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MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: NOV. 27-DEC. 3
DENVER - UNLV's Brad Gonzales has been named Western Athletic Conference Men's Swimmer of the Week, respectively, for Nov. 27-Dec. 3.
Gonzales, a freshman from Cypress, Calif., shattered the UNLV school record in the mile with a time of 14:46.31, over six seconds faster than the previous top time on the record books. That placed him first in the WAC, and is the sixth fastest time in the nation this year as well. His split of 8:58.91 in the 1000 Free is a new school record as well. Gonzales also recorded a time of 4:23.78 in the 500 free and a 1:40.28 in the 200 free.
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: NOV. 27-DEC. 3
Northern Arizona's Monique King has been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Swimmer of the Week, respectively, for Nov. 27-Dec. 3.
King, a junior from Browns Back, Auckland, set two top conference times in the WAC in the 500 and mile freestyle. In the mile, King placed 14th - the highest individual finish by an NAU swimmer - with a career-best time of 16:42.36, which ranks first in the conference this season. Likewise, her 500 freestyle time of 4:50.40 ranks first in the WAC and earned her a 27th place finish. Her 500 freestyle time also vaulted her into third on NAU's all-time performance list. King also set a new season-best time in the 200 freestyle and was part of NAU's 400 and 800 freestyle relay teams that set new season-bests.
OTHER ATHLETES OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Other men's swimmer nominees: CSU Bakersfield's Kris Rogic qualified for the finals in two events at the US Winter Nationals as he swam the 400 individual medley (4:00.65), 100 back (49.20), 100 free (46.10), 200 individual medley (1:53.55) and helped his 400 free relay team to a 3:02.42 finish… Seattle U's Ben Nussbaum recorded a time of 2:03.76 in the 200 breast, 57.20 in the 100 breast and 1:53.21 in the 200 individual medley.
Other women's swimmer nominees: CSU Bakersfield's Jayssie Haynes competed at the US Winter Nationals and broke into CSUB's Top 5 all-time list for the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:05.50, while also finishing the 200 breast in 2:18.48 and 100 breast in 1:04.63… Seattle U's Bryn Lasher set a school record in the 100 fly with a 55.58 in the prelims and recorded the seventh-best 200 fly in program history with a time of 2:06.38.
THIS WEEK IN WAC SWIMMING AND DIVING
CSU BAKERSFIELD
CSU Bakersfield's men and women's swim team wrapped up their final day at U.S. Nationals in several events this morning, the 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly and the 400 Freestyle relay. The Roadrunners had strong finishes, including the men's 400 freestyle relay. The `Runners swam a 3:02.42 in the men 400 Freestyle relay this evening which included two seniors and two freshmen. Lovre Soric,Kris Rogic, Joe Cobarrubias and Ryan Brimer had a season best and missed the fifth fastest time by two seconds. “We finished U.S Nationals with what could be our best relay, the 400 Free relays. We are still unsure who will swim this relay in February, however these four did great tonight,†said Hansen. The lone women swimmer at U.S Nationals, Jayssie Hayes, competed in the 200 Breaststroke today with a time of 2:18.48. Kris Rogic, a native from Zagreb, Croatia competed in his first ever U.S. Nationals and proved this weekend that he can swim right next to the big boys. Today, the freshman had a personal best in the 100 freestyle with a time of 46.10. Justice Kramer finished the day in the 200 Butterfly with a time of 1:52.19 while Soric competed in the 200 Backstroke with a time of 1:51.27. Cobarrubias swam a personal best in the 100 freestyle.
NORTHERN ARIZONA
A grueling four days in Austin came to an end on Saturday with positive performances all the way around by the Northern Arizona swimmers. With four evening swims on the last day of the Texas Invitational, NAU finished the meet with 12 individual finals swims overall. The Lumberjacks' three distance swimmers performed well in the demanding 1,650 freestyle with redshirt junior Monique King clocking the best time of 16:42.36. King's 14th-place finish was the best by any ‘Jack this week, and her time was over 11 seconds faster than her previous season-best. Freshman Sam Milewski (16:57.59) and senior Kimmy Richter (17:02.56) also turned in season-best times to place 18th and 20th respectively. Of the Lumberjacks to swim at night, junior Sarah Takach and senior Alina Staffeldt displayed the biggest improvement between the morning prelims and the evening finals in the 200 breaststroke and 200 butterfly respectively. After touching the wall in 2:21.02 to qualify for the breaststroke finals, Takach placed 22nd overall with a time of 2:18.95. Staffeldt would win the butterfly ‘D' final with a time of 2:01.23 - more than three seconds faster than her qualifying time - to finish 25th overall. Junior Andrea Schmidt accompanied Staffeldt in the 200 fly finals, competing in the ‘C' heat and placing 24th. Her best swim occurred in the morning with a time of 2:02.07. In the 200 backstroke, freshman Sarah O'Connor posted a time of 2:03.80 - just off her prelim time of 2:03.71 - to finish 31st. NAU got two season-best performances by senior Roni Houck (51.41) and freshman Elisa Rodriguez(51.81) in the 100 free, and freshman Niamh McDonagh rounded out NAU's competitors with a time of 2:08.14 in the 200 fly. Ending the meet on a high note, Rodriguez, Richter, King and Houck set a new season-best in the 400 freestyle relay by more than two seconds at 3:27.59. Swimming against four top 25 teams and a host of other quality teams, the overall meet was a great learning experience for the 10 Lumberjack swimmers as the team nears the end of the first half of the season.
SEATTLE U
Seattle University men's swimming wrapped up action at the 69th Annual Husky Invitational Sunday. The Redhawks took second among NCAA programs in the team standings this weekend. In the 100 freestyle, Mitchell Crossen tied for the fifth-best time in program history, finishing in 45.83 seconds. He took sixth in Sunday's finals. Ben Nussbaum improved his personal-best time in the 200 breaststroke, swimming a 2:03.76, good for the seventh-fastest time in school history. In the 200 butterfly finals, Shawn Fujii placed sixth. He swam a 1:53.62 Sunday. In the team standings, Seattle U finished second among NCAA schools with 688 points for the weekend.
Seattle University women's swimming concluded competition at the 69th Annual Husky Invitational Sunday. SU placed fourth among NCAA schools in the team standings. Bryn Lasher recorded the seventh-best 200 butterfly time in school history. In prelims, the freshman finished in 2:06.38. Darian Himes touched in 2:24.61 in the 200 breaststroke, clocking in with the ninth-best time in SU history. In the 400 freestyle relay, Seattle U tallied the sixth-best time in program history with a 3:31.04 effort. The time was good for fourth in the finals Sunday. Allison Plamondonled off the race with a 52.49, notching the seventh-best time in SU history. Emily Bakewell posted a personal-best time in the 200 breaststroke prelims. The freshman touched the wall in 2:28.07 Sunday. The Redhawks finished fourth among NCAA schools in the team standings with 664 points over the three-day meet.
UNLV
Freshman Brad Gonzales set a pair of school records in the 1650 free, thanks to his third place swim of 14:46.31, which is a NCAA ‘B' standard and breaks the previous UNLV record by over six seconds. His 1000 split of 8:58.91 is also the fastest on the UNLV record books. Senior Forrest Beesley paced UNLV in the 100 free with a 44.23, a ‘B' time that was 27th overall on Saturday. Senior Francois Van Wynsberge posted a time of 2:00.20 to record a 23rd place finish in the 200 breast. In the night's final event, Or Sabatier, Dylan Tarazona, Wysberge and Beesley would place 14th in the 400 free relay in 2:58.96.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2018 WAC Swimming and Diving Championship returns to Houston, Texas. Last year Air Force won its second straight WAC Men's Swimming & Diving Championship while Northern Arizona took home the women's crown for the fourth straight year.