The SEC announced its swimmers and divers of the week.
SEC Men’s Swimmer of the Week – Josh Liendo
Liendo posted four event wins and two NCAA B-cut times against the No. 23 Aggies. In his individual events, the junior recorded B-cut times in the 50 free (19.29) and in the 100 fly (45.95). The Scarborough, Canada native swam the fly leg in Florida’s winning 200 medley relay A team (1:25.53/20.46) and clocked the fastest split as the second leg in the Gators 400 free relay team that finished first (2:53.98/42.49).
Liendo has earned SEC weekly honors eight times throughout his career, with six being Swimmer of the Week accolades. Throughout the season, he has registered one NCAA A-cut time and three NCAA B-cut times. His 200 fly time (1:39.14) currently ranks third in Division I this season, while his 50 free (18.80) and 100 fly (44.60) times sit fifth. Additionally, Liendo is a member of Florida’s 200 medley relay team that holds the fastest NCAA time of 1:21.49.
SEC Men’s Diver of the Week – Collier Dyer
Dyer, a Littleton, Colorado, native, swept the men’s diving events against over the weekend, extending a streak of dominance by the junior All-American. Dyer secured the men’s 1-meter diving win with a 380.10 score and took men’s 3-meter diving with a mark of 404.48.
The honor adds to Dyer’s list of accolades that includes an SEC Men’s Co-Diver of the Week honor on Oct. 29. He earned Second-Team All-American honors last spring, after finishing 10th in men’s 1-meter at the 2024 NCAA Championships. Dyer also turned in a second-place finish in the platform dive (397.00) at the 2024 SEC Championships and competed in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials last June.
SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week – Luke Nebrich
Nebrich has been a standout for the Tigers in his debut season, consistently making the podium. The Lexington, North Carolina, native, claimed gold in three events in MU’s double-dual victory over McKendree and Missouri State this past weekend. Nebrich won the men’s 50 free with a 19.79 swim, the men’s 100 free with a time of 43.36 and contributed to Mizzou’s men’s 200 medley relay win (1:25.47) as well.
SEC Women’s Co-Swimmers of the Week – Michaela de Villiers, LSU and Ieva Maluka, Georiga
LSU swimmer Michaela de Villiers was named SEC Swimmer of the Week Tuesday following her performance in an SEC dual meet at Texas A&M, the conference office announced.
De Villiers, a native of Cape Town, South Africa, finished the dual meet against the Aggies by sweeping the sprint freestyle events in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle. She clocked respective times of 22.47 and 48.43.
She also competed in the 200-yard freestyle relay, taking on the leadoff role. LSU finished first in the event with a time of 1:29.26, and de Villiers clocked a split of 22.13 at the leadoff spot. Her time of 22.13 ranks as the fourth best 50-yard freestyle time in program history.
In addition to her time in the relay leadoff leg, her 100-free time was the seventh best time in LSU history.
In the 100-yard backstroke, Maluka prevailed with a B-cut time of 53.19, followed by a new personal-best time of 52.76 in the 100y butterfly. Maluka closed out the meet by leading off the victorious 400y freestyle relay with a B-cut time of 48.91, giving her B-cuts in seven different events this season. She also swam leadoff for the second-place 200y medley relay ‘B’ team.
SEC Women’s Diver of the Week – Camyla Monroy
The Laz Paz, Mexico native swept the springboard events in the Gators road win at No. 21 Texas A&M. The sophomore contributed 18 individual points after posting a season-best 315.98 on the 1-meter and registered a final score of 346.28 on the 3-meter to separate herself from second place by over 45 points.
Monroy has earned SEC diving honors eight times in her two years, with three being from the 2024-25 season. Additionally, she has tallied seven first-place finishes throughout her sophomore campaign.
SEC Women’s Co-Freshman of the Week – Anita Bottazzo, Florida, and Kate Murray, Auburn
Bottazzo posted top-two finishes in her three events and recorded one NCAA B-cut time against the No. 21 Aggies. The Imola, Italy native won the 100 breast for the second meet in a row with a B-Cut time of 1:00.75 and clocked a 2:14.97 in the 200 breast to take home second. Additionally, Bottazzo swam a 27.87 breast split in Florida’s winning 200 medley relay team.
In her first year as a Gator, Bottazzo set Florida’s 100 breast record after clocking a 57.49 at the Georgia Invitational on Nov. 21,2024, which currently ranks No. 1 in the NCAA. She also holds the top NCAA time in the 50 breast (26.81).
Murray, the Fairfield, Connecticut product was integral for the Tigers in an important dual victory over SEC foe Kentucky, 163-137.
The Orange and Blue swept both sprints in Lexington against the Wildcats. In the 50 free, Murray’s personal-best 22.80 was just 0.01 seconds behind event winner and teammate Elizaveta Klevanovich. Twenty minutes later, the rookie would find the winner’s circle with a second personal best, a flat 49.00.
