Men’s Swimmer of the Week: Stephen Cui, UIC
Men’s Diver of the Week: Zach Shaddy, Ball State
Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Ava Ostendorf, Illinois State
Women’s Diver of the Week: Jecza Lopez, Indiana State
Sophomore Stephen Cui was named MVC Men's Swimmer of the Week after his record-breaking weekend against Evansville and Ball State. On Friday against Evansville, Cui was dominant, earning three first-place finishes in the 100 backstroke, 200 individual medley and 200 medley relay helping lead the Flames to a 203-95 victory over the Purple Aces. Cui's time of 48.40 in the 100-backstroke set a Vigo County Aquatic Center Pool Record. Carrying his momentum into Saturday against Ball State, Cui set the Lewellen Aquatic Center record in the 100-backstroke with a time of 49.14, winning the event and setting his second pool record of the weekend. The sophomore added two second-place finishes against the Cardinals in the 200 backstroke and 200 medley relay. On the weekend, Cui recorded four first-place finishes, two second-place and two pool records leading to the first Swimmer of the Week accolade in his career. For the season, Cui has earned seven first-place finishes across three meets.
Ball State’s Zach Shaddy recorded a pair of first-place finishes in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events in a dual-meet win over UIC. Shaddy recorded a score of 322.80 in the 1-meter event, while tabulating 353.40 points in the 3-meter event.
Illinois State sophomore swimmer Ava Ostendorf was named the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Swimmer of the Week. It is Ostendorf's first weekly honor of her career and the Redbirds' second this season. The honor comes after her standout performance in Illinois State's 196-95 victory over Marquette on Saturday in Normal. Ostendorf broke the longest-standing record at Horton Pool in the 200-yard breaststroke. Her winning time of 2:18.28 eclipsed the previous mark of 2:19.04, set in 2007. Ostendorf also won the 100-yard breaststroke, moving into sixth in program history with a lifetime-best mark of 1:04.58. The sophomore was also a member of the winning 200-yard medley relay squad.
Indiana State diver Jecza Lopez received her fourth Missouri Valley Conference Diver of the Week honor. The Guadalajara, Mexico, native was the top Indiana State scorer in both the 1M and 3M Springboard events in the double dual meet against UIC and Evansville as the Sycamores swept their conference foes inside the Vigo County Aquatic Center. Jecza Lopez continued her dominance on the boards this season as the senior diver topped the field in both the 3M and the 1M Springboard events this past weekend. Lopez posted a 293.30 in the 3M Springboard to pace the field by nearly 31 points, while her score of 277.50 in the 1M Springboard topped the field by nearly 41 points.