Swim & Dive names captains, hands out awards

BULLDOG SWIMMING AND DIVING WRAPS UP YEAR WITH BANQUET

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off another outstanding season in the pool, the Bryant University Swimming and Diving team handed out its year-end awards and also named team captains for next season at its annual banquet last weekend.

Head coach Katie Cameron was proud to announce that rising seniors Nicholas Karadimas (New Milford, Conn.) and Trevor Heller (Naugatuck, Conn.) and rising junior Graham Beck (Danvers, Mass.) will serve as captains of the men's team next season. Karadimas will be serving as a captain for the second-straight season, while Heller, an ROTC student, and Beck will both be first time captains. Heller's older brother, Brendan, served as captain during the 2011-12 season. On the women's side, rising senior Kaitlin Buckley (Duxbury, Mass.) and Taylor DeBever (Denver, Colo.) and rising junior Mara Valenzuela (Bridgewater, Mass.) will serve as captains. Buckley is a captain for the second-straight year, while DeBever and Valenzuela are first-time captains.

The Bulldogs also handed out awards at the banquet with seniors Casey Ostrander (Yarmouthport, Mass.) and Steve Sinclair (Middleton, Mass.) winning the Bulldog Award, the highest award in the program. Another senior, Molly Smith (Belmont, Mass.), was honored with the Kelly Hill Award. The award, only given when deserved, is given to the swimmer that has worked tirelessly for four years and has given everything he/she has to the program.

Elisabeth Schauer (Pelham, N.Y.) and Lauren Doerrman (Oley, Pa.) shared Rookie of the Year honors for the women, while Joshua Bjornberg (Wallingford, Conn.) was the male Rookie of the Year. Schauer and Doerrman both excelled at the Northeast Conference Championships as Schauer earned a silver medal in the 200 back and a bronze medal in the 100 back, and Doerrman set a school record on her way to a silver medal in the 400 IM. Bjornberg wrapped up a solid rookie campaign with finals appearances in the 100 and 200 breast at the MAAC Championships. He also helped the 200 and 400 free, and the 200 and 400 medley relay teams set school records at the MAACs. Buckley and Michael Doran (Westborough, Mass.) were named the most improved swimmers and DeBever and graduate student Alex Kosenski (Lavallette, N.J.) were awarded for having the highest point total.