Florida’s Liendo, Bottazzo Named SEC Swimmers of the Week

Courtesy: SEC Sports

Men’s Swimmer of the Week: Josh Liendo, Florida

Florida’s Josh Liendo, a senior from Scarborough, Canada, recorded a team-high 27 points in the conference-opening win over Georgia. Liendo posted the nation’s top time in all three of his individual events, taking first place in the 50 fly (19.69) and earning NCAA cut times in both the 50 free (18.68) and the 100 fly (43.87). He also contributed to two winning relays, swimming the fly leg of the 200 medley relay (1:24.43/19.42) and anchoring the 200 free relay (1:17.28/18.54) to close out the meet.

Men’s Diver of the Week: Bennett Greene, Tennessee

Tennessee’s Bennett Greene, a sophomore from Knoxville, Tenn., swept the springboard events in the tri-meet with Auburn and Louisville. On the 1-meter, Greene improved his seventh-best mark in program history and reached the 400 club for the first time in his career with a top score of 400.80. He closed out the meet with a win in the 3-meter with a final score of 402.40.

Men’s Freshman of the Week: Ahmed Jaouadi, Florida

Florida’s Ahmed Jaouadi, a freshman from Tunis, Tunisia, collected two first-place finishes in the conference-opening win over Georgia. Jaouadi won the 1000 free with a nation-leading time of 8:36.65 and the 500 free with an NCAA standard time of 4:15.82. He also took fifth place in the 200 free with a time of 1:37.17.

Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Anita Bottazzo, Florida

Florida’s Anita Bottazzo, a sophomore from Venice, Italy, claimed first place in all five of her events in the conference-opening win over Georgia. Bottazzo swept the breaststroke events with a 26.58 in the 50 breast and NCAA qualifying times of 57.05 in the 100 breast and 2:07.89 in the 200 breast. She also helped Florida win the 200 medley relay (1:37.09) with a 25.74 breaststroke leg and anchored the Gators’ 200 free relay team with a 22.09 split (1:30.17).

Women’s Diver of the Week: Maria Garcia, Florida

Florida’s Maria Garcia, a freshman from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, won both springboard events in the conference-opening victory over Georgia. Garcia recorded personal-best scores of 325.20 on the 1-meter and 361.95 on the 3-meter to contribute 18 points to the team meet score.

Women’s Freshman of the Week: Kennedi Dobson, Georgia

Georgia’s Kennedi Dobson, a freshman from Levittown, Pa., was a part of four podium finishes in the dual meet at Florida. Dobson remained undefeated in the 500 free with an NCAA cut time of 4:38.28 versus the Gators. She placed second in the 1000 free with a time of 9:31.20, the 10th-fastest mark in program history, and the 200 free with an NCAA standard time of 1:44.74. Dobson also anchored the Bulldogs’ second-place 200 freestyle relay (1:31.04/22.69).