Rood Captures NESCAC Performer of the Week Honors for Efforts at Wesleyan Meet

MEDFORD - Entering the final semester of his stellar career with the Tufts men's swimming & diving team, senior co-captain Owen Rood (Branford, CT) had an outstanding return to the pool on Saturday. Fresh off the team's training trip to Fort Lauderdale, Rood earned this week's New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Performer of the Week award for his efforts at Wesleyan with Williams.

Rood posted wins in the 50 and 100 freestyle events and was also part of the winning 400 freestyle relay team. He posted a winning time of 21.54 in the 50, 0.48 faster than Williams' Graham Righi. In the 100, Rood's 47.38 defeated Williams' Paul Dyrkacz by a 0.75 fraction.

In the final race of the day, Rood swam a 47.03 100 to anchor the 400 free relay win (3:14.13). He had also anchored the Jumbos' second-place showing in the 200 medley relay that began the meet by finishing in a 1:39.06 time.

This is the second NESCAC honor of Rood's career. He was also selected on January 24, 2011 of last season. He is the second Jumbo to be selected for the honor this season. Sophomore Drew Berman (Miami, FL) earned the inaugural 2011-12 season award on November 21.

A three-time All-NESCAC honoree and a three-time national qualfier prior to his senior season, Rood is the most decorated performer during Jumbo head coach Adam Hoyt's eight-year tenure at Tufts.

Rood and his classmates will be recognized on Seniors Day this Saturday at Hamilton Pool when Tufts competes against MIT.

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