The University of Akron Athletics
Luka Szynal, Swimming & Diving
Swimming and Diving sophomore Luka Szynal was named Zips’ Student-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 8.
Additionally, the Lublin, Poland, native was named Mid-American Conference Swimmer of the Week as she issued record-setting performances for the Zips in individual and team events to help the Akron squad to a first-place finish in the Zippy Invitational.
Szynal also broke the meet record in the 100-yard backstroke twice in one day with a time of 54.55 during Zippy Invitational prelims and an Ocasek Natatorium pool record time in the final session at 54.28, to come within .07 seconds of the program best. Both of Szynal's times in the 100 back met the NCAA Division I B standard of 55.09. The previous pool record was 54.42 (2012) while the meet record was 55.24 set in 2010 by Ohio's Rachel Heim.
Szynal bested the 200-yard backstroke program record twice during day three of the Zippy Invitational. Her preliminary record time was 1:57.35, which she later shattered with a time of 1:55.04 during the final session. Her time now stands as the fastest in MAC history, besting Rachel Stearns of Ohio's record of 1:55.65 set in 2012. It is currently 30th in the NCAA this season. Her latter performance was good for an Ocasek Natatorium pool record and met the NCAA B standard while eclipsing the mark of 1:55.19, which received an NCAA Championship invitation last year. The previous Akron program record headed into Sunday was 1:57.76 set in 2010 by Kendall Karchner, while the previous pool record stood at 1:55.65 since 2012.
