This week’s National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week (NCSW) honors reflect fast swimming all across the country. Elaine Breeden (Stanford University) and Pat Carey (University of California Santa Barbara) claimed NCSW honors for Division I. Alison Maxwell (University of North Dakota) and Pedro Pereira (University of North Dakota) grabbed Division II NCSW honors this week. While Katherine Thornton (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Matt Stewart (Gustavus Adolphus College) took Division III NCSW honors. The six were selected based on their performances January 29, 2007-February 5, 2007 by a panel of collegiate coaches and nominated by coaches, sports information directors, conference representatives and CollegeSwimming.com staffers.  

---

Division I

Elaine Breeden, Stanford University
Fr., Lexington, KY
Elaine Breeden swept the 100 and 200 butterfly to help lead top-ranked Stanford to a thrilling 153-147 victory at No. 3 California and complete the team’s first unbeaten dual meet season since 2001-02. The Cardinal will head into postseason action with a 10-0 overall record and 6-0 Pac-10 mark. Breeden recorded the nation’s top time this season in her 200 win (1:53.23) and the country’s second-best mark in the 100 victory (51.70). She also nearly broke school records in both of the events, missing Shelly Ripple’s 200 standard by a mere three-hundredths of a second and Misty Hyman’s 100 mark by just 0.36. She is now the No. 2 all-time performer at Stanford in the 200 and ranks No. 3 in the 100. She also broke Spieker Aquatics Complex pool records previously held by California’s Natalie Coughlin and defeated 2004 Olympic gold medalist in both events.

Pat Cary, University of California – Santa Barbara
Sr., Trabuco Canyon, CA
UCSB left fans cheering as they beat University of the Pacific Tigers for the last time this season at Campus Pool with a score of 153–109. Senior Pat Cary blew the competition out of the water in the 100 and 200 butterfly events. Cary won the 200 butterfly (1:47.73), winning by almost four seconds. The Gauchos were also able to sweep the 100 butterfly as well with Cary leading the way with a time of 48.92. 

---

Division II

Alison Maxwell, University of North Dakota
Fr., Williston, ND
Allison Maxwell highlighted the UND Invite held in the Hyslop pool Sunday afternoon at the University of North Dakota. The freshman had a spectacular meet swimming personal bests and earning her first ‘A’ cut in the 200 Butterfly (2:07.62) to qualify for Nationals. Maxwell performed well all-around. She earned individual first-place finishes in the 400 Individual Medley (4:37.95), 200 Butterfly and 100 Breaststroke (1:07.55) and helped the 400 and 200 Medley teams swim to first place finishes as well.

Pedro Pereira, University of North Dakota
Jr., Barra Do Pirai, Brazil
At the UND Invite held in the Hyslop pool Sunday afternoon at the University of North Dakota Pereira turned in five first place finishes. His top finishes came in the 200 freestyle (1:43.62), 100 breaststroke (56.79), 200 freestyle relay (1:23.05), and the 200 and 400 medley relays. He also swam to fourth place in the 100 butterfly (52.88). 

---

Division III

Katherine Thornton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sr., El Cajon, CA
MIT's women's swimming and diving team honored the careers of its graduating seniors and post-graduate students this weekend by putting on an impressive display in the MIT Invitational, held over the course of two days in the Zesiger Pool. Thornton did not disappoint in her final home competition for the Engineers, displaying why she will be so heavily missed with two stunning performances. Her time in the 1650 freestyle (17:29.11) on Friday night was not only tops among all swimmers, but was over 16 seconds faster than her next closest competitor. Thornton is now ranked fourth in the nation in the event. Then, on Saturday afternoon, she returned to the water to place second in the 500 freestyle (5:12.75), just over four seconds off the NCAA "B" cut.

Matt Stewart, Gustavus Adolphus College
So., Burnsville, MN
The Gustavus men's swimming and diving team closed out its regular season schedule by defeating UW-Stevens Point 169.5 to 148.5 in the Lund Natatorium in St. Peter, Minnesota. The Gusties swam extremely well winning nine of the 17 events and setting six new pool records. Matt Stewart capped off a strong regular season by setting pool records in the 200 butterfly (1:54.07 - the old record was 1:54.96), the 500 freestyle (4:39.16 - the old record was 4:44.19), and the 200 individual medley (1:56.17 - the old record was 1:58.95).

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.