Leidigh Named Big 12 Swimmer of the Month

Nov. 30, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Freshman swimmer Ashley Leidigh was named the Big 12 Women’s Swimmer of the Month. Leidigh joins Kara Jayne-Salamone (Texas) as the diver of the month. Mathew McGinnis (Texas) was named the Big 12 Men’s Swimmer of the Month and teammate Bao Gao was named Diver of the Month. The student-athletes were chosen by a vote of the league’s head swimming and diving coaches.

The Merriam, Kan., native earned seven first place finishes in November. Against Missouri State and Iowa Leidigh placed first in the 200-yard butterfly (2:01.43), 100-yard free (52.03; 55.37), and the 400-yard free relay (3:30.45) with a 53.02 split.

Leidigh, also set two school records and qualified for the NCAA Championships in three events in November at the Minnesota Invite on Nov. 18-20 in Minneapolis, Minn. She set a Kansas school record in the 400-yard medley relay swimming the 100-yard fly split in 53.65, as well as setting a school record and swimming an A standard time in the 100-yard fly with a time of 53.08. That time is also the current fastest time in the country. The freshman also qualified under the B Standard in both the 200-yard fly with a time of 1:59.97 and 400-yard freestyle relay with a 100 free split time of 50.80.