University of Tennessee Athletics
Brown and Connolly Win SEC Swimmer of the Week Awards
October 29, 2019 | Swimming & Diving
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee swimmers Erika Brown and Alec Connolly earned SEC Swimmer of the Week honors after leading the Lady Vols and Vols to victory over No. 11/13 Louisville, the league office announced Tuesday.
The win was UT's second-straight over top 15 teams after Tennessee knocked off No. 2/4 Virginia two weeks ago.
Brown was named the SEC Female Swimmer of the Week after winning three individual events last Thursday at Louisville, including a fourth event win as she swam the anchor leg on the Lady Vols' 200 medley relay.
Brown's triumphs came in the 100 backstroke (53.03), 100 freestyle (48.86) and the 100 butterfly (52.59). The Charlotte, N.C., native had set NCAA B-cut times in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly going into the meet and added a fourth B-cut with her 53.03 backstroke.
Her backstroke time is the ninth-fastest in the nation.
"Erika did an exceptional job of preparing and competing last week," associate head coach Ashley Jahn said. "She continues to led her team, seek new ways to improve and find joy in the process. It is a pleasure to get to work with her everyday and watch her continued improvement."
Connolly earned SEC Male Swimmer of the Week honors after winning the 100 free (43.94) and placing second in the 50 free (20.33). He helped lead the Vols to victory in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay.
Going into the final event, the Vols trailed the Cardinals and needed to win the 400 free relay to secure the victory. After hitting the final turn, Connolly was just behind Louisville's Michael Eastman, but the Knoxville native raced back, touching the wall first to close out Tennessee's 150.5-149.5 victory.
"Alec is at his best when things get intense," associate head coach Lance Asti said. "He was already training and competing really well, but the close nature of the Louisville meet brought the best out of him. He is a fantastic relay anchor for us and a guy we can depend on in and out of the water."
The win was UT's second-straight over top 15 teams after Tennessee knocked off No. 2/4 Virginia two weeks ago.
Brown was named the SEC Female Swimmer of the Week after winning three individual events last Thursday at Louisville, including a fourth event win as she swam the anchor leg on the Lady Vols' 200 medley relay.
Brown's triumphs came in the 100 backstroke (53.03), 100 freestyle (48.86) and the 100 butterfly (52.59). The Charlotte, N.C., native had set NCAA B-cut times in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly going into the meet and added a fourth B-cut with her 53.03 backstroke.
Her backstroke time is the ninth-fastest in the nation.
"Erika did an exceptional job of preparing and competing last week," associate head coach Ashley Jahn said. "She continues to led her team, seek new ways to improve and find joy in the process. It is a pleasure to get to work with her everyday and watch her continued improvement."
Connolly earned SEC Male Swimmer of the Week honors after winning the 100 free (43.94) and placing second in the 50 free (20.33). He helped lead the Vols to victory in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay.
Going into the final event, the Vols trailed the Cardinals and needed to win the 400 free relay to secure the victory. After hitting the final turn, Connolly was just behind Louisville's Michael Eastman, but the Knoxville native raced back, touching the wall first to close out Tennessee's 150.5-149.5 victory.
"Alec is at his best when things get intense," associate head coach Lance Asti said. "He was already training and competing really well, but the close nature of the Louisville meet brought the best out of him. He is a fantastic relay anchor for us and a guy we can depend on in and out of the water."
Players Mentioned
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