SMU’s Svendsen Named C-USA Swimmer Of The Week

IRVING, Texas – SMU swimmer Therese Svendsen has been named the Conference USA Swimmer of the Week after posting some of the nation’s top marks at the SMU Classic, recording top 10 times in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke, and a top 20 time in the 200-yard individual medley on the CollegeSwimming.com lists.

The senior captain helped the Mustangs to a third-place finish in the highly-competitive SMU Classic this weekend. The six-team meet featured six teams that finished in the top 40 of the NCAA Championship last spring, including No. 36 SMU, No. 6 Texas, No. 7 Florida, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 13 UVA and No. 40 Louisville.

The backstroke specialist turned in the top C-USA times this year in both the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes as well as the 200-yard individual medley. Svendsen recorded an NCAA B-qualifying time in the 200-yard backstroke (1:59.75). In the 100-yard backstroke, Svendsen clocked in with a time of 55.32. She also recorded a league top time of 2:04.20 in the 200-yard IM. The senior led off the 400-yard medley relay (3:44.48) and anchored the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:28.71), leading the squads to conference season-best times in both events.

This is Svendsen’s first Swimmer of the Week award this season and the third of her career.

SMU hosts North Texas and Wyoming on Nov. 4 at Perkins Natatorium at 5 p.m.