This Week in WAC Swimming and Diving - Feb. 16
This Week in WAC Swimming and Diving - Feb. 16
MEN'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: FEB. 9-13
Grand Canyon's Jack Armstrong has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Swimmer of the Week for February 9 through 13.
Armstrong, a sophomore from Manvel, Texas, collected two wins and a runner-up finish at the UNLV First Chance Invite, Saturday. He won the 100 freestyle (43.38) and butterfly (47.59), both with top-five performances in the WAC this season. He finished second in the 50 freestyle (19.81).
WOMEN'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: FEB. 9-13
Northern Colorado's Doris Pusztay has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Swimmer of the Week for Feb. 9 through 13.
Pusztay, a junior from Baia Mare, Romania, collected two runner-up and two fourth-place finishes at the DU First Chance Invitational, Friday through Saturday. She finished second in the 200 freestyle (1:52.82) and the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:04.98, seventh fastest in the WAC this season according to SwimCloud. She placed fourth in the 50 freestyle (23.98) and 100 freestyle (1:52.82). Pusztay recorded personal best times on all four events.
OTHER ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Other men's swimmer nominee: Wyoming's Matt Lang picked up two first-place finishes in the 100 backstroke (50.02) and 50 freestyle (20.61) at the DU First Chance Invite, Friday through Saturday.
Other women's swimmer nominee: Grand Canyon's Briana Rittenbach won the 200 freestyle (1:52.29) and 50 freestyle (23.80) at the UNLV First Chance Invite, Saturday … Northern Arizona's Jane Shroufe won the 100 freestyle (52.41) and 100 breastroke (1:04.67) while finishing second in the 50 freestyle (24.17) at the UNLV First Chance Invite.
AIR FORCE
The Falcons travelled to state neighbor Denver for the DU First Chance Meet, Friday.
The men won the invite by scoring 375 points with wins from Jonathan Sebastian in the 500 freestyle (4:45.07) and 1650 freestyle (16:48.90), Jonathon McGrath in the 100 freestyle (46.48), Joseph Moore in the 100 butterfly (48.85) and 200 backstroke (1:48.64), Thomas Nagle in the 100 breastroke (55.68), John Plutt in the 200 butterfly (1:49.30) and Tory Bartlett in the 200 breastroke (2:04.95).
GRAND CANYON
The Lopes men's and women's swim teams went on the road for the UNLV First Chance Invite, Saturday.
No scores were kept as the men's went head to head against hosts UNLV while the women's saw Northern Arizona, Dixie State on top of the hosts.
The Lopes showed out in this last evaluation before the WAC Championships with the men collecting wins from Armstrong in the 100 freestyle and butterfly, Samual Jennings in the 200 individual medley (1:51.13) and Adam Sheppard in the mile (16:31.71).
On the women's side notable swims came from Rittenbach in the 50 and 200 freestyle.
IDAHO
The Vandals capped off their regular season with a win when they hosted College of Idaho and Ottawa, Friday through Saturday.
The women scored 284 points to College of Idaho's 190 and Ottawa's 38. They collected a total of 17 wins with standout performance from Kaling Phung who pickedup wins in the 400 individual medley (4:48.18), 200 breastroke (2:30.62) and the 50 freestyle (24.10).
Morgan Votava won two individual events in the 100 freestyle (53.28) and 100 backstroke (58.71). Also with two individual wins was Haylee Buyers who won the 200 individual medley (2:14.76) and 200 freestyle (1:56.71).
Heather Hopkins and Emily Mack led the diving side each earning an individual win in their respective events. Hopkins posted a 287.25 score in 1-meter diving while Mack tallied a score of 330.50 in the 3-meter.
NORTHERN ARIZONA
Eleven Lumberjack swimmers went on the road to compete as individuals at the UNLV First Chance Invite, Saturday.
Shroufe showed standout performances in the 100 freestyle and breastroke. Francesca Criscione won the 500 freestyle (5:00.58) and with her was Kenall Carlson who won the 100 butterfly (57.79).
NORTHERN COLORADO
The Bears went on the road for their first dual meet in two months at the DU First Chance Meet, Friday through Saturday.
The women finished second with 415.5 points just behind Air Force.
Pusztay was the Bears' main point getter as she collected two runner-up and two fourth-place finishes. The swimmers did not leave without individual wins from Anna Austin in the 200 butterfly (2:04.34), Madelyn Moore in the 100 butterfly (54.49), Katelyn Bergin in the 200 individual medley (2:04.47) and Chelaine van der Westhuizen in the 200 breastroke (2:17.82).
UNLV
The Rebel swimmers hosted the UNLV First Chance Invite where they competed as individuals, Saturday.
The men displayed some outstanding swims ahead of the WAC Swimming and Diving Championships with George Ratiu winning the 50 freestyle (19.71) and others showing times close to their season bests.
WYOMING
The Cowboy swimmers went on the road for their final regular season meet at the DU First Chance Invitational, Friday through Saturday.
The men picked up wins from Reilly Gilbert in the 200 individual medley (1:55.48), Luke Walker in the 200 freestyle (1:40.13) and Lang with two wins in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.