By Chris GentilvisoThe Daily Northwestern

For the first time this season, Northwestern has a national award to its credit.

Freshman Kassia Shishkoff was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Week and Collegeswimming.com National Swimmer of the Week after a blistering four-victory performance last Saturday against No. 16 Tennessee. Her pool record in the 1650-yard free clinched her spot as the first Wildcat to receive the national honor since Erica Rose back in January 2003.

“It was pretty cool,” Shishkoff said. “I’ve never gotten anything like that before. It’s a great feeling to be recognized by people who really know fast swimmers.”

This past weekend was one of several eye-opening meets for Shishkoff in her first year at NU. The North Carolina native has established herself as one of the best distance swimmers in the country, with top-25 times in the 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard free events this season.

Assistant Coach Nichole Ellis attributed Shishkoff’s growth over the course of the season to her focus both in and out of the water.

“She’s unbelievable in the pool,” Ellis said. “But little things that usually affect swimmers, like school or cold weather, those things don’t bother her. Even if it kills her, she pushes on.”

Two-time All-American junior Andrea Hupman, who placed 16th in the 100-yard free at the NCAA Championships last season, doesn’t see Shishkoff facing difficulties in tournament conditions.

“It’s a similar format to other USA swimming events that she has swam before,” she said. “Although the format is different than the dual-meets, I know she’ll be able to excel.”

With the Big Ten tournament a month away, Shishkoff said pre-meet butterflies used to be an issue at every single race. But with her continued success, jitters have taken a backseat to wins.

“My focus is to swim a lot of yards,” she said. “That is my thing.”

As she continues to rack up those yards, she is joined by her classmates in one of the best freshmen classes in recent years. Of ten swimmers who hold top-100 times nationally this season, six are freshmen.

“For us (coaches), this award is second to none,” Ellis said. “(Kassia) deserves it. But what is most exciting is that people are beginning to take notice of the things were doing here in this little corner of Northern Chicago.”

Reach Chris Gentilviso at [email protected].