GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Four days after an impressive home sweep of Georgia Tech, the University of Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving team earned two weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference, announced by the league Tuesday. Senior Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.) was named SEC Male Swimmer of the Week, while senior Monica Dodson (Franklin, Ind.) was named SEC Female Diver of the Week.
Dwyer is the only swimmer since the SEC began handing out weekly honors in 2000 to be named SEC Male Swimmer of the Week four times in the same season, while joining former Gator great Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Auburn swimmers Cesar Cielo and Adam Brown as the only four swimmers in SEC history to win the award four times in their career.
Dwyer finished first in each of his four events this past weekend with NCAA B cuts in each race. Dwyer’s first-place time of 1:46.77 in the 200-yard butterfly gave him NCAA qualifying times in six different events this season, while his 4:22.67 mark in the 500-yard freestyle was a season-best time for the senior and the fastest SEC time of 2011 in the event. Dwyer was also part of the 1:29.86 first-place 200 medley relay squad (25.26 split), which marked UF’s second-fastest finish this season in the event. In addition to the 200 medley relay triumph, Dwyer came within half a second of his personal best in the 100 free with a 44.77 split in the 400-yard free relay (3:02.05). The 2010-11 U.S. National Team member has now won a team-leading 29 events this season (19 individual, 10 relay).
Dodson was named SEC Female Diver of the Week for the second time in her career (Oct. 12, 2010) after winning two events this past week. The Franklin, Ind., native, who owns the highest SEC score on the platform this season (280.75 at the 2010 Big Al Open), won the platform event (263.60) over 34 other female divers at the Tennessee Diving Invitational Jan. 5. Two days later on Jan. 7, the lone senior on the UF women’s team captured the three-meter competition against Georgia Tech with a score of 324.98, giving her four victories on the three-meter boards in 2010-11, and eight diving triumphs overall this season. On top of the two victories, the senior placed third place out of 44 female divers on the three-meter boards at the UT Diving Invite.
Dwyer and eight other UF men will travel to Dallas for the SMU Classic this Friday and Saturday, while Dodson and the rest of the Gators return to the pool this Saturday, Jan. 15, as the Gators host Florida Atlantic for a 1 p.m. dual meet. Admission is free. For the latest in Florida swimming and diving, fans are encouraged to follow the program on Twitter and Facebook.
FLORIDA’S NATIONAL & SEC WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
MEN
Oct. 12 – Conor Dwyer, Swimming: SEC Male Swimmer of the Week
Nov. 2 – Conor Dwyer, Swimming: SEC Male Swimmer of the Week
Nov. 3 – Conor Dwyer, Swimming: National Collegiate Male Swimmer of the Week
Nov. 23 – Conor Dwyer, Swimming: SEC Male Swimmer of the Week
Jan. 11 – Conor Dwyer, Swimming: SEC Male Swimmer of the Week
WOMEN
Oct. 12 – Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming: SEC Female Swimmer of the Week
Oct. 12 – Monica Dodson, Diving: SEC Female Diver of the Week
Nov. 2 – Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming: SEC Female Freshman of the Week
Nov. 9 – Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming: SEC Female Swimmer of the Week
Nov. 10 – Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming: National Collegiate Female Swimmer of the Week
Nov. 23 – Elizabeth Beisel, Swimming: SEC Female Swimmer of the Week
Jan. 11 – Monica Dodson, Diving: SEC Female Diver of the Week
Most SEC Male Swimmer of the Week Awards All-Time
Conor Dwyer, Florida – 4 (2009-11)
Ryan Lochte, Florida – 4 (2003-05)
Adam Brown, Auburn – 4 (2009-11)
Cesar Cielo, Auburn – 4 (2006-08)
