SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Denver and Omaha collected the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Men’s and Women’s Peak Swimmers of the Week awards, league officials announced on Tuesday.
 
Alex Lynch of Denver received the Men’s Peak Swimmer of the Week, while Omaha’s Payton Easley notched the Women’s Peak Swimmer of the Week.
 
It was a Maverick sweep in the diving awards as Ian Blackstock earned the Men’s Peak Diver of the Week, while veteran Darby Drake captured the Women’s Peak Diver of the Week.
 
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Men’s Peak Swimmer of the Week
Alex Lynch, Denver
Sr. | Austin, Texas

• Part of three event wins and a second-place finish in a triple dual with Cal Baptist, Grand Canyon and Seattle
• Swam the second leg of the 200 Medley Relay to lead the Pioneers to a victory
• Won the 200 breast (2:03.63), swam the second leg of the 400 Medley Relay and finished second overall in the 100 breast (56.42)
• This is the third career peak performer award for Lynch

 Also nominated: Zachary Kopp (South Dakota), Camden Richardson (Southern Indiana), Azmir Haviv (Omaha).

Women’s Peak Swimmer of the Week
Payton Easley, Omaha
Jr. | Lee’s Summit, Mo.

• Helped Omaha collect four wins, including three individual wins in a home dual win against Rockhurst
• Posted winning times of 23.83 in the 500 free and 52.19 in the 100 free
• Also helped the 200 Medley Relay team to a first-place time of 1:47.82 where she notched a 22.95 split
• Anchored a 200 Free Relay team with a 23.22 split and a total time of 1:36.71
• This is the second career peak performer honor for Easley

 Also nominated: Ines Marin (Denver), Emily Kahn (South Dakota), Caiya Cooper (Southern Indiana).
 
Men’s Peak Diver of the Week
Ian Blackstock, Omaha
Jr. | East China, Mich.

• Became first male diver in program history to secure an NCAA Zone Qualifying score
• Placed first in the 3-meter with a zone qualifying score of 328.60 and second in the 1-meter with a score of 264.30
• This is the second peak diver of the week award of his career

 Also nominated: Zyad Morsy (Denver), Charlie Matthews (South Dakota), Nathan Deputy (Southern Indiana).
 
Women’s Peak Diver of the Week
Darby Drake, Omaha
Sr. | Traverse City, Mich.

• Secured NCAA Zone Qualifying scores in the 1-meter and 3-meter dive against Rockhurst
• Scored a 306.80 in the 3-meter (second place) and a 298.25 in the 1-meter (first place)
• This is her sixth career peak diver of the week accolade

 Also nominated: Kaelyn Hinesley (Denver), Stella Fairbanks (South Dakota), Maranda Uttke (Southern Indiana).
 
2023-24 Peak Swimmers & Divers of the Week
October 3
Men’s Swimmer: Sam Smith, Southern Indiana
Women’s Swimmer: Hayden Shurtz, Southern Indiana
Men’s Diver: N/A
Women’s Diver:
 
October 10
Men’s Swimmer: Elliott Irwin, Lindenwood
Women’s Swimmer: Taylor Buhr, South Dakota
Men’s Diver: Reece Reid, South Dakota State
Women’s Diver: Samantha Mersnick, South Dakota
 
October 17
Men’s Swimmer: Alex Lynch, Denver
Women’s Swimmer: Payton Easley, Omaha
Men’s Diver: Ian Blackstock, Omaha
Women’s Diver: Darby Drake, Omaha
 
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