Texas’ Will Modglin (swimmer), Nick Harris (diver) and Brayden Taivassalo (newcomer) swept the men’s Big 12 Swimming and Diving weekly awards while Ava Longi (swimmer), Hailey Hernandez (co-diver) and Caroline Kupka (newcomer) secured honors on the women’s side. Kansas’ Shiyun Lai rounded out the awards with a share of the Big 12 Women’s Co-Diver of the Week award.
Modglin picked up his third consecutive and fourth overall Conference award this season after stacking three wins and one third-place finish against No. 13 Texas A&M and No. 23 Georgia Tech. The freshman picked up individual wins in the 100 back (45.77) and 100 free (43.69) while helping the Longhorns 200 free relay to a gold medal (1:18.88). The freshman added a third-place finish in the 400 medley relay (3:10.60).
Longi competed in four events against Texas A&M, highlighted by her second-place 50 free performance (22.08) that moved her to No. 9 on Texas’ All-Time Performer List. The Neuroscience major added two more second-place finishes in the 100 fly (52.02) and the 400 medley relay (3:36.87) along with a victory in the 200 free relay. The time of 1:27.07 in the 200 free relay is the third-fastest time in Texas history and second-fastest in the NCAA this season. It is Longi’s first career Conference award.
Harris swept the men’s diving events at the Texas Diving Invitational including a season-high on the 3-meter dive. The sophomore business major recorded over 90 points in the fifth round on his way to a final total of 445.50. Harris opened the meet with a score of 397.13 in the 1-meter. It is his third Conference award this season and seventh of his career.
Lai tallied two top-two placements including a win in the 1-meter dive against Nebraska. The freshman from Guangdong Province, China finished with 293.18 points in the 1-meter for her fourth win in the event this season. She added a 328.28-point performance in the 3-meter to end the day with a runner-up conclusion.
Hernandez swept the springboard dives at the Texas Diving Invitational for her second award this season and eighth of her career. The junior exercise-science major won the 3-meter with a score of 382.65 followed by the 1-meter with 353.10 points.
Taivassalo produced two runner-up individual finishes, helping Texas to a fifth-place finish in the 400 medley relay (3:12:58). The economics major clocked a time of 53.36 in the 100 breast and 1:54.96 in the 200 breast to garner his first career Conference accolade.
Kupka rounded out the awards with her first collegiate win on platform in her first competition at the Texas Diving Invitational. The economics major registered 295.35 points on platform, good enough for first place, in her first competition in the event in two years. The freshman added two third-place finishes in the 1- and 3-meter with 334.20 points and 346.65 points, respectively.
A full list of the season’s weekly Big 12 Swimming and Diving award winners can be found
here.
Big 12 Swimming and Diving Weekly Awards- November 8
Men’s Swimmer of the Week
Will Modglin, Texas, Fr.
Men’s Diver of the Week
Nick Harris, Texas, So.
Men’s Newcomer of the Week
Brayden Taivassalo, Texas, Fr.
Women’s Swimmer of the Week
Ava Longi, Texas, Sr.
Women’s Co-Divers of the Week
Hailey Hernandez, Texas, Jr.
Shiyun Lai, Kansas, Fr.
Women’s Newcomer of the Week
Caroline Kupka, Texas, Fr.