Men's Swimming and Diving | December 8, 2015

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- La Salle swimming and diving freshmen Aleksandar Nikolic and Olivia DiStefano have been named the Atlantic 10 men's and women's swimming and diving Rookies of the Week following their performances at the Ithaca College Bomber Invitational.

For DiStefano this is the third time this season she has earned the honor. The Philadelphia native earned three top-ten finishes in the three individual events she swam in. In the 100 backstroke she turned in a time of 57.75 to finish second out of the 56 women field. She placed fourth out of 57 swimmers in the 50 freestyle thanks to a time of 23.97 which is in the top-ten in the Atlantic 10 this season. Finally she finished seventh 57 in the 100 freestyle thanks to a time of 52.84.

DiStefano also swam on four relay teams; 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 400 medley relay, and 400 freestyle relay, helping all four finish in second place out of ten schools. The Explorers finished the three day invitational with 1204.5 points, good for second place out of 11 schools in attendance.

Nikolic earned the honor of Rookie of the Week once before, on October 27.  The Nis, Serbia native turned in three top-ten finishes in individual events. His best finish came in the 100 freestyle which he swam in 46.62 to finish second in the 57 man field. In the 200 freestyle he turned in a time of 1:42.79 for a fifth place finish out of 56 entries. Finally in the 500 freestyle he used a time of 4:45.52 for ninth place of 47 swimmers.

Nikolic also swam on four relay teams finishing in second three times with one third place finish.

The Explorers return to action following the new year as they host Fordham and Richmond at Kirk Pool on January 23.