Jan. 30, 2008

Leading UC Santa Barbara to a sweep over the UNLV Rebels, Gauchos Jeff Sudbury and Erin Yamamoto earned Big West Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Week accolades, for the week ending Jan. 28. This is the first honor of the season for both athletes.

Sudbury won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 57.13 and placed second in the 200 breast with a 2:07.33 mark. The Wilton, Conn., native picked up his first victory of the meet in the 200 medley relay. His breaststroke split was 25.74. He and his teammates also finished second in the 400 freestyle, where he swam a 45.90 spilt in the second leg.

Against the Rebels, Yamamoto picked up two individual top honors and two relay victories. Her times of 56.33 and 2:03.38 in the 100 and 200 butterfly earned her first place in both events. She also teamed up with fellow Gauchos to take the top prize in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

Coming off a win over UNLV, UC Santa Barbara hits the road for matchups with UC Davis and Pacific. The Gauchos take on UC Davis Friday and then visit Stockton, Calif., to face the Tigers.