MEN'S SWIMMING HANDS OUT AWARDS AT END OF YEAR AWARDS DINNER

May 10, 2010

BRYANT SWIMMING HOLDS END OF YEAR BANQUET
Numerous Awards Handed Out

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men’s and women’s swim teams held their annual end of year awards banquet recently as head coach Katie Cameron and assistant Aimee Bourassa handed out several awards to several individuals who helped lead the Bulldogs to a tremendous second season of Division I competition.

Here are the top awards handed out:

Men’s Most Valuable Swimmer: 

Alex Kosenski ’12 (Lavalette, N.J.)
Scored the most points during the 2009-10 season and was a finalist in two events at the ECAC Championships in Pittsburgh.  He currently holds the school record in three different events.

Bulldog Award: 
Steven Nguyen ’11 (San Jose, Calif.)
An award handed out to the biggest overall contributor to the program, Nguyen was the team’s second highest point-scorer and earned a trip to the ECAC Championships as well. The SAAC Co-Chair, Nguyen was busy away from practice and competition where he was heavily involved in various community service projects, recruiting and team fundraising efforts.  In addition, he is also an excellent photographer !

Most Improved: 
Kevin McDonald ’12 (North Haven, Conn.)
From Day 1 of the 2009-10 season, McDonald came ready to train hard and did so with every single team practice and competition.  The hard work paid off as he not only qualified for the ECAC Championships in February, but advanced to the finals in TWO events. He is the school record holder in two events and a member of several school relay records and owns a pool record as well. 

Rookie of the Year:
Steve Sinclair ’13 (Middleton, Mass.)
Enjoyed a brilliant first year with the Bulldogs where he was one of the team’s top performers in the backstroke this past season as well as in the middle distance freestyles.  A member of the school relay record holders, Sinclair earned a spot at the ECAC championships last February.

WOMEN’S AWARDS

Most Valuable Swimmer: 
Casey Ostrander ’13 (Yarmouthport, Mass.)
In just her first season competing at Bryant, Ostrander turned in one of the finest seasons in the history of the program, setting numerous school and conference records and took home some big-time hardware at the NEC Championships where she was named the NEC Conference Swimmer of the year and NEC Rookie of the Year after winning three conference championships and a spot in the ECAC finals.

Bulldog Award: 
Jessica Looney ’10 (Goffstown, N.H.)
One of the most versatile athletes on the team during the past four years, Looney capped off her tremendous career  as the team’s fourth highest point scorer on the team in 2009-10.  A member of the President’s Leadership Council, Looney was also and ECAC qualifier and NEC Conference finalist.

Most Improved:  
Sarah Drew ’10 (Milton, Mass.)
Focusing on the 100 and 200 yard butterfly, Drew improved her best in the 100 by two seconds this season and improved her 200 time by a good seven seconds.  Her efforts were rewarded in February when she earned a spot in the NEC Conference finals. 

Rookies of the Year:
Molly Smith ’13 (Belmont, Mass.) & Kim Carballeria ’13 (East Setauket, N.Y.)
Smith enjoyed a tremendous first season at Bryant in 2009-10 where she set five school records and four pool records as a freshman.  A finalist at the NEC Championships, she would also compete in the finals at the ECAC Championships as well.

Carballeria was the third highest point scorer on the team and also set two new schools records and also found herself competing in the finals at the NEC and ECAC Championships in February.

Special Award: 
Kelly Hill ’10 (Tarrytown, N.Y.)
For the first time in the program’s history, coach Cameron announced the addition of a new special award, given to some who exemplifies hard work daily with a smile.  This award will be given every four years.  The inaugural recipient is senior Kelly Hill who never missed a workout and gave 100 percent each and every day.  She continued to improve her time with each and every race throughout the season.  Beginning this year, this special award will be named the Kelly Hill Award.