NEC Women's Swimmer of the Week: Mackenzie Byrne, VMI
NEC Women's Rookie of the Week: Kayden Manciocchi, LEM
NEC Women's Diver of the Week: Isabelle Haer, VMI

NEC Men's Swimmer of the Week: Lucas Clay, LEM
NEC Men's Rookie of the Week: Billy Grau, VMI
NEC Men's Diver of the Week: Carter Canastra, VMI

Previous NEC Releases: October 1 | Men's Preseason Poll Release | Women's Preseason Poll Release

NEC WOMEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Mackenzie Byrne, VMI
Jr., Misawa, Japan
Byrne helped VMI earn emphatic 222-42 and 222-52 wins over Sweet Briar and Hollins last week. The junior won the 50 free (24.40) and 100 free (54.09) at the meet, posting the NEC's third best time in both events. Byrne also posted a league-best time in the 50 fly (26.59).

NEC WOMEN'S DIVER OF THE WEEK
Isabelle Haer, VMI
Jr., Moseley, VA
Haer swept the diving events in VMI's tri meet, scoring a 243.52 on the 1-meter board and a 269.92 on the 3-meter board. Her 3-meter score is the conference's best so far this season, and her 1-meter score places her second. 

NEC WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Kayden Manciocchi, Le Moyne
1st, Hilton, NY/Hilton
Manciocchi compiled a trio of top-10 finishes at the Colgate Invite last week, including two top-four results. The Hilton, NY native placed second in the 200 IM (2:17.38) and fourth in the 400 IM (4:50.10). Her 400 IM time is a league-best and and the 200 IM result is the second best in the conference this season. Her 10th place finish in the 500 free (5:27.28) ranks second on the circuit as well.

NEC MEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Lucas Clay, Le Moyne
3rd, Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker
Clay won three events at the Colgate Invite and placed third in another, continuing his impressive start to the season. The third-year swimmer won the 100 breast (54.03), 200 breast (2:02.07) and 50 free (21.10). Clay's breaststroke results were CSCAA "B" cut times and the NEC's top efforts in those respective events. His 50 free time was the conference's second-best this fall. He also finished third in the 100 fly (51.99) and swam the second leg of Le Moyne's winning 400 medley relay team.

NEC MEN'S DIVER OF THE WEEK
Carter Canastra, VMI
Fr., St. Petersburg, FL
Canastra swept the diving events in VMI's 232-12 win over Hampton-Sydney, scoring 270.30 on the 1-meter board and 270.25 on the 3-meter board. Both scores were good for second in the NEC, and Canastra's 1-meter effort set a freshman record for VMI.

NEC MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Billy Grau, VMI
Fr., 
Grau won three events against Hampden-Sydney. The rookie won the 50 breast (25.83), 100 breast (1:00.08) and 100 free (47.58). Grau's 50 breast result was a CSCAA "B" cut effort and the conference's second best time this season. His 100 breast is the NEC's third best time in the event.

NEC WOMEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS

Jala Wilson, Sr., Howard

• At Battle at the Burr
• Won the 1-meter dive with a score of 86.50.

Kayleigh Bigwarfe, 4th, Le Moyne

• At Colgate Invite
• Placed 7th in the 100 free (54.21), the second fastest 100 free time in the NEC.
• Swam a 25.17 50 free, the 3rd fastest time in the league.
• Registered a 5:09.33 in the 400 IM, putting her 4th in the conference in the event.

Kayden Manciocchi, 1st, Le Moyne

• NEC Rookie of the Week

Gabby Williams, 3rd, Le Moyne

• At Colgate Invite
• Won the 3-meter dive with a score of 242.93, the league's second best this fall.
• Placed second in the 1-meter dive with a 248.25, posting the league's best 1-meter score.

Abby Toepfer, Sr., Stonehill

• Vs. Siena and Rhode Island
• Finished fourth in the 200 free, clocking in at 2:00.65. That result is the NEC's fourth-best this season.
• Placed ninth in the 100 free with a time of 55.78.

Mackenzie Byrne, Jr., VMI

• NEC Swimmer of the Week

Isabelle Haer, Sr., VMI

• NEC Diver of the Week

Avery Wickersheim, Sr., VMI

• Set a school and pool record on the platform dive, tallying a score of 166.20.
   

NEC MEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS

Trevor Sewell, So., Howard

• at Battle at the Burr
• Placed third on the 1-meter board with a score of 95.85.

Lucas Clay, 3rd, Le Moyne

• NEC Swimmer of the Week

Alex Pilieci, 3rd, Le Moyne

• At Colgate Invite
• Won the 100 fly, touching the wall in 51.00.
• Finished first in the 200 fly with a 1:55.76 result.
• Placed third in the 100 free at 47.41.
• Swam the third leg of the winning 400 free relay team.

Carter Canastra, Fr., VMI

• NEC Diver of the Week

Ryder Creal, Sr., VMI

• Vs. Hampden-Sydney
• Set school and pool records for the platform dive, collecting 187.35 points in a first place effort.

Billy Grau, Fr., VMI

• NEC Rookie of the Week

2026-27 NEC SWIMMING & DIVING WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:

WOMEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Oct. 1: Grace Idowu, STO
Oct. 14: Mackenzie Byrne, VMI

WOMEN'S DIVER OF THE WEEK
Oct. 1: Gabby Williams, LEM
Oct. 14: Isabelle Haer, VMI

WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Oct. 1: Isabella Ryan, LEM
Oct. 14: Kayden Manciocchi, LEM

MEN'S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Oct. 1: Lucas Clay, LEM
Oct. 14: Lucas Clay, LEM

MEN'S DIVER OF THE WEEK
Oct. 1: Louis Allison, LEM
Oct. 14: Carter Canastra, VMI

MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Oct. 1: Jordan Vaughn, HU
Oct. 14: Avery Wickersheim, VMI