West Chester's Tommy Rhoads (left) and California's Melissa Gates (right).
PSAC Swimmers of the Week - 6 (Jan. 26)
Lock Haven, Pa. - West Chester freshman Tommy Rhoades and California sophomore Melissa Gates are this week’s PSAC Swimmers of the Week. Rhoads swam to two new personal bests in two different events while Gates posted a total of six first place finishes in two meets last week, including qualifying automatically to the NCAA championships in the 50 freestyle.
PSAC Men’s Swimmer of the Week
Tommy Rhoads, West Chester
Freshman, Freestyle
Ridley, Pa./Ridley
Rhoads posted career-best times in both the 100 and 200 freestyle events in West Chester’s dual meet win over Southern Connecticut State on Saturday, finishing first in both events. He touched the wall in :47.48 in the 100 free and in 1:44.95 in the 200 free. He also finished third in the 500 free with a time of 4:51.43. His two wins were just two of nine first place finishes posted by the Golden Rams in the dual meet.
PSAC Women’s Swimmer of the Week
Melissa Gates, California
Sophomore, Freestyle/Breaststroke
Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley
Gates finished first in a total of six events last week, two individual and four relay in three dual meets last week. On Saturday at Lock Haven, Gates won the 50 freestyle in an NCAA ‘A’ automatic qualifying time of :23.71, which also set a pool record. She also swam in the breaststroke leg of the winning 400 medley relay team at that meet. She also swam the leadoff leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay team in an NCAA ‘B’ provisional qualifying time of :52.28 for the 100-yard stretch. In a home meet against Alaska-Fairbanks, Gates broke her own pool record in the 50 free, also touching the wall in :23.71 while also swimming on the first place 400 free (3:37.98) and 400 medley relay (4:03.40) teams. In all but one meet this year, Gates has either established or tied existing pool records.