After strong performances at the USA Short Course Nationals, two swimmers from Louisville swept the weekly conference awards. Joao De Lucca took Men’s Swimmer of the Week for the fourth time this season, while Cardinal Kelsi Worrell was named Female Swimmer of the Week.
DeLucca posted an outstanding 1:31.65 in the 200-yard freestyle, edging Olympic Gold Medalist Darian Townsend for the victory. De Lucca became one of just eight men to break the 1:32.00 mark in the 200-yard freestyle. The senior also reached the podium as part of a third-place finish by the 800-yard freestyle relay team, with De Lucca swimming the fastest leg in 1:34.28. On the second day of competition, he swam a 42.24 in the 100-yard freestyle to finish fifth.
Worrell won the 200-yard butterfly at the Short Course Nationals with a time of 1:54.12. She also took a second-place finish as part of the 200-yard medley relay team, swimming her leg in 22.87. Finally in the 100-yard butterfly, the sophomore swam a 51.94 to finish third in an event won by former Olympian Claire Donahue.
Around the American
Men’s
Cincinnati competed at the Miami Invitational, where they were highlighted by Joe Scherpenberg. The senior won the 500-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 4:29.25, the ninth fastest time in Bearcat history.
Women’s
Rutgers was edged by Boston University 168-132 in a dual meet. The Scarlet Knights were led by senior diving captain Nicole Scott, who captured two first-place finishes, in the 1-meter (281.02) and the 3-meter dives (286.80).
Scott has claimed first in seven of the nine events she has participated in this season, and has set two Rutgers records on the year.
The Bearcats also finished fifth on the women’s side at the Miami Invitational.
With finals and the holiday schedule approaching, teams are finished competing in the 2013 calendar year. Competition resumes in January, with the first teams in action on Jan. 4.
This release was provided to SwimSwam courtesy of Louisville Swimming and Diving.