Bryant Swim & Dive celebrates 2016-17 season at annual banquet
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's and women's swimming and diving programs held their end of the year banquet and announced their yearly awards on Sunday, April 23.
Bulldog Award
The highest honor in the program was awarded to junior Ben Schulte (Tumon, Guam) and sophomore Jillian Rice (Trumbull, Conn.). Both received their honors at the Bryant Athletics Awards Banquet. Schulte opened the year by competing for Guam in the 2016 Rio Olympics and finished it by winning three gold medals at the MAAC Championships. He set the school record in the 200 breast and also helped 200 medley relay set a school record and win the program's first-ever relay gold medal.
Rice won 26 events and finished in the top three 34 times on the season. She posted lifetime bests in all of her sprint events and anchored the 800 free relay team that set a school record and won gold at the NEC Championships. It was the first time the Bulldogs had won gold in the 800 free relay. Rice finished closed out the victory with the fastest split time in school history.
MVP
This award is given to the individuals who scored the most points during the course of the season, including dual meets and conference meet. Junior Nicole Salzano (Elmwood Park, N.J.) scored 350 points during the season and was the highest point scorer for the Bulldogs at the NEC Championships. She earned nine first-place finishes, 27 top-three finishes on the year and was a member of the gold medal-winning 800 free relay.
Junior Colin Curtin (Wethersfield, Conn.) scored 269 points on the men's side and was a member of the 200 medley relay team that won gold at the MAAC Championships. He was also a member of three other relay teams that won medals at the championships (400 free, 400 medley and 800 free). Curtin also set a school record and earned a silver medal in the 100 back.
Most Improved
This award is given to the individual who showed the most improvement in the pool as well as personal growth over the course of the season. Junior Mackenzie Kirk (San Jose, Calif.) dropped her times in a big way this season and went from scoring just five points at the 2016 championships to 24 this year. Kirk earned three first-place finishes and 12 top-three finishes on the year.
Oliver French (Nashua, N.H.) put the finishing touches on a strong season by setting three school records at the MAA Championships. He set new program marks in the 1650 free, the 1000 free and the 200 fly, earning a bronze medal in the 200 fly.
Rookie of the Year
Alyssa DiFiore (Wethersfield, Conn.), Alaina Scifo (Ipswich, Great Britain) and Robert Davis (Glastonbury, Conn.) took home rookie of the year honors. DiFiore and Scifo both set recorded lifetime bests and finaled at the NECs. Scifo was a member of the 800 free relay team that won a gold medal, while DiFiore earned a silver medal in the 500 and a bronze in the 1650 free.
Davis enjoyed a strong rookie season, winning 10 events and finishing in the top three 19 times. Davis was a member of the 800 free relay team that won a gold medal at the MAACs, finished ninth in the 500 free, 13th in the 200 free and seventh in the 100 free at the championship meet.
Teammate of the Year
Freshman Domenica Alcala (Cancun, Mexico) earned the honor for her ability to unite the team and encourage them all to do the right thing. She was also a major contributor in the recruiting process and very selfless.
Classmate Cyrus Nabavi (Murray, Kent.) earns the honor on the men's side for his great motivation and positive attitude throughout the year.
Most Improved Diver
Sophomore Kevin Sullivan (East Lyme, Conn.) earns the honor after becoming the diver to place in the top eight at the MAAC Championships. Sullivan scored 23 points at the MAACs, finishing fifth in the 3 meter dive and ninth in the 1 meter dive.
2017-18 Captains
The Bulldogs also named their captains for next season. Rice, Salzano, Kirk and rising junior Kelci Abernethy (Chandler, Ariz.) were selected as the women's captains.
Curtin, rising junior Tavish Boyle (Springfield, N.J.) and rising senior George Sommerville (Pittsfield, Mass.) were chosen as captains on the men's side.