Jan. 23, 2012

CHICAGO - UIC's Luke Martinez and Kristi Carling were named Horizon League Men's Swimmer and Women's Diver of the Week for Jan. 16-22, the league office announced on Monday. These are the first career honors for both student-athletes.

A senior out of Sugar Grove, Ill., Martinez accepts the accolade for the first time after putting up top times in individual and relay events in UIC's win of 136-71 over conference-foe Valparaiso. Martinez won the 400 IM in 4:07.63, a season-best time, and swam as a member of the first-place 200 medley relay team (1:36.36) and 200 free relay team (1:27.49).

Martinez is the second member of the men's swimming team to be named as the league's Swimmer of the Week this season. Zach Van Swol was named for the week of Oct. 24-30.

A sophomore from Brookfield, Ill., Carling put up team-best scores in the Flames' split with Valparaiso and Illinois State, and broke school records with her dives at the UIC Invitational. Against Valpo and ISU, she scored 278.70 in the three meter and 258.38 in the one meter. Competing in the UIC Invitational, Carling held first-place finishes, set school records and posted NCAA zone qualifying scores in the one meter with 291.30 and three meter with 307.85.

This is the second diving honor of the season for UIC, following the week of Jan. 9-15, where Mike Greco and Whitney Johnson each received the accolade.