February 06, 2008
Texas A&M junior swimmer Julia Wilkinson (Stratford, Ont.) was named Big 12 Women?â„¢s Swimmer of the Week on Wednesday following a vote of the league?â„¢s coaches.
Wilkinson earned the honor based on her performances this past weekend against Houston and No. 17 Texas. She captured four individual races and led off two winning relays in a 24-hour period to push the Aggies to a 2-0 record for the week, including a second consecutive dual meet win over rival Texas.
Against Houston, Wilkinson won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:04.37, despite it being her first time to swim the race all season. She also led off the 200-yard medley relay team that finished first in 1:43.77.
Wilkinson won three individual events against Texas while leading off the first place 400-yard medley relay team (3:42.03). She won the 100 back (54.67), 100 free (49.73), and 200 IM (2:02.85) against the Longhorns.
The Big 12 weekly honor is Wilkinson?™s fifth which sets a new Big 12 women?™s swimming record for number of awards for a career. She previously shared the record with Colleen Lann?© of Texas (1999-01)
Since the start of the 2003-04 season, the Aggies have been honored with the award twice as often as any other school in the conference. A&M has received the honor 12 of the last 23 times it has been presented (Texas 6, Kansas 3, Nebraska 2).
The Aggies are spending the rest of the month of February training to defend the Big 12 Championship they captured in College Station last season. A&M will attempt to defend their title Feb. 27-Mar. 1 in Austin.