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The Official Website of the Southeastern Conference

SEC Swimming & Diving Athletes of the Week: Week 1

55 days ago
SEC Staff
Photo: SEC
Men's Swimmer of the Week
Bradley Dunham  Georgia
Gr. Hoschton, Ga.

Georgia's Bradley Dunham, a graduate student from Hoschton, Ga., posted two top-two finishes and a pair of NCAA B-cuts at Arizona State to open his sixth season with the Bulldogs. In the 100-yard backstroke, Dunham led the way with a time of 45.56, the fastest time in the nation. Earlier in the day, he finished second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:20.93, the second fastest time nationally. In Friday's long-course meet, Dunham placed third with a time of 1:29.12.

Men's Co-Diver of the Week
Conor Gesing  Florida
Fr. Abington, Pa.

Florida's Conor Gesing, a freshman from Abington Pa., won both springboard events at Miami (Fla.) in his collegiate debut with the Gators. Gesing recorded top scores of 354.90 on the 1-meter and 412.13 on the 3-meter.

Men's Co-Diver of the Week
Allen Bottego  Texas A&M
Jr. La Porte, Texas

Texas A&M's Allen Bottego, a junior from La Porte, Texas, qualified for NCAA Zones on both springboards in his 2023-24 debut, helping his team to a season-opening victory over Incarnate Word. Bottego registered a personal-best score of 410.93 on the 1-meter to take first place. He also finished third on the 3-meter with a score of 393.30.

Men's Freshman of the Week
Tommy Hagar  Alabama
Fr. Braintree, Mass.

Alabama's Tommy Hagar, a freshman from Braintree, Mass., earned three individual wins and was part of a first-place relay in the win over Delta State to begin his college career. Hagar touched the wall first in the 200 back with a time of 1:45.93 (sixth best in the nation), in the 200 fly with a time of 1:48.61 (tied for sixth best in the nation) and in the 200 IM with a time of 1:51.75 (18th best time nationally). He was also the leadoff leg of the winning 200 medley relay (1:28.02/22.43).

Women's Swimmer of the Week
Alessia Ferraguti  Arkansas
Gr. Parma, Italy

Arkansas' Alessia Ferraguti, a graduate student from Parma, Italy, registered four podium finishes in the win over Kentucky to start the 2023-24 season. Ferraguti swept the breaststroke events with a pair of NCAA B-cut times of 1:01.31 in the 100 breaststroke (fourth fastest time in the nation) and 2:13.56 in the 200 breaststroke (third fastest time in the nation). She also swam the second leg of the winning 200 medley relay (1:40.60/27.83) and the leadoff leg of the second-place 400 free relay (3:24.71/51.05).

Women's Diver of the Week
Meghan Wenzel  Georgia
Sr. Hatfield, Pa.

Georgia's Meghan Wenzel, a senior from Hatfield, Pa., swept both springboard events in the win at Arizona State. On the 1-meter, Wenzel finished first with a Zone cut of 295.35, preceded by a winning score of 261.00 on the 3-meter. It was her 11th victory in an event since the start of the 2022-23 season.

Women's Freshman of the Week
Bella Sims  Florida
Fr. Henderson, Nev.

Florida's Bella Sims, a freshman from Henderson, Nev., won three individual events and was a part of a winning relay in the season opening win at Vanderbilt. Sims posted the fastest times in the nation to win the 100 free (49.20) and the 100 fly (53.06). She also took first place in the 100 back with a time of 52.64, the second fastest time in the nation. Sims swam the leadoff leg of the 200 medley relay with a split of 25.39 (1:41.11).