Nov. 20, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina junior Michael Flach has been named the Counsilman Hunsaker National Swimmer of the Week, CollegeSwimming.com announced Tuesday.

Flach receives the honor after putting together one of the best performances of his career as he led the 21st-ranked Gamecock men’s team to a second-place finish in the Virginia Tech Invitational last weekend. He won all three of his individual events with NCAA B cut times. In the four relay events he competed in, Flach led his team to one first-place finish (800 freestyle relay) and three second-place showings (200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay).

“I am very proud of Michael,” South Carolina head coach McGee Moody said. “He continues to work very hard chasing some very specific goals. He represents our program well and deserves this honor.”

A native of Annandale, Va., Flach swam a NCAA B cut of 4:20.33 in the 500 freestyle preliminary heats to open the invitational. He then lowered his time by nearly two seconds to win the championship final in 4:18.38, which is the nation’s fastest time.

On the second day of competition, Flach shot up the national time charts once again by winning the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:35.86, which is the fourth fastest time in the country. He wrapped up the week by posting the nation’s fastest time of 1:45.51 in the 200 butterfly to win the championship final.

Flach has now won the award twice during his Gamecock career. He was also named National Swimmer of the Week on Nov. 24, 2010 after posting the nation’s fastest time in the 500 freestyle (4:20.03) at the Nike Cup Invitational.

Flach and the Gamecocks return to action on Jan. 12 in a road dual meet at Duke. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Durham, N.C.