ARIZ and ASU Shine in Big 12 Swim & Dive Weekly Honors

Arizona State’s Caroline Bentz (women’s swimmer), Andy Dobrzanski (men’s swimmer), Julia Ullmann (women’s newcomer), and Tolu Young (men’s newcomer) were recognized alongside Arizona’s Zara Ayazi (women’s diver) for the Conference’s weekly swimming and diving honors.

Dobrzanski became the second Sun Devil to receive the title of Big 12 Men’s Swimmer of the Week for this season after he dominated the breaststroke events during ASU’s victory against Grand Canyon. The junior hailing from Monroe, Michigan recorded times of 52.92 in the 100 breaststroke and 1:55.30 in the 200 breaststroke, subsequently assisting Arizona State’s 200 medley relay to finish in third place (1:26.77; 20.78 split).

Bentz triumphed in all three individual events she contested against Grand Canyon and Rice, earning her fourth accolade as swimmer of the week. The graduate student excelled in the 100 and 200 yard freestyle events against Grand Canyon, completing them in times of 48.73 and 1:47.41, respectively. She then added two more gold medals in the 50 freestyle (22.31) and 200 backstroke (1:53.23) versus Rice. She concluded her weekend by contributing to ASU’s 200 medley relay, which set a new school record with a finish time of 1:35.69 (21.47 split).

 

Ayazi is the second athlete from Arizona to be honored as Big 12 Women’s Diver of the Week. The junior from La Crescenta, California achieved her inaugural career event title in the 1-meter dive against NAU, surpassing her competition by over 20 points with a zone cut score of 286.73.

 

Young secured two gold medals against Grand Canyon, winning the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. The freshman was the sole swimmer to achieve a sub-20 second time in the 50 free (19.90) and clinched the 100 butterfly (47.62) by 0.07 seconds. He concluded his meet with two podium finishes in the 400 freestyle relay (2:56.44) and the 200 medley relay (1:25.95). This marks his second Conference award of the season.

 

Ullmann received her second weekly Conference award of the season after achieving four podium placements in individual events and an additional two victories in relays. The freshman dominated the 100 and 200 yard butterfly events, finishing in times of 52.86 seconds and 1:59.82, respectively, before aiding the ASU 200 medley relay (1:35.69) and 400 free relay (3:17.69) to first place finishes.

 

A complete list of the season’s weekly Big 12 Swimming and Diving award recipients is available here.

 

Big 12 Swimming and Diving Weekly Awards – January 8

 

Men’s Swimmer of the Week:  Andy Dobrzanski, Arizona State

Men’s Newcomer of the Week: Tolu Young, Arizona State

Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Caroline Bentz, Arizona State

Women’s Diver of the Week: Zara Ayazi, Arizona

Women’s Newcomer of the Week: Julia Ullmann, Arizona State