DeGrazia, Kirchner Garner GNAC Weekly Awards

BOSTON, Mass. – Elms College freshmen swimmers Devon DeGrazia (Westport, Mass.) and Ashley Kirchner (Dalton, Mass.) swept the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly awards as recently announced by the organization.

DeGrazia earned her third GNAC Swimmer of the Week after helping the Blazers earn three victories during the week of Jan. 17-23. Elms defeated Western New England College (WNEC) and swept double dual meet action against Gordon College and Norwich University. DeGrazia finished first in the 50-yard backstroke (30.77), the 50-yard freestyle (26.73) and the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:23.12. Against Gordon and Norwich, she set a new school record with a time of 2:16.93 in the 200-meter freestyle and added victories in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyles with times of 29.44 and 1:03.24.

Kirchner helped guide Elms to its 3-0 week with top finishes in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:26.52, the 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.45) and the 50-yard butterfly (29.66) against WNEC. In Saturday's double dual meet, Kirchner recorded a 1:13.19 in the 100-meter individual medley to stake her new school record and finished first in the 100-meter butterfly (1:17.22) en route to her third GNAC Rookie of the Week accolade.