University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Blaise Vera Honored as ACC Swimmer of the Week Again
1/7/2020 11:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
PITTSBURGH—After finishing 2019 by emerging as one of the top men's sprinters in the NCAA, University of Pittsburgh junior swimmer Blaise Vera began his 2020 with a strong first meet – and was named the ACC Men's Swimmer of the Week for the third time this season as a result.
Vera led the efforts of the Pitt men's swimming & diving team in Saturday's Backyard Brawl against the rival West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown, winning his two individual freestyle sprints to score maximum points for the Panthers in the dual meet.
The Clinton, Miss., native took first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.19 seconds and also touched the wall first in the 100-yard freestyle with a mark of 44.74 seconds.
Vera also led off Pitt's winning 200-yard freestyle relay with a 50-yard split of 20.08 seconds.
The junior sprinter made national headlines in the collegiate swimming world in November after winning the Purdue Invitational 50-yard freestyle final with a time of 19.10 seconds, which at the time cemented his status as a national contender by posting the fastest time in the nation in the event.
A returning ACC medalist and NCAA qualifier, Vera will enter the upcoming 2020 championship season as one of the favorites in his preferred freestyle and butterfly sprinting events.
In four seasons under head coach John Hargis, the Panthers have now earned ACC Swimmer or Diver of the Week recognition 13 times from the league office.
Pitt swimming & diving will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 17 for a sprint dual meet with Division III powerhouse Denison from Ohio. That meet begins a stretch of three weekends in a row that the Panthers will host competition at Trees Pool as they finalize preparations for the ACC Championships.
#H2P | #H2oP | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Vera led the efforts of the Pitt men's swimming & diving team in Saturday's Backyard Brawl against the rival West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown, winning his two individual freestyle sprints to score maximum points for the Panthers in the dual meet.
The Clinton, Miss., native took first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.19 seconds and also touched the wall first in the 100-yard freestyle with a mark of 44.74 seconds.
Vera also led off Pitt's winning 200-yard freestyle relay with a 50-yard split of 20.08 seconds.
The junior sprinter made national headlines in the collegiate swimming world in November after winning the Purdue Invitational 50-yard freestyle final with a time of 19.10 seconds, which at the time cemented his status as a national contender by posting the fastest time in the nation in the event.
A returning ACC medalist and NCAA qualifier, Vera will enter the upcoming 2020 championship season as one of the favorites in his preferred freestyle and butterfly sprinting events.
In four seasons under head coach John Hargis, the Panthers have now earned ACC Swimmer or Diver of the Week recognition 13 times from the league office.
Pitt swimming & diving will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 17 for a sprint dual meet with Division III powerhouse Denison from Ohio. That meet begins a stretch of three weekends in a row that the Panthers will host competition at Trees Pool as they finalize preparations for the ACC Championships.
#H2P | #H2oP | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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