Big Ten Weekly Honors: Minnesota Leads Honorees

The Big Ten Conference announced its men’s and women’s weekly swimming and diving honors.

Here is a look at the honorees:

Swimmer of the Week  
Mariano Lazzerini, Penn State 
Sr. – Santiago, RM  

• Earned two individual event wins and helped with two relay wins on Saturday against Yale
• Took first in the 100 breast (52.60) and 200 breast (1:54.65)
• Combined with Cooper Morley, Matthew Bittner and Rylan Anselm for a win in the 400-medley relay, posting a time of 3:06.82, a new McCoy Natatorium record
• Teamed with Jake Kennedy, Morley and Tylor Kim for a win in the 200-freestyle relay, recording a time of 1:19.37, also a pool record
• Last Penn State Swimmer of the Week: Cooper Morley (Oct. 30, 2024)

Diver of the Week 
Drew Bennett, Minnesota  
Sr. – Madison, Wis. 

• Led Minnesota to a fifth-place finish at The Dual Meet Tournament
• Collected three individual event wins throughout the tournament, finishing first in the 3-meter diving event (181.50) over No. 20 Auburn
• Finished first in the 1-meter (193.80) and 3-meter (193.50) against George Washington
• Last Minnesota Diver of the Week: YuTong Wang (Feb. 5, 2025)

Freshman of the Week  
Jānis Dzirkalis, Purdue 
Ikskile, Latvia 

• Dzirkalis won all four of his events to help Purdue defeat Missouri in the dual meet opener in West Lafayette
• Swept the freestyle sprints and helped Purdue sweep all six freestyle events
• Won the 50 free (19.70), 100 free (44.24), 200 medley relay (1:26.40; 19.15 on anchor leg), 400 free relay (2:54.83; 43.55 second leg)
• Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Holden Higbie (Jan. 17, 2024)

2025-26 Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Weekly Honors 
Oct. 1
S: Blake Rowe, So., PUR
D: Joshua Sollenberger, So., PUR
F: Noah Cakir, IND
Oct. 15 
S: Zalán Sárkány, Sr., IND
D: Mortiz Wesemann, Gr., USC
F: Noah Cakir, IND
Oct. 22 
S: Mariano Lazzerini, Sr., PSU
D: Drew Bennett, Sr., MINN
F: Jānis Dzirkalis, PUR

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Women’s Swimmer of the Week  
Katie McCarthy, Minnesota 
Jr. – Edina, Minn.  

• Led Minnesota to a fifth-place finish at The Dual Meet Tournament
• Collected six individual event wins throughout the tournament
• Tallied first place finishes in the 500 free (4:46.40) and 200 IM (1:58.91) over No. 20 Auburn
• Finished first in the 200 fly (1:58.44) and 500 free (4:47.17) over George Washington
• Touched first in the 200 fly (1:59.06) and 500 free (4:50.20) over Georgia Tech
• Last Minnesota Swimmer of the Week: Megan Van Berkom (Oct. 19, 2023)

Diver of the Week 
Daryn Wright, Purdue 
Sr. – Plainfield, Ind.

• Swept the springboard events for the second Saturday in a row, helping Purdue win its dual meet opener vs Missouri
• Posted a pair of NCAA Zone qualifying scores again and posted a team season-best on 1-meter with a 316.05. Finished first on 3-meter with a 342.00
• Last Purdue Diver of the Week: Daryn Wright (Oct. 15, 2025)

Freshman of the Week  
Kayla Barr, Minnesota  
Chico, Calif.

• Led Minnesota to a fifth-place finish at The Dual Meet Tournament
• Collected her first collegiate individual event win in the 200 IM with a time of 2:02.67
• Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Livi Wanner (Dec. 11, 2024)

2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Weekly Honors 
Oct. 1 
S: Miranda Grana, Jr., IND
D: Kaylee Bishop, Fr., IND
F: Liberty Clark, IND
Oct. 15 
S: Miranda Grana, Jr., IND
D: Daryn Wright, Sr., PUR
F: Liberty Clark, IND
Oct. 22 
S: Katie McCarthy, Jr., MINN
D: Daryn Wright, Sr., PUR
F: Kayla Barr, MINN
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the Big Ten. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.