SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – St. Thomas, South Dakota and Lindenwood opened their respective season’s last weekend and collected TicketSmarter Summit League Men’s and Women’s Peak Swimmers and Divers of the Week honors. UST’s Joe Rudd garnered the Men’s Peak Swimmer of the Week, while USD’s Emily Kahn earned the Women’s Peak Swimmer of the Week accolade. Additionally, Lindenwood, who made its Division I debut, swept the diving honors with David Molina-Fregenal earning the Men’s Peak Diver of the Week and Elle Christie being named the Women’s Peak Diver of the Week, league officials announced on Tuesday.
 
Rudd and the Tommies opened their season in a pair of dual meets against Green Bay and Augustana as the Duluth, Minn., native totaled three individual event wins and one relay win. Against the Phoenix, Rudd placed first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 56.92 and placed second in the 200 IM with a time of 1:56.79.
 
Rudd tacked on additional first-place performances against the Vikings as he captured his second top time in the 100 breaststroke (57.86). In the 200 breaststroke, Rudd placed first with a time of 2:07.11 and helped the 400 Medley Relay quartet with a time of 3:31.69.
 
Kahn and the Coyote women’s squad opened its season in a dual meet against Minnesota State in which Kahn had a hand in four wins. The Denver, Colo., native won both sprint events, taking the 50 freestyle (24.10) and 100 freestyle (53.31). She led off a winning 200 Free Relay that posted a time of 1:37.36 and anchored a victorious 200 Medley Relay quartet with a time of 1:46.89.
 
Molina-Fregenal and Lindenwood competed in their Division I debut against Missouri State in which the sophomore diver posted two first-place scores in the 1-meter (300.23) and a personal best 3-meter dive score of 292.50.
 
Christie finished first in the 1-meter competition with a score of 290.70. The Ballwin, Mo., native also placed first in the 3-meter with a score of 293.10.
 
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Men’s Peak Swimmer of the Week
Joe Rudd, St. Thomas
So. | Duluth, Minn.

• Totaled three individual event wins and one relay win in the season-opening weekend against Green Bay and Augustana
• Won the 100 breast (57.86) and 200 breast (2:07.11) against the Vikings and won the 100 breast (56.92) against the Phoenix
• Part of the 400 Medley Relay (3:31.69) winning team
• This is the second career peak performer award for Rudd

Also nominated: Matheo Mateos-Mongelos (Lindenwood).
 
Women’s Peak Swimmer of the Week
Emily Kahn, South Dakota
So. | Denver, Colo.

• Had a hand in four wins in the season-opening dual with Minnesota State
• Won the 50 free (24.10), 100 free (53.31), led off a winning 200 Free Relay team (1:37.36) and anchored the winning 200 Medley Relay quartet (1:46.89)
• This is the second career peak performer honor for Kahn

Also nominated: Erika Remington (Denver), Elisabeth Timmer (South Dakota), Rebecca Bishop (St. Thomas), Stephanie Marks (Lindenwood).
 
Men’s Peak Diver of the Week
David Molina-Fregenal, Lindenwood
So. | Madrid, Spain

• Won the 1-meter dive with a score of 300.23 in his Division I debut
• Also scored a personal-best 292.50 in the 3-meter dive
• This is the first career peak performer accolade for Molina-Fregenal

Also nominated: Ben Linde (St. Thomas).
 
Women’s Peak Diver of the Week
Elle Christie, Lindenwood
Sr. | Ballwin, Mo.

• Finished first in the 1-meter with a score of 290.70 in the Lions’ Division 1 debut
• Also placed first in the 3-meter with a score of 293.10
• This is the first career peak performer award for Christie

Also nominated: Allison An (St. Thomas).
 
2022-23 Peak Swimmers & Divers of the Week
September 27
Men’s Swimmer: Dismas Dillon, Eastern Illinois
Women’s Swimmer: Corinne Staneart, Eastern Illinois
Men’s Diver: N/A
Women’s Diver: N/A
 
October 4
Men’s Swimmer: Grant Waszak, Omaha
Women’s Swimmer: Payton Easley, Omaha
Men’s Diver: Lane Pollock, Southern Indiana
Women’s Diver: Darby Drake, Omaha
 
October 11
Men’s Swimmer: Joe Rudd, St. Thomas
Women’s Swimmer: Emily Kahn, South Dakota
Men’s Diver: David Molina-Fregenal, Lindenwood
Women’s Diver: Elle Christie, Lindenwood
 
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