Hopta Repeats as Conference Swimmer of the Week

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – VMI freshman Stephen Hopta earned America East Male Swimmer of the Week honors for the week of January 22, his second-straight week to take home the award.

The Keydets swam at Washington & Lee University Saturday against the Generals and Randolph College. Hopta broke two more records after setting one last weekend at Old Dominion.

Hopta swam a 9:53.82 in the 1,000-yard freestyle at W&L to win the event and break his own school record. He set the VMI freshmen record and won the 200-backstroke with a time of 1:53.28 and took second in the 200-butterfly in 1:56.82. He joined Nick Palmieri, Brady Gannon and Ryan Schmitz for the 200-free medley relay; the four finished second in 1:26.23.

“It is good to see Stephen recognized again,” said head coach Andrew Bretscher. “He competed hard on Saturday so it is well deserved.”

Hopta already owns five school records in his young career.

VMI is back in action Saturday at the College of William and Mary.