Indiana University Athletics
No. 18 Hoosiers Snare Both Big Ten Weekly Awards
1/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 24, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The No. 18 Indiana women's swimming and diving team snared both the Big Ten weekly awards for the week ending Jan. 22. Junior Leila Vaziri snagged Big Ten Swimmer of the Week kudos, while sophomore Christina Loukas grabbed Big Ten Diver of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Jan. 24.
Loukas claimed two events titles last week in IU's sixth-straight dual meet victory over Purdue. The sophomore dominated the competition by sweeping the one and three-meter diving events with marks of 331.35 and 339.37, respectively. She managed to claim both events in the midst of competing at the Olympic Medal Potential Selection Camp in Indianapolis from Jan. 18-22. Loukas returned to camp immediately following the win over Purdue. This is her second weekly honor this season.
"Christina dove well, especially for going between the dual meet and selection camp," Indiana head diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber said. "We appreciate her doing whatever needed to be done for the team. She is certainly a star of the future for not only IU Diving, but U.S. Diving as well."
Vaziri swept two individual events and swam on two victorious relays as she helped the No. 18 Hoosiers to a 177-123 win over in-state rival No. 14 Purdue last weekend. She notched B-cut time of 56.10 in the 100-yard backstroke. She also claimed the 200 backstroke event, touching the wall first in 2:02.39. The Coral Springs, Fla., native helped both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays claim first with times of 1:43.38 and 3:26.62, respectively. This is Vaziri's second career weekly accolade.
"Leila is at the threshold of becoming a world-class swimmer," Indiana head coach Ray Looze said. "With continued progress, she will be a force to be reckoned with at the end of the season."
 Vaziri snared Big Ten Swimmer of the Week recognition.  |
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Next up, the Hoosiers head to Columbus, Ohio to take on Ohio State and Penn State in a two-day dual meet on Jan. 27-28. The meet starts at 5 p.m., on Jan. 27 and concludes at 10 a.m., on Jan. 28. That meet will serve as the final tune-up before the Big Ten Championships held back in Columbus, Ohio on Feb. 15-18.
