DENVER - Northern Arizona's Rachel Palmer and Kristy Ardavanis have been named the Verizon WAC Swimmer and Diver of the week, respectively, for the week of Nov. 7-Nov. 13.
Palmer, a sophomore from Bucklands Beach, New Zealand (Macleans), won six different events and had two third-place finishes in three meets last weekend in Colorado. On Thursday, at Colorado State, she won the 400-meter individual medley in 4:32.45, the second-best time in the WAC this season. In addition, Palmer also captured the title in the 200-meter butterfly and swam the third leg on the first place 400-meter medley relay team. At Northern Colorado on Friday, she won the 200-meter freestyle, the 100-meter butterfly, and finished third in 100-meter backstroke. On Saturday, in Denver for a multi meet with Seattle, Utah and Denver, she won the 200-meter backstroke, swam the third leg of the 200-meter medley relay team that placed third, and finished fifth in the 200-meter individual medley. She has won nine total events in just four meets this season.
Ardavanis, a junior from Gilbert, Ariz. (Mesquite HS), won five of six diving competitions in three meets last weekend. On Thursday, she won the 1-meter competition (292.13) and placed second on the 3-meter board (292.43) at Colorado State. Against Northern Colorado on Friday, Ardavanis won the 1-meter, with a career-best score of 308.78, and the 3-meter dive with a season-best score of 305.78. Her scores vs. Northern Colorado were second-best marks of the season in the WAC.
She followed that up on Saturday at Denver, again winning the 1-meter (281.50) and 3-meter competitions (299.60), defeating divers from both Denver and Utah. In four meets this year she has won seven of the eight diving events, with sweeps in three meets, and has already qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving championship in both events.
Other swimmers nominated: Fresno State freshman Lucy Titchin ... North Dakota junior Veronica Medon.
Other divers nominated: Fresno State junior Stacey Luke ... North Dakota sophomore Rachael Waldbillig.