NEC Women's Swimmer of the Week: Maaike Broersma, LIU
NEC Women's Diver of the Week: Olivia McNicholas, SHU
NEC Women's Rookie of the Week: Jewelle Maziarz, CCSU
NEC Men's Swimmer of the Week: Miles Simon, HU
NEC Men's Diver of the Week: Jordan Walker, HU
NEC Men's Rookie of the Week: Kaan Nalçaci, WC

Previous NEC Releases: November 23 | November 16 | November 9 | November 2 | October 26 | October 20 | October 12 | October 7 | Women's Preseason Poll Release | Men's Preseason Poll Release

NEC WOMEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Maaike Broersma, Long Island
Jr., Bodegraven, Netherlands/De Goudse Waarden
Now a three-time NEC Swimmer of the Week, Broersma displayed stellar performances at the ECAC Championships last Friday through Sunday. The ECAC Swimmer of the Meet placed third in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.25 (1st in NEC, 23.19 prelim time), took gold in the 100-yard backstroke touching in 54.41 (1st in NEC, 54.06 prelim), and earned silver in the 200-yard backstroke, swimming a 1:58.31 (1st in NEC) which also set a new LIU school record. The junior from Bodegraven, Netherlands placed 8th in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:07.97 (8th in NEC, 2:06.21 prelim ranks 3rd), swam a 22.98 anchor leg in the 200-yard freestyle relay helping her team to a silver finish, and had a lead leg of 54.75 in the 400-yard medley relay assisting a bronze finish. Broersma helped her team to a second place finish in the 200-yard medley relay with a lead leg of 25.91 and also swam a 51.81 lead leg in the 400-yard freestyle relay to aid a bronze showing.  

NEC WOMEN'S DIVER OF THE WEEK
Olivia McNicholas, Sacred Heart
Jr., Hicksville, NY/Kellenberg Memorial
In earning her fourth straight and fifth overall NEC Diver of the Week honor this season, McNicholas was named the ECAC Diver of the Meet after standing top of the podium for both diving platforms. In the 3- meter, the junior from Hicksville, NY set a school record with a score of 259.00 to win by 24.35 points. McNicholas grabbed her second gold medal after being awarded 238.75 points from the 1-meter board to come out on top with an 8.45 point cushion. 

NEC WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jewelle Maziarz, Central Connecticut
Fr., Newmarket, NH/Newmarket/Solo Aquatics
At the Connecticut Cup on Friday, Maziarz swept the diving events to earn her first NEC Rookie of the Week honor. The Newmarket, NH native scored 239.25 points from the 1-meter board with a 3.65 gap from the runner up. Maziarz placed first on the 3-meter board as well after racking up a score of 229.65 and a 17.70 point cushion.

NEC MEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Miles Simon, Howard
Sr., Atlanta, GA
Simon helped Howard's men's team to a second place finish in the five-team field at the Loyola Hounds Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Now the recipient of his second NEC Swimmer of the Week honor, Simon posted the fastest times in the conference in each of his individual events including a gold finish in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 19.85. The Atlanta, GA native won the 100-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 44.19 and took silver in the 100-yard butterfly in 48.58. Simon was the lead leg in HU's bronze finish in the 400-yard medley relay with a 48.53 split, had an anchor leg of 1:41.37 in the 800-yard freestyle relay for bronze, and helped the 400-yard freestyle relay team to a silver finish with an anchor leg of 43.98.

NEC MEN'S DIVER OF THE WEEK
Jordan Walker, Howard
So., San Antonio, TX
Winner of three straight and four total NEC Diver of the Week honors this season, Walker received a pair of bronze medals at the Loyola Hounds Invitational. The sophomore from San Antonio, TX tallied 214.30 points from the 3-meter platform and 201.35 from the 1-meter platform. 

NEC MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Kaan Nalçaci, Wagner
Fr., Ankara, Turkey/Ted Ankara College Foundation
At the ECAC Championships, Nalçaci placed fifth in the 200-yard backstroke touching the wall in 1:47.34 (1st in NEC) and set the meet record swimming a 48.20 in the 100-yard backstroke (also 1st in NEC). The rookie from Ankara, Turkey helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team to a fifth place finish with a lead leg of 1:41.21, an eighth place finish in the 200 medley relay with a 22.24 split, and seventh in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a lead split time of 46.64.

NEC WOMEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS

Jewelle Maziarz, CCSU, Fr.
At the Connecticut Cup on Friday, Maziarz swept the diving events to earn her first NEC Rookie of the Week honor. The Newmarket, NH native scored 239.25 points from the 1-meter board with a 3.65 gap from the runner up. Maziarz placed first on the 3-meter board as well after racking up a score of 229.65 and a 17.70 point cushion.

Zuilda Nwaeze, HU, Fr.
At the Loyola Hounds Invitational, Nwaeze swam a 52.35 100-yard freestyle for a fifth place finish (6th in NEC), took silver in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:53.95 (5th in NEC), and collected a second silver medal in the 500-yard freestyle after touching the wall in 5:06.13 (5th in NEC). The rookie helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team to a fourth place finish with an anchor leg of 1:57.89, a silver finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a lead leg of 24.15, another silver finish in the 200-yard medley relay with a 25.29 split, and fourth place in the 400-yard freestyle relay with an anchor leg of 52.87.

Venna Andersen, LIU, Jr.
At the ECAC Championships, Andersen placed seventh in the 50-yard freestyle touching in 23.79 (4th in NEC), took bronze in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.77 (1st in NEC), and another bronze finish in the 100-yard breaststroke, swimming a 1:04.61 (1st in NEC, 1:03.85 prelim). The junior helped the 200-yard freestyle relay team to a silver finish with a 23.47 lead leg that ranks second in the NEC, bronze in the 400-yard medley relay with a split time of 1:04.11, silver in the 200-yard medley relay, recording a 28.84 split leg, and a bronze finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay with an anchor leg of 50.63.

Maaike Broersma, LIU, Jr.
Now a three-time NEC Swimmer of the Week, Broersma displayed stellar performances at the ECAC Championships last Friday through Sunday. The ECAC Swimmer of the Meet placed third in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.25 (1st in NEC, 23.19 prelim time), took gold in the 100-yard backstroke touching in 54.41 (1st in NEC, 54.06 prelim), and earned silver in the 200-yard backstroke, swimming a 1:58.31 (1st in NEC) which also set a new LIU school record. The junior from Bodegraven, Netherlands placed 8th in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:07.97 (8th in NEC, 2:06.21 prelim ranks 3rd), swam a 22.98 anchor leg in the 200-yard freestyle relay helping her team to a silver finish, and had a lead leg of 54.75 in the 400-yard medley relay assisting a bronze finish. Broersma helped her team to a second place finish in the 200-yard medley relay with a lead leg of 25.91 and also swam a 51.81 lead leg in the 400-yard freestyle relay to aid a bronze showing.  

Ella Johnson, LIU, Gr.
Swimming at the ECAC Championships, Johnson placed eighth in the 100-yard freestyle, recording a 52.90 (10th in NEC, 52.66 prelim, 7th in NEC), swam a 1:53.08 in the 200-yard freestyle for a sixth place finish (3rd in NEC), finished eleventh in the 500-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 5:03.32 (1st in NEC), and took sixth in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:05.37 (1st in NEC, 2:04.70 prelim). The graduate student helped the medley relay team to a bronze finish in the 400-yard medley relay with a 55.39 split, second in the 200-yard medley relay with 25.17 leg, sixth in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a lead leg of 1:53.33, and a bronze finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a split leg of 51.73.

Olivia McNicholas, SHU, Jr.
In earning her fourth straight and fifth overall NEC Diver of the Week honor this season, McNicholas was named the ECAC Diver of the Meet after standing top of the podium for both diving platforms. In the 3- meter, the junior from Hicksville, NY set a school record with a score of 259.00 to win by 24.35 points. McNicholas grabbed her second gold medal after being awarded 238.75 points from the 1-meter board to come out on top with an 8.45 point cushion. 

Rosemery Nieto, SHU, So.
Nieto had a pair of top ten finishes at the ECAC Championships, including a school record-setting performance in the 100-yard breaststroke and personal best in the 200-yard breaststroke. The sophomore placed fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.77 (2nd in NEC), ninth in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:22.68 (3rd in NEC), and 44th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.30. Nieto helped the 400-yard medley relay team to a tenth place finish, swimming a 1:04.88 leg, a twelfth place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a 24.62 leg, and twelfth in the 200-yard medley relay with a 29.77 leg.

Mariajose Lopez, SFBK, Sr.
At the ECAC Championships, Lopez placed eighth in the 500-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 5:07.08 (6th NEC, 5:04.33 prelim that ranks 4th in NEC) and took silver in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 17:05.78 (1st in NEC). The senior helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team to an eighth place finish with a 1:56.24 anchor leg. 

Elayna Pistrin, SFBK, So.
Competing at the ECAC Championships, Pistrin placed sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke, recording a 1:06.13 (6th in NEC), fourth in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching in at 2:20.67 (1st in NEC, 2:20.66 prelim), twelfth in the 200-yard individual medley, posting 2:08.53 (11th in NEC, 2:08.28 prelim ranks 9th in NEC), and sixth in the 400-yard individual medley, swimming a 4:34.90 (7th in NEC, 4:32.81 prelim ranks 3rd in NEC). The sophomore helped the 400-yard medley relay team to an eleventh place finish with a 1:05.99 split time and a seventh place finish in the 200-yard medley relay with a 29.12 leg.

Olivia Bishop, WC, Sr.
At the ECAC Championships, Bishop placed 15th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.45 (15th in NEC, 24.25 prelim ranks 8th in NEC), took fifth in the 100-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 51.66 (2nd in NEC), and ninth in the 200-yard freestyle, posting a 1:50.81 (1st in NEC). The senior assisted the 200-yard freestyle relay team to a fifth place finish with a 24.21 split, a sixth place showing in the 400-yard medley relay with an anchor leg of 52.08, a bronze finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a lead leg of 1:57.59, and a fourth place placing in the 400-yard freestyle relay with an anchor leg of 50.81.

Aura Vilarrasa, WC, Fr.
Vilarassa placed fifth in the 200-yard freestyle, recording 1:52.40 (2nd in NEC), sixth in the 500-yard freestyle touching in 5:03.73 (3rd in NEC), 15th in the 100-yard backstroke, swimming a 58.40 (8th in NEC, 58.08 prelim), and tenth in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:04.73 (2nd in NEC). Competing at the ECAC Meet, the rookie helped the 200-yard freestyle relay team to a bronze finish with a 24.38 leg, and another bronze in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a 1:54.40 leg. She also swam a 52.30 lead leg as part of Wagner's fourth place finih in the 400-yard freestyle relay.


NEC MEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS

Mark-Anthony Beckles, HU, Sr.
At the Loyola Hounds Invitational, Beckles took bronze in the 50-yard freestyle touching in 20.52 (3rd in NEC), grabbed silver in the 100-yard freestyle, recording a 44.87 (2nd in NEC), and landed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly, posting a 49.54 (2nd in NEC). The senior helped the 400-yard medley relay team to a bronze finish with an anchor leg of 44.01, a bronze finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a lead leg of 1:41.74, a silver finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay with an anchor leg of 20.32, and a silver finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a lead leg of 47.16.

Miles Simon, HU, Sr.
Simon helped Howard's men's team to a second place finish in the five-team field at the Loyola Hounds Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Now the recipient of his second NEC Swimmer of the Week honor, Simon posted the fastest times in the conference in each of his individual events including a gold finish in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 19.85. The Atlanta, GA native won the 100-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 44.19 and took silver in the 100-yard butterfly in 48.58. Simon was the lead leg in HU's bronze finish in the 400-yard medley relay with a 48.53 split, had an anchor leg of 1:41.37 in the 800-yard freestyle relay for bronze, and helped the 400-yard freestyle relay team to a silver finish with an anchor leg of 43.98.

Luke-Kennedy Thompson, HU, Sr.
Thompson took fourth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:37.27 (2nd in NEC), silver in the 100-yard breaststroke in 56.26 (4th in NEC), and eighth in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:07.26 (5th in NEC) at the Loyola Hounds Invitational. The senior helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team to a bronze finish with a split time of 1:42.80.

Daniel Chocano Fernandez, LIU, Jr.
At the ECAC Championships, Fernandez placed eighth in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:42.65 (5th in NEC), touched eighth in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:55.31 (3rd in NEC), and earned a silver in the 400-yard individual medley, recording a 3:58.63 (1st in NEC). The junior helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team to a bronze finish with a split time of 1:41.60.

Alejandro Pascual del Cid, LIU, Jr.
Pascual del Cid placed first in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 20.23 (2nd in NEC), finished ninth in the 100-yard freestyle in 45.17 (3rd in NEC), and took sixth in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 49.65 (3rd in NEC) at the ECAC Championships. The junior helped the 200-yard freestyle relay team to a silver with an anchor leg of 19.59, a silver in the 400-yard medley relay with an anchor time of 44.74, a silver in the 200-yard medley relay with an anchor leg of 19.52, and a silver in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a 44.43 leg. 

Stephen Taylor, LIU, Jr.
At the ECAC Championships, Taylor touched the wall fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 56.09 (2nd in NEC), took gold in the 200-yard breaststroke, posting a 2:00.87 (1st in NEC), and ended in sixth place in the 200-yard individual medley, swimming a 1:52.53 (1st in NEC).

Giannis Venetos, LIU, Jr.
Venetos earned silver in the 100-yard breaststroke, touching in 55.20 (1st in NEC), bronze in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:01.88 (2nd in NEC), and finished twelfth in the 200-yard individual medley, recording a 1:55.56 (5th in NEC) at the ECAC meet. The junior helped LIU to a pair of silver finishes in the 400-yard medley relay with a split time of 54.31 and the 200-yard medley relay with a leg time of 25.03.

Daniel Matheus Santos, SFBK, Sr.
At the ECAC Championships, Santos placed thirteenth in the 50-yard freestyle, posting a 20.93 (6th in NEC), bronze in the 100-yard freestyle with a 45.22 (4th in NEC), and bronze in the 200-yard freestyle, touching in 1:39.69 (2nd in NEC). The senior helped St. Francis Brooklyn to three fourth0place relay finishes in the 300-yard freestyle relay with a 20.41 leg, the 800-yard freestyle relay with a split time of 1:42.35, and an anchor leg of 44.37 in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Kaan Nalçaci, WC, Fr.
At the ECAC Championships, Nalçaci placed fifth in the 200-yard backstroke touching the wall in 1:47.34 (1st in NEC) and set the meet record swimming a 48.20 in the 100-yard backstroke (also 1st in NEC). The rookie from Ankara, Turkey helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team to a fifth place finish with a lead leg of 1:41.21, an eighth place finish in the 200 medley relay with a 22.24 split, and seventh in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a lead split time of 46.64.

Ruben Van Gool, WC, Fr.
Van Gool placed tenth in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:43.25 (7th in NEC), registered a bronze finish in the 500-yard freestyle, touching in 4:35.32 (1st in NEC), and a silver showing in the 1,650-yard freestyle, recording a 16:01.88 (1st in NEC) at the annual ECAC Championships. The rookie helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team to a fifth place finish with an anchor leg of 1:42.91 and a seventh place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a split leg of 47.38.