(Tempe, AZ) The No. 6/12 Sun Devil Swim & Dive team won five Big 12 weekly awards announced by the conference Wednesday morning. It’s the third time this month garnering at least one weekly honor this season.
Sophomore Ilya Kharun garners his second Big 12 weekly award this year after winning six events over the dual victory over No. 5 N.C State over the weekend. He broke his own school record in the 100 fly (43.95), and outpaced the field in the 200 fly (1:38.74). The bronze medalist also helped the Sun Devils to win the 200 medley relay, 400 free relay, 400 medley relay and the 200 free relay, including swimming a 18.59 starting leg, tying an ASU record.
Junior Deniz Ertan wins her first career Big 12 weekly honor after contributing 31 points for the Sun Devils this past weekend. She won the 500 free in a season-best 4:40.19, and won the 1000 free (9:37.96). In addition, she won the 400 IM (4:10.83) and placed second in the 200 fly (1:57.06).
Graduate Caroline Bentz earned her second Big 12 women’s Newcomer of the Week award after setting a school record in the 50 free, placing second in the event (21.88). In addition, she paced a new school record in the 200 back (1:53.11), placing third. She managed to set a third individual record by leading off the 400 free relay, swimming a 48.30 starting leg that placed second (3:15.73).
Bentz also helped the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, and the 400 medley relay all place second. Earlier this month she was named Big 12 women’s Newcomer and Swimmer of the week.
Freshman Lucien Vergnes earned her first career Big 12 honor after being named men’s Newcomer of the Week, he placed second in the 200 breast (1:54.31), third in the 100 breast (53.17), and third in the 200 IM (1:46.50). He also helped the Sun Devils to wins in the 200 medley relay and the 400 medley relay.
Junior Lane Stallworth rounded out the awards by being named Big 12 men’s co-diver of the week for sweeping the men’s 1m and 3m diving competition after being the only diver to surpass 300+ points in both events. Winning the 1m diving event with 301.20 points and the 3m diving competition with 306.53.
Big 12 Weekly Award Winners (Oct. 30)
Men’s Swimmer of the Week: Ilya Kharun, Arizona State
Men’s Co-Divers of the Week: Lane Stallworth, Arizona State & David Ekdahl, TCU
Men’s Newcomer of the Week: Lucien Vergnes, Arizona State
Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Deniz Ertan, Arizona State
Women’s Diver of the Week: Shiyun Lai, Kansas
Women’s Newcomer of the Week: Caroline Bentz, Arizona State
SUN DEVIL BIG 12 WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:
Men’s Swimming:
Oct. 30: Ilya Kharun (Swimmer of the Week), Lucien Vergnes (Newcomer of the Week)
Oct: 16: Tolu Young (Men’s Newcomer of the Week)
Oct. 9: Ilya Kharun (Men’s Swimmer of the Week), Tommy Palmer (Men’s Newcomer of the week)
Men’s Diving:
Oct. 30: Lane Stallworth (Co-Diver of the Week)
Women’s Swimming:
Oct 30: Deniz Ertan (Swimmer of the Week), Caroline Bentz (Newcomer of the Week)
Oct. 9: Caroline Bentz (Women’s Swimmer & Newcomer of the Week)
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Zach Wargo