MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - UW-Eau Claire men's basketball guard George Diekelman and women's swimmer Samantha Senczyszyn have each been named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Athlete of the Week, it was announced today by WIAC Assistant Commissioner of Media Relations Matt Stanek.
In two wins at the 33rd annual Lopata Classic Tournament, a 120-94 victory over Rhodes College (Tenn.) on Dec. 2, and a historic 64-50 triumph over No. 9-ranked Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.) on Dec. 3, Diekelman averaged 17.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. In the Blugolds’ victory over Rhodes, he had 15 points, while shooting 60 percent from the floor, he chipped in with eight rebounds and nine assists. The Blugolds then went on to snap a 35-game winning streak for Washington University in the Lopata Classic, UW-Eau Claire also handed them their first loss of the season. The Bears had been on the longest winning streak in NCAA Division III with at 10 games. In this victory, Diekelman took over in the second half, scoring 15 of his 19 points. He also added seven rebounds and two assists.
Senczyszyn made history on Dec. 2 at the Rochester (Minn.) Invitational, as she became the first female in Blugold history to break the one-minute barrier in the 100-yard breaststroke of the 400-yard medley relay. She went on to win the 50-yard freestyle (23.24), 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.11) and 200-yard breaststroke at the invitational. Her time in the 100-yard breaststroke gives her an automatic qualifying time for the NCAA, and her 50-yard freestyle time was a UW-Eau Claire school record.
Men's Basketball hosts Viterbo, tonight, Dec. 6 at 7pm in Zorn arena, and the women's swim team will not compete again until after the winter break.
