SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Omaha duo of Brady Wainionpaa and Julia Thomas collected the latest Summit League Kwik Star Swimming and Diving Peak Performer of the Week awards, League officials released Tuesday. Wainionpaa was named the men’s swimmer of the week, while Thomas earned the women’s swimmer distinction, with both receiving the honor for the first time.
Wainionpaa delivered a standout weekend at the SIU A3 Performance Invite, piling up 49 individual points while posting personal bests in four events. The Hudson, Wis., native turned in Summit League leading times in both the 200 IM (1:49.57) and 100 breast (54.70), while also adding a runner-up league mark in the 200 breast.
The freshman also showed strong progress in his sprint free events, dropping two seconds in the 100 free (46.27) and clocking a 20.94 in the 50 free.
On the women’s side, Thomas also had a stellar showing for the Mavericks. She piled up 44 individual points behind season-best efforts in the butterfly events and personal bests in the freestyle.
The Colorado Springs, Colo., native recorded Summit League leading times in the 50 free (23.53) and 100 free (51.35), added top-four marks in the 100 fly (56.22) and 200 fly (2:05.75), and turned in the conference’s fastest relay splits in both the 100 free (50.22) and 50 free (22.94).
MEN’S PEAK SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Brady Wainionpaa, Omaha
Fr. | Breast/IM | Hudson, Wisc.
- Tallied 49 points for Omaha while logging personal bests in four events
- Posted Summit-leading marks with a 1:49.57 in the 200 IM and a 54.70 in the 100 breast
- Collected his first career weekly award
Also nominated: Alexander Sadowski (Eastern Illinois).
WOMEN’S PEAK SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Julia Thomas, Omaha
Jr. | Free/Fly | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Recorded 44 individual points for the Mavericks at the SIU A3 Performance Invite
- Logged season-best times in the fly events and personal best times in the free events
- Collected her first career weekly award
Also nominated: Anna Mueller (Eastern Illinois).
2025-26 Swimming & Diving Peak Performers of the Week
Oct. 7
MS: Hamish McLellan, Denver
MD: Trip Gregory, Denver
WS: Addisyn Storms, Omaha
WD: Kaitlin Calvery, Denver
Oct. 14
MS: David Bosch, South Dakota State
MD: Owen Kipp, Omaha
WS: Gigi Hioki, South Dakota State
WD: Ava Johnson, Omaha
Oct. 21
MS: Hamish McLellan, Denver
MD: Colin Breuer, Denver
WS: Ellie Undem, St. Thomas
WD: Savanna Berry, Denver
Oct. 28
MS: Jerrin Dale, Southern Indiana
MD: Lane Pollock, Southern Indiana
WS: Samantha Synsvoll, Denver
WD: Savanna Berry, Denver
Nov. 4
MS: Nick Rounds, South Dakota
MD: Nathan Frette, Omaha
WS: Julia Saxman, Denver
WD: Bella Price, Omaha
Nov. 18
MS: Brady Wainionpaa, Omaha
MD: N/A
WS: Julia Thomas, Omaha
WD: N/A
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