Women's Big Ten Swimmer and Diver of the Week

Swimmer of the Week
Jen Illescas, Wisconsin
Jr., East Elmhurst, New York/ Mary Louis Academy
Illescas earned a total of five NCAA `B' times during the finals at the Texas Invitational last week.  Her individual performances were the 500-yard freestyle (4:48.31), the 200 butterfly (1:59.81) and the 200 freestyle (1:48.10) in which she placed 5th, 6th and 7th, respectively.  Her 800-freestyle relay squad posted a runner-up time of 7:23.23.  The New York native also swam on the 400-freestyle relay recording a time of 3:21.58, finishing fourth.  Illescas garners her first career weekly laurel.

Last WIS SOW: Jackie Vavrek (10/09/07)

Diver of the Week
Danielle Williams, Michigan State
Jr., Dorchester, Ontario/ Clark Read
At the Ball State dual meet on Saturday, Williams posted two first-place finishes to aid the Spartans in a 136-107 triumph.  Off the one-meter board, she tallied a score of 268.35 and from the three-meters she totaled 271.50 points.  Both scores qualify her for the NCAA Zone diving competition in March.  The junior takes home her second weekly honor of the season and her career. 

Last MSU DOW: Danielle Williams (10/23/07)

 

 

Men's Big Ten Swimmer and Diver of the Week

Swimmer of the Week
Scott Rice, Wisconsin
Jr., Des Moines, Washington/Mount Rainer
Rice set two NCAA `B' cut times in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly while competing at the Texas Invitational.  His fourth-place time in the 200 fly of 1:45.15 sets a new school record, breaking the old mark by nearly half a second (1:45.64). The junior also had a strong performance in the 100 fly, touching the wall at 48.16.  The Washington native earns his fourth all-time weekly award.

Last WIS SOW:Scott Rice (10/09/07)

Diver of the Week
Ian Zalessov, Michigan State
So., Okemos, Mich./ Okemos
Zalessov earned two first-place finishes in a 149-94 victory over Ball State last Saturday.  The sophomore turned in winning scores of 303.57 off the one-meter and 363.82 from the three-meter board.  Both point totals resulted in season-highs for Zalessov.  This marks the first career weekly accolade for the Michigan native.

Last MSU DOW: Matt Akerley (12/13/05)