Women's Swimming | 11/16/2016 4:26:00 PM

CSCAA/TYR Poll | CollegeSwimming.com's Release

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks swimming team garnered two awards this week, as the team was ranked 24th in the Collegiate Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA)/TYR NCAA Division II Women's Swimming Poll, while sophomore distance freestyle swimmer Cassidy Heaton was honored as Collegeswimming.com's Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference's (PCSC) Female Swimmer of the Week for a second time this year.

"We've swam against the very best this year and though our win-loss record isn't impressive, our times are," head coach Scott Lemley said after the CSCAA rankings were released on Wednesday morning. "The nice thing about swimming is that it's a totally objective sport. There is no defense the other team can throw at us, there's only offense. Our swimmers are on track to swim really well at the Husky Invitational. The coaches who put together the national rankings are showing a lot of confidence in us right now, despite being away from the conference and national championships last year."

Alaska enters the top-25 after only receiving votes in the previous poll last month, picking up 25 votes to rank 24th overall. Rankings are compiled by CSCAA-member coaches and released on a monthly basis. Former Alaska opponent Drury University ranks No. 1 in the poll for two consecutive months.

After last weekend's tie and loss to the Concordia-Irvine Eagles, Heaton outshined the competition with standout performances in the distance freestyle events. In Friday's unconventional tie, Heaton placed first overall in the 1.000-yrd freestyle with a time of 10:28.98, a full 20 seconds ahead of Alaska's Sierra Kinworthy (10:48.12), who placed second overall.

The following day, Heaton placed first overall in the 500-yrd freestyle with a time of 5:06.06, 23 seconds ahead of Concordia's Tricia Andrews, who came in second place overall with a time of 5:29.29.

Heaton also had a pair of top-three swims throughout the two-day PCSC meet, placing third in the 200-yrd freestyle (1:57.12) and second in the 400-yrd freestyle relay (3:38.50).

"Cassidy's early season success is due, in large part, to the training she did over the summer," assistant coach Kinsey Laine exclaimed on Wednesday. "Most of our swimmers use the summer break as a time to rest and recharge, but this year Cassidy chose to maintain a training schedule of 20-plus hours per week. As a result, she started the season in nearly lifetime best shape and has continued to get stronger and faster in the past two and a half months. She has big goals for herself this season and she is showing that she has the drive and discipline to achieve them."

Heaton and the Alaska Nanooks swim team return to action Dec. 2-4, as they travel to Seattle, Washington to participate in the extremely competitive Husky Invitational.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks swim team, follow @NanooksSwim on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Swimming team page on Facebook.