Bulldog Swimmers Honored At End of Season Banquet

Bulldog Swimmers Honored At End of Season Banquet

SMITHFIELD, R.I.- The Bryant swimming and diving teams celebrated another successful season at their end of year banquet on April 24. Twelve Bulldogs earned awards handed out by the coaches at the event.

 

Bulldogs of the Year: The Bulldog of the Year is given out by the athletic department, and is the highest honor in the program. It is given to the male and female athlete who have displayed all-around excellence: high GPA, a team leader, an active participant in community and recruiting events, and great success in the pool.

Matt Mays: Mays scored 53 points at the NEC Championships and was the team's #2 scorer overall on the season. He was the team's top scorer at the Gompei Invitational and finished his collegiate career holding five program records. A regular on the dean's list and a captain while earning his MBA, Mays' veteran leadership and consistent voice of reason helped guide his teammates to a second straight conference title

Erin Doruska: Doruska was a top three points scorer for the team four times this season, the number two point scorer overall, and a key member of four relay teams at the NEC Championships. During her time at Bryant, she has been a member of the Catholic Student Association and Best Buddies International, and has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her college career. A student of the sport, she holds her teammates and coaches to a high standard.

 

High Point Award: This award is given to the individuals who scored the most points across all meets during the season.

FuKang Wong: Wong totaled 348 points during the season, including at least 18 points at each dual meet. He had a team high 57 points at the NEC Championships en route to being named Men's Swimmer of the Meet.

Reagan Lord: Lord scored 333 points during the season, and was the team's top scorer at six dual meets and the Gompei Invitational. She won two golds at the NEC Championships, set two conference records, and was named the conference Rookie of the Year.

 

Divers of the Year: This award is given to the most outstanding men's and women's divers over the course of the season.

Ben Prouty: Prouty was named NEC Diver of the Meet. He one gold in both one and three meter dives at the conference meet.

Kyri Chambo: Chambo was NEC Diver of the Meet for the third consecutive year. She won gold in the three meter dive and bronze in the one meter.

 

Most Improved: This award is given to the individuals who showed the most improvement over the course of the season. These athletes have shown great time/score improvements as well as personal growth in the sport.

Nathan Sideris: Sideris began the year having never competed in the three meter dive, and greatly improved to consistently score in the 200's by the end of the season. He improved his scoring all-around and added many harder dives to both his one-meter and three-meter lists during the year.

Natalia Kuipers: Kuipers was the Bulldogs' fourth highest point scorer for the entire season, and was a top five scorer in five different events. She was the only female swimmer to score at the CSCAA Championships.

 

Rookie of the Year: This is awarded to two freshmen who had big impacts on the team. These athletes responded well to the transition into college swimming and demonstrated their ability to contribute to the team in all aspects.

Conner Lofstrom: Lofstrom won three individual and multiple relay medals at the NEC Championships, including a school record 49.5 in the 100 free. He was named NEC Rookie of the Meet for his efforts.

Paige Edwards: Edwards scored 38 points at the NEC Championships, including a bronze medal in the 1650 free. She also won the 200, 500, and 1650 free at the Gompei Invitational.

 

Teammate of the Year: This award is given to the best teammates as voted on by their peers.

Dom Scifo: "Dom is the glue that holds our team together. As a swimmer he was a top scorer but even more so pushed the team to train harder every day. Dom is an incredible athlete but even more incredible of a person. His role as captain extended far beyond the pool deck. He inspired the team to be better but he never let the role of captain change his personality. His joking attitude kept everyone in good spirits and brought us closer as a family which was truly the most important thing to him." - Jake Williams

Megan Donnelly: "Meg D is the epitome of what a Bulldog teammate should be - positive, selfless, and motivating. She's the first one to drive someone to get medicine if they're sick, will always ask how your day was, and greet you with a smile regardless of how her day was. Her love being a bulldog shows through & is so contagious that it consistently brings our teams energy up. I am so lucky to have Meg D as a teammate!" - Claire Russell

 

Nicole Salzano Perserverance Award: This award is given only when the coaches feel there is a deserving winner. It is given to athlete who has faced adversity and was courageous and strong on overcoming it.

Sammi Grenon: Grenon suffered a spiral fracture in December, and was forced to train in the stationary Swim X for weeks. When she returned to the pool, she was unable to push or kick off the wall. She swam at the conference meet despite nobody thinking she would recover in time, and went on to score 57 points, win two gold medals, and set both a conference and program record.

Kelly Tiernan: Tiernan has battled through asthma, two concussions, and heart surgery during her career. She perservered, never gave up, and learned the meaning of gratitude, greatly improving her times in the 200, 500, and 1650 free events.