INDIANAPOLIS – Missouri S&T sophomore Aljaz Kerc has been named the first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week, it was announced by the league office Monday following a vote from the conference's head coaches.
 
Kerc, one of three returning Miners who competed at last year's NCAA Division II Championships, had a pair of top-five finishes in his individual events at the Show-Me Showdown, hosted by the University of Missouri last Friday.  He placed fourth in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.52 seconds and later finished fifth in the 100-freestyle with a time of 47.69.  A native of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Kerc also led off the 200-freestyle relay team that came in sixth in 1:26.18 and was the third leg on the 400-freestyle relay squad that placed fifth in 3:09.58.
 
Friday's meet featured the collegiate programs from throughout the state, including host Missouri, Missouri State, Lindenwood and defending NCAA Division II national champion Drury.  Missouri S&T finished fifth in the team standings behind the four aforementioned teams in that order.
 
The next competition for the Miners will take place on Oct. 18 and 19, when the Miners compete at Lewis University in a pair of dual meets in Romeoville, Ill.