SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota kicked off 2022 with a bang as they won a two-day dual meet against St. Thomas and swept the TicketSmarter Summit League Swimmers and Divers of the Week, league officials announced on Tuesday. Junior Zachary Kopp took home the men's swimmer of the week and freshman Mairead Powers claimed the women's swimmer of the week. Senior William Johnston captured the men's diver of the week while sophomore Stella Fairbanks earned the women's diver of the week.
Kopp, the 2021 Summit League Swimmer of the Year, won all six races he competed in a two-day dual against St. Thomas. On day one, the Ostego, Minn., native won the 50 free (21.64) and helped the 400 Medley and 200 Free Relay to victories. The second day of competition saw Kopp win the 50 free (21.67) once again and captured the 200 free (1:46.0), while leading off the winning 200 Free Relay.
Powers had multiple personal best performances and contributed to four individual wins against the Tommies. The Broomfield, Colo., native swam personal bests in both individual events on the first day of action, clocking first place finishes of 2:12.03 in the 200 IM and 59.82 in the 100 back. Powers also won the 200 back in 2:07.08 and 4:38.91 in the 400 IM on the second day of duals.
Johnston swept all four diving events on both days of a dual with UST, setting personal bests on the 1-meter board both days, scoring 254.00 on day one and 262.50 on day two. The Omaha, Neb., native had a season-best 272.20 on the 3-meter and came back to win again on the second day with a score of 222.65.
Fairbanks won three of four diving events and posted NCAA Zone Qualifying marks in all three wins. She posted a personal-best 273.05 on the 1-meter during day one of action, which moved her fifth on the program's all-time list. The Highland, Mich., native swept both diving events on day two, scoring 268.80 on the 1-meter and 284.80 on the 3-meter board.
Men's Swimmer of the Week
Zachary Kopp, South Dakota
Jr. | Ostego, Minn.
• Won all six races he participated in during a two-day dual meet against St. Thomas
• Won the 50 Free (21.64) and helped lead the Coyote relays to victories in the 400 Medley and 200 Free Relay in the first day of action
• Won the 40 Free (21.67) and 200 Free (1:46.0) while also leading off in the winning 200 Free Relay in day two of competition
• This is the first career swimmer of the week award for Kopp
Also nominated: Joe Rudd (St. Thomas)
Women's Swimmer of the Week
Mairead Powers, South Dakota
Fr. | Broomfield, Colo.
• Contributed to four individual victories over the course of a two-day dual against St. Thomas
• Swam personal bests on the first day of action, clocking 2:12.03 in the 200 IM and 59.82 in the 100 back and also swam on a third-place 400 Free Relay (3:42.28)
• Won the 200 back (2:07.08) and 400 IM (4:38.91) on day two and added a third-place finish in the 200 Free (1:58.18)
• This is the first career swimmer of the week honor for Powers
Also nominated: Skyler Leverenz, St. Thomas
Men's Diver of the Week
William Johnston, South Dakota
Sr. | Omaha, Neb.
• Swept all four diving events in a two-day dual meet against St. Thomas
• Set personal bests on the 1-meter board on both days, scoring a 254 on day one and upping it to 262.50 on day two
• Had a season-high 272.20 on the 3-meter board on day one of action and came back to win on day two with a score of 222.65
• This is the second diver of the week accolade for Johnston
Also nominated: Andrew Godfrey, St. Thomas
Women's Diver of the Week
Stella Fairbanks, South Dakota
So. | Highland, Mich.
• Won three of her four diving events during a dual against St. Thomas
• Posted an NCAA Zone Qualifying Mark in all three wins, including a personal best 273.05 in the 1-meter on day one, which moved her fifth on USD's all-time charts
• Swept both events on day two, scoring 268.80 on the 1-meter board and 284.80 on the 3-meter board
• This is the ninth career diver of the week accolade for Fairbanks
Also nominated: Peyton Ekman, St. Thomas
2021-22 Swimmers and Divers of the Week
October 5
Men's Swimmer: Darragh Mahns, Denver
Women's Swimmer: Aysia Leckie, Denver
Men's Diver: N/A
Women's Diver: Aleni Stoakes, South Dakota State
October 12
Men's Swimmer: Alex Foti, St. Thomas
Women's Swimmer: Elisabeth Timmer, South Dakota State
Men's Diver: Erik Thompson, South Dakota State
Women's Diver: Naomi Bingham, South Dakota
October 19
Men's Swimmer: Daniel Young, Omaha
Women's Swimmer: Elisabeth Timmer, South Dakota State
Men's Diver: Ian Blackstock, Omaha
Women's Diver: Zora Opalka, Denver
October 26
Men's Swimmer: Brandon Chapman, Denver
Women's Swimmer: Jessica Maeda, Denver
Men's Diver: Ammar Hassan, Denver
Women's Diver: Stella Fairbanks, South Dakota
November 2
Men's Swimmer: Spencer Wilson, Eastern Illinois
Women's Swimmer: Kennedy Darensbourg, Eastern Illinois
Men's Diver: N/A
Women's Diver: Peyton Ekman, St. Thomas
November 9
Men's Swimmer: Eric Anderson, South Dakota State
Women's Swimmer: Elisabeth Timmer, South Dakota State
Men's Diver: Zach Boyd, South Dakota State
Women's Diver: Stella Fairbanks, South Dakota
November 16
Men's Swimmer: Alex Kraft, South Dakota State
Women's Swimmer: Elizabeth Bonneville, St. Thomas
Men's Diver: Spencer Fritze, South Dakota State
Women's Diver: Reece Cooper, Omaha
November 23
Men's Swimmer: Adam Fisher, South Dakota
Women's Swimmer: Elisabeth Timmer, South Dakota State
Men's Diver: Spencer Fritze, South Dakota State
Women's Diver: Stella Fairbanks, South Dakota
December 7
Men's Swimmer: Daniel Young, Omaha
Women's Swimmer: Hailey Matthews, Omaha
Men's Diver: Andrew Godfrey, St. Thomas
Women's Diver: Peyton Ekman, St. Thomas
December 14
Men's Swimmer: N/A
Women's Swimmer: Caroline Gardner, Omaha
Men's Diver: N/A
Women's Diver: Darby Drake, Omaha
December 21
Men's Swimmer: N/A
Women's Swimmer: Parker Hagemann, Omaha
Men's Diver: N/A
Women's Diver: Kady Eller, Omaha
January 18
Men's Swimmer: Zachary Kopp, South Dakota
Women's Swimmer: Mairead Powers, South Dakota
Men's Diver: William Johnston, South Dakota
Women's Diver: Stella Fairbanks, South Dakota
#SummitSD
