WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNC Wilmington’s Gavin Spake and Caitlin Kirsteier were named Colonial Athletic Association men’s and women’s swimmer-of-the-week, respectively, after leading the Seahawks to a perfect 4-0 weekend, including wins against conference foe Old Dominion. It was the second straight weekly award for Kirsteier.
Spake (Lexington, N.C./West Davidson) won three individual events combined on the weekend and swam on a winning relay team. Spake won the 200 Fly (1:54.40) in a non-conference dual meet against Gardner-Webb and then added a relay win as the Seahawks swam 3:14.63 in winning the 400 Free Relay. On Saturday, the Seahawks opened conference action against rival ODU, who finished second in 2009 to the Seahawks at the CAA Championships. Spake was up to the challenge as the sophomore gave the Seahawks valuable points in the distance freestyles. Spake won the 500 (4:44.59) and 1000 Freestyles (9:46.49).

Kirsteier (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) continued her outstanding start to the season with three individual wins and swimming on a pair of winning relays. She also set a pool record in the 100 Butterfly and also helped the 200 Medley Relay set a pool mark. Kirsteier opened the weekend taking first-place in the 100 Free (52.32) and 100 Fly (55.85). She capped her meet by swimming the anchor leg of the 400 Free Relay, which also won. On Saturday opened the ODU meet swimming the leadoff leg of the 200 Medley Relay that set a pool-record with a time of 1:45.28. She later added a win in the 50 Free (24.08) and set venue-record in the 100 Fly with a time of 55.61.

The Seahawks return to the pool on Oct. 31, when they host Houston and Emory in a pair of dual meets beginning at 10:30 a.m.

-Courtesy UNCW Sports Information Dept.