Ungur, Simerly bring home Bojangles’ Athlete of the Week honors

Ungur, Simerly bring home Bojangles’ Athlete of the Week honors

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman men's swimming's Paul Ungur (Baie Mara, Romania) and women's basketball's Jecca Simerly (Morristown, Tenn.) have been named Bojangles' Male and Female Athletes of the Week. 

Freshman Paul Ungur (Baie Mara, Romania) set the first two "A" times in Carson-Newman swimming history, six school records and three more "B" times at last weekend's Fall Frenzy in Charlotte, N.C. Throw in an individual win and a relay win for the freshman and he had a heck of a week.

Ungur won the school's first event in a major meet Saturday in the 100 Back with a time of 48.78 and set the school's first "A"-cut time in the process. An "A"-cut guarantees him a spot at the NCAA D-II Championships in March. Ungur was also a member of the 400 Free Relay time that won with a new school record time of 2:59.94, the only sub-three minute time in the nation thus far.

Ungur also set an "A"-cut time in the 200 Back (1:45.19) and he set a school record in the process. He also set the school record in the: 100 Fly, 200 Medley Relay and the 400 Medley Relay.

Simerly began the week with eight points, seven rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal in a victory over Tusculum. The freshman forward became the first player since junior guard Tatum Burstrom (Maryville, Tenn.) poured in 20 at Lenoir-Rhyne on December 14, 2013 to score 20 points in a half as Simerly went 10-for-12 from the floor in the opening half against Coker on Saturday. 

Simerly recorded the first double-double of the year by a Lady Eagle in the game finishing with career-highs in points and rebounds with 27 and 10. The freshman went 13-for-16 from the floor and chipped in three assists.

Bojangles is a proud corporate sponsor of Carson-Newman athletics.  Eagle fans can get a free large sweet tea from the Jefferson City location the day after Carson-Newman basketball games where the Eagle women score 65 points or the men score 70 points by telling the cashier, "It's Bo Time at Carson-Newman."