ALFRED, NY – Alfred University's Andre Ayala (Mexico City, Mexico/Preparatoria No°5) was named the Empire 8 Men's Swimmer of the Week on Monday afternoon.
 
This is Ayala's second E8 Weekly Honor of the season, having earned Co-Swimmer of the Week on November 10.
 
Ayala had a record-breaking weekend at the 14^th Annual Bomber Invitational hosted by Ithaca College. He broke two records in total, both of them have stood on the AU record boards since the 80's. Ayala began with breaking the 500-yard freestyle record, winning the event with a time of 4:34.00, breaking the previous mark of 4:38.03 held by four-time All-American and Alfred University Hall of Fame member, John Jewell '85, set in 1984. He then competed in the 1,650-yard freestyle and while on-pace to win the event, once he reached the 1,000-yard mark, he combined mark at the time of his touch, he broke the school record of 9:45.27, set by 13-time All-American and AU Hall of Famer Jeffery Benton '89 in his senior year. Ayala had time of 9:43.28 after 1,000-yards, en route to a thrilling mile win, defeating University of Rochester's Matthew Spence's time of 16:13.71 and Ithaca's Bennett Molitor-Kirsch's time of 16:17.95. His 500-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle victories were accompanied by his first place finish in the 400-yard individual medley as he clocked a time of 4:04.94.
 
Ayala helped the Saxons finish third overall in the three-day meet behind Ithaca and Rochester and ahead of Vassar College, Union College and Hobart College. In total, he competed in 10 races and never placed lower than third, including his 200-yard breaststroke timed trial time of 2:07.83 would have finished third in the A-Finals on Saturday, ahead of Ithaca College's top swimmer in the event. Ayala was part of the third place 200-yard medley relay team, the third place 400-yard freestyle relay team, the second place 800-yard freestyle relay team and second place 400-yard medley relay team.
 
Ayala was joined by Liv Richeda (Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell) as the Empire 8 Women's Swimmer of the Week on Monday. He was also named a Saxon of the Week alongside of women's track & field's Natalya Ryckman (New Eagle, PA/Ringgold).