Akron's Nogaj Named Women's Swimmer of the Week
MAC Women's Swimmer of the Week
Paulina Nogaj, Akron
Junior - Radom, Poland/Polish Swimming Federation
Junior Paulina Nogaj had a busy weekend at the annual Akron Zips Classic as she finished first in 4 of her 5 individual events and helped the Zips sweep all 5 relays. In her first event, Nogaj helped the Zips claim victory in the 400 medley relay (3:37.60), splitting 52.08 on the butterfly leg. Nogaj followed that up by swimming an astounding 22.84 in the 50 free, which set a new meet record and is the fastest time in the MAC so far this season. In the last event Friday night, Nogaj led off the winning 800 free relay with a 1:47.94. Saturday morning the Zips took first in the 200 Free Relay (1:31.07) as Nogaj dove in first splitting 23.06. Later on, she once again set a new meet record and posted another fastest time in the MAC, this time in the 100 fly with a stellar time of 53.06. Nogaj also helped the Zips in the 200 medley relay, splitting 23.96 on the butterfly leg of the race. In her final individual race of the Classic, she burned her opponents in the 200 fly, finishing with a time of 1:57.55, setting yet another meet record and is the fastest MAC swimmer in the event this season. Nogaj then split 49.76 leading of the Zips’ victorious 400 free relay that ended the competition and set a new meet record in a time of 3:19.77. All five relays Nogaj competed in this weekend were winners and currently rank first in the MAC. Her performances this weekend rank her nationally among division 1 swimmers, she ranks 4th in the 200 fly, 9th in the 100 fly, 17th in the 100 free, 20th in the 200 free, 20th in the 400 IM and 26th in the 100 free.
Other Nominees
Brittney Beetcher, Buffalo
Junior - Boulder, Colorado/Fairview
Junior swimmer Brittney Beetcher started the 2019-20 season off with a very strong meet against Cornell, Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan. She finished in first place in three of her five events, the 500 freestyle, 400 IM and the 400 freestyle relay. She finished the 500 freestyle in 4:58.43, while winning by almost seven seconds. In the 400 IM, she finished in 4:27.32 and won by 4.5 seconds. Beetcher helped her teammates in the 400 freestyle relay as they finished in 3:29.97 and won by over 6.5 seconds.
Rachel Bertram, Ball State
Senior - Buffalo, Minnesota/Buffalo
Rachel started her season off strong with a career best on the 3M to win the event and help Ball State finish second at the Indiana Intercollegiates Meet. The senior scored a 306.10, her lifetime best and the fourth best score in BSU history. It is also the highest score to date in the Mid-American Conference. Bertram also claimed fifth place on the 1M with a score of 250.35.
Lauren Kilgore, Toledo
Freshman - Niles, Michigan/
Kilgore opened the afternoon winning the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:07.19. Kilgore added in two more wins, taking first in the 100 freestyle and 200 IM.
Camila Lins de Mello, Miami
Sophomore - Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Izabela Hendrix
Sophomore Camila Lins de Mello continued to lead the Miami women in the pool at the Zip Classic last week, breaking three meet records during the meet. She remains undefeated in the 200 free (1:47.98), setting the meet record and recording the seventh-fastest time among DI athletes nationally this season. In the 200 IM, Lins de Mello also remained undefeated (2:00.39) with a meet record and the 13th-fastest time among DI athletes in the country so far this year. She ranks 17th in the country among DI athletes with a meet record in the 100 free (49.59), picking up her third win in four meets in this event. Lins de Mello holds the quickest MAC time in the 200 free, 200 IM and 100 free this season. As part of Miami's top relay, Lins de Mello swam the fastest split time of the event in both the 800 free relay (1:46.83 for her 200 free) and the 400 free relay (48.79 for her 100 free). In addition to her typical events, Lins de Mello swam the 200 back (2:00.54) and the 100 back (56.78) for the first time collegiately, finishing third and sixth, respectively, and leading Miami's squad in the 200 back.
Daisy Platts, Bowling Green
Sophomore - Leicester, UK/Lutterworth College
Daisy Platts won all three individual events she competed in at Buffalo. She won the 50-yard backstroke, 100-yard backstroke, and 100-yard IM. Her time of 25.96 in the 50 backstroke was a personal best and her time of 55.57 in the 100 backstroke is tied for eighth in program history. Platts also competed on three relay teams: the 400-yard freestyle (2nd), 400-yard medley (2nd), and 200-yard medley (3rd).
Hannah Schlegel, Ohio
Junior - Birdsboro, Pennsylvania/Twin Valley
Junior Hannah Schlegel capped an impressive day against South Carolina and Kentucky with a 2nd place finishing in the 1,000-Yard Butterfly. Her time of 10:10.23 is second fastest in the conference.
