As the Utah men’s and women’s swimming and diving team prepares for a big matchup against conference rival BYU, it also celebrates an honor.
After a record-breaking performance at Oregon State, freshman Loren Sweny was named the Mountain West Conference female Swimmer of the Week.
Sweny, from Manotick, Canada, broke the school record in the 200-meter backstroke, with a time of 2 minutes, 5.27 seconds. Sweny also won the 200-meter freestyle swim with a time of 1:53.16, which was only one and a half seconds off the Utah school record.
This is the second week in a row a Utah swimmer has been honored with the Swimmer of the Week award, and both of them are freshmen. Last week, Cody Rempfer was named the Mountain West Conference’s male Swimmer of the Week for his performance at the Early Bird Invitational at Ft. Collins, Colo.
While only the women competed this last weekend in Coravallis, Ore., Sweny, the rest of the women and the men will begin their home season tonight, and it is a tough home opener, as BYU is the Mountain West’s defending champions for both the men and women.
“Anytime you are hosting the conference champions, it will be an exciting meet,” said Utah coach Mike Litzinger. “BYU has set the standard in the Mountain West Conference over the last few seasons, and it is up to Utah to rise to the challenge of competing with the best.”
The meet against BYU is the first of four straight home meets for the Utes. UNLV comes to town on Nov. 10.