Matt Jurcak Named MWC Swimmer of the Week
10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 21, 2008
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Air Force senior Matt Jurcak earned the first Mountain West Conference Men's Swimmer of the Week honors of the 2008-09 season, as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon. It marks the first career honor for Jurcak.
Jurcak, a native of Plymouth, Mich., took first place in all five events he competed in at last weekend's Early Bird Invitational in Fort Collins, Colo. He won the 100-yard backstroke in a personal-best time of 55.09, and followed with a time of 2:00.30 in the 200 back to win the event. He also swam the lead-off leg on all three of Air Force's winning relays, as the Falcons touched in 1:39.09 in the 200 medley, 3:16.91 in the 400 free and 7:19.66 in the 800 free races.
Earning men's diver of the week accolades was Utah junior Michael Glasson, as Utah's Whitney Lopus and Anna Braszkiewiecz earned the women's swimming and diving honors, respectively.
Glasson was the Utes' top diver in the season-opening weekend versus Washington. Glasson captured first place in the 1-meter springboard with a score of 125.75, and also finished first in the 3-meter with a mark of 200.00.
Lopus has won nine events in 2008, including the 200-yard freestyle (1:50.68), 100 butterfly (55.52), 400 free relay (3:26.25) and 200 medley relay (1:46.91) in Utah's first meet against then-No. 24 Washington and Boise State. Lopus also took first place in three events in the second meet over the weekend against the Huskies and Broncos, finishing the 100 free in 51:92 the 100 fly in 55.92 and the 200 fly in 2:06.05. In the opening MWC dual meet at San Diego State, Lopus broke an Aztec Aquaplex record by finishing the 500 free in 4:57.36 to finish first. The freshman also keyed the Utes' 400 free relay, who won in 3:31.46 to set a new pool record.
Braszkiwiecz has started the 2008-09 season undefeated on the 3-meter springboard. The senior earned back-to-back 3-meter titles in the Oct. 3 and 4 meets vs. Washington and Boise State, scoring 243.14 and 254.25, respectively. At San Diego State, Braszkiwiecz topped the competition by scoring 248.70 on the 3-meter board.
