(Tempe, AZ) Ilya Kharun, Caroline Bentz and Tommy Palmer have been announced as winners for the first set of Big 12 weekly swim awards for the 2024-25 season. Ilya Kharun was named Men’s Swimmer of the Week, Caroline Bentz was named Big 12 Women’s Swimmer and Newcomer of the Week and Tommy Palmer was named Big 12 Men’s Newcomer of the Week announced by the conference Wednesday Afternoon.
This marks the first Big 12 weekly awards for Sun Devil Swim & Dive in program history. The team is embarking on its first season competing in the Big 12 Conference.
Ilya Kharun won all four of his races that he appeared in against UNLV, winning the 100 fly in 44.57, the 200 fly in 1:39.47 and the 200 IM in 1:44.57, all three times being the fastest in the conference last week. Kharun was also part of the winning 200-medley relay team against UNLV. This is Kharun’s first career weekly honor after garnering Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in the 2023-24 season.
Caroline Bentz, in her Sun Devil debut, was part of the record-setting 200 medley relay, swimming the anchor leg in 21.64. The graduate won the 200 back in 1:55.29, which was the fastest time in the nation last week. She also placed 2nd in the 100 back in 52.68, and the All-American was part of the winning 400 free relay, swimming a 49.22 leg. This is Bentz first career weekly honor of her collegiate career.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Zach Wargo