Texas A&M sophomore Shaine Casas and Tennessee senior Erika Brown were named SEC swimmers of the week for their efforts in the Texas A&M and Tennessee Invitationals. LSU’s Aimee Wilson and Manny Vazquez Bas were named women’s diver and men’s freshman of the week, and Georgia’s Zoie Hartman and Zach Allen were named women’s freshman and men’s diver of the week.
Men’s Swimmer of the Week: Shaine Casas, Texas A&M
Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas, a sophomore from McAllen, Texas, posted nation-leading times to win four individual events as the No. 10 Aggies won the Art Adamson Invitational for the third consecutive year. Casas recorded A-cut times in the 200 IM (1:40.16), the 100 back (44.48) and the 200 back (1:38.21) as well as a B-cut time in the 100 fly (45.26). He is now the eighth fastest performer of all time in the 200 back and 10th fastest swimmer of all time in the 200 IM. Casas was also a part of the winning 400 medley relay (3:06.68/45.57).
Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Erika Brown, Tennessee
Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Tennessee’s Erika Brown, a senior from Charlotte, N.C., won three individual events with nation-leading times as No. 2 Tennessee finished first at the Tennessee Invitational. Brown also helped the Lady Vols secure three relay event wins and two nation-leading times. She posted NCAA A-cut times in the 50 free (21.19), the 100 free (46.15), the 200 free (1:41.66) and the 100 fly (49.79), as well as B-cuts in the 200 IM (1:57.61) and the 100 back (52.02). Brown swam second for the 200 free relay (1:27.20/21.10) and the 800 free relay (7:01.54/1:43.51), and anchor on the 400 free relay (3:11.27/45.92). She now owns two of the fastest 50 free times in history (21.15 and 21.19), is the second fastest performer in history in the 100 free (46.15), the fourth fastest performer in history in the 100 fly (49.79) and the ninth fastest performer in history in the 200 free (1:41.66).
Men’s Diver of the Week: Zach Allen, Georgia
Georgia’s Zach Allen, a junior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., swept the springboard events to score a team-high 57 points at the Tennessee Invitational. He earned the gold in the 1-meter with a score of 354.80 and in the 3-meter with a score of 371.85. Allen closed the weekend with a second-place finish on platform with a final score of 247.50.
Women’s Diver of the Week: Aimee Wilson, LSU
LSU’s Aimee Wilson, a sophomore from Calgary, Canada, placed first on the 1-meter springboard at the Art Adamson Invitational with a final score of 328.45. Wilson was runner-up on the 3-meter with a season-high score of 345.75. Opening the season on platform, she registered 230.70 points, good for seventh place.
Men’s Freshman of the Week: Manny Vazquez Bas, LSU
LSU’s Manny Vazquez Bas, a freshman from San Juan, Puerto Rico, won the platform at the Art Adamson Invitational with a final score of 356.50. He earned a third-place finish in the 3-meter springboard with a career-high score of 378.05 and sixth place on the 1-meter with a final score of 307.40.
Women’s Freshman of the Week: Zoie Hartman, Georgia
Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Georgia’s Zoie Hartman, a freshman from Danville, Calif., posted one A-cut and two B-cuts at the Tennessee Invitational. Hartman broke Kristy Kowal’s 21-year record with a prelim time of 58.76 before improving on her record time with a mark of 58.27 in the final, the best finish of any collegiate swimmer in the event, as well as the nation’s current top time. She finished second in the 200 IM with a time of 1:53.69 (third fastest time in the nation) and the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:07.43 (second fastest time in the nation). Hartman also swam in five relays, including the 400 medley relay, where her 100 breaststroke split of 57.84 was the best relay split in school history.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the Southeastern Conference. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
