Hayward, Kropf Sweep HCAC Athlete-of-the-Week Awards

Anderson University men's swimming and diving standouts Matthew Hayward (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Concordia Lutheran) and Evan Kropf (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Concordia Lutheran) swept the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Athlete-of-the-Week awards, which were announced by the conference on Monday.

Hayward was selected as HCAC Diver of the Week for the sixth time in his career and the third time this season. Kropf was named HCAC Swimmer of the Week for the second time in his career and the first time this season.

Asbury University (2-3) put together a 154-57 victory against Anderson (2-4) on Friday in Bennett Natatorium.

Hayward punched his ticket to the NCAA D-III Diving Regionals with an 11-dive 1-meter diving school record score of 514.75 points, smashing his previous school record by 33.55 points. He captured first place in the event. Hayward contributed an average of 46.80 points per dive. The sophomore from Fort Wayne broke the NCAA 'B' qualifying standard of 425 points for the second time this season to secure his bid to the NCAA D-III Diving Regionals.

Kropf rolled to first in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 54.49 seconds, posting a 4.72-second margin of victory. The senior from Fort Wayne also clocked a season-best time of 22.29 seconds in the 50 freestyle. Anderson fielded a 200 freestyle relay team of Ben Hall (New Castle, Ind. / New Castle), David Lange (Milaca, Minn. / Princeton), Cameron Stanley (Lizton, Ind. / Tri-West) and Kropf, which turned in a season-best time of 1 minute, 34.67 seconds.

The Ravens, which are 2-2 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action, take on Transylvania University (3-3, 1-1) in conference play on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.