Massachusetts Men’s Swimming and Diving Honors Split While George Washington Dominates Women’s Events

WASHINGTON – The Atlantic 10 Conference awarded Massachusetts junior Andrew Bell as the Men’s Swimming and Diving Performer of the Week, while George Washington freshman Shae Stratton was named Rookie of the Week. George Washington junior Ava Topolewski secured Women’s Swimming and Diving Performer of the Week honors, and her freshman teammate Natalie Sens was recognized as Rookie of the Week. These accolades pertain to competitions held from Jan. 3 to Jan. 13 and were revealed on Tuesday.

During Massachusetts’ competition against Bryant, Bell achieved two first-place victories in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events. A native of South Windsor, Conn., Bell posted scores of 360.08 in the one-meter and 384.75 in the three-meter, both ranking as the second-best in the A-10. This marks the fourth weekly recognition for Bell.

Stratton participated in three events for George Washington during its tri-meet against Pitt and West Virginia. He placed second in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:47.18, came in sixth in the 100-yard back with a time of 49.32, and aided the B-Relay team to a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:23.41. A Boise, ID native, Stratton holds the fourth-fastest time in the conference for the 200-back and the 13^th fastest in the 100-back.

Topolewski, who achieved her third weekly award, secured first-place finishes in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 1,000-yard freestyle during GW’s tri-meet against Pitt and West Virginia. She completed the 500-free in a time of 4:48.91 and the 1,000-free in 9:58.30, both of which are ranked second in the A-10. A Grand Prairie, Tx. native, Topolewski contributed to the GW 200-yard freestyle relay, helping them clinch a third-place finish with a time of 1:33.48.

Sens took fourth place in the 100-yard backstroke for the Revolutionaries. She completed the 100-back in 1:03.19, placing eighth in the conference. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Sens also secured a sixth-place finish in the 50-yard free with a time of 24.03. She played a role in GW achieving two third-place finishes in the 200-yard medley relay (1:39.96) and the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:33.48).

                                        2024-25 Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Weekly Award Winners