WAC Women’s Swimming and Diving Athletes of the Week Announced
DENVER – CSU Bakersfield's Mikayla Popham and NM State's Italia Aranzabal have been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Swimmer and Diver of the Week, respectively, for Sept. 30-Oct. 7.
Popham, a freshman from Sunshine Coast, Australia, began her college career with an impressive showing at the USC Trojan Swim Invite as she competed in four individual events and a team relay. She finished in the top-10 in three of her individual events as she competed with swimmers from the likes of Southern California and Virginia. The Austrailian posted the season's fastest times among the conference in the 500 freestyle (4:53.07), 100 freestyle (50.39) and 200 freestyle (1:48.89). Popham's lead leg of the 200 freestyle relay is also the conference's fastest time in the 50 free thus far (23.20).
Aranzabal, a freshman from Mexico City, Mexico, dominated in both the 3-meter and 1-meter diving events as the Aggies hosted Northern Colorado. She currently has the conference's top score in the 3-meter diving event (264.60) and 1-meter diving event (239.85).
Other swimmer nominees: Grand Canyon's Kelsey Andrusak posted the conference's second fastest time in the 400 individual medley (4:33.39) as she competed at the TYR Fall Classic... NM State's Anabel Ivanov picked up a first-place finish in the 100 back (58.70) in the Aggies opening meet of the season.
Other diver nominee: Grand Canyon's Sara Lameiro Castellanos finished in the top-six in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events at the TYR Fall Classic in Miami.