Nov. 24, 2009

LAS VEGAS - UNLV's Steven Nelms was named the Mountain West Conference Men's Swimmer of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday. It's the first weekly honor in his career, and he is the second Rebel to earn the award this season.

Nelms, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, won two individual events in NCAA "B" qualifying times at the Fall Cougar Classic in Houston, Texas, and also swam on four first-place relays for the Rebels, three of which posted times that currently rank in the top three in the nation. His two individual wins came in the 50 free with a time of 20.26, the 13th fastest time in the nation, and in the 100 free in a time of 44.80 which ranks him 21st nationally. He also swam to a third place time of 48.44 in the 100 fly. Nelms helped the Rebels' relay teams in the 200 free, 400 free, 200 medley, and 400 medley relay events all finish in first in NCAA 'B' times as well.

UNLV will return to action on Dec. 12-14 in Long Beach, Calif., when it will swim in the Cal Lutheran Invite.