ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley Conference announced its men's and women's swimming and diving weekly honors on Tuesday. 



MEN’S SWIMMER: Willem Huggins, Sophomore, Southern Illinois – Carbondale, Ill.
Southern Illinois’ Willem Huggins posted a pair of MVC records over the weekend, including three of the top times in The Valley this season. Huggins broke the league record in the 200-yard backstroke (1:43.03) and 200-yard freestyle (1:35.96), while setting five total personal-best performances. Three of Huggins’ times – 100-yard backstroke (46.61), 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard freestyle – are the top times in The Valley this season.
 
MEN’S DIVER: Harrison Nolan, Senior, UIC – Riverside, Ill.
UIC’s Harrison Nolan reached NCAA Zone C cut qualifying scores in all three diving events, as the senior won the 3-meter and finished second in 1-meter and platform. Nolan’s score of 370.35 in the 1-meter replaced his MVC record of 343.70, set last season, as well as his 3-meter Conference record in the 3-meter, recording a score of 400.05 this past weekend.
 
MEN’S FRESHMAN: Zach Mendez, Freshman, Missouri State – Lansing, Kan.
Missouri State’s Zach Mendez was victorious in the 1650-yard freestyle, while earning a pair of second-place finishes in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. Mendez’s time of 15:29.83 in the 1650 marked the best in The Valley this season, as well as his time of 4:22.74 in the 500-yard free. His time of 1:36.44 in the 200-yard freestyle is the third-fastest time in the MVC this season. He was also a member of the winning 800-yard freestyle relay team.


 
WOMEN’S SWIMMER: Olivia Herron, Senior, Southern Illinois – Manchester, England
Southern Illinois’ Olivia Herron continued to shine for the Salukis, posting three individuals wins and a pair of school records. Herron won the 200-yard breaststroke in a record time of 2:08.08, which is the fastest time in The Valley this season by six seconds. She also broke the school record in the 400-yard IM, clocking in a time of 4:12.82. Her 200-yard breaststroke time is the 13th-fastest mark in Division I while her time in the 100-yard breaststroke (59.42) is the 21st-fastest time nationally.
 
WOMEN’S DIVER: Jecza Lopez, Junior, Indiana State – Guadalajara, Mexico
Jecza Lopez won the 1M Springboard diving event at the Miami Invite and finished fourth in the 3M Springboard to highlight the Sycamores’ diving efforts over the weekend. Lopez posted the second-highest scores in the 3M Springboard qualifiers with a 299.10, before finishing fourth in the finals in 253.50. She followed up by topping the field in the 1M Springboard with a score of 287.40 after leading the qualifiers with a six-dive score of 275.80.
 
WOMEN’S FRESHMAN: Grace Cummings, Freshman, Indiana State – Kent, England
Grace Cummings set an Indiana State record and became the first Sycamore to record a time under the new NCAA cut line after winning the 1650-yard Freestyle event with a time of 16:23.09 at the Miami Invite. Her time shattered the previous Sycamore record by nearly eight seconds as she topped Claire Parsons by 11 seconds in the event finals. Cummings finished third overall in the 500-yard Freestyle after going 4:49.66 and served as the lead anchor in the Sycamores’ top 800-yard Freestyle Relay team. Her time in the 1650 leads The Valley by nearly 30 seconds.