The New Year brings with it new faces and it was freshmen who dominated the National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week (NCSW) honors.  Three freshmen claimed national honors for the first time in program history.  Kassia Shishkoff (Northwestern University) and Scott Spann (University of Michigan) claimed NCSW honors for Division I. Alison Smith (University of Indianapolis) and Matt Hug (University of Missouri-Rolla) grabbed Division II NCSW honors this week.  While Lisa Smith (Hope College) and Kenton Drake (University of California Santa Cruz) took Division III NCSW honors. The six were selected based on their performances December 21, 2006-January 6, 2007 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

Kassia Shishkoff, Northwestern University 
Fr., Raleigh, NC
Kassia Shishkoff lit up the field for the Northwestern. Though the Wildcats fell to 16th-ranked Tennessee 210-139, the freshman distance phenom was stellar. In the 500 freestyle, Shishkoff posted a NCAA 'B' cut time (4:48.78). She won the event by seven seconds and came within 0.14 of the pool record. She produced her second `B' cut of the morning with a win the 400 Individual Medley (4:22.95).  In the afternoon session the freshman swam to lead a Wildcat 1-2-3 sweep of the 200 freestyle (1:49.43) before heading into her most impressive swim - the 1650. In the mile, Shishkoff set a Norris Aquatics Center pool record with a win in the event and earn her fourth NCAA`B' time of the meet (16:28.01). The swim broke the previous record of 16:33.80 set 10 years earlier by Amy Olberhelman of Stanford.

Scott Spann, Michigan
Fr., Austin, TX
Scott Spann finished a week where he was able to capture
four victories in all four breaststroke events that he swam
in. Against the Mexican National Team (exhibition), Spann captured the 50-meter breaststroke (30.32). Two days later at Arizona, he obtained an NCAA Consideration 'B' time in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:20.42), taking first. Against California and Arizona State the following day, Spann almost captured another 'B' time in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:01.17), just 0.37 seconds off the mark, to earn another victory. In the same meet, Spann was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke (55.81).

Division II

Allison Smith, Indianapolis
Sr., Indianapolis, IN
The Greyhounds women's swimming team took the title at the 2007 University of Indy Invite at Ruth Lilly  Center pool completed on Saturday with a total of 743 points with Ashland finishing up second with 662  points.  Alison Smith began the meet with a win in the 200 freestyle (1:56.67), turning in a NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time.  Smith later won the 100 backstroke (1:00.99).  The women's 400 medley relay (4:00.04) got the action underway with a win, sparking the early lead with Smith swimming the backstroke leg on Saturday.  Alison Smith won her third event of the Invite, winning the 200 backstroke (2:09.75), another NCAA ‘B’ cut time.

Matt Hug, University of Missouri-Rolla
Jr., Bloomington, IL
The Miner swimming team recorded 11 first place finishes over the weekend and grabbed a decisive victory in the University of Indianapolis Invitational with 905 points with the next closest team coming in with 474.5 points.  Matt Hug lead the way for the Miners with three individual events showing his dominance in the distance events.  On Friday he claimed victories in the 200 freestyle in (1:42.85) and 1650 freestyle  (16:16.94).  Both of his times cleared the NCAA ‘B’ qualifying standard by a generous margin.  On Saturday he posted his third win by taking the 500 freestyle (4:39.71).  His time in the 500 freestyle also cleared the NCAA ‘B’ cut time by three seconds.

Division III

Lisa Smith, Hope College
Sr., Dearborn, MI
Hope's swimming/diving teams competed against Division I Oakland University on Saturday. Oakland was victorious in the women's meet with a score of 158-122.  Lisa Smith did what she does best by sweeping the butterfly events.  She was victorious in the 200 butterfly (2:11.06) and the 100 butterfly (58.45), which she won by almost three seconds.  Her time in the 100 butterfly is also a NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time.  She was also runner-up in the 100 freestyle (54.20) 

Kenton Drake, UC Santa Cruz
Fr., San Luis Obispo, CA
The UCSC men’s swim teams traveled to Bakersfield on January 5th to test their strength against soon-to-be Division I Cal State Bakersfield. The Roadrunner men got the 180-168 edge over the Banana Slugs, but not before Kenton Drake won both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. His 100 breaststroke time (58.30) broke a 13 year-old school record, and his time in the 200 breaststroke (2:07.22) was enough to place him 2nd all-time in school history.  Both of his breaststroke times were also NCAA ‘B’ qualifying times.

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.