Dec. 9, 2013
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Loyola University Maryland junior Ruslan Kopunek and senior Michael Brown have been named the Patriot League's men's swimmer and diver of the week, respectively, as announced by the League office Monday. Sophomore Kaitlin Richter was also included among the conference's honorable mention performances for the week.
The Greyhounds' men's swimming and diving team captured two victories in the annual H2ounds Invitational over the weekend, beating former conference-foes Iona (236-123) and Saint Peter's (257-94), while they fell to Marist, 214-156. The women also beat Iona (273-92) and Saint Peter's (267-97), but lost to Marist by five points (186.5-181.5).
Kopunek earned his first weekly honor from the Patriot League after leading the swimmers with two individual and two relay titles in the two-day meet. The Rehobeth Beach, Del., native touched first in the 50 free and the 100 free, marking the third and fourth time this season he has been victorious in the respective events. He finished with a season-best time in each of the events, touching in 20.81 in the 50 free and 46.58 in the 100 free, while he also finished sixth in the 100 fly (52.98).
In relay events, Kopunek anchored the 200 free relay team of sophomore Nigel Hunter, senior Julien Brice and senior Zachary Eller to victory in 1:24.34. He also teamed with freshman Aidan O'Hara, freshman Dale Maholage and sophomore Richard Mueller to win the 400 medley relay in 3:29.00, edging out Marist by one-tenth of a second, while the squad finished second in the 200 medley relay by four-hundredths of a second. The quartet finished in 1:35.18, while Marist touched first in 1:35.14.
Brown won his fourth 1-meter diving title of the year to claim his fourth weekly honor from the league. The Timonium, Md., native won the 1-meter boards with a score of 268.95, while he finished fifth on the 3-meter boards with a score of 233.00.
Richter broke Loyola's school record in the 200 fly with her first win in that race this season in a time of 2:06.87, eclipsing the old mark set by Abby Wiese at 2:08.33 in 2011. The Cherry Hill, N.J., native also won the 100 fly in 57.79 and was a member of the 200 medley relay team with sophomore Lizzie McKenna, freshman Tara Mulligan and senior Caitlin Cronin that was victorious in 1:46.45.
The Greyhounds will begin the New Year with a dual meet at Lehigh on Saturday, Oct. 18. Events will begin at 1 p.m.
