The South Atlantic Conference Announces WePlayed Sports Swimmers of the Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its WePlayed Sports Swimmers of the Week for meets competed in during the sixth week of the 2023-24 season. Catawba swept the awards as Fiona Byrne was named the Women's Swimmer of the Week and Maksymilian Minichowski was named the Men's Swimmer of the Week.

Byrne, a freshman from Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK, posted two new school records in the 1000 and 1650 Freestyle, crushing the previous mile record by 19.74 seconds with a time of 17:02.11 while splitting a 10:32.45 at the 1000 mark to break the school record by 7.81 seconds. Her mile placed her seventh in a star-studded meet amongst DI Queens, James Madison, La Salle, and Duquesne and DII powerhouses Nova Southeastern and Wingate. Byrne also earned three NCAA B cuts in the 1650, 1000, and 500 Freestyle (5:04.29) to round out a stellar distance freestyle performance.

Minichowski, a freshman from Lomianki Dolne, Poland, broke the 100 Breaststroke school record in both the prelims and finals at the Queens Fall Frenzy meet, touching third in prelims with a time of 54.21 and finishing second in finals with a time of 53.68. He was also a member of the record-breaking 400 Medley Relay, the fifth- place 200 Freestyle Relay, and the sixth- place 200 Medley Relay. Minichowski collected three NCAA B cuts over the weekend in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, and 100 Breaststroke.

2023 SAC Swimmers of the Week

Women

Oct. 11 – Natalia Dwojak, Wingate

Oct. 18 – Marit Reckmann, Catawba

Oct. 25 – Maria Jose Orozco, Mars Hill

Nov. 1 – Maria Jose Orozco, Mars Hill

Nov. 8 – Nina Azirovic, Wingate

Nov. 20 – Fiona Byrne, Catawba

Men

Oct. 11 – Thomas Gibson, Mars Hill

Oct. 18 – Maks Minichowski, Catawba

Oct. 25 – Andres Bodington, Mars Hill

Nov. 1 – Manoel Silva, Wingate

Nov. 8 – Damir Ipkaev, Wingate

Nov. 20 – Maks Minichowski, Catawba

WePlayed Sports is an official corporate partner of the South Atlantic Conference and title sponsor of the Conference's Player of the Week awards program.

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