TicketsDALLAS, Texas— Junior Hunter Gubeno was awarded Co-Men's Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Year as the University of Cincinnati men's and women's swimming and diving teams closed out the 2023 American Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday.
The Bearcats earned 22 medals throughout the championships as the men's placed second in the team standings with 1134 points, while the UC women finished fifth with 865 points.
"It was a phenomenal meet for us," head coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle said. "To finish our time in the AAC the way we did was fantastic for our program. To set a meet record, multiple school records to cap of the season for us is really motivating for our team as we move into the Big 12 and sets them on fire for what is next."
Gubeno was named co-AAC Men's Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Year for his performance this weekend. The Howell, Mich., native claimed two AAC titles in the 100-yard (47.64) and 200-yard backstroke (1:41.80). Both his backstroke times are NCAA 'B' standard times.
Gubeno also broke the Cincinnati 200-yard individual medley record with a time of 1:45.16 and was a part of the 400-yard freestyle team that set the program record (2:54.66). He became the third bearcat ever to win the most outstanding swimmer award, joining teammate Michael Balcerak and former Bearcat Din Selmaonovic to win the award.
In total, 10 Cincinnati records fell throughout the meet multiple UC all-time top 10 times were recorded this week.
Freshman Lily Jones broke program records in both the women's 100-yard (54.24) and 200-yard (1;56.55) backstroke. Both of Jones's times are NCAA 'B' standard times. Jones also earned a gold medal in the 200-yard backstroke and a bronze in the 100-yard backstroke.
Senior Michael Balcerak ended his AAC career as one of the best to ever compete in the conference. Balcerak earned two 2023 AAC Conference titles in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 46.72 and in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:20.65. Balcerak has won eight individual gold medals across four events in his career, the most by any Bearcat.
The Arlington Heights, Ill., native also recorded threes NCAA 'B' standard times, in the 100-yard butterfly, 500-yard freestyle and 200-yard butterfly (1:45.90).
Freshman Joleigh Crye broke the AAC Championship meet record and Cincinnati record in the women's 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.07. Crye best her previous school record time of 59.57 to claim her first AAC title. Her time currently ranks 14th in the NCAA and is a 'B' standard time.
Other notable times on the final day of competition include junior Tommy Eaton (1:45.09) and sophomore Collin Singler (1:45.51), each recorded NCAA 'B' standard times in the 200-yard butterfly.
The men's 400-yard freestyle team of Balcerak, Gubeno, junior Drew Hawthorne, and freshman Jet Fuhrmann broke the UC record with a time of 2:54.66 and earned a silver medal.
The freestyle powerhouse Hawthorne recorded the second-fastest 100-yard (43.55) and 50-yard freestyle (19.82) times in UC history. His 50-yard freestyle time is also an NCAA 'B' standard time.
Freshman Grace Gavin earned a silver medal in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:57.41, the third fastest time in school history. Earlier in the meet she finished one-tenth of a second behind Jones in the 100-yard backstroke (54.25), the second fastest time in program history.
Freshman Ido Gal recorded an NCAA 'B' standard time of 15:14.52 in the 1,650-yard freestyle to earn him a gold medal. Gal's time is a personal best and moved him to seventh all-time in the UC record book.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will take a two-week break as the swimmers prepare for the CSCAA National Championships while the divers get ready for NCAA Diving Zone competition. Both meets are scheduled for March 9-12.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
To stay up to date with the latest swimming and diving news, photos and videos, follow the teams on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim).
// TEAM STANDINGS
Men
1. Southern Methodist -1267
2. Cincinnati-1134
Women
1. Houston 1256.5
2. Florida International (FIU)- 1236
3. Southern Methodist- 1152.5
4. Rice- 1082
5. Cincinnati- 813
6. East Carolina- 637
6. Florida Atlantic (FAU)- 525
8. North Texas- 456
9. Tulane- 379
The Bearcats earned 22 medals throughout the championships as the men's placed second in the team standings with 1134 points, while the UC women finished fifth with 865 points.
"It was a phenomenal meet for us," head coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle said. "To finish our time in the AAC the way we did was fantastic for our program. To set a meet record, multiple school records to cap of the season for us is really motivating for our team as we move into the Big 12 and sets them on fire for what is next."
Gubeno was named co-AAC Men's Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Year for his performance this weekend. The Howell, Mich., native claimed two AAC titles in the 100-yard (47.64) and 200-yard backstroke (1:41.80). Both his backstroke times are NCAA 'B' standard times.
Gubeno also broke the Cincinnati 200-yard individual medley record with a time of 1:45.16 and was a part of the 400-yard freestyle team that set the program record (2:54.66). He became the third bearcat ever to win the most outstanding swimmer award, joining teammate Michael Balcerak and former Bearcat Din Selmaonovic to win the award.
In total, 10 Cincinnati records fell throughout the meet multiple UC all-time top 10 times were recorded this week.
Freshman Lily Jones broke program records in both the women's 100-yard (54.24) and 200-yard (1;56.55) backstroke. Both of Jones's times are NCAA 'B' standard times. Jones also earned a gold medal in the 200-yard backstroke and a bronze in the 100-yard backstroke.
Senior Michael Balcerak ended his AAC career as one of the best to ever compete in the conference. Balcerak earned two 2023 AAC Conference titles in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 46.72 and in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:20.65. Balcerak has won eight individual gold medals across four events in his career, the most by any Bearcat.
The Arlington Heights, Ill., native also recorded threes NCAA 'B' standard times, in the 100-yard butterfly, 500-yard freestyle and 200-yard butterfly (1:45.90).
Freshman Joleigh Crye broke the AAC Championship meet record and Cincinnati record in the women's 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.07. Crye best her previous school record time of 59.57 to claim her first AAC title. Her time currently ranks 14th in the NCAA and is a 'B' standard time.
Other notable times on the final day of competition include junior Tommy Eaton (1:45.09) and sophomore Collin Singler (1:45.51), each recorded NCAA 'B' standard times in the 200-yard butterfly.
The men's 400-yard freestyle team of Balcerak, Gubeno, junior Drew Hawthorne, and freshman Jet Fuhrmann broke the UC record with a time of 2:54.66 and earned a silver medal.
The freestyle powerhouse Hawthorne recorded the second-fastest 100-yard (43.55) and 50-yard freestyle (19.82) times in UC history. His 50-yard freestyle time is also an NCAA 'B' standard time.
Freshman Grace Gavin earned a silver medal in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:57.41, the third fastest time in school history. Earlier in the meet she finished one-tenth of a second behind Jones in the 100-yard backstroke (54.25), the second fastest time in program history.
Freshman Ido Gal recorded an NCAA 'B' standard time of 15:14.52 in the 1,650-yard freestyle to earn him a gold medal. Gal's time is a personal best and moved him to seventh all-time in the UC record book.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will take a two-week break as the swimmers prepare for the CSCAA National Championships while the divers get ready for NCAA Diving Zone competition. Both meets are scheduled for March 9-12.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
To stay up to date with the latest swimming and diving news, photos and videos, follow the teams on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim).
// TEAM STANDINGS
Men
1. Southern Methodist -1267
2. Cincinnati-1134
Women
1. Houston 1256.5
2. Florida International (FIU)- 1236
3. Southern Methodist- 1152.5
4. Rice- 1082
5. Cincinnati- 813
6. East Carolina- 637
6. Florida Atlantic (FAU)- 525
8. North Texas- 456
9. Tulane- 379