Feb. 11, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - -

Contact: Julie Farr DeLima

Cleveland State freshman Mark deSwardt wrapped up the final week of the regular season with six wins in six events to pick up his fifth Horizon League Swimmer of the Week honor this season. The league made the announcement on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

"Mark deSwardt had another very good week of swimming and I was particularly impressed with the 400 IM time of 3:57 at Valparaiso. He swam the 400 IM 10 to 15 minutes after his 1,650 swim with no place to warm down," head coach Wally Morton said. "His three wins at UIC were well earned as the competition was intense and he was in a fatigued state coming off a tough week of training. I look forward to seeing how fast he really can swim."

deSwardt's spectacular regular season ended with three wins in back-to-back Horizon League meets on Feb. 6 and 7, including a pool record and three Top-10 CSU times. On Feb. 6 at Valparaiso he won the 1,650 freestyle in 15:38.01 (and team and personal best this season) while swimming the second-fastest time in school history. He followed that up with a win in the 400 IM in 3:57.41, the second-fastest time in CSU history, as well as a team and personal best this season. In his final event of the day, deSwardt won the 500 freestyle in 4:50.48. On Feb. 7 at UIC, he set a UIC Natatorium record with a 9:13.74 win in the 1,000 freestyle. His win in the 200 fly (1:50.16) is the fourth-fastest time in CSU history and a team and personal best this season. His final win came in the 500 free (4:32.46).

deSwardt and the Vikings have entered the final phase of their training leading up to the Horizon League Championships. The team returns to the pool when the league championships begin on Wednesday, Feb. 25.