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WAC Swimmer & Diver of the Week
Grand Canyon's Mark Nikolaev and UNLV's Lucas James have been named Western Athletic Conference Swimmer and Diver of the week, respectively, for Jan. 25-31.
Nikolaev, a freshman from Seltso, Russia (Seltsovkaya) won 4 individual events and was on 3 winning relays while competing against #25 Notre Dame, Iowa, and Missouri State. Mark set two individual Notre Dame pool records in the 100 Back and 100 Fly and was on three relays that set pool records (200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay, and 400 Free Relay). In addition, Mark's 50 Back relay lead off and 100 back times were new GCU team records.
James, a senior from El Cajon, Calif. (Valhalla HS) went 1st place on both boards, 1 Meter and 3 Meter, in the meet against Wyoming. He earned NCAA Zone qualifying scores on both boards and set a Personal record on 1 meter - 333.40, which also becomes the new school record as well.
Grand Canyon's Jovanna Koens and Northern Colorado's Savanna Meadows have been named Western Athletic Conference Swimmer and Diver of the week, respectively, for Jan. 25-31.
Koens, a junior from Huldenberg, Belgium (Sint-Joris) competed against #36 Iowa, #37 Notre Dame and Illinois State and swam personal best times in the 50 and 100 Freestyle events, setting the GCU team record in the 50 Free. She also swam on all 5 of GCU's A relays during the meet, three of which placed 2nd to Notre Dame, defeating Iowa.
Meadows, a junior from Burnet, Texas (Burnet High School) took first place in both events on Saturday night and 1st and 2nd on Friday, helping the Bears to their two wins Friday and two Saturday. She scored 272.20 on the 1M and 288.70 on the 3M.
NORTHERN COLORADO
UNC defeated Nebraska-Kearney (175-61) and Colorado State-Pueblo (178-62) on Friday and then Nebraska-Kearney (185-52) and Colorado State-Pueblo (180-59) on Saturday to move to 11-9 on the season in meets.
NORTH DAKOTA
The University of North Dakota swimming and diving teams closed out the home portion of its 2015-16 season with a pair of wins over South Dakota on Saturday at the Hyslop Sports Center. On the men's side, the Fighting Hawks picked up wins in nine events to defeat the Coyotes 166-121 to close UND's record in duals to 4-3 on the season. The Fighting Hawks also finished the season 3-1 at home in duals with wins over St. Cloud State, South Dakota State, and South Dakota. Out of the nine events won by the UND men, five came from the senior class. On the women's side, the Fighting Hawks continued their winning ways at home with a 167-125 win over the Coyotes. The win closes UND's dual-record to 6-2 overall and 4-1 at home. UND is now 11-1 in the past two seasons at home with notable wins over South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Northern Colorado. The Fighting Hawks head to Minneapolis, Minn. next weekend to compete in the Minnesota Challenge on Feb. 6-7.
SEATTLE U
The Seattle University men used nine event victories, including three which set a new Connolly Complex Pool record, to defeat Simon Fraser, 150-109, Saturday afternoon. The first pool record came in the first event of the meet, as Morgan Montemayor, Tanner Schelling, Jack Baldoni, and Matt Morris combined for a time of 1:31.34, over a half-second faster than the previous record and two-and-a-half seconds quicker than Simon Fraser in second place. Schelling would break the pool record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 56.39 seconds, winning the event by 12/100ths of a second. After winning the 200 butterfly in 1:51.38, Baldoni took out the 100 butterfly pool record with a winning time of 48.96 seconds, 64/100ths of a second faster than the mark set by soon-to-be Seattle U Athletics Hall of Famer Chris Coley. Montemayor won two individual events, touching the wall first in both the 100 backstroke in 50.66 seconds and in the 200 backstroke in 1:51.34. Mitchell Crossen was also a two-time winner, finishing first in both the 200 freestyle in 1:43.74 and in the 100 freestyle in 47.35 seconds. Connor Webb took the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:06.96 after finishing in second place behind Schelling in the 100 breaststroke in 58.71 seconds. To cap off the meet, Schelling, Baldoni, Montemayor, and Morris finished second in the 400 freestyle relay with a total time of 3:08.05. Seattle U now prepares for the WAC Swimming and Diving Championships at the end of the month in Houston, Texas. The women lost to Simon Fraser Saturday afternoon, 140.5 to 119.5, but the Redhawks still finished with an 11-6 dual meet record, their best since moving to Division I. Blaise Wittenauer-Lee won three events, finishing first in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.21 - new pool record), 200 breaststroke (2:18.03), and 200 individual medley (2:07.08). Madi Lydig lowered her own school record in the 200 backstroke by almost a full second, winning that event Saturday with a time of 2:01.83, almost six full seconds in front of her nearest competitor. Paige Treff once again touched the wall first in the 50 freestyle, winning by over a second with a time of 24.40 seconds. Four other Redhawks finished in second place in their respective races by close margins: Emma Foster in the 1000 freestyle (0.4 seconds), Emily Gough in the 200 freestyle (0.19 seconds), Katie Rottman in the 100 backstroke (0.49 seconds), and Jane Liggett in the 100 butterfly (0.19 seconds). The Redhawks will now prepare for the WAC Swimming and Diving Championships at the end of the month in Houston, Texas.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2015 WAC Swimming and Diving Championship travels to Houston, Texas. The UNLV men's swim team captured the WAC title while the Northern Arizona women's team took the crown at the WAC championships last year.
February 24-27
Location: Houston
Host: UTRGV
Pool: CRWC Natatorium
Admission: Free
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2016 Swimming and Diving NCAA Championships travel to Atlanta, Mar. 24-26.