Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Leong and Santoro earn MVC weekly honors
11/09/2005 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 9, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS - Southern Illinois University swimmer Antonio Santoro and diver Jessica Leong were named Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer and Diver of the Week, respectively, the league office announced Wednesday, Nov. 9.
The pair earns the distinction following their performances last weekend at the Indiana University Meet, where the teams faced Louisville and nationally-ranked Indiana and Wisconsin.
Leong, a freshman from Edmonton, Alberta earns the honor for the second time this year. She was also named MVC Diver of the Week on Oct. 6.
At the IU Meet, she finished second (out of 14) in the 1-Meter Dive with a score of 268.95, more than three points higher than the NCAA qualifying mark. She also finished third (out of 12) in the 3-Meter Dive with a 258.30.
Her 1-Meter score is tops in the MVC while her 3-Meter score is second only to her NCAA-qualifying score from earlier this season.
Santoro is the first Saluki swimmer to be honored by the MVC after picking up the distinction once last season.
The sophomore from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is undefeated this season in the 200-Yard Freestyle and 200-Yard Butterfly after picking up wins last week in Bloomington, Ind.
He won the 200-Yard Freestyle (1st of 13) with a time of 1:40.01, while also winning the 200-Yard Butterfly (1st of 12) with a time of 1:50.97. Santoro was also a member of the winning 400-Yard Free Relay team at the IU Meet with a time of 3:04.86.
His times in those events are tops in the MVC in their respective categories.
The SIU swimming & diving team returns to action Saturday with its first home meet of the 2005-06 season. The Salukis will host Drury University with action kicking off at 2 p.m. at the Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium in the SIU Rec Center.
