Jan. 19, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the third time this season, South Carolina swimmer Michael Flach was named the Southeastern Conference’s Male Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.

Flach, a native of Annandale, Va., continued to be a force in the middle-distance events in Saturday’s meet against Duke, earning wins in the 200 freestyle and the 200 butterfly to help the Gamecocks get their third dual-meet victory of the season. He clocked a 1:41.77 in the 200 free to lead a sweep of the top three spots along with Andy Atzhorn and Alex Fitton, then outpaced the field by nearly three seconds in the 200 fly with a time of 1:51.89. He also earned a second-place finish in the 400 IM, just behind teammate Atzhorn with a time of 4:03.70, and he swam the anchor leg of the victorious 400 medley relay team that won in 3:23.06.

He previously earned the league’s weekly award on Nov. 10 following his performance in a dual meet at Tennessee, and again on Nov. 24 following the Gamecock Invitational where he earned an NCAA `B’ cut in the 500 freestyle, swimming what was, at the time, the fastest time in the country.

Flach currently holds the team’s fastest times in the 200 free, 500 free and 200 fly, and is part of the top teams in the 400 and 800 freestyle relay.

Other SEC honorees this week include Kentucky’s Chatham Penrod and Trina Winsor along with Alabama’s Carrie Dragland, Riley Boulden and Aaron Fleshner.

The Gamecocks wrap up their home season on Saturday, Jan. 23, with a tri-meet against UNC Wilmington and Vanderbilt.