyle swim clocked in at 24.27 while she also won the 50-butterfly with a time of 26.16.

Male Diver of the Week: K.J. Heger, Milwaukee
Heger was dominant for the fourth-straight week to start the season on the one-meter and three-meter boards in a dual meet against Wright State. The senior nearly broke his own school record on both boards, winning the one-meter with a score of 347.40 and missing the three-meter record by three points with a score of 376.50.

Female Diver of the Week: Tricia Grant, Oakland
Grant was back in action on the boards for Oakland, remaining unbeaten this season. The senior swept the one-meter and three-meter boards on each day of competition for the Golden Grizzlies. Against Ohio and Youngstown State, she tallied 262.55 points on the one-meter and 271.40 points on the three-meter. The following day, Grant improved both board scores collecting 307.27 points in the one-meter competition and 316.35 points on the three-meter board.

Mid-American Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Uvis Kalnins, Missouri State

Kalnins was a top performer for the Missouri State men’s swimming and diving team in a dual against Missouri on Friday, Oct. 31, at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Mo. Kalnins set season-best times in all three events he competed in for the Bears on Friday. He swam the anchor leg of the second-place 400 medley squad – which included Paul Le, Isaac Springer and Matthew Wilson – that posted a season-best time of 3:19.83. Kalnins also posted season-best times while finishing first in the 400 IM (3:53.51) and second in the 100 free (44.85) against the Tigers.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Becca Detro, Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan University junior Becca Detro competed in six events and picked up four individual wins between the Eagles’ commanding wins over MAC opponents Akron and Ohio, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. In the 223-77 victory over defending MAC champion Akron, Detro won both the 100 and 200 free. She edged out Kelsey Ferrante in the 100 free to take a 52.45 second win, and in the 200 free she led a sweep of the event in 1:51.22, finishing nearly six seconds ahead of the first Zip to touch in. Detro went on to swim a leg of the 400 free relay, in which her team took second just .25 seconds behind EMU’s winning lineup and finished two and a half seconds ahead of Akron’s A team. On Saturday’s 195-103 decision over Ohio, Detro led a sweep in the 100 free, finishing in 52.43 seconds, which was almost two seconds faster than Ohio’s top performer. Detro also won the 200 free in 1:52.24 in a tight race for the top spot. To end the meet, she once again swam on the runner-up 400 free relay team that finished behind another EMU lineup in 3:34.94, over three seconds ahead of Ohio’s relay team.

Missouri Valley Conference

Female Swimmer of the Week: Courtney Taylor, Illinois State
Taylor played a key role in helping Illinois State defeat Southern Illinois in a double dual Saturday at Horton Pool. Taylor won both the 200-yard breaststroke, setting a new season-best time of 2:22.18, and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.69). Her times in the 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard IM (2:08.78), both set Saturday, currently lead the Missouri Valley Conference. Her performance in the 200-yard IM topped all swimmers from Southern Illinois. Taylor is also a member of the 200-medley relay team that currently holds the best time in the MVC (1:46.82).

Female Diver of the Week: Sherry Zhang, Southern Illinois
Zhang was once again on top of her game this weekend after a few weeks off. In the one-meter dive, Zhang carded a score of 353.20 to defeat a tough field of competitors. The three-meter competition saw Zhang produce the same kind of performance she has done all year, this time earning a score of 403.45 to earn her sixth win of the season. Her score in the three-meter dive was nearly 40 points higher than the second place finisher.

Mountain West Conference

Female Swimmer of the Week: Brittany Aoyama, Boise State

A decisive victory over Oregon State last weekend was due in no small part to Aoyama’s two individual event wins and participation on both winning relays. She posted a 54.06 in the 100 fly to earn a “B” qualifying time for the NCAA championships and take the top ranking in the conference. She also won the 100 free with a 50.58 for second in the conference standings.

Female Diver of the Week: Alexandra Caplan, San Diego State
Caplan won the 1-meter springboard event with a score of 284.45 in the tri-meet against Colorado State and Idaho, and was second on the 3-meter with a score of 289.30. Both scores qualify her for the NCAA zone diving meet.

North Eastern Athletic Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Matthijs Wubbolts, Gallaudet
In a dual with Greensboro College Saturday, Wubbolts captured first place in the 100-yard freestyle with a finish time of 53.40. He also set a personal-best time in the 100-yard breaststroke after touching the wall in 1:11.18, where he took second place, and also finished second in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.78.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Nicole Secor, Cazenovia College
The freshman captured three first-place finishes during a dual with conference foe Gallaudet University Friday, helping the Wildcats win 130-75 while also setting a school record along the way. Secor took first place in the mixed 1,000-yard freestyle after touching the wall in 11:51.46, which set a new school record for that event. She also took first place in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:45.72, while being a part of the 200-yard medley relay team that placed first with an end time of 2:05.37. Secor has now set school records in four separate individual events on the year while also being a part of a pair of record-setting relay teams for the Wildcats.

Presidents Athletic League

Male Swimmer of the Week: Zach Ligus, Saint Vincent College
Ligus earned individual wins in the 50 free (21.82), 100 free (48.57) and the 100 fly (52.56) to help the Bearcats claim their first-ever victory over PAC power Grove City Saturday. Ligus then teamed with Adam Tran, Kyle Garase and Alex Bolen to win the 400 free relay (3:16.86).

Female Swimmer of the Week: Megan Bilko, Grove City College
Bilko won the 200 free in 1 minute, 57.98 seconds and then took the 200 butterfly in 2:12.77 against Saint Vincent. She also posted the top time in the 100 fly (1:01.47) on an exhibition basis.

Southeastern Conference

Male Swimmer of the Week: Joe Patching, Auburn
Patching tripled for Auburn by winning the 200 back, 200 free and 400 IM – all with NCAA ‘B’ cut times – against Alabama and LSU. He also helped Auburn’s 400 medley relay team to the fastest time in the SEC and third-best time in the nation (3:13.97). Patching’s leadoff split of 47.94 is the fourth-best time in the nation this season and second-fastest time in the SEC, while his time in the 200 back is the fifth-best time in the nation this season. He picked up his first wins of the season in the 200 free and 400 IM to earn provisional cuts and now leads the Tigers with five individual victories.

Female Swimmer of the Week: Amber McDermott, Georgia

In No. 2 Georgia’s win over No. 3 Florida on Oct. 31 in Athens, McDermott won two events. She won the 500 freestyle in 9:43.00 and the 1,000 freestyle in 4:46.79. McDermott also helped the 400 freestyle relay come in second in 3:27.58. McDermott’s 1,000 freestyle time is the fastest in the nation this season. She ranks third nationally in the 500 freestyle and her 500 freestyle time reached the NCAA provisional qualifying standard.

Male Diver of the Week: Ian Forlini, Georgia
In No. 4 Georgia’s win over No. 5 Florida on Oct. 31 in Athens, Forlini won both springboards. He claimed the 1-meter with 349.05 points and the 3-meter with 374.10 points. Forlini improved his Zone qualifying scores with each effort. Georgia’s win was its first in seven seasons (0-6-1) against the Gators. The Bulldogs improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 against SEC opponents.

Female Diver of the Week: Alex Bettridge, LSU
Bettridge provided two crucial wins on one-meter and three-meter in the Lady Tigers’ win over Alabama. She posted a season-high score of 304.20 in the one-meter, and 325.40 in the three-meter. The two wins brought her total to three on the year.

Male Freshman of the Week: Sam McHugh, Tennessee

In Tennessee’s dual meet against Kentucky and Indiana, McHugh finished in first place in the 200 fly (1:46.72), the 500 free (4:27.26) and the 400 IM (3:52.60). With the three victories, McHugh now has eight wins over five different events this season for the Vols.

Female Freshman of the Week: Kylie Stewart, Georgia

In No. 2 Georgia’s win over No. 3 Florida on Oct. 31 in Athens, Stewart won two individual events and was on two victorious relays. She took the 100 backstroke in 53.42 and the 200 backstroke in 1:55.54. Stewart also helped the 200 medley relay win in 1:40.90 and the 400 freestyle relay win in 3:26.41. Stewart’s 100 backstroke improved her NCAA provisional qualifying standard. She is nationally ranked fourth in the 200 backstroke and sixth in the 100 backstroke.

Summit League

Male Swimmer of the Week: Chris Neaveill, Western Illinois
Neaveill captures his second career Swimmer of the Week honor and first of the season after winning the 100 fly against league foe IUPUI and Saint Louis. The sophomore touched the wall with a winning-time of 50.51, ranking second-fastest in the league this season. He was also a member of the third-place 200 free relay squad (1:30.00) and fifth-place 200 Medley relay team (1:37.07).

Female Swimmer of the Week: Emily Campbell, South Dakota State
Campbell receives her first career Swimmer of the Week award after a trio of top-two finishes, including two event wins against Big Ten opponent Nebraska. The Aberdeen, S.D., native swept the breaststroke events, winning the 100 in 1:07.07 and the 200 in 2:22.90. She also finished runner-up in the 200 IM with a time of 2:11.87 and was a part of the second-place 200 medley relay team (1:50.03). Both of Campbell’s times in the breaststroke rank third in the league, while her 200 IM time is sixth.

Male Diver of the Week: Doug Ogilvie, Western Illinois
Ogilvie collects his seventh career weekly honor and first of the season. The senior took third in the three-meter dive (265.65) against IUPUI and Saint Louis, ranking seventh in the league.

Female Diver of the Week: Miranda Knipfer, Omaha
Knipfer claims her first career Diver of the Week award after recording a pair of top-six finishes against Iowa State and North Dakota. The Omaha, Neb., native finished third in the one-meter dive with a score of 235.70 and sixth in the three-meter (237.70).

Some information in this article was taken from press releases.