WOMEN'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: NOV. 3 -8
Grand Canyon's Maria Brunlehner and Northern Arizona's Victoria Knapp has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Swimmer and Diver of the Week for Nov. 3 through 8.
Brunlehner, a freshman from Mombasa, Kenya, opened the week with a second place finish in the 200 individual medley with an altitude adjusted time of 2:06.90 that now tops the WAC. To end the first day, she anchored the Lopes' winning 400 freestyle relay (3:29.87) clocking a split time of 51.05. On the second day of the meet Brunlehner anchored the opening 400 medley relay where the Lopes snag another win, she then picked up her first individual win in the 100 freestyle (51.68) with a time that puts her second in the WAC season best. She closed the week opening the winning 200 freestyle relay (1:34.76.
Knapp, a sophomore from Mesa, Ariz., topped the WAC and scored NCAA zone qualifying scores in both the 3-meter and 1-meter events. She opened the week winning the 1-meter with a score of 299.78 and proceeded to win the 3-meter with a new personal best score of 319.43, contributing to NAU's win over New Mexico, Saturday.
MEN'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: NOV. 3 -8
UNLV's Adnan Beji and Grand Canyon's Isaac Poole has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Swimmer and Diver of the Week, respectively, for Nov. 3 through 8.
Beji, a freshman from Tunis, Tunisia, showed consistency by swimming the same two events two days in a row and winning all four races. In the dual meet against BYU, he managed to contribute two out of the four individual wins snagged by the Rebels in the 100 breastroke (54.72) and 200 breastroke (2:01.13), Friday. The next day Beji won the 100 breast (54.66) and 200 breast (2:00.91) against Utah.
Poole, sophomore from Shoreline, Wash., swept all three events on the Lopes' dual meet against Air Force, Friday through Saturday. He opened the week setting a new GCU record in the 1-meter with a score of 372.00 breaking the previous score of 367.20. He then proceed to win the 3-meter (339.75) and the platform (272.48).
OTHER ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Other women's swimmer nominee: California Baptist's Patricia Van Law had individual wins in the 100 backstroke (58.41), 200 backstroke (2:04.51), and the 200 individual medley (2:07.69) on Saturday's win over Cal Poly ... Idaho Laura Rodriguez-Fernandez won the 100 (1:07.07) and 200 breastroke (2:23.16), on Saturday's win over Seattle U ... NM State's Aimee Burton won the 50 freestyle (24.27) and 100 butterfly (57.60) on their dual meet against SMU, Friday ... Northern Arizona's Cayla Jago won the 100 butterfly with an impressive altitude adjusted time of 55.57 three tens of a second off her personal best on their dual meet against New Mexico, Saturday ... Northern Colorado's Maddy Moore won the 100 freestyle (51.47) and finished second in the 50 freestyle (23.36) ... Seattle U's Sammy Mosier won two individual events, the 100 freestyle (53.47) and 100 butterfly (58.83) on Saturday's dual meet against Idaho.
Other men's swimmer nominee: Air Force's Wen Zhang won all four individual events he competed in, the 500 freestyle (4:5.88), 200 freestyle (1:39.70), 100 freestyle (44.25), 100 butterfly (48.94) ... California Baptist's Remi Fabiani won all of his freestyle events from the 50 (20.47), the 100 (45.21), and the 200 (1:40.46), as well as the 400 free relay (3:02.07) which he led off for the Lancers, Saturday ... Grand Canyon's Griffin McKean finished first in the 200 breastroke (2:08.03) despite the altitude change on their dual meet against Air Force, Friday through Saturday ... Wyoming's Grant Sloan won two individual events, the 50 freestyle (20.80) and the 100 breastroke (57.07) in their dual meet against Colorado Mesa, Friday.
Other women's diver nominee: California Baptist's Paula De Moya finished first in the 3-meter (265.80) and second in the 1-meter (246.08) in their dual meet against Cal Poly, Saturday ... Grand Canyon's Shiori Bak won her first event this season in the platform (235.73) with an NCAA zone qualifying score, she finished second in the 1-meter (219.68) and fourth in the 3-meter (231.30), Friday through Saturday ... Northern Colorado's Angeline Settle led the Bears diving team finishing third and fourth in the 1- meter (205.58) and 3-meter (196.05), respectively, on Thursday's win over Wyoming.
Other men's diver nominee: California Baptist's Evan Honer won the 1-meter (258.23) and 3-meter (350.93) on the Lancer's win over Cal Poly, Saturday ... Wyoming's Juan Gonzales won the 1-meter (301.45) and 3-meter (323.90) on the Cowboys' win over Colorado Mesa, Friday.
AIR FORCE
The Falcons hosted Grand Canyon and snagged a home win (196-176), Firday through Saturday.
AFA got four wins from swimmer of the week nominee, Zhang, in the 500 freestyle (4:35.88), 200 freestyle (1:39.70), 100 freestyle (44.25), and 100 butterfly (49.94).
Gabriel Bartolomei and Adam Grimm got two individuals wins each. Bartolomei won the 100 backtroke (51.12) and 200 backstroke (1:54.57), while Grimm snagged the 200 individual medley (1:53.66) and 400 individual medley (4:05.83).
The Falcons also won three out of the four relays.
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers travelled to Cal Poly and both the men and women's team added one on the win column, Saturday.
The men's team scored 177 points against Cal Poly's 122. Fabiani led the Lancers winning two individual events in the 50 freestyle (20.47), 100 freestyle (45.21) and 200 freestyle (1:40.46).
Other Lancers that won individual events are Christian Meyer in the 1000 freestyle (9:46.86), Jonathan Reitner in the 100 breastroke (56.61), Brandon Schuster in the 200 breastroke (1:53.30) and Robert Moseley in the 200 individual medley (1:53.30).
The men also won both the 200 medley relay (1:31.75) and 400 freestyle relay (3:02.07).
In diving, diver of the week nominee, Honer, took two wins.
The women's team was led by swimmer of the week nominee, Van Law, who won the 100 backstroke (58.41), 200 backstroke (2:04.51) and the 200 individual medley (2:07.69).
Other Lancers that won multiple individual events are Faith Brazil in the 100 breastroke (1:05.11) and 200 breastroke (2:22.04), Giulia Decataldo in the 500 freestyle (5:07.71) and the 1000 freestyle (10:23.74).
Individual wins also came from Rebeca Oviedo in the 200 freestyle (1:56.57); Amber Harris 200 butterfly (2:05.57) and Mackenzie Degn in the 100 free (53.82).
Quartet Van Law, Brazil, Vianka Hoyer and Degn also took the 200 medely relay (1:47.20).
In diving, diver of the week nominee, De Moya, took the 3-meter while teammate Kiree Lowe took the 1-meter (257.10).
GRAND CANYON
The Lopes travelled to Air Force where both the men and women fell short on taking a win.
In the men's side, Carazo Barbero gave the Lopes a great start in the individual events with a win in the 100 breaststroke (56.55). Jack Armstrong finished first in the 500 freestyle (20.44). McKean also took a win in the 200 breastroke.
Standout performance came from diver of the week, Poole who swept all three diving events.
In the women's side, Individual wins came from swimmer of the week Brunlehner in the 100 freestyle, Raphaela Nakashima in the 100 breastroke (1:04.79), Robyn Edwards in the 100 backstroke (57.76) and 200 backstroke (2:04.30).
The women also won the 200 medley relay (1:44.16) and 200 freestyle relay (1:34.76).
In diving, Bak won the platform.
IDAHO
The Vandals travelled west to Seattle U and managed to perform dominantly winning with a score of 189 against 72, Saturday.
The Vandals took home 12 out of the 14 events.
Four Vandals snagged two individual wins this past weekend. Alexa Teneyck in the 1000 freestyle (10:49.23) and the 500 freestyle (5:17.45), Zoe Froh in the 200 individual medley (2:10.54) and the 200 butterfly (2:10.67), Ani Husaby in the 200 backtroke (2:07.81) and the 100 backstroke (58.88) and swimmer of the week nominee, Rodriguez-Fernandez, in the 100 and 200 breastroke.
Individual wins also came from Rylie Jones in the 200 freestyle (1:56.00) and Ella Haskins in the 500 freestyle (24.98).
They also took both the 200 medley relay (1:49.22) and 200 freestyle relay (1:39.54).
NM STATE
The Aggies travelled to Texas where they have back-to-back dual meets against SMU and North Texas.
They opened the week falling to SMU (77-161), Friday.
Picking up a win from Jordan Andrusak in the 200 breastroke (2:24.77) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:30.55) by Burton, Lindsay Puhalski, Lauren Hemburrow and Neza Kocijan.
The next day, they gave a strong performance but fell short in the face of North Texas (118-179), Saturday.
Individual wins came from Burton in the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly, Airam Oliva-Aun in the 100 freestyle (53.48), Puhalski in the 400 individual medley (4:31.11).
Quartet Burton, Oliva-Aun, Kocijan and Natalia Villa closed the week with a win in the 200 freestyle relay (1:36.68).
NORTHERN ARIZONA
The Lumberjacks went on the road and took a win over New Mexico (180-115), Saturday.
NAU opened the meet with a win as quartet Sophie Velitchkov, Delaney Phillips, ago and Ashley Lawrence finished first in the 200 medley relay (1:45.20).
They racked up multiple individual wins from Casey Craffey int he 1000 freestyle (10:42.13), Velitchkov in the 100 backtroke (57.84), Phillips in the 100 breastroke (1:05.66), Jamie Dellwardt in the 200 backtroke (2:07.49), Haley Mayhew in the 200 breastroke (2:23.99), Jago in the 100 butterfly.
The diving team became the winning factor as diver of the week Knapp won both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.
NORTHERN COLORADO
The Bears went on the road to scrape a close 151-149 win over the Wyoming Cowgirls, Thursday.
Quartet Moore, Chelaine van der Westhuizen, Payten Irwin and Saana Liikonen took home the opening, 400 medley relay (3:48,27).
Individual wins came from Anna Austin in the 1000 freestyle (10:33.91), Giulia Pavanello in the 200 freestyle (1:55.66) and the 500 freestyle (5:07.72), Katelyn Bergin in the 100 backstroke ( 57.66) and 100 butterfly (55.90), Westhuizen in the 200 breastroke (2:21.93), Payten Iriwin in the 200 butterfly (2:08.61), Liikonen in the 50 freestyle (23.25) and Moore in the 100 freestyle (51.47).
Liikonen, Ali Jackson, Pavanello and Moore closed the meet with a bang winning the 200 freestyle relay (1:34.52).
In diving, Settle scored in both event while Madison Berg also scored a point in the 1-meter (192.00).
SEATTLE U
The women Redhawks fell 72-189 against Idaho but it is not without impressive swims, Saturday.
Swimmer of the week nominee, Mosier, picked up two impressive individual wins in the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
UNLV
The Rebels were in the short end of a close meet against BYU (144-154), Friday.
Individual wins came from Panos Bolanos in the 200 backstroke (1:47.67) and the 100 backtroke (48.44), swimmer of the week, Beji in the 100 and 200 breastroke, Richard Szilagyi in the 100 freestyle (45.09).
The 400 freestyle relay team of Szilagyi, Steven Butler, Bryan Chavez and Reece Hemmens closed the meet with a win (2:58.17).
They then snag their first win against Utah (174.5-123.5) since 2012, Satuday.
Bolanos, Beji, Casey McEuen and Hemmens took first in the 200 medley relay (1:28.10).
Bolanos picked up three individual wins in the 100 backtroke (48.85), 200 backstroke (1:46.35) and the 200 individual medley (1:50.13).
Two individual wins are picked up by Hemmens in the 50 freestyle (20.40) and the 100 freestyle (45.23) and Beji who swept the 100 and 200 breastroke events two day in a row.
WYOMING
The Cowboys went on the road to take win over Colorado Mesa (183-117), Friday.
Maxwell DeYoung, Sloan, Gavin Smith and Matt Lang opened the meet with a win int he 200 medley relay (1:30.97).
Then, individual wins came from Daniel Cummock-Francois in the 1000 freestyle (9:57.68), Ryan Netzel in the 200 freestyle (1:42.32) and the 500 freestyle (4:46.58), Sloan in the 100 breastroke (57.07) and 50 freestyle (20.80), Thomas Diaz in the 200 butterfly (1:53.34) and 200 individual medley (1:56.10) and Smith in the 100 butterfly (50.42).
In diving, diver of the week nominee, Gonzales won the 1-meter and 3-meter.