Hawkeyes Sweep B1G Honors

Dec. 11, 2012

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team swept the Big Ten weekly awards, which were released Tuesday by the Big Ten office. Sophomore Becky Stoughton was selected as the Swimmer of the Week, redshirt sophomore Joelle Christy as the Diver of the Week and Olivia Kabacinski was tabbed as the Freshman of the Week.

Stoughton earned the Swimmer of the Week honor after posting three event titles in Iowa’s 190-108 victory over in-state rival Iowa State — the third straight win in the series. Stoughton posted a school record in the 200 fly with a time of 1:59.68, becoming the first swimmer in UI history to break the two-minute mark in the event. The Peoria, Ill., native also finished first in the 500 free (4:52.99) and the 1,000 free (9:57.61).

Stoughton has been selected as the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week twice in her career, as she previously earned the honor on Nov. 8, 2011. She also was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week last season.

Christy earned her first Big Ten Diver of the Week honor after winning the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard events against the Cyclones. The Springfield, Ill., native posted a pair of career-best point totals, finishing with 303.29 points in the 1-meter and 327.08 in the 3-meter. Both scores are NCAA Zone Diving qualifying marks.

Kabacinski earned her first career Big Ten Freshman of the Week nod after swimming to four first place finishes for the Hawkeyes against Iowa State. The LaPorte, Ind., native set the meet’s tone by anchoring the winning 200 medley relay (1:41.96) before sprinting to titles in the 50 free (23.10) and 100 free (50.46). She also led off the winning 400 free relay that finished with a time of 3:23.96, the second fastest by a UI relay this season.

It is the first time in school history that the Hawkeyes swept the three Big Ten weekly awards. (The Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor was instituted during the 2011-12 season.) It is the first time since 2005-06 that Iowa has won two of the weekly awards.

The Hawkeyes (2-1) return to action Dec. 17, facing Colorado College and Austin College in Colorado Springs.