Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Benitez earns MVC Swimmer of the Week honors
01/31/2012 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 31, 2012
By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS - Southern Illinois swimmer Pamela Benitez has been named Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. Benitez won three individual events in SIU's meet against Western Kentucky on Saturday.
Benitez posted victories in the 100 (52.55), 200 (1:52.13) and 500-yard (4:56.61) freestyles on Saturday against Western Kentucky. All three times were the fastest of the season for any Saluki and among the top five times posted in the MVC this year. Since the start of 2012, Benitez has won eight of the nine individual races in which she competed.
The Swimmer of the Week honor is the first of her career for Benitez. She becomes the fourth different Saluki to win the weekly conference honor this year and fifth SIU swimmer to earn conference honors this season. Last week, Kristin Geppert earned the honor after posting a pair of wins in an upset of Illinois. Earlier in the season, Kirsten Groome earned her eighth career MVC Swimmer of the Week honor. One of Benitez's fellow freshmen, Hannah Pinion, earned her first career Swimmer of the Week nod in early December. Diver Brittany Weigel earned Diver of the Week honors earlier in the season, as well.
The Salukis wrap up the regular season this weekend with back-to-back meets on Friday and Saturday. Southern travels to Ball State on Friday before hosting Evansville on Saturday. After that, the women's team will host the MVC Championships on Feb. 16-18 in Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium.
Players Mentioned
