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MIAC Athletes of the Week - November 3, 2026

FARMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for swimming & diving on Tuesday. Student-athletes from Carleton, Gustavus, and Saint John's claimed the Conference's weekly honors.
 
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference's sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Transitioning to the winter season, team sports (football, volleyball, hockey, and basketball) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (swimming & diving) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
 
The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week's selections and winners. 
MIAC Men's Swimmer of the Week
Ben Kell
Gustavus Adolphus College
Sr.
Minneapolis, Minn. / Minneapolis Southwest
 
Ben Kell won two individual races and placed among the top five in all of his events at the Grace Goblirsch Invitational on 10/31. Kell won the 200 fly in 1:58.32 and touched the wall first in the 200 back with a time of 1:58.03. He also finished as the runner-up in the 200 freestyle (1:46.69), placed third in the 100 butterfly (53.40), and helped the Gusties' 200 freestyle relay team to place fifth (3:22.15).
 
MIAC Men's Diver of the Week
Cody Watts
Saint John's University
Sr.
St. Cloud, Minn. / St. Cloud Tech
 
Cody Watts swept the diving events in the Johnnies' dual meet with St. Olaf on 10/31. Watts scored 431.35 points off the 1-meter board and won the 3-meter competition with 476.15 points.
MIAC Women's Swimmer of the Week
Emma Yao
Carleton College
Sr.
Sartell, Minn. / Sartell
 
Emma Yao broke the Thorpe Pool record with a time of 1:06.11 to win the 100-yard breaststroke in the Knights' dual with Luther on 10/31. Yao also swam on Carleton's victorious 200-yard medley (1:50.20) and 200-yard freestyle (1:41.34) relay squads. She placed second in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:34.90).

MIAC Women's Diver of the Week
Hailey Westrup
Carleton College
Sr.
Sartell, Minn. / Sartell
 
Hailey Westrup won both diving competitions in the Knights' dual meet with Luther on 10/31. Westrup started the meet with a 43-point margin of victory on the 1-meter board (251.10) before scoring 247.00 points at the 3-meter height, good for a 41-point margin of victory.