LONG BEACH, Calif. - University of California San Diego junior All-Americans Kevin Wylder and Angie Phetbenjakul have been named the Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference (PCSC) Division II Men's and Women's Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 2-8.
Wylder and Phetbenjakul were the top performers for the fifth-ranked UC San Diego men and No. 6 Triton women during a busy first week of the 2017 calendar year, all strictly against Division I competition following a heavy holiday training period.
In a six-team invitational at home on Monday in which the Tritons were fourth of six behind Mountain West Conference stalwarts San Diego State, Boise State and San José State, Phetbenjakul was the lone first-place finisher for the UCSD women, turning in her latest NCAA B qualifier in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.66). In Tuesday's home invite, she produced a better B standard in the 100 breast (1:04.38) in placing second, while the Tritons were fourth of four behind Rice, SDSU and SJSU. The Ladera Ranch native was also third in the 200 breast (2:21.83) and participated in both relays. Finally, in dual-meet wins over CSU Bakersfield and Loyola Marymount in Bakersfield on Saturday, Phetbenjakul was first in the 100 breast (1:04.32, B) and 50 freestyle (24.19), and swam on the fastest 400 free relay (3:29.86, B) and second-best 200 medley relay (1:48.23, 29.72 breast leg).
In winning Monday's invitational-style home meet over Air Force and Incarnate Word, Wylder hit the wall first in the 100 butterfly (50.05), before placing a UCSD-best fourth in the 100 free (47.18) and anchoring the fastest 200 free relay (1:26.33) with a split of 20.73 that topped the field. In an easy 198-93 dual-meet victory Saturday at CSU Bakersfield, Wylder won both of his individual races (50 free, 20.95; 100 fly, 49.75), while also taking part in both first-place relays (200 medley, 1:33.19; 400 free, 3:06.38). His 50 free and 100 fly marks were each .22 seconds or closer to consideration qualifiers, though neither were season bests. Wylder's leadoff leg of 46.28 in that 400 free relay was .02 seconds off his 2016-17 fastest.
Phetbenjakul and Wylder's PCSC awards are the eighth and ninth for Triton swimmers for the season. Both are first-time honorees this year, though Wylder's recognition is the second of his career. The PCSC names one male and one female swimmer or diver from each of the divisions represented within the conference as Athlete of the Week.
The UC San Diego men and women have a weekend off from competition before hosting nationally-ranked Division II rival California Baptist in dual meets on Saturday, Jan. 21. The action at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla is slated to begin at 12 p.m. after seven Tritons are recognized on Senior Day. The Lancer women are ranked No. 13, with the men 15th. Parking and admission are free. The meet will feature a pay-per-view video broadcast in high definition available at UCSD's streaming platform, UCSDtritons.tv.
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