ELMHURST, Ill. – IUPUI’s Tony Carroll and Lexi Laird were named The Summit League’s Men’s and Women’s Swimmers of the Week for their performances Nov. 19-25.
MEN’S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Tony Carroll, IUPUI
Jr. // Granger, Ind.
Carroll collects the third weekly honor of his career and his second Swimmer of the Week award this season after recording seven top-three finishes, including a pair of individual and relay victories, and three school records en route to the Jaguars’ first-place team finish at the House of Champions. The junior swept the backstroke events, winning the 100 back in 51.26 and the 200 back in a school-record time of 1:52.34, ranking third in the league. Individually, he also finished third in the 500 free touching the wall at 4:35.34, the second-fastest league time this season. The Granger, Ind., native was a member of the first place 200 free and 400 free relay squads and was also a part of the second place 200 medley and third place 400 medley relay teams. Carroll and the 400 relay team posted a school-record and league-best time of 3:04.69. During the 400 medley relay, he set the IUPUI school record in the 100 back with a lead-off leg time of 51.22, the second-fastest league time this season.
Also nominated: Harris Thompson, Eastern Illinois; Adam Fenton, South Dakota; Chris Neaveill, Western Illinois.
Previous honorees: 10/15 – Chris Neaveill, Western Illinois; 10/22 – Ian Ford, South Dakota; 10/29 – Dylan Bunch, Denver; 11/5 – Wil Hogue, South Dakota State; 11/12 – Tony Carroll, IUPUI; 11/19 – Jacob Knowles, South Dakota.
WOMEN’S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Lexi Laird, IUPUI
Jr. // Kokomo, Ind.
Laird garners her second career Swimmer of the Week honor and second this season after seven top-two finishes, which included a pair of event wins and an NCAA ‘B’ cut time, to help IUPUI take second at the House of Champions. The Kokomo, Ind., native won both backstroke events, touching the wall at 54.82 in the 100 back and at 2:02.57 in the 200 back. Her 100 back time is the fastest league time this season and was an NCAA ‘B’ Cut, making Laird the first swimmer in school history to register an NCAA ‘B’ cut time. In the 200 back, she posted a prelim time of 2:01.30, which ranks third in the league. She also finished second in the 50 free and recorded a prelim time of 23.91, the fourth-best league time. Laird was a member of the second place 200 free, 400 free, 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams, which each posted the second-fastest league times this season.
Also nominated: Kate Paige, Eastern Illinois; Allie Pfauth.
Previous honorees: 10/15 – Natalie Renshaw, Omaha & Andrea Budahl, South Dakota State; 10/22 – Bridgette McNally, Denver; 10/29 – Bridgette McNally, Denver; 11/5 – Johanna Roas, Denver; 11/12 – Lexi Laird, IUPUI; 11/19 – Sam Schuttinger, South Dakota.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
In its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 120,000 at eight institutions, including three located in top 60 U.S. metro populations and two land-grant universities. Member institutions include: Denver (University of Denver), Fort Wayne (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), North Dakota State University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced eight NCAA Champions, 62 All-Americans and 50 Academic All-America selections.
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Press release courtesy of The Summit League.