University of Massachusets Athletics
Sbordon, Narus, And Downing Earn Weekly Honors
November 25, 2008 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 25, 2008
Amherst, Mass. - After their performances at BU's Terrier Invitational over the weekend senior Christa Narus and freshmen Chelsea Downing and Joey Sbordon all earned various weekly honors. Narus and Downing were the recipients for the women's team as they were named Performer of the Week and Rookie of the Week respectively while Sbordon also earned Rookie of the Week honors as well as UMass/Dinn Bros. Co-Athlete of the Week, a title he shares this week with All-Conference running back Tony Nelson. This marks the second time so far this season that Narus and Sbordon have been honored with their respective awards, including Sbordon's UMass honors.
Narus, a native of Stony Brook, N.Y., notched the best Terrier Invitational of her career in her final visit to Boston. The senior broke two school records in the second day of competition and gave the Minutewomen their only individual win of the meet on the final day as she finished first in the 200 fly (2:03.40). On day two of the Invitational, Narus took down her own school record in the 100 fly, a record that she set last season at the A-10 Championships, replacing her old time of 57.02 with a new time of 56.69. She also moved former teammate Liz Lovejoy down to second all-time in the 200 free with her time of 1:51.77. Narus finished the Invitational with four top-10 finishes notching 61 points for the Minutewomen individually helping them improve from last year to a third-place finish.
Downing competed right alongside her senior captain as she notched 42 points for the Minutewomen over the weekend, giving them four individual top-16 finishes as well as contributing to the 800 free relay team as the third leg, helping them to a second-place finish. Downing competed in the 1650 free, 400 IM, 200 free, and 500 free, placing fourth, sixth, 12th, and tying her captain for ninth in each respective event. The Falmouth, Mass., native has been one of the top newcomers for the Minutewomen and one of their most consistent point-earners thus far this season.
Sbordon led the Minutemen to their third-straight first-place finish at the Terrier Invitational as he finished the weekend with three individual wins, a top-10 finish, and various relay contributions. Sbordon alone earned the Minutemen 67 points over the three day invitational as he competed in his usual 500 free (4:32.13) and 200 free (1:40.67) while also adding the 1650 free (15:56.62) to his repertoire notching first-place finishes in all three. The Franklin, Mass., native still remains unbeaten in the 500 free and has only placed as low as second, once in his career in the 200 free.
Neither team will compete over the holiday weekend but all three award winners will be back in action Saturday, Dec. 6, as the Minutewomen will face Northeastern at home and the Minutemen will host their annual Maroon and White scrimmage.
Sbordon will be honored, along with co-Athlete of the Week Tony Nelson, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at the weekly UMass Sports Luncheon which is held in room 1009 of the Campus Center and will begin at noon. This week's speakers will include head football coach Don Brown, men's basketball head coach Derek Kellogg, women's basketball coach Marnie Dako, and hockey head coach Don "Toot" Cahoon.
