Swimmers and Divers Sweep Weekly MWC Awards

PROVO -- BYU swimmers Jeff Mason and Melissa Thompson, and divers Viraj Patil and Anna Tutunnikova were honored as the Mountain West Conference swimmers and divers of the week Wednesday. This is the first time this season these athletes have won the award.

Mason, a sophomore from Mesa, Ariz., finished first in eight events in the three wins over Utah, Air Force and Wyoming. He won the 50 free (21.09), the 100 free (45.74), and was a member of the winning 200 free relay team (1:24.57), Jan. 9, against Utah. Against Air Force Jan. 12, Mason won the 50 free (20.90) and the 100 free with a season-best time of 45.40, good for fourth-best in the conference. On Jan. 13, against Wyoming, Mason won the 200 free (1:40.52), the 100 free (45.56), and swam on the winning 200 free relay team (1:23.25). Mason helped the Cougars finish the dual meet season with a perfect 12-0 record and a No. 15 national ranking.

Thompson, a senior from Orem, Utah, won the 100 back (1:00.18) against conference rival Utah, Jan. 9. She also swam a season-best time of 2:06.12 in the 200 back against Air Force, Jan. 12, which ranks second in the conference.

Patil, a junior from Nashik, India, swept the 1- and the 3-meter events against Air Force, Jan. 12, with scores of 211.30 and 222.10, respectively. Patil then went on to sweep the 1- and the 3-meter boards against Wyoming, Jan. 13, with score of 201.85 and 219.00, respectively.

Tutunnikova, a senior from Moscow, Russia, won the 1-meter springboard event against Utah, Jan. 9, with a score of 267.82. Against Air Force, Jan. 12, Tutunnikova swept the 1- and the 3-meter events with scores of 174.70 and 186.25, respectively. She then went on to win both the 1-meter and the 3-meter boards against Wyoming, Jan. 13, with scores of 185.20 and 205.95.