TROY, N.Y. – Four members of the Union College swimming & diving teams earned weekly honors from the Liberty League and five more student-athletes were named to their respective sport honor rolls for the week ending February 8, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon.
Men's Swimming & Diving Swimmer of the Week: Drew Hill
Hill earned his third weekly award of the year after leading Union to a 101-point victory over SUNY New Paltz, scoring 18 points and tying for the second-most points on the team. Hill won the 100 backstroke (54.76) and the 100 butterfly (52.33), and also swam the butterfly leg of the winning 200 medley relay that finished in 1:39.15. He additionally anchored Union's exhibition 200 freestyle relay (1:32.96), which would have won the event by more than two seconds, but the meet had already been decided.
Women's Swimming & Diving Swimmer of the Week: Julia Garber
Garber picked up her second weekly recognition and first Swimmer of the Week honor after helping Union to a 175-76 victory over SUNY New Paltz, the program's largest margin of victory in a dual meet since January 2007. Garber was Union's high-point swimmer, scoring 18 points to tie with two classmates. Garber won the 1,000 freestyle in 12:03.73 in her first time competing in the event and also captured the 100 butterfly (1:02.07). Garber anchored the winning 200 medley relay that finished in 1:58.56 and also swam in Union's exhibition 200 freestyle relay (1:45.43), which would have won the event by more than two seconds with the meet already decided.
Men's Swimming & Diving Rookie of the Week: Troy Luley
Luley was recognized for the third time this season after helping Union to a 182-81 victory over SUNY New Paltz, scoring a team-high 22 points in the meet. Luley won the 200 freestyle (1:50.12) and the 100 breaststroke (58.91), recording his fastest 50-yard breaststroke split of the season at 27.49 during the latter. He also swam the breaststroke leg of the winning 200 medley relay that finished in 1:39.15. Luley added a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle (4:53.07), marking a season best by more than four seconds.
Women's Swimming & Diving Rookie of the Week: Ali Sweeney
Sweeney earned her third weekly honor and second Rookie of the Week award this year after helping lead Union to a 175-76 victory over SUNY New Paltz, the program's largest margin of victory in a dual meet since January 2007. Sweeney was Union's high-point swimmer, tieing for best on the team with 18 points. She swept her events, winning the 100 breaststroke (1:13.80) and the 200 breaststroke (2:41.50), and also swam the breaststroke leg of the winning 200 medley relay that finished in 1:58.56. Sweeney additionally anchored Union's exhibition 200 freestyle relay (1:55.71) with the meet already decided.
Honor Roll Mentions:
Men's Basketball: Tanner Tedesco
Tedesco led Union to a pair of conference victories over the weekend, averaging 18.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting an even 50.0 percent from the field. The junior chipped in 15 points, eight assists and five rebounds in an 80-62 win over Skidmore on Friday night, then came back on Saturday with a team-best 21 points, four assists and three boards in a comeback victory over Hobart.
Women's Basketball: Jelena Perovic
Perovic averaged 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in a pair of Union wins last week, keeping the Garnet Chargers tied atop the conference standings. She scored 19 points to become the 12th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points to go with seven boards and three assists in Friday's 59-54 win over Skidmore, scoring 16 in the first half as Union jumped out to a 14-point halftime edge. She added 11 points and seven boards the next day as Union held off William Smith by a 70-52 score.
Men's Swimming & Diving: Cole Pierson
Pierson posted the 10th-best score in the Liberty League this season off the 3-meter board (6 dives) with a 192.25. He also posted a 170 off the 1-meter board, winning both events. Pierson made the jump from the diving well to the pool, debuting in the 200 freestyle relay. He led off and completed his leg in 39.16 during an exhibition race since the meet was already decided. Pierson was tied with senior
Drew Hill for the second-most points in the meet for Union (18) as the Garnet Chargers defeated New Paltz 182-81.
Men's Indoor Track & Field: Nate Okwaning
Okwaning earned a fourth-place finish out of 76 runners in the 60-meter dash at Saturday's Utica Blue & Orange Invitational, crossing the line in 7.09 seconds in the prelims to book a spot in the finals, where he again ran a 7.09 to finish in fourth place overall. The junior also placed 13th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.04 seconds.
Women's Indoor Track & Field: Ashley Sheldon
Sheldon took top honors in the high jump at Saturday's Utica Blue & Orange Invitational by leaping 1.64 meters, needing only one jump to clear each of the first three heights to earn the win and then adding the 1.64-meter clearance for good measure. The junior also broke her own program record in the 60-meter hurdles twice, finishing the prelims with a record mark of 9.25 seconds and then shaving over a tenth of a second off her time with another record time of 9.14 seconds in the finals to earn sixth place.
