GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly swimming & diving awards for October 19-25. Northern Michigan earned the swimming awards, with Matteo Ballardin and Evangeline Pierce receiving recognition, while Grand Valley State claimed the diving awards, as Vlad Balkin and Bella Larson were honored.
MEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK: Matteo Ballardin, Northern Michigan
Matteo Ballardin had a blistering-fast weekend in the PEIF pool, beginning with Friday night’s sprints against Saginaw Valley, where he claimed gold in all three of his events: the 75 fly (35.07), 125 IM (1:03.59), and as a member of the 5x25 medley relay team. Ballardin continued his success into Saturday morning and began by edging out reigning GLIAC champion Andrew Goh of Grand Valley to earn gold in the 200 breast at 2:01.32 before following that up with a 1:46.86 in the 200 fly and 1:47.31 in the 200 IM, both earning him a first-place medal. Ballardin rounded out his weekend as a member of the second-place 200 medley relay team. At the time of writing, Ballardin's 200 fly and 200 IM times are both second in the country among Division II student-athletes.
WOMEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK: Evangeline Pierce, Northern Michigan
Evangeline Pierce dominated in the pool, beginning with three first-place finishes on Friday night’s sprint races: the 25 back (12.84), 75 back (41.14), and the leadoff as a member of the first-place 5x25 medley relay team. Pierce flew on Saturday morning in the NMU Quad Meet, setting both personal and season bests in all of her races. Pierce began with a personal best 55.78 in the 100 back, good for a silver medal and just 0.24 seconds off a pool record. Pierce then crushed the 200 back, claiming gold and a personal best with her time of 2:00.98, a mark 0.22 seconds off a pool record. Pierce then posted a season best 2:11.16 in the 200 IM before leading off the second-place 200 medley relay team, posting a personal best 26.50 in her 50 back leg. At the time of writing, Pierce is the fourth-ranked swimmer in the GLIAC, and her 100 back and 200 back times are ninth and sixth in the country, respectively.
MEN'S DIVER OF THE WEEK: Vlad Balkin, Grand Valley State
Vlad Balkin continued his impressive start with the Lakers, earning the GLIAC Male Diver of the Week for the third consecutive week. At the quad meet against Northern Michigan, Saginaw Valley State, and Lake Superior State, he placed first at three meters (384.40) and at the one meter (324.65).
WOMEN'S DIVER OF THE WEEK: Bella Larson, Grand Valley State
Junior Bella Larson (Dexter, Mich/Dexter HS), earned her first GLIAC Female Diver of the Week after sweeping both diving events at the quad meet. Larson placed first at both the one meter (260.40) and at the three meters (260.80).
