Week 4: Swimming & Diving Athletes of the Week

Men’s Swimmer of the Week: Luca Urlando, Georgia
Georgia’s Luca Urlando, a sophomore from Sacramento, Calif., won three individual events with the fastest times in the nation against No. 3 Florida. Urlando opened his morning with a B-cut time of 1:42.09 in the 200 butterfly, followed by dropping a 45.61 in the 100 butterfly. He then concluded with a B-cut time of 1:45.12 in the 200 IM. Urlando also competed in the opening 200 medley relay, helping Georgia’s ‘A’ team finish second with a 50 butterfly split of 19.89, the fastest of any butterfly swimmer in the event.

Men’s Diver of the Week: Leonardo Garcia, Florida
Florida’s Leonardo Garcia, a junior from Cali, Columbia, won both springboard events in the win over No. 8 Georgia. Garcia posted a top score of 330.90 on the 1-meter and 394.65 on the 3-meter.

Men’s Freshman of the Week: Michael Laitarovsky, South Carolina
South Carolina’s Michael Laitarovsky, a freshman from Natanya, Israel, won the 100 back with a time of 50.61 in the win over Queens. Laitarovsky also swam the lead leg of the first-place 400 medley relay (3:17.19/48.27) and finished fifth in the 200 back (1:55.98).

Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Zoie Hartman, Georgia
Georgia’s Zoie Hartman, a junior from Danville, Calif., led Georgia with four victories Friday against No. 9 Florida, nearly leading the Bulldogs to a comeback victory in the meet. Hartman swept the breaststroke events with B-cut times in both the 100 (1:00.76) and 200 (2:12.25) before winning the 200 IM with a season-best B-cut of 1:59.27, the eighth-fastest time in the nation. She also powered the 200 medley relay to victory with a 27.83 split in the breaststroke leg.

Women’s Diver of the Week: Elizabeth Perez, Florida
Florida’s Elizabeth Perez, a senior from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, swept the springboard events in the win over No. 8 Georgia. Perez picked up her second win of the season on the 1-meter with a final score of 315.83. She also posted her highest score this season to win the 3-meter with a 340.05.

Women’s Freshman of the Week: Abby McCulloh, Georgia
Georgia’s Abby McCulloh, a freshman from Lilburn, Ga., won the 500 free vs. No. 9 Florida with a B-cut time of 4:45.38, the fourth-fastest time in the nation this season. McCulloh also finished second in the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 9:47.89 and posted a 100 freestyle split of 52.39 in the 400 freestyle relay.