Crooks, Walshe Named SEC Freshmen of the Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee's Jordan Crooks and Ellen Walshe were named SEC Freshmen of the Week following their performances against 12th-ranked Georgia over the weekend, the league office announced Tuesday.

Crooks received SEC Male Freshman of the Week honors for the third time this season, while Walshe (SEC Female Freshman of the Week) earned her second conference recognition after receiving SEC Female Swimmer of the Week honors in November.

Crooks swept the freestyle sprints and earned a pair of podium finishes in the relay during UT's meet against the Bulldogs. The George Town, Cayman Islands, native posted the top time in the 50 freestyle with a 20.02 mark and then followed the performance up by winning the 100 free (43.84) as well. The pair of wins brings his season total to eight victories in individual races.

In the relays, Crooks led off the 400 free relay that took second with a time of 2:56.72. His 43.35 split in the race marked his fastest non-invite time of the season and shaved nearly half a second off his 100 free time from earlier in the race. He also helped the Vols to a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay, which recorded a time of 1:26.95.

With Tennessee facing a deficit after the first break in its meet against UGA, Walshe fueled the Lady Vols to the come-from-behind victory with three wins. The Dublin, Ireland, native won the last two individual events (100 butterfly and 200 IM) and was a member of the fastest 400 free relay team to help UT outscore Georgia 45-8 during the final three swimming events of the day.

Walshe led the charge in a Tennessee sweep of the 100 butterfly, recording a time of 52.91. She followed that performance up by defeating reigning SEC champion Zoie Hartman by more than two seconds in the 200 IM with a time of 1:57.47. Walshe then ended the day by helping UT's 400 free relay secure the top time (3:20.01) and clinch the victory. She also was a part of the 200 medley relay that finished second with a 1:39.25 time, swimming the butterfly leg with a 22.30 split.

In total, Tennessee has received a league-best 16 SEC weekly honors this season.

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University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jordan Crooks

Ellen Walshe

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