For the week of October 21st, Indiana sophomore Blake Pieroni was awarded Big Ten swimmer of the week for his performances against Texas and Florida. Pieroni won 4 individual events, including the 100 free (43.69) and 200 free (1:36.06).
Diver of the week went to Minnesota’s Matt Barnard for the 3rd week in a row after he swept the diving events against Wisconsin. Also earning recognition was Purdue’s Joe Cifelli earned freshman of the week honors for his own wins in the diving events at Miami (Ohio) and the Indiana Intercollegiates competition.
Swimmer of the Week
Blake Pieroni, Indiana
So. – Valparaiso, Ind. – Chesterton
- Recorded four first-place finishes and added a third-place finish against Texas and Florida
- Finished first in the 100- and 200-long course meter freestyle events and added a third-place touch in the 200-long course meter individual medley event
- Recorded two first-place finishes in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events with times of 43.69 and 1:36.06, respectively
- Earned NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events
- Earns his first career Swimmer of the Week honor
- Last Indiana Swimmer of the Week: Anze Tavcar (Nov. 4, 2014)
Diver of the Week
Matt Barnard, Minnesota
Jr. – Brisbane, Australia – Orniston College
- Collected a pair of first-place finishes in the one-meter (357.83) and three-meter (403.12) diving events at Wisconsin
- Recorded NCAA Zone qualifying scores, while also posting new pool records, in both events
- Earns his third Diver of the Week award
- Last Minnesota Diver of the Week: Matt Barnard (Oct. 14, 2015)
Freshman of the Week
Joe Cifelli, Purdue
Fr. – Crown Point, Ind. – Marian Catholic
- Recorded three first-place finishes and added a second-place mark at Miami (Ohio) and the Indiana Intercollegiates competition
- Swept the one-meter (332.10) and three-meter (353.62) diving events at Miami
- Finished first in the one-meter event (366.40) and second in the three-meter event (326.55) at the Indiana Intercollegiates
- Collected NCAA Zone qualifying marks in all four events
- Earns his first career Freshman of the Week honor
- Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Steele Johnson (Feb. 3, 2015)
2015-16 Big Ten Men’s Swimmer/Diver of the Week
Oct. 7
S: Ian Rainey, So., MICH
D: Matt Barnard, Jr., MINN
F: Rory Lewis, PSU
Oct. 14
S: Nick Orf, Jr., MINN
D: Matt Barnard, Jr., MINN
F: Hunter Doerr, MINN
Oct. 21
S: Blake Pieroni, So., IND
D: Matt Barnard, Jr., MINN
F: Joe Cifelli, PUR
Swimming news courtesy of Big Ten conference.