National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week (NCSW) honors are dominated by Florida swimmers as they proved to be fierce competitors this past week. Ellie Weberg (Florida Atlantic University) and Brandon Nelms (University of Las Vegas) claimed NCSW honors for Division I. Jessie Bardin (University of Tampa) and Tyler Furrer (University of Tampa) grabbed Division II NCSW honors this week. While Katie Curran (Montclair State University) and Jay Carpenter (United States Merchant Marine Academy) took Division III NCSW honors. The six were selected based on their performances December 11-December 18, 2006 by a panel of collegiate coaches and nominated by coaches, sports information directors, conference representatives and CollegeSwimming.com staffers.

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Division I

Ellie Weberg, Florida Atlantic University 
Sr., Bloomington, MN
On Saturday, the Florida Atlantic University swimming and diving teams hosted the FAU Invite at FAU Pool. The women's team captured the meet by picking up dual meet wins over the College of Charleston, Cincinnati and Denver. The team picked up 14 wins in 16 events. An NCAA Championship participant last season, Weberg won the 100 breaststroke by more than four seconds (1:03.30). She followed that performance up with a win by more than eight seconds in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.09).

Brandon Nelms, University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Jr., Plano, TX
UNLV's men's and women’s swimming and diving teams won seven of the 12 events on the final night of competition on Monday to help both Rebel  squads finish in second place in the team standings at the UNLV Winter Invite at Buchanen Natatorium. UC Santa Barbara won both team titles. Nelms was responsible for two of the win in the final evening claiming the 100 freestyle (44.89) along with being a part of the victorious 400 freestyle relay (3:00.89). Nelms started off the meet with a first-place finish in the 50 freestyle (20.42).

 

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Division II

Jessie Bardin, University of Tampa 
Fr., St. Petersburg, FL
Bardin won National Honors for the second-consecutive week.  The Freshman helped 10th-ranked Tampa to a second-place finish at the Delta State Invitational.  Bardin made the national cut in the 200 freestyle (1:51.53) while also breaking the pool record in the event. She achieved another NCAA cut in the 500 freestyle (5:03.71) while cruising to first place. Her final cut of the meet came in another first place finish in the 100 freestyle (52.01).  Her 100 and 200 freestyle swims were fully two and three seconds faster than last week. 

Tyler Furrer, University of Tampa
Fr., Gig Harbor, WA
The University of Tampa claimed second place at the annual Delta State Christmas Invitational on Monday at the DSU Aquatics Center, while Missouri State placed first and Delta State placed third. Furrer had three NCAA qualifying times on the weekend. His only victory was accompanied by a NCAA “A” cut in the 1650 freestyle (15:50.68). His distance dominance continued with second place in the 500 freestyle (4:36.63) and his lead-off leg on the 800 freestyle relay (1:43.52) with both times being NCAA “B” cut times.

 

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Division III

Katie Curran, Montclair State University
So., River Edge, NJ
Sophomore Katie Curran won both the 500 and 1000 freestyles as the Montclair State women's swimming and diving team posted a 128-94 victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Tuesday evening. Curran captured both long distance freestyle events. She first won the 500 freestyle (5:48.91) and then took the 1000 freestyle (11:59.86).

Jay Carpenter, United States Merchant Marine Academy
Jr., Clearwater, FL
Winning all but one event, the United States Merchant Marine Academy men’s swimming and diving team defeated the Montclair State Redhawks, 149-86, Tuesday evening at O’Hara Pool. With the win, the Mariners advance to 4-1 on the season, while the Redhawks fall to 4-4. Jay Carpenter was a double event winner for the Mariners. Carpenter finished first in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.66) and the 200 Individual Medley (2:00.12).

 

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The National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week Awards are underwritten by Counsilman-Hunsaker & Associates, a multi-service engineering, planning, and design firm that specializes in aquatic facilities. For more information visit www.aquaticconsultant.com. The NCSW Selection Committee is: Chris Conlin, Case Western Reserve; Steve Crocker, Counsilman/Hunsacker; Ed Denny, California University of Pennsylvania; Pat Gallagher, St. Francis University; Erin Hurley, Grinnell College; Sharon Krueger, University of Virginia; Sean McNamee, St. Bonaventure; Joel Shinofeld, Washington & Lee University; Tim Verge, Shippensburg University; Andy Waeger, Lock Haven University; Suzanne Yee, Washington State.