Nov. 24, 2010

By Wes Todd
Assistant Media Relations Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore Michael Flach was named the Counsilman Hunsaker National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week, as announced by CollegeSwimming.com on Wednesday.

“It’s good to see Michael get the recognition he deserves,” South Carolina head coach McGee Moody said. “He works really hard, and he’s really turned it up another level since last year. We’re all really proud of the year he’s had so far and glad to see him receive this honor. Assistant coach Jason Memont has done an outstanding job working with the distance group. They’ve shown great improvement over the last three years.”

Flach, a native of Annandale, Va., had one of the best weeks of his career at last week’s Nike Cup Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C., as he posted NCAA `B’ cuts in all three of his individual events and helped two relay teams to B-cut times as well. He started the week with a victory in the 500 freestyle, swimming a 4:21.68 in finals to win by more than a full second. His time of 4:20.03 in prelims, however, was the fastest time in the nation at that point.

The sophomore then came back in the 200 freestyle and earned another victory, setting a personal record and posting the second-fastest time in school history with a 1:35.53, which set the Nike Cup meet record in winning by more than a second and a half. His third individual event also saw him post an NCAA `B’ cut with a 1:45.36, finishing a close second in the race with the third-fastest time in South Carolina history.

Flach also helped two relay teams to NCAA `B’ cuts as the 800 FR team took top honors with a 6:34.09; his leadoff leg of 1:36.33 would have been a PR in the 200 free if not for his earlier winning swim. In the 400 FR, Flach’s leadoff leg of 45.00 (the fastest 100 free time by a Gamecock this year) led Carolina to a second-place finish in 3:00.69.

It is believed to be the first time a South Carolina student-athlete has been named the National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week. The other Division I honoree was LSU senior Jane Trepp, marking an SEC sweep of the national weekly awards.

South Carolina’s swimmers return to action Jan. 7 as they host Kentucky and College of Charleston.