SAN FRANCISCO – CALIFORNIA freshman Kathleen Baker was named Pac-12 Women’s Swimmer of the Month and ARIZONA STATE sophomore Mara Aiacoboae was named Diver of the Month for January competition, the Conference office announced Wednesday.
Baker, a Winston-Salem, N.C., native performed well in the month of January, setting two top-10 times nationally and winning 10 dual meet events. At the Austin Arena Pro Swim Series, Baker’s time of 1:52.15 in the 200 backstroke was the fifth-best time in the country this season. Her 100 backstroke mark of 51.81 set in Austin is the sixth-best time nationally this season. Later in the month, Baker captured a trifecta of race wins against No. 9 Arizona (100 back, 53.64; 200 back, 1:54.83; 200 IM, 1:58.77) to help the Golden Bears to a team 185-114 win over the Wildcats.
This is the first-career Swimmer of the Month honor for Baker and California’s 13 all-time monthly nod, tying for most in Conference history.
Aiacoboae, a sophomore from Bacau, Romania, claimed four first-place finishes in her six events during the month of January. Three of her wins came off the 1-meter springboard, topping the competition against Wyoming (288.53), Stanford (293.70) and California (306.68). Aiacoboae additionally won the 3-meter springboard with a score of 306.90 against Wyoming. She has placed first in 11 of her 15 events this season.
This is the first-career Diver of the Month honor for Aiacoboae and third overall for ASU.
Also Nominated:
Swimmer: Emma Schoettmer, ARIZ; Katarina Simonovic, ASU; Emma Schanz, UCLA; Genevieve Robertson, UTAH; Addisynn Bursch, WSU.
Diver: Sally Hackett, ARIZ; Maria Polyakova, UCLA; Amanda Casillas, UTAH.
2015-16 Women’s Swimmers and Divers of the Month
| Month | Swimmer | Diver |
| November | Emma Schoettmer, ARIZ | Maria Polyakova, UCLA |
| December | Kirsten Vose, USC | Maria Polyakova, UCLA |
| January | Kathleen Baker, UCLA | Mara Aiacoboae, ASU |
Swimming news courtesy of Pac-12.