NEW YORK – After the winter break, BIG EAST teams open the spring season with top marks. Leading the way was BIG EAST Male and Female Swimming & Diving Athletes of the Week, Villanova’s Jake Hoin and Xavier’s Paxtyn Drew.
BIG EAST Male Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Week
Jake Hoin, Villanova, Jr.
The Villanova veteran guided the Wildcats to a 126-74 victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) on Jan. 3. Hoin helped the men’s 200-yard medley relay take the top spot in a time of 1:34.79. As an individual, the junior also won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly in times of 21.60 and 50.71, respectively.
BIG EAST Women's Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week
Paxtyn Drew, Xavier, Jr.
Drew collected a top-two finish in each event she competed in at the Musketeers’ first meet of the spring, taking on IUPUI and Ball State in Indianapolis. The junior opened the meet with the backstroke leg of the 200 medley, finishing the leg in 27.39 as the Musketeers took second with a time of 1:47.04, the fifth-best time in the BIG EAST. In the 100 back, Drew took second by less than two-tenths of a second with a time of 58.26, matching two of her teammates for the highest individual finish of the day. To close the meet, Drew took the second leg of the 400 free relay that took the top spot with a time of 3:35.42.
Notable Performances
Knox Hitt, Villanova, Grad.
Hitt went 3-for-3 in the Musketeers’ first meet against IUPUI and Ball State, taking the top spot in the 200 medley relay (1:33.83), 400 free relay (3:06.05) and the 100 butterfly (50.84). The reigning BIG EAST Champion in the 100 fly outpaced the second place finisher by nearly a second and a half, qualifying him for the ‘C’ Final for at the AT&T Winter Nationals, making him the first Musketeer to compete in a finals heat at the event in school history.
Dakota Williams, Seton Hall, So.
Sophomore Dakota Williams won the 50 free (21.80) and 100 free (47.84) and anchored the winning 200 medley relay (1:36.23) in a 159-95 victory over Iona.
Clara Capone, Seton Hall, Fr.
Freshman Clara Capone played a crucial role in the Pirates’s 152.5-98.5 victory over Iona. She anchored the winning 200 medley relay team that swam 1:51.00 and won the 50 free (24.94) and 200 free (1:59.00).
Kelleigh Haley, Georgetown, Fr.
Haley helped lead the Hoya women to a big victory at Pepperdine University during their annual winter training trip in Southern California. She cruised to a victory by a full second in the 100-yard freestyle and also finished second in in the 200-yard butterfly.