Freshman Tanner Schelling (Boise, Idaho) has been named the Western Athletic Conference Male Swimmer of the Week, announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon, after playing a significant role in Seattle University’s comeback victory over Simon Fraser last Saturday.
Schelling started the day with a blistering 50 freestyle split of 20.28 seconds in anchoring the 200 medley relay team to a second-place finish with a season-best time of 1:33.94. He won the 50 freestyle thanks to another season-best mark of 21.03 seconds, believed to be one of the fastest in-season, non-championship marks in school history.
He came close to his season-best in the 100 freestyle, finishing second in that event with a time of 46.93 seconds, less than a quarter of a second off his best time so far this year. Schelling capped the meet with a 50 freestyle split of 20.77 seconds in the 200 freestyle relay, the fastest among all competitors in the event, as the Redhawks defeated the Clan thanks to their victory in the relay in 1:24.93, yet another top time for 2013-14.
After Saturday’s performance, Schelling holds Seattle U’s top times this season in four different individual events, plus he is part of the team’s best efforts in all four relays they have competed in so far this year. Besides setting new season bests in the 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, and 200 medley relay, the first-year competitor also is on top of the lists for the 100 freestyle (46.70 at Husky Invitational), the 200 freestyle (1:42.29 at Husky Invitational), 100 breaststroke (56.77 at Husky Invitational), 400 freestyle relay (3:07.57 at Bakersfield), and 400 medley relay (3:28.31 at Air Force).
Schelling becomes the first Seattle U swimmer to earn a conference’s weekly award since Murray Longbotham was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Male Swimmer of the Week two years ago (Jan. 25, 2012).
The Seattle University men’s swim team will host BYU in its final dual meet of the season Saturday, Feb. 1, starting at 12 noon at the Connolly Center Pool. The Redhawks will then prepare for the Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, taking place in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 26-March 1.