CAA Swimming & Diving Weekly Awards - Oct. 10
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (October 10, 2023) – Towson senior Brian Benzing and UNCW junior Jacob Duracinsky shared CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Week honors. UNCW sophomore Gil Shaw received Women’s Swimmer of the Week accolades, and Delaware senior Julia Servas was selected as the Women’s Diver of the Week.
CAA Men's Co-Swimmer of the Week
Brian Benzing, Sr., Towson (Ellicott City, Md.)
Benzing, the three-time CAA Swimmer of the Year, got the 2023-24 season off to a strong start with four individual race wins in Towson’s team victories over La Salle and George Mason. The senior posted a time of 53.32 in the 100 breast vs. Mason, which is the 5
th-fastest in the nation to this point. He won the 200 breast in a league-best time of 2:00.36 and captured the 200 free with a time of 1:39.41, which is also tops in the CAA thus far.
CAA Men’s Co-Swimmer of the Week
Jacob Duracinsky, Jr., UNCW (Holly Springs, N.C.)
Duracinsky helped UNCW defeat SEC foe South Carolina (158-142) for the first time since 2002 with victories in two individual races and two relays. The junior claimed the 100 free in a CAA-best time of 45.66 and won the 200 free in a time of 1:40.69. He was also part of the Seahawks’ first-place 400 medley relay team that posted a league-best time of 3:18.39 and sealed the team victory by capturing the 200 free relay with a time of 1:22.56, which Is also tops in the conference.
CAA Women’s Swimmer of the Week
Gil Shaw, So., UNCW (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
Shaw earned two individual victories and a relay win in UNCW’s opening meets against SEC opponents South Carolina and Tennessee. The sophomore captured the 100 breast against South Carolina with a CAA-best time of 1:03.60. She placed first in the 50 breast against Tennessee with a time of 29.76 that is tops in the league. Shaw was also part of UNCW’s winning 400 medley relay team that posted a CAA-best time of 3:45.38. She added a second-place effort in the 200 breast (2:19.04).
CAA Women’s Diver of the Week
Julia Servas, Sr., Delaware (Darien, Conn.)
Servas, who captured the 1-meter competition at the 2023 CAA Championship, posted a third-place finish on the 1-meter board at the season-opening Rutgers Invitational with a score of 257.40. She also finished fifth on the 3-meter board with a score of 252.75.