Feb. 28, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University swimmer Michael Lapustin has been named the CollegeSwimming.com NCAA Division II National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week for his performance during the Great Lakes intercollegiate Conference Championships at Ashland on Feb. 21-24.

Lapustin, a senior, led the Flyers to one of their most successful conference championship performances in program history. He earned three GLIAC Championships at the meet, swimming to first in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 Individual Medley. His 200 backstroke (1:49.62) set a Lewis record and a GLIAC record. The swim also made the NCAA "A" standard, giving Lapustin an automatic entry in the NCAA Division II Championships in Buffalo in March.

Lapustin's 100 backstroke (50.72) set an Ashland pool record and also made the NCAA "A" cut, and his 200 Individual Medley run made the NCAA "B' threshold. For his efforts, Lapustin was named Male Swimmer of the Meet and conference Swimmer of the Week. His swims helped the Flyer men finish in fifth place overall with 470 points, securing 170 more points than last season.

Lapustin is the first Lewis swimmer in the 10-year history of the program to be honored as National Swimmer of the Week.

Lapustin, along with freshman Jared Zimmer, will represent the Flyers at the NCAA Division II championships in Buffalo March 14-17.