Arizona’s Haakon Naughton (men’s swimmer) and Eleni Gewalt (women’s swimmer) were joined by Utah’s Elias Petersen (men’s diver), Callie Eaglestone (women’s diver), Nolan Dunkel (men’s newcomer) and Stephanie Oiesen (women’s newcomer) as the recipients of the Big 12 Swimming & Diving weekly awards for competition ending Dec. 28.
Naughton led the Wildcats against No. 24 Texas A&M, winning both the 100 fly (45.21) and 200 fly (1:42.67), and contributing to relay victories in the 400 medley (45.56 butterfly split) and 200 medley (20.07 butterfly split). The senior from Lakeville, Minnesota also posted a personal best leadoff split (43.32) in the 400 free relay. It is his first Big 12 weekly award this season and the second of his career.
Gewalt collected two individual medals and three relay medals against Texas A&M. The senior from Spring Grove, Illinois took home gold medals in the 100 breaststroke (59.41) and 400 medley relay (58.95 breaststroke split). She added a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay (26.75 breaststroke split), and bronze medals in the 200 breast (2:13.42) and 400 free relay (50.42 split). Gewalt’s performance in the 200 breast was a season-best and helped the Wildcats to a 179-135 meet victory over the Aggies.
Petersen swept the springboard events for Utah against FIU and Marshall, winning both the 1-meter (307.05) and 3-meter (348.30). Against Hawaii, the senior added another win in the 3-meter dive event (361.88) and added a runner-up finish on the 1-meter (327.60). The Malmo, Sweden native now boasts three wins on both springboards this season. It is his second Big 12 weekly honor this season and the fifth of his career.
Eaglestone swept the 3-meter event in both meets for the Utes (289.85 vs. FIU/Marshall, 326.10 vs. Hawaii), with her Hawaii score marking a new personal best and the eighth-best in program history. She added runner-up finishes on the 1-meter springboard in both meets, with a score of 279.05 against FIU and Marshall and 276.30 against Hawaii. The wins in the 3-meter were her first two wins in the event this season. It is the first weekly Conference accolade of her career.
Dunkel, a sophomore from Arlington, Virginia, helped Utah to a commanding 165-59 win over Hawaii. He touched the wall second in the 100 fly (48.79), his highest-placing finish of the season in the event, and led off both winning relays for the Utes. In the 200 medley relay, he clocked a split of 22.16 and a 21.24 split in the 200 free relay. He is the first Ute to be named Big 12 Men’s Newcomer of the Week this season.
Oiesen helped guide Utah to a 126-98 win over Hawaii. The freshman from Pflugerville, Texas placed second in the 100 back (57.58), sixth in the 100 free (54.20) and led off the 200 free relay with a 25.25 split that finished in fourth place (1:40.09). She is the first Ute to be named Big 12 Women’s Newcomer of the Week this season.
Men's Swimmer of the Week: Haakon Naughton, Arizona
Men's Diver of the Week: Elias Petersen, Utah
Men's Newcomer of the Week: Nolan Dunkel, Utah
Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Eleni Gewalt, Arizona
Women’s Diver of the Week: Callie Eaglestone, Utah
Women’s Newcomer of the Week: Stephanie Oiesen, Utah