GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced the ninth weekly awards of the 2018-19 swimming and diving season. Grand Valley State senior Mercedes Martinez was named GLIAC Women's Athlete of the Week, while Wayne State junior Sasha Palazzo captured GLIAC Men's Athlete of the Week honors.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mercedes Martinez - Grand Valley State
Senior Mercedes Martinez (Holland, Mich.) set a new GVSU pool record of :56.91 while winning the women's 100 butterfly during Saturday's dual meet against Wayne State. She also placed third in the 200 butterfly (2:15.53), swam the butterfly leg of the Lakers' winning 400 medley relay and the first leg of the first-place 400 freestyle relay. She helped the 11th-ranked Lakers defeat the No. 8 Warriors, 204 to 95.5.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Sasha Palazzo - Wayne State
Junior Sasha Palazzo (Verona, Italy) broke the GVSU pool record for the 100 breaststroke (54.89), while earning a B Standard qualification during Saturday's dual meet. Palazzo also finished first in the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.88. He swam the breaststroke leg of the Warriors' winning 400-medley relay, which clocked a pool record time of 3:20.16. He led off WSU's 400 freestyle relay, which also set a pool record and won in 3:04.70. The eighth-ranked WSU men defeated No. 3 GVSU, 152-142.
