SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Program record performances and NCAA Zone Qualifying Standards over the weekend earned Denver and Omaha student-athletes this week’s TicketSmarter Summit League Swimmers and Divers of the Week, league officials announced on Tuesday. Denver’s Erika Remington and Omaha’s Daniel Young received the women’s and men’s swimmer of the week accolades, respectively, while DU’s Ammar Hassan and Zora Opalka collected the men’s and women’s diver of the week awards, respectively.
Young helped Omaha end their regular season with multiple first-place performances at the South Dakota hosted Coyote Invite in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Park Ridge, Ill., native recorded victories in the 50 free (20.13), 100 IM (50.99) and 100 free (45.19). Additionally, Young capture a runner-up finish in the 200 fly (50.11), third in the 200 free (1:42.95) and seventh in the 100 back (52.76).
Remington notched five individual victories and contributed to two team triumphs at the Colorado Spring Championships in Denver. She won three titles in the 50 fly with times of 25.37, 25.08 and 24.90. The Cedarburg, Wis., native posted two wins in the 50 free (23.23, 23.01) and helped capture two team wins in the 200 Medley Relay (1:40.35) and 200 Free Relay (1:32.89).
Hassan placed first in both the 1-meter (396.60) and 3-meter (362.48) competitions at the Colorado Sprint Championships, as both scores were not only NCAA Zone Qualifying Standards, but both make the league record books. His 1-meter score is now the third-best in league history, while his 3-meter mark sits as the fifth-best in league history. Furthermore, Hassan’s 1-meter performance is now a DU and El Pomar Natatorium record.
Opalka joined Hassan in the DU record books and received NCAA Zone Qualifying Standards at the Colorado Sprint Championships. The Bainbridge Island, Wash., native recorded a first-place score of 296.33 in the 1-meter which was a school record and first in the 3-meter dive with a score of 297.23. Furthermore, Opalka’s 1-meter score is now the sixth-best in league history.
Men’s Swimmer of the Week
Daniel Young, Omaha
Fr. | Park Ridge, Ill.
• Recorded three individual wins and a runner-up finish at the Coyote Invite
• Placed first in the 50 free (20.13), 100 IM (50.99) and 100 free (45.19)
• Picked up a second-place finish in the 200 fly (50.11) and seventh in the 100 back (52.76)
• This is the third career swimmer of the week award for Young
Also nominated: Alex Kraft (South Dakota State); Kelby Modene (Denver)
Women’s Swimmer of the Week
Erika Remington, Denver
Jr. | Cedarburg, Wis.
• Notched five individual wins and two teams victories at the Colorado Sprint Championships
• Won three individual titles in the 50 fly with times of 25.37, 25.08 and 24.90
• Recorded two wins in the 50 free (23.23, 23.01) and helped capture two teams wins in the 200 Medley Relay (1:40.35) and 200 Free Relay (1:32.89)
• This is the first career swimmer of the week honor for Remington
Also nominated: Elisabeth Timmer (South Dakota State); Gracie Streblow (Omaha)
Men’s Diver of the Week
Ammar Hassan, Denver
Gr. | 6th of October, Egypt
• Placed first in both the 1-meter (396.60) and 3-meter (362.48) at the Colorado Sprint Championships
• Both scores were NCAA Zone Qualifying standards, while his 1-meter score is the third-best in league history and 3-meter score is the fifth-best in league history
• This is the second diver of the week accolade for Hassan
Also nominated: Spencer Fritze (South Dakota State); Ian Blackstock (Omaha)
Women’s Diver of the Week
Zora Opalka, Denver
Sr. | Bainbridge Island, Wash.
• Earned first-place and NCAA Zone Qualifying standards at the Colorado Sprint Championships in the 1-meter (296.33) and 3-meter (297.23)
• Her 1-meter score is a program record and the sixth-highest in league history
• This is the third career diver of the week award for Opalka
Also nominated: Aleni Stoakes (South Dakota State); Darby Drake (Omaha); Kayla Middaugh (South Dakota)
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
January 25
Men’s Swimmer: Charlie Bean, South Dakota
Women’s Swimmer: Emily Kahn, South Dakota
Men’s Diver: Zach Boyd, South Dakota State
Women’s Diver: Stella Fairbanks, South Dakota
February 1
Men’s Swimmer: Daniel Young, Omaha
Women’s Swimmer: Erika Remington, Denver
Men’s Diver: Ammar Hassan, Denver
Women’s Diver: Zora Opalka, Denver
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