PCSC Athletes of the Week: Jan. 18
The Pacific Coast Swim Conference has announced the PCSC Swimmer & Divers for the week of January 11-18. This week nine athletes amongst all four levels received recognition, coming from Alaska Fairbanks, Cal State East Bay, Concordia, Pepperdine, The Master's, UC Santa Cruz, and Westmont.
MEN
NCAA DIII Swimmer
Giovanni Wenzler -- UC Santa Cruz
Wenzler performed well for UC Santa Cruz against Cal Poly, posting top four finishes in multiple events. He finished fourth in the 200 Free (1:49.57), setting a personal-best, and also had a fourth-place finish in the 100 Fly (54.73). Wenzler was also part of the 400 Medley B Relay team that opened up a strong start for the Banana Slugs. This is Wenzler's first weekly honor and one of seven for UC Santa Cruz this season.
NAIA Swimmer
Xavier Gutierrez -- The Master's
Gutierrez was part of history for the Mustangs, securing two individual wins in the program's first dual meet victories. The junior won the 1000 Free (10:47.89), setting a new school record, and also won the 100 Free (49.72). This is Gutierrez' first weekly honor and the second for The Master's this season.
WOMEN
NCAA DI Swimmer
Emily Morton -- Pepperdine
Morton posted top scores for the Waves in a weekend in Fresno and Bakersfield. She had a season-best 2:06.74 in the 200 Back and followed up with a 4:36.73 in the 400 IM. Ending the meet against Fresno State, she was part of the second-place team in the 200 Medley Relay (30.7 Breast Split). Ending the weekend in Bakersfield, the Waves defeated the Roadrunners, and Morton won the 200 IM (2:10.77). This is Morton's fourth weekly honor of her career and the sixth for Pepperdine this season.
NCAA DII Swimmer
Emma Corby -- Alaska Fairbanks
Corby had many top performances against Incarnate Word over the weekend. In the two-day event, Corby finished with a first-place finish in the 200 Free, which was a personal-best, and had three second-place finishes in the 100 Free, 500 Free, and 400 IM. She also finished second in two relay events: 200 Free and 400 Free. This is Corby's first weekly honor and the first for Alaska Fairbanks this season.
Delaney Carlson – Cal State East Bay
Against Azusa Pacific, Carlson was part of four first place finishes. The freshman won the 50 Free (24.79) and the 200 Breast (2:27.20) as part of her individual wins. For the team relays, she pushed her team to top finishes in the 200 Medley (24.17 Free Split) and 400 Free (53.96 Leadoff). This is Carlson's first weekly honor and the third for Cal State East Bay this season.
Jade Hughes -- Concordia
Hughes delivered a come-from-behind victory against Grand Canyon for Concordia over the weekend. The sophomore posted a 11:08.53 time in the 1000 Free, for the Eagles event win over the Lopes. Rounding out the weekend, she won the 200 Breast and was second in the 400 IM, facing off against NAIA opponents in Arizona Christian and Ottawa. This is Hughes' first weekly honor and sixth for Concordia this season.
NCAA DIII Swimmer
Vivi Raker -- UC Santa Cruz
Raker was a top perfomer for the Banana Slugs, facing off against a tough Division I opponent in Cal Poly over the weekend. The sophomore was part of the first-place relay team, winning the 400 Medley Relay (58.24 Split). She also took second in the 200 Fly (2:10.76) and set a personal-best in the 100 Fly (57.96). This is Raker's first weekly honor and one of seven for UC Santa Cruz this season.
NCAA DIII DIVER
Maya Teaford -- UC Santa Cruz
Teaford set season-bests on the board, in competition against Cal Poly. Against the Mustangs, she posted scores of 157.30 in the 1 Meter and 129.40 in the 3 Meter for fifth place individual finishes. This is Teaford's first weekly honor and one of seven for UC Santa Cruz this season.
NAIA Swimmer
Morgan Bienias -- Westmont
Bienias came out with two individual wins plus a podium finish in a medley relay in the Warriors dual meet at Westmont. Bienias won the 200 Free (2:05.42) and 200 Back (2:17.88). Her 200 Back record remains undefeated amongst dual meets this season. This is Bienias' fifth weekly honor of her career and the fourth for Westmont this season.
The PCSC includes institutions from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). All three divisions of the NCAA are represented. Each week, the PCSC coaches nominate and vote on the Athletes of the Week in seven categories: NCAA Division I women, Division II men and women, Division III men and women and NAIA men and women. You can find the Athlete of the Week archive here.
