Andrusak, a freshman from Victoria, B.C., led the Lopes to four wins over the weekend as she collected four individual first-place finishes. The Canadian collected full points for GCU in the 200 butterfly (2:03.82), 1000 freestyle (10:27.83), 400 individual medley (4:31.21) and 500 freestyle (5:05.92). All four times also ranked in the top-12 times among the conference this season with her 200 butterfly being third fastest and her 400 IM time fourth fastest.
Cheetham, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz., managed top finishes in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events this weekend. She collected gold in the 1-meter event and the 3-meter event with scores of 303.60 and 313.05, respectively. This marks the second week in a row that Cheetham took first at both heights.
OTHER ATHLETES OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Other men's swimmer nominees: Grand Canyon's Mikhail Lyubavisky swam to a first-place finish in the 500 freestyle (4:36.15) and 1000 freestyle (9:32.47).
Other men's diver nominees: California Baptist's Evan Honer earned silver in the 1-meter diving event (565.10) and landed a sixth-place finish in both the 3-meter and platform diving events.
Other women's swimmer nominees: Idaho's Brianna Lucien took home gold in the 1000 freestyle (10:32.93) and 500 freestyle (5:06.86) as the Vandals took on Grand Canyon, Air Force and Northern Arizona... Maddie Seidl of Northern Arizona snagged first-place finishes in the 100 butterfly (58.31) and 200 butterfly (2:05.76)... NM State's Airam Olivia-Aun collected top-two finishes in both the 50 freestyle (23.88) and 100 freestyle (51.69).
Other women's diver nominees: California Baptist's Kiree Lowe managed a top-10 finish in the platform diving event as she scored a 370.95... Sara Lameiro Castellanos of Grand Canyon collected three second-place finishes as she earned silver for one 1-meter dive and two 3-meter dives over the weekend... Idaho's Heather Carbon landed a first-place finish in the 1-meter event (258.08) and the 3-meter event (237.60).
AIR FORCE
The Air Force men's team traveled to Phoenix to take on defending WAC Champion Grand Canyon. At the dual, the Falcons defeated the Lopes 133-108 on day one and 139-102 on day two. Day one saw the Falcon men take gold in eight of the 13 events, including a sweep of the two relay events. The team of Zach Nelson, Isaac Gwin, Aaron Pang and Corey Shephard kicked off the dual with a first-place finish in the 400 medley relay as they reached the wall in three minutes and 20.27 seconds. Nelson, Gwin and Pang all added individual wins as well. Nelson won the 200 individual medley (1:54.56) and 200 breaststroke (2:02.76), Gwin captured gold in the 200 backstroke (1:51.62), while Pang tied with teammate Andrew Limpert for first in the 200 butterfly (1:52.67).
The Falcons duplicated their performance on day two by winning eight of 13 events once again. A top finish in the 200 medley relay was turned in by the squad of Cole McAnany, Nelson, Pang and Limpert as they finished in 1:31.34. Gwin would add victories in the 200 freestyle (1:39.22) and 100 backstroke (50.16). Day two also saw third-place finishes turned in by divers Jack Zocher and Brett Jenkins on the one and 3-meter boards, respectively.
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
Both California Baptist's men's and women's dive teams headed to the Southern California campus for the three-day Trojan Diving Invitational. On opening day, the Lancer men were led by freshman Evan Honer as he took sixth on the 3-meter board in a field of 16 divers. The Lancers produced three top-nine platform dives on day two as Honer finished sixth, Tyler Stevens finished seventh and Zane Freeman took ninth. The final day of the invite turned out to be Honer's best day as he finished in second on the 1-meter board.
On the women's side, the Lancers received strong performances from Kiree Lowe and Savannah Uhlir. Lowe led the Lancers with a 23rd-place finish on the 3-meter board, a 21st-place finish in the 1-meter event and a 10th-place finish in the platform event. Uhlir took 31st in the 3-meter dive, 25th at the 1-meter height and 14th on the platform.
CSU BAKERSFIELD
The CSU Bakersfield men's and women's teams also competed in the Trojan Diving Invitational. Sam Stinson led the men as he opened competition with an eighth-place finish in the 3-meter diving event. The men's platform event took place on day two, where Nathan Cummins was the only Roadrunner diver compete. Cummins posted a 10th-place finish. The final day of competition was highlighted by an impressive performance from the freshman Stinson as he finished fourth in the 1-meter diving event.
The Roadrunner women only competed in the 3-meter and 1-meter events, but were unable to earn one of the top-18 finals spots in either event. On day one, Lauren Carson posted a team-best score of 163.55 in the prelims in the 3-meter event. Carson also led the 'Runners on day two as she posted a 168.25 in prelims on the 1-meter board.
GRAND CANYON
The Grand Canyon Lopes hosted multiple duals this weekend, seeing the likes of Air Force, Idaho and NM State across their men's and women's teams. The men's team competed against Air Force on Nov. 8 and 9 but ultimately fell to the Falcons 133 to 108 and 139 to 102, respectively. On day one, Mazen Shoukri collected his first win of the weekend in the 50 freestyle (20.86). Samuel McKenzie added another first-place finish in the 100 freestyle (45.39). On the second day, Mikhail Lyubavisky earned gold in the 1000 freestyle (9:32.47) and 500 freestyle (4:36.15). Wiktor Jaszczak finished second and Griffin McKean finished in third to give the Lopes the 1-2-3 in the 500 freestyle. Shoukri improved on his day one time and turned in another first-place finish in the 50 freestyle (20.60). The Grand Canyon diving team dominated as Pietro Hufnagel Toscani and Nick Benson finished first and second in the one and 3-meter events, respectively.
The Grand Canyon women went 4-1 on the weekend as they took hosted a two-day dual with Air Force and NM State and battled Idaho on Nov. 8. The Lopes were led by Kelsey Andrusak as she had first-place finishes in the 200 butterfly (2:03.82), 1000 freestyle (10:27.83), 400 individual medley (4:31.21) and 500 freestyle (5:05.92). Alyssa Christianson picked up her first win of the season when she won the 200 IM (2:08.06). Cecelia Mayer also earned her first win this year in the 100 butterfly (57.54). Diver Tasmin Stewart continued the trend as she collected her first win of the season in the 1-meter diving event. Sara Lameiro Castellanos added three second-place dives across the two days of competition.
IDAHO
The Vandal women traveled to Arizona to take on Air Force, Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona. On Nov. 8, Idaho fell to Air Force 144 to 98 and Grand Canyon 138 104. The next day, Idaho headed north to face fellow conference member Northern Arizona where they were defeated by the Lumberjacks 172 to 120. Despite the losses, Brianna Lucien still managed to shine in Phoenix as she won the 1000 freestyle (10:32.93) and 500 freestyle (5:06.86). Against the Falcons and Lopes, diver Heather Carbon won the 3-meter diving event.
In Flagstaff, Ariz., the Vandals were led by Lucien once again as she earned the top spot in the 500 freestyle (5:12.22) and claimed second in the 1000 freestyle (10:42.53). Alexis Schmidt finished first in the 200 individual medley (2:10.96) while the team of Katie Hale, Natalie Crocker, Emily Dietz and Rylie Jones took first in the 200 freestyle relay (1:38.14). Carbon also took second in the 3-meter dive event with a personal-best 296.18 points.
NM STATE
The NM State women took to the Fr. Edward Reese Aquatic Center in Phoenix as they faced Air Force and host Grand Canyon. The Aggies fell to Air Force 154 to 88 and 136 to 106. They were also defeated by Grand Canyon 139 to 103 and 129.5 to 122.5. Anna Olivia-Aun led the way for NM State on day one as she earned first in the 50 freestyle (23.88). The 400 freestyle relay team of Aimee Burton, Natalia Villa, Lauren Hemburrow and Rachel Ponte earned gold with a time of 3:33.17.
The second day for the Aggies was accented by a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle from Lauren Hemburrow as she finished in 1:55.32. The team of Olivia-Aun, Burton, Ponte and Neza Kocijan won the 200 freestyle relay (1:36.26).
NORTHERN ARIZONA
The NAU women's team improved their season record to 3-2 as they hosted and defeated Idaho 172 to 120 over the weekend. The Lumberjacks nearly swept every event as they earned first-place finishes in all events but the 500 freestyle. Astrid Villeda, Maddie Seidl, Lainie Bell and Sara Jendbro all achieved first-place finishes in their respective events. Villeda claimed first in the 1000 free (10:39.07), Seidl was the top performer in the 200 butterfly (2:05.76) and 100 butterfly (58.31). Bell earned her first win of the year in the 100 backstroke (57.55). Jendbro collected her first win in the 200 breaststroke (2:24.11). Diver Jenny Cheetham collected gold in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events.
UNLV
The UNLV men's diving team joined California Baptist, CSU Bakersfield and Air Force as they competed in the Trojan Diving Invitational. Jesse Cawley led the way for the Rebels on day one and two as he finished in fifth place on the 3-meter board and claimed third in the platform event. Cawley added another team-best performance on the third day as he finished 14th in the 1-meter event.