| Following an impressive win against cross-state rival Miami last Saturday, #34 FGCU swimming and diving has once against swept the CCSA weekly awards as newcomerDoris Eichhorn has been named the CCSA Swimmer of the Week while senior Ashley Wrighthas earned CCSA Diver of the Week honors, league officials announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Swimmer of the Week award marks the first of the season and career for Eichhorn, who joined the Green and Blue following the holiday break, while Wright takes home the Diver of the Week award for the sixth time this season and the 12th time in her two-year career. As a team, FGCU has now earned a total of 13 weekly honors in 10 weeks of competition this season, including its sixth sweep of the awards.
Eichhorn (Berlin, Germany/HTW Berlin) was the lone Eagle to win a pair of individual events in the team’s dominating 183-117 win against Miami last weekend. Additionally, she swam the first leg on the winning 200 medley relay team and finished second in the 200 IM.
A backstroke specialist, the Berlin native finished first in both the 100- and 200-yard events after touching the pads in 55.54 seconds and 2:02.30, respectively. Her time in the 100 back was more than a second faster than anyone else in the field and registers as the fourth fastest in the CCSA this season. Eichhorn backed up her performance with another first-place finish in the 200 back. She touched the pads in 2:02.30, which is also fourth fastest in the conference this season, and out-touched Miami by more than half of a second.
Along with also finishing runner-up in the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.66, Eichhorn swam the opening leg of the 200 medley relay and got FGCU out in front early. Her 50-yard backstroke split of 26.54 seconds gave the Eagles a 0.40-second lead right out of the gates.
Wright (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Indian River State/Lincoln Park Academy) continued to lead FGCU off the boards as she held her own against a pair of talented Miami divers with a second-place finish in the three-meter dive and third-place performance in the one-meter event.
The Port St. Lucie native surpassed the NCAA Zone Diving Standard in the one-meter dive for the third time this season as she turned in a score of 271.72, which ranks ninth in program history. Wright also recorded a mark of 255.75 in the three-meter dive and finished behind the Hurricane’s Wallace Layland.
In a year and a half with the Green and Blue, Wright continues to rewrite the FGCU record books as she holds five of the Eagles’ top-10 all-time marks in the one-meter dive and four in the three-meter event.
Below is a list of the Eagles’ CCSA weekly honorees this season.
Swimmer of the Week:
Christina Kaas Elmgreen (Oct. 4) – All Florida Invite
Katie Latham (Oct. 11) – FGCU Classic
Elizabeth Zeiger (Oct. 26) – USC/UCLA
Sandra Wilk (Nov. 8) – FSU/Florida Southern/West Florida
Christina Kaas Elmgreen (Nov. 22) – Georgia Tech Invite
Sommer Harris (Dec. 21) – UNC Asheville
Doris Eichhorn (Jan. 24) – Miami
Diver of the Week:
Ashley Wright (Oct. 4) – All Florida Invite
Ashley Wright (Oct. 26) – USC/UCLA
Ashley Wright (Nov. 8) – FSU/Florida Southern/West Florida
Ashley Wright (Nov. 22) – Georgia Tech Invite
Ashley Wright (Dec. 21) – Clemson
Ashley Wright (Jan. 24) – Miami
UP NEXT
FGCU wraps up the regular season with a pair of dual meets next weekend. The Eagles will welcome FAU to the FGCU Aquatics Center for Senior Day Friday, Jan. 27 at 4 p.m., when six Eagles including will be honored for their contributions to the FGCU program over the years. The team will then travel across the state for a dual with FIU Saturday, Jan. 28 at noon.
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-date coverage of FGCU women’s swimming and diving, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_WSWIM and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available.
HEAD COACH DAVE ROLLINS
First-year head coach Dave Rollins became the program’s second head coach in program history on Sept. 1, 2016. Most recently the associate head men’s swimming coach at The Ohio State University, Rollins brings 10 years of coaching experience at the club, high school and collegiate levels. A standout collegiate athlete in his own right, Rollins was a nine-time NCAA All-American and national champion as a member of the University of Arizona swimming & diving team from 2002-06.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag FeedFGCU to help raise awareness. |
