CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference announced the weekly honors with four Luther athletes earning recognition. Earning athlete of the week honors were
Colin Halverson men's swimming and diving,
Noelle Gallucci and
Mia Prater of women's swimming and diving.
Joao Benvenutti was named the men's tennis performer of the week.
Colin Halverson and the men's swimming and diving team finished second at the A-R-C Championship. Halverson earned his third Diver of the Meet honors of his career after winning the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. He won the 1-meter competition for a second straight season and his score of 507.35 was a meet record, school record and an NCAA regional qualifying mark. Halverson was also crowned champion of the 3-meter board for a third time in his career. His score was 494.80 which is an NCAA regional qualifying mark. He will compete at NCAA Region 2 Diving Championships in Atlanta, Ga. Feb. 27-28. Halverson is a four-time diving regional qualifier.
Noelle Gallucci won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events for the Norse at the conference championship earning the women's diver of the meet honors. Luther finished second overall at this year's championship. Her score on the 1-meter board was 400.30 which is eighth all-time. In the 3-meter event she recorded a score of 452.80 which ranks second all-time. She posted qualifying marks in both events and will compete at NCAA Region 2 Diving Championships in Atlanta, Ga. Feb. 27-28.
Mia Prater was named the Women's Swimmer of the Meet. She was apart of seven all-conference performances and was crowned a meet champion in the 800 freestyle relay, 100 backstroke, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle for the third consecutive year, and the 400 medley relay. The 800 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay set meet records.
Joao Benvenutti was the men's tennis performer of the week after going 3-0 on Saturday versus Buena Vista (7-0) and St. Olaf (7-0). He won at no. 1 singles defeating Tyler Harger of Buena Vista 6-1, 6-1. Benvenutti played with
Abhay Chhabra at no. 1 doubles and defeated Madden Vanderwerf and Bogdan Vizoli of St. Olaf 6-1. In his final match of the day, he beat Vizoli 7-5, 6-3 at no. 1 singles. The Luther men's tennis team has now won six straight matches.
