Williamsburg, KY – Finding success in their final tune up leading into the Mid-South Conference Championship, Patriots swimmers Ali Pecore and Ruben Gonzalez de Oliveira have been selected as the January Athletes of the Month presented by Appalachian Wireless, the athletic department announced Thursday. The University of the Cumberlands Athletic Department in conjunction with their corporate partner Appalachian Wireless are presenting the "Appalachian Wireless Athletes of the Month", which will be award to one male and one female student-athlete each month.

Pecore was named the female athlete of the month honors after recording six wins and seven NAIA provisional cuts over the Patriots two meets on the month.  The Oshkosh, WI native opened the month by winning the sprint free triathlon during the Asbury Triple Distance Meet.  Pecore clocked a 55.14 to win the 100 free, before touching the wall in 2:00.41 to edge out a win in the 200 free by a half second.  She capped off her individual events with her third NAIA provisional cut of the day this time in the 50 free going 25.53.   A week later against seventh-ranked Milligan, Pecore added two more individual wins.  The freshman edged out Maggie Blazo by 0.08 seconds in the 200 free to win the event with a time of 1:58.56.  In the 500 free, she pulled away from the field and went 5:18.01 to take top honors.  Pecore was also part of two winning relays that achieved NAIA "A" cuts on the month. 

Gonzalez de Oliveira earned the male athlete of the month honors after leading the Patriots with six wins on the month.  The freshman was on top of his game during the Asbury Triple Distance meet as he won the King of the Sprint Free Stroke, sweeping the field and winning by almost eight seconds.  In the closest race of the event, Gonzalez de Oliveira edged out Enzo Esteves by 0.01 seconds to win the 50 free with a time of 21.47.  The freshman followed that up going 47.00 in the 100 free and clocking a 1:44.34 to pull away from the field in the 200 free.  All three of those times were NAIA provisional cuts as he finished with a total time of 2:52.81.  The Madrid, Spain native followed it up with against third-ranked Milligan in the 500 free as he touched the wall in 4:51.70 for the three second win.  Gonzalez de Oliveira has also been a staple on the Cumberlands relays, where he helped UC win a pair of freestyle relays on the month.

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