FOLLOW OHIO SWIMMING & DIVING: Twitter | Instagram

CLEVELAND - Ohio swimming sophomore Zita Szoke was named the Mid-American Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Week, the league announced today (March 26). 

Szoke (Hodmezovasarhely, Hungary), a Linguistics major with a 3.57 GPA, is coming off an historic trip to the 2025 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships last week. On Saturday (March 22) Szoke became the first Ohio swimmer to earn All-American status since 2000 when she placed 11^thoverall in the 100 free with a new MAC and Ohio record of 47.62, breaking her own record of 47.63 that she set in the morning prelims. Her 11th place finish is the highest finish at the NCAA Championships from a MAC swimmer this season, and it's the highest finish for a Bobcat since 1995 when Hall of Famer Lisa MacNicol (Mitchell) placed 11th in the 100 fly.  

On Friday, Szoke competed in the 200 free where she placed first in her heat with the 1:44.54 time. At the time, Szoke was the first Bobcat since 2000 to earn a top-20 finish at NCAAs. She is also the highest-placing Bobcat at NCAA's since Laurin Williams placed 23rd in the 1650 in 2012.  On Thursday, Szoke opened the championships with the 50 free, placing third in her heat – 44^th overall – with a time of 22.26. 

Szoke was also named a College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of American (CSCAA) Second Team All-American on Monday (March 24). 

Prior to her trip to Federal Way, Szoke won three individual championships and one relay championship at the 2025 MAC Swimming and Diving Championships and the end of February, where she was named First Team All-MAC. 

College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of American (CSCAA) Second Team All-American. 

#OUohyeah