Beisel Named SEC Freshman Female of the Week, Dwyer Named SEC Male Swimmer of the Week
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Florida swimming and diving team earned two Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Week honors for its performances Oct. 29 at Georgia. The accolades, announced by the league Tuesday, went to freshman swimmer Elizabeth Beisel (North Kingstown, R.I.) for SEC Female Freshman of the Week and senior swimmer Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.) for SEC Male Swimmer of the Week.
Beisel, who was named the SEC Female Swimmer of the Week for the first time on Oct. 12, was named SEC Female Freshman of the Week for the first time in her young career after winning the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard backstroke against Georgia. The 2008 Olympian's first-place time of 1:55.90 in the 200 back was just behind her nation-leading 1:54.95 set against Virginia on Oct. 11, and was still faster than any other time in the country this season. Beisel's second-place mark in the 200 IM of 1:59.10 was the second-fastest time in the NCAA this year, while the 200 medley relay squad she swam on at Georgia recorded a NCAA provisional mark of 1:42.49, the 10th-fastest time in the country this season (third in the SEC).
The North Kingstown, R.I., native recorded NCAA provisional marks in all four events she swam in vs. Georgia and now has NCAA provisional times in eight different events this season (100 and 200 back, 200 fly, 200 IM, 200 and 500 free, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay). The freshman's winning time of 1:58.29 in the 200 fly was also the sixth-fastest time in the country this year (second in the SEC). In total, Beisel has now won a women's team-leading 12 events this season (10 individual events, two relays).
Dwyer becomes the first Gator to win the award twice in the same season (Oct. 12 and Nov. 2) since former Gator and reigning USA Swimming Swimmer of the Year Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) accomplished the feat in 2004-05. Dwyer led the Gators to their 10th-straight SEC-opening win with a 170-130 victory over Georgia on the road, winning three individual events and helping the Orange and Blue to a first-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
The Winnetka, Ill. native's time of 9:00.48 in the 1,000-yard freestyle and 4:25.26 NCAA provisional mark in the 500 free marked the fastest times in the NCAA this year in the two events, while his winning time of 1:37.77 in the 200 free also was a NCAA provisional mark. The 2010 NCAA and SEC Male Swimmer of the Year, Dwyer swam on the 400 free relay squad that clocked the nation's fastest time in the event this year with a NCAA provisional mark of 2:59.27. Dwyer, a 2010-11 U.S. National Team member, has now won a team-best 15 events this season (10 individual, five relays).
The Lady Gators jump back into the pool the next day on Nov. 5-6, when they travel to Palo Alto, Calif., to swim against Stanford and Michigan in a tri meet. Start time is slated for 7 p.m ET Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday. The Gator men's team returns to action this Thursday, Nov. 4, as the Orange and Blue travel to Baton Rouge, La., to take on LSU in another SEC road meet. Meet time is scheduled for 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to follow the swimming and diving program on Twitter or Facebook.
FLORIDA'S SEC WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
WOMEN
Oct. 12 – Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming: SEC Female Swimmer of the Week
Oct. 12 – Monica Dodson, Diving: SEC Female Diver of the Week
Nov. 2 - Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming: SEC Female Freshman of the Week
MEN
Oct. 12 – Conor Dwyer, Swimming: SEC Male Swimmer of the Week
Nov. 2 - Conor Dwyer, Swimming: SEC Male Swimmer of the Week
