Last week’s Conference Championships proved to have fast swimming with records falling across the country. This week’s National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week (NCSW) awards honor some of these record-breaking individuals. Kara Lynn Joyce (University of Georgia) and Cesar Cielo (Auburn University) claimed NCSW honors for Division I. Susan Bell (University of California-San Diego) and Tim Fuller (University of California-San Diego) grabbed Division II NCSW honors this week.  While Becky Weima (Calvin College) and Caleb Courage (Grove City College) took Division III NCSW honors. The six were selected based on their performances February 5, 2007-February 11, 2007 by a panel of collegiate coaches and nominated by coaches, sports information directors, conference representatives and CollegeSwimming.com staffers.  

---

Division I

Kara Lynn Joyce, University of Georgia
Sr., Ann Arbor, MI
Joyce, a senior, took the women's 100 freestyle (47.62) title for the third straight year, the fastest time in the nation this year and an automatic NCAA Championship qualifying standard at the Southeastern Conference Swimming Championship at Kentucky's Lancaster Aquatic Center. Joyce completed the meet with the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle (1:45.21) crowns. Joyce’s 50 freestyle (21.73) is the fastest time in the nation this year and just one-tenth of a second off her American record of 21.63.  She ended her career with nine individual conference titles, matching the record held by Courtney Shealy, Kristy Kowal and Mary DeScenza.

Cesar Cielo, Auburn University
So., St. Barbara, PS, Brazil
Cielo broke the SEC record in the 100 freestyle while leading an Auburn sweep of the medals in that event, and also set a school record with his winning time (41.85). Cielo, who also won the 50 freestyle earlier in  the meet, smashed the previous SEC mark of 42.53 set by former Tiger Fred Bousquet in 2004, as well as topping Bousquet's school record of 41.87 set in 2005.  Cesar Cielo also posted the third fastest time in history in the 50 freestyle (19.03) to highlight the second day of action at the SEC Swimming Championships.  Cielo's stunning time in the 50 free broke his own SEC record of 19.23 that he set earlier  in the day during the prelims, when he topped the previous mark of 19.33 set by former Tiger George Bovell in 2004. He also placed fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:36.18) with an NCAA “B” cut.

---

Division II

Susan Bell, University of California- San Diego
Sr., La Jolla, CA
Bell started off her weekend at the Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference Championships with an NCAA “A” cut in the 200 individual medley (2:06.89) while swimming to a second place finish.  Bell kicked off the third day on a high note defending her title in the 400 individual medley (4:29.40) and achieving another NCAA “A” cut time.  Bell also swam the backstroke leg (57.76) on winning the 400medley relay (3:50.77).  On the final day Bell took third in the 200 backstroke (2:05.34) and was a part of the first-place 400 freestyle relay team.

Tim Fuller, University of California – San Diego
Sr., Santee, CA
On the first day of competition at the Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference Championships Tim Fuller was a part of the second place 200 medley relay (1:32.83) which is now ranked 3rd in the nation.  On day two Fuller was second in the 50 freestyle (20.70) and swam the anchor leg (20.20) on the winning 200 freestyle relay (1:23.12).  In the 200 freestyle (1:40.98) Fuller was fourth while also swimming the anchor leg on the second-place 400 medley relay (3:23.70) on day three.  He finished off the meet with a victory in the 100 freestyle (44.97) allowing him to achieve NCAA automatic qualifying in every event he swam in over the course of the championships.

---

Division III

Becky Weima, Calvin College 
Sr., Grand Rapids, MI
Calvin's 200 freestyle relay team started the meet off with a bang, winning MIAA’s with a MIAA record, Calvin record and NCAA III automatic qualifying time (1:34.39). The time is the fastest in Division III women's swimming this year. Weima led off the relay with an NCAA III B' cut qualifying time (50 freestyle of 23.67).  She then captured her third consecutive MIAA title in the 500 freestyle (5:01.21), winning with an NCAA III automatic qualifying time. Weima also had a big night, winning the 200 freestyle (1:50.56) for the fourth consecutive year. Weima won the event with an NCAA III automatic qualifying time. Weima captured the 100 freestyle (52.19) title for the fourth consecutive year and then anchored Calvin's 400 freestyle relay team to an MIAA record and NCAA III automatic qualifying time (3:29.12), breaking the previous record by more than a full second.

Caleb Courage, Grove City College
Jr., Shippensburg, PA
Caleb Courage won the 50 freestyle (20.41) at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships. In the preliminaries, Courage set a new conference and pool record in the 50 freestyle (20.22).  Grove City established new pool and conference records in sweeping both relay events Friday night, with Courage being a part of each. They opened the session by winning the 200 medley relay (1:33.32).  The Wolverines then closed the session by capturing the 800 free relay (6:55.76).  He also took top honors in the 200 freestyle (1:40.86) with an NCAA provisional time.  On the final day Courage won the 100 freestyle (44.77). During Saturday morning's preliminaries, Courage set a new pool record in the 100 with a mark of 44.69. He also earned PAC Most Valuable Performer honors.

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.