Olivet sweeps MIAA Athlete of the Week awards for women’s swimming and diving

FREELAND, Mich. – The Olivet College women's swimming and diving team has swept the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Athlete of the Week awards. Freshman Ana Paula Montes de Oca has been named the Swimmer of the Week, and sophomore Abbie Slater has been chosen the Diver of the Week.

Montes de Oca won three individual events, the 100- and 200-yard butterfly, and 200-yard freestyle, in the Comets' dual meet against Albion College. Her times in the 200 butterfly, 2:12.05, and 200 freestyle, 1:57.65, broke the school record, and her time in the 100 butterfly, 1:01.60, was the seventh-fastest in school history. At the end of the meet, Montes de Oca swam a time trial in the 500-yard freestyle and completed it in a school-record time of 5:13.91.

Slater was the winning diver on both boards in the dual meet vs. Albion. She scored 168.30 points on the one-meter and 159.85 points on the three-meter.

"Ana Paula and Abbie are well deserving of this honor," said head coach Rob Brownell. "Ana Paula continues to improve and now holds the school and pool record in the 200 free, 500 free and 100 free, along with the pool record in the 200 fly and school record in the 1,650 free. Abbie has also done a great job for the team. She has taken first-place in three different meets already since returning from Mexico last semester. Overall, we are excited about the success the team has had this year!"

The Comets are now off until next Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 21-24, when they compete at the 2018 MIAA Swimming & Diving Championships. Action will take place at the Venema Aquatic Center in Grand Rapids.