Feb. 25, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Junior Nicholas Walkotten from the Gamecock swimming and diving team has been named AgSouth Athlete of the Week.

Walkotten broke a school record in the 200-yard butterfly at the SEC Championship. Walkotten swam a strong preliminary heat of the 200 butterfly in the morning session. He set a season best during prelims and improved that mark in the finals by more than two full seconds, setting the school record of 1:43.83.

Walkotten finished ninth last season in the 200 fly at the NCAA Championship. His automatic qualifying time is the first A-cut qualifier for the Gamecocks this season. Walkotten broke the record of former USC great Zsolt Gaspar who set the previous mark of 1:43.85 in 2001.