CIS athletes of the week (#17): UBC swimmers King, Allen honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Swimmers Savannah King and Coleman Allen, both from the University of British Columbia, are the CIS female and male athletes of the week for the period ending Jan. 27, 2013.

King, a third-year kinesiology student from Vernon, B.C., was named female swimmer of the meet at the Canada West championships in Victoria after she claimed five gold medals in as many races, set or was part of four meet records, and led the UBC women to their fourth consecutive conference banner. The two-time Olympian was victorious in the 200-metre backstroke, in three freestyle events (200-400-800) as well as in the 4x200 free relay, only missing out on a new championship mark in the 200 back. The former CIS female rookie of the year (2011) and swimmer of the year (2012) hopes to help the Thunderbirds defend their team title at the CIS championships, which are set for Feb. 21-23 in Calgary.

Dalhousie volleyball player Louise Facca, Laval pole vaulter Mélanie Blouin and Waterloo hockey player Rebecca Bouwhuis were also nominated for the women’s award.

Allen, a second-year arts student from Spokane, Wash., earned male-MVP honours in his Canada West championship debut after he racked up seven podium finishes in as many events, including five gold medals, had three record-setting performances and helped the T-Birds to second place in the men’s team standings. The University of Nevada transfer came out on top in three butterfly races (50-100-200), in the 200 freestyle and in the 4x100 free relay, including new meet standards in the 100 and 200 fly and in the 4x100 free. Allen, who also claimed silver in the 4x200 free and bronze in the 4x100 medley, will be one of many UBC swimmers to watch next month in Calgary when the T-Bird men go for a second straight national title.

Cape Breton basketball player Jimmy Dorsey, UQTR hockey player Tommy Tremblay and Guelph hockey player Nick Huard were the other male nominees.

Female nominees:
AUS: Louise Facca, volleyball, Dalhousie
RSEQ: Mélanie Blouin, track & field, Laval
OUA: Rebecca Bouwhuis, hockey, Waterloo
CWUAA: Savannah King, swimming, UBC (recipient)

Male nominees:
AUS: Jimmy Dorsey, basketball, Cape Breton
RSEQ: Tommy Tremblay, hockey, UQTR
OUA: Nick Huard, hockey, Guelph
CWUAA: Coleman Allen, swimming, UBC (recipient)

-CIS-