Kierra Smith two-footed her way to a Big Ten Swimmer of the Week award. (Archive Photo Courtesy: Swimming Canada)
The Big Ten Conference has awarded their Swimmer of the Week awards to a pair of breaststrokers. Kierra Smith, a junior at Minnesota, has earned Female Swimmer of the Week honors, the first given out this season, after winning three events this weekend in a 191-101 win over Arizona State.
This is the 4th time that Smith has been named Swimmer of the Week in her career.
On the men’s side, the honor went to Michigan’s Richard Funk, who won three events himself as his team rolled to an early conference victory against Iowa. That included a 54.18 in the 100 breaststroke. This is also the 4th time that Funk has earned this honor.
See the full list of awards given out on Tuesday, the conference’s first of the season, below:
Female Swimmer of the Week
Kierra Smith, Minnesota
Jr. – Kelowna, B.C. – Immaculate Regional High School
• Finished first in three events in Minnesota’s 191-101 win over Arizona State
• Placed first in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.11), 200 breaststroke (2:12.66) and 400 medley relay (3:43.40)
• Collected an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 200 breaststroke
• Earns her fourth Swimmer of the Week award
• Last Minnesota Swimmer of the Week: Kierra Smith (Nov. 19, 2013)
Female Diver of the Week
Anna Filipcic, Nebraska
So. – Omaha, Nebraska – Omaha Burke
• Claimed first-place finishes in the one-meter (293.25) and three-meter (296.30) diving events during the double dual meet against Iowa and Michigan
• Recorded NCAA Zone Diving qualifying scores in both events
• Earns her second Diver of the Week honor
• Last Nebraska Diver of the Week: Anna Filipcic (Dec. 10, 2013)
Female Freshman of the Week
Clara Smiddy, Michigan
Fr. – Miami, Fla. – home schooled
• Recorded four first-place finishes in Michigan’s wins over Iowa (188.50 – 105.50) and Nebraska (182-112)
• Finished first in the 100-yard backstroke (54.40), 200-yard backstroke (1:55.99), 400-yard freestyle relay (3:24.35) and 200-yard medley relay (1:43.25)
• Tallied NCAA provisional qualifying marks in both the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard backstroke
• Earns her first Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Marni Oldershaw (Jan. 8, 2013)
Male Swimmer of the Week
Richard Funk, Michigan
Sr. – Edmonton, Alberta – Strathcona
• Claimed three first-place finishes in the Wolverines’ 173-119 win over Iowa
• Finished first in the 200-yard medley relay (1:29.58), 100-yard breaststroke (54.18) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:01.08)
• Recorded an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 100-yard breaststroke
• Earns his fourth Swimmer of the Week award
• Last Michigan Swimmer of the Week: Jack Mangan (Feb. 25, 2014)
Male Diver of the Week
Manny Pollard, Minnesota
Jr. – Troy, New York – Albany Academy
• Placed first in the one-meter (327.08) and three-meter (356.55) diving events in Minnesota’s 181-117 win over Arizona State
• Recorded NCAA Zone Diving qualifying scores in both events
• Earns his third Diver of the Week honor
• Last Minnesota Diver of the Week: Manny Pollard (Jan. 28, 2014)
Male Freshman of the Week
Aaron Whitaker, Michigan
Fr. – Chesterton, Ind. – Chesterton
• Finished first in the 400-yard medley relay (3:14.64) and 100-yard butterfly (48.21), second place in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:22.12) and 200-yard medley relay (1:29.64) and fourth in the 100-yard backstroke (50.48)
• Secured an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 100-yard butterfly
• Earns his first Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Jason Chen (Feb. 25, 2014)
Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com.
He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming.
Aside from his life on the InterWet, …
