SAN DIEGO – San Diego State earned two conference swimming and diving honors on Thursday, as Valentina Lopez Arevalo received Mountain West Diver of the Week distinction, while swimmer Reka Nyiradi garnered Freshman of the Week accolades. Both student-athletes were recognized for their standout performances in meets conducted between Nov. 22 and Dec. 20.
With her award, Lopez Arevalo collected the fourth MW weekly certificate of her career and second this season, while Nyiradi was tabbed the league's top freshman for the third time this year.
A native of Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, Lopez Arevalo continued her stellar campaign earlier the month, capturing all three event titles in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform competition at the Riverside Collegiate Invitational, held Dec. 1-2, in Riverside, California. In addition, the Aztec junior eclipsed NCAA Zone qualifying standards in all three events, notching two season-best scores in the process.
Lopez Arevalo emerged triumphant in the 1-meter springboard, opening the meet with a season-high total of 297.90 points in the finals to finish 33.85 points ahead of the second-place competitor. She additionally compiled a season-best figure of 299.95 points in her platform victory, outdistancing the No. 2 diver in the field by 32.05 points.
Lopez Arevalo then completed the weekend trifecta with a win in the 3-meter springboard, amassing 294.80 points in the finals. With her efforts, she has claimed seven event crowns already this fall.
Meanwhile, Nyiradi played a key role in SDSU's dual-meet victory over Air Force on Dec. 19, posting the fastest time in a pair of individual races while contributing to a top-finishing relay team, as the Scarlet and Black won its 11th straight head-to-head encounter against the Falcons and improved to 15-2 in the all-time series since 2000-01.
Not to be outdone, Nyiradi logged three season bests on the day, helping the Aztecs raise their record to 6-0 on the year and extend their streak to 56 consecutive dual-meet victories since Jan. 8, 2018.
A native of Budapest, Hungary, Nyiradi captured the event title in the 200 freestyle with a winning effort of 1:49.66 before finishing second in the 100 free at 51.47, missing another crown by just 0.60 seconds. Later, the SDSU newcomer recorded the fastest time in the 100 butterfly with a swim of 55.81. With the Aztecs enjoying a big lead on the team scoreboard, the result was scored as an exhibition.
Nyiradi wrapped up the meet by swimming the third leg of the Aztecs' 400 free relay team that registered the fastest time of the event at 3:29.88. That result was also deemed an exhibition, too.
Nyiradi and her fellow San Diego State swimmers will be back in the competition pool on Friday, Jan. 5, when they play host to Cal State East Bay and Concordia-Irvine in a double dual at Aztec Aquaplex, starting at 10 a.m. PT.
Meanwhile, Lopez Arevalo and the rest of the Aztec diving contingent will be back in action later that month when they compete in the UCLA Bruin Diving Invitational, Jan. 12-14, in Los Angeles, California.