National Honors Head Down Tobacco Road

An NCAA “B” cut and four personal best times by Dan O’Connor (University of North Carolina) and two NCAA “B” cuts by Ashley Twichell (Duke University) have earned the pair the Counsilman-Hunsaker National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week Honors.  Also winning this week’s award were Amanda Thomas (Southern Connecticut State University), Jun Han Kim (Drury University), Laura Barito (Stevens Institute of Technology), and Peter O’Brien (Emory University).  The six recipients were selected by coaches and media relations personnel for their performances February 1- February 7.

Division I

Ashley Twichell
Duke University
Senior- Fayetteville, NY
In a 122-163 loss to North Carolina, Twichell won two events and achieved two NCAA “B” cuts.  She swam the 1000 free (9:52.76, NCAA “B” cut) and the 500 free (4:47.11, NCAA “B” cut).

Dan O’Connor
University of North Carolina
Freshman- Syracuse, NY
O’Connor recorded four career best times in a dual meet win over Duke and in the College Cup Invitational at Duke over the weekend. He broke the Duke pool record in both the 1000 free (9:06.26) and 1650 free (15:05.98).  In the dual meet against Duke, O’Connor won the 500 free (4:23.62, NCAA “B” cut).

Division II

Amanda Thomas
Southern Connecticut State University
Sophomore- Oakville, Connecticut
Thomas had an outstanding performance as Southern Connecticut State won the Northeast-10 Conference championship.  She swam the 200 fly (2:01.23), the 100 back (56.07), and the 200 IM (2:02.50).

Jun Han Kim
Drury University
Junior- Seoul, South Korea
In a 127-173 loss to Missouri, Kim won three events.  He swam the 200 fly (1:48.52), the 200 IM (1:50.97), and the 200 breast (2:01.61).  

Division III

Laura Barito
Stevens Institute of Technology
Senior- Arkadelphia, AR
In a 164-128 win against Hartwick, Barito had two individual wins to go along with a pair of relay victories as well.  She swam the 50 free (23.67, NCAA “B” cut & pool record), the 100 free (52.25, NCAA “B” cut & pool record).  She was also a member of the winning 200 medley relay (1:49.67, pool record), and the 400 free relay (3:37.96, pool record, 52.07- split).

Peter O’Brien
Emory University
Sophomore- Houston, TX
In a loss against Clemson, O’Brien notched two event victories and achieved an NCAA “B” cut.  He swam the 200 breast (2:06.14, NCAA “B” cut) and the 100 breast (58.36).