CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For the second time this season, student-athletes from the Queens University of Charlotte swimming program have swept the weekly Bluegrass Mountain Conference Swimmer of the Week awards, as announced by the league on Monday.
 
Senior Marius Kusch and freshman Polina Lapshina were chosen as the male and female swimmer of the week, respectively. For Kusch, it is his first weekly award of the year and third of his career, while it is the second of the season for Lapshina.
 
"Both swimmers had excellent performances this past weekend breaking meet records and posting NCAA 'A' cuts," said Queens Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Planning and Leadership Development/ Director of Swimming Operations Jeff Dugdale.  "They did this on very short rest and getting ready for the World Short Course Championships in China."
 
Kusch helped lead the fourth-ranked men's team to a first-place finish among a 12-team field at last weekend's Sheraton/Le Meridien Fall Frenzy. The Kassel, Germany native won four individual events and was a member of three relay victories across the three-day event.
 
Individually, he turned in NCAA 'A' Standard times in the 100-Yard Butterfly (46.2) and the 200-Yard Butterfly (1:46.00), while finishing with 'B' Standards in the 100-Yard Backstroke and 200-Yard I.M. His time of 1:46.86 in the 200-Yard I.M. set a new Fall Frenzy meet record. Kusch was also a part of two separate NCAA 'B' Standard times in both the 400-Yard Freestyle Relay and 400-Yard Medley Relay.
 
On the women's side, Lapshina played a key part in guiding the No. 3 Royals to a victory among a 14-team field. The Ekaterinburg, Russia won four individual events and was a part of three relay wins, setting Fall Frenzy meet records in each race.
 
Lapshina turned in three NCAA 'A' Standards I the 100-Yard Butterfly (53.27), 100-Yard Backstroke (53.89) and 100-Yard Freestyle (49.59), while also finishing with a 'B' Standard time of 22.81 in the 50-Yard Freestyle. She also helped Queens to three 'B' Standard times in relay events as a part of the 200-Freestyle, 400-Freestyle and 400-Medley Relay teams.
 
The Royals return to the pool in two weeks, November 28 - December 1, at the Frank Elm Invitational hosted by NCAA Division I Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey.