DENVER - Grand Canyon's Mark Nikolaev and Mike Bidak have been named Western Athletic Conference Swimmer and Diver of the week, respectively, for Jan. 4-10.
Nikolaev, a freshman from Seltso, Russia (Seltsovkaya) led #33 Grand Canyon in their victory over #28 BYU (CollegeSwimming.com Rankings) with 4 wins (3 individual and 1 relay) and achieved two NCAA B Cuts and one team record in the process. Nikolaev's 100 Back time had a CollegeSwimmimg.com performance score of 827.0 - the top score in the WAC this week for men. It is an NCAA B Cut and it is the 2nd fastest 100 Back time in the WAC this season, Mark already has the fastest time in the WAC from a meet earlier this season. The freshman was also on the first place 200-medley relay. His lead-off 50 Back time of 22.27 is a GCU team record.
Bidak, a senior from Scottsdale, Ariz. (Horizon) scored a 324.30 in the 1M for a first place finish and a 315.75 in the 3M for a second place finish. Bidak's performance was critical to Grand Canyon's success in beating BYU.
Other swimmer nominees: CSU Bakersfield's Christopher Salcido paced the Roadrunners in a tri-meet against Colorado Mesa and NCAA Division II No. 5 ranked UC San Diego. The Maryville, Tenn. native earned a pair of wins in the 100 and 200 free while finished third in the 100 fly (51.20) in his first attempt at the event this season. Salcido's 200 free time of 1:41.38 lowered his collegiate-best time by .20 seconds while the freshman already ranks in the WAC's Top 20. He also posted a top dual time of the year in the 100 free 46.19 to earn his second win of the day. In the 400 free relay, Salcido's leg (45.90) was the fastest of the race for the ‘Runners, who lowered their season-best time by half a second. Wyoming's Gabe Rooker won both 100 and 200 breast events for the first time this season in one dual and swam a season best in the 100 with a time of 55.03.
Other diver nominees: CSU Bakersfield's Brayden Greenwald paced the Roadrunners in a tri-meet against Colorado Mesa and NCAA Division II No. 5 ranked UC San Diego. The Maryville, Tenn. native earned a pair of wins in the 100 and 200 free while finished third in the 100 fly (51.20) in his first attempt at the event this season. Salcido's 200 free time of 1:41.38 lowered his collegiate-best time by .20 seconds while the freshman already ranks in the WAC's Top 20. He also posted a top dual time of the year in the 100 free 46.19 to earn his second win of the day. In the 400 free relay, Salcido's leg (45.90) was the fastest of the race for the ‘Runners, who lowered their season-best time by half a second. Wyoming's Jacob Rehmeier scored a season best in the 1M diving event with a score of 302.03. This was Rehmeier's first time in his career to win both diving events in one dual meet.