Gustavus sophomore Matt Stewart (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) has been named SwimmingWorldmagazine.com National Swimmer of the Week. SwimmingWorldmagazine.com takes the Division I, Division II, and Division III Swimmers of the Week chosen by Collegeswimming.com and selects one male and female Collegiate Swimmer of the Week. Stewart is the first Gustavus swimmer ever to have been selected as the National All-Division Swimmer of the Week.
Stewart led Gustavus to a 169.5-148.5 win over UW-Stevens Point in the Lund Natatorium last Saturday. The Gusties won nine of the 17 events and set six pool records. Stewart capped off a strong regular season by setting pool records in the 200 butterfly (1:54.07 – the old record was 1:54.96), the 500 freestyle (4:39.16 – the old record was 4:44.19), and the 200 IM (1:56.17 – the old record was 1:58.95).
The sophomore, who can swim virtually any event for the Gusties, has been swimming at a very high rate over the past month. He has won nine of the last 11 events that he has competed in setting seven pool records in the process. Stewart ranks among the top six in the current MIAC Top Times in eight different events. He ranks first in the 200 fly (1:54.51), second in the 100 fly (51.81), third in the 200 individual medley (1:57.93) and 100 free (47.49), fourth in the 200 free (1:43.95), 500 free (4:40.88), and 200 back (1:59.69) and sixth in the 100 back (54.85).
Stewart and his teammates will now spend the next two weeks training and tapering for the MIAC Championships which will be held at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, February 15-17. The Gusties will be attempting to claim their sixth consecutive MIAC team title.