“Splashes of Excellence: Adlianitski, Bylow, and Thompson Honored with Prestigious Conference Awards in Men’s Swimming & Diving”

WINTHROP, Mass. – The Norwich University men’s swimming & diving team gathered another collection of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly honors, with Martin Adlianitski (Cheshire, Conn.) receiving his inaugural GNAC Swimmer of the Week recognition this season, Drew Bylow (Monroe, Mich.) earning another Rookie of the Week distinction, and Will Thompson (Downingtown, Pa.) being named to the GNAC Honor Roll, as disclosed by the league office on Monday afternoon.

The Cadet men faced off against one another on Saturday afternoon in a friendly Senior Day competition during the last home meet of the season at Goodyear Pool.

Adlianitski excelled in his initial meet of the season in friendly contests, beginning his day by swimming the final leg of the 200 medley relay team that finished first with a time of 1:46.57, followed by securing his first individual win in the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.43.  His second individual triumph arrived shortly thereafter in the 100 freestyle, finishing in 50.10.  Adlianitski capped his day by swimming the opening leg of the 200 freestyle relay team that achieved a time of 1:31.82 to take first place.

Bylow collected multiple victories on Senior Day, claiming his first individual win in the 50 backstroke with a wall touch at 26.22, followed by another individual win later in the day in the 400 IM with a time of 4:31.08.  Bylow finalized his day by swimming the third leg of the 200 freestyle relay team that achieved first place with a time of 1:31.82.

Thompson delivered an outstanding performance on Saturday, securing four wins inclusive of two relay victories and two individual wins.  He commenced his day by swimming the second leg of the all-senior 200 medley relay that concluded in 1:46.57, and then captured his first individual win in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 27.62.  He followed this later in the 100 breaststroke with a first-place time of 1:02.13, and concluded his afternoon by swimming the second leg of the victorious 200 freestyle relay team that clocked in at 1:31.82.

For Adlianitski, this marks his first accolade this season, after the 2023 GNAC Swimmer of the Year received two weekly honors last season.  Bylow has been on a remarkable streak this season, obtaining his sixth Rookie of the Week award of the year, while Thompson, the defending GNAC Swimmer of the Year, has already been named Swimmer of the Week this season.  This trio, alongside Kristian Adlianitski (Cheshire, Conn.), have all been acknowledged by the league throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

The Cadets will participate in one more dual meet this season, heading to Plymouth State University on Saturday, Jan. 18, for a 12:00 p.m. matchup.  Norwich will then take a select group of swimmers to the Middlebury Invitational in Middlebury, Vt., on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, before all focus shifts to the three-day GNAC Championship, hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., from Feb. 7 to Feb. 9.