University of Tennessee Athletics
SANGER EARNS SEC AND LADY VOL WEEKLY HONORS
January 07, 2003 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Jan. 7, 2003
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
Following a week in which she helped lead Tennessee to five top-five finishes in three events at the Georgia Diving Invitational, senior Jaime Sanger was named as the SEC Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week on Tuesday. For her efforts, Sanger also earned Lady Vol Athlete of the Week honors, beating out senior Kara Lawson (Alexandria, Va.) of the basketball team.
"I'm extremely pleased for Jaime to be able to receive this prestigious honor, as I know there are many outstanding athletes in the SEC," UT Diving Coach Dave Parrington said. "Jaime is very deserving of this recognition considering the work and dedication she puts in day in and day out."
Sanger garnered the initial SEC weekly accolade for swimming and diving this season after registering fourth-place finishes in both the one- and three-meter springboard events at the Georgia Diving Invitational over Jan. 3-5. Both performances came against fields of over 40 divers, including competitors from every SEC school with diving programs except Arkansas.
The Plymouth, Minn., native also claimed victory in the one-meter "Bulldog Shootout," a competition in which the top six divers from the earlier one-meter event squared off in a five-round format with the lowest scoring diver being eliminated after each round. Going into the final round, only Sanger and fellow Lady Vol Lauryn McCalley remained and Sanger's tally of 52.50 was enough to outscore her teammate and win the competition.
This marks the second Lady Vol Athlete of the Week honor for Sanger this season. On Nov. 26, she earned the distinction after winning the one-meter springboard and placing fourth on the three-meter at the Minnesota Invitational.
The next competition for the Lady Vols will come in a double-dual meet against South Carolina and Penn State at Columbia, S.C., on Jan. 11.
