4/4/2009 4:28:11 PM
HAMILTON, N.Y. (4/4/09) –Emily Murphy (Camillus, N.Y.) and Tucker Gniewek ( Mountain Lakes, N.J.) headlined the award winners as the Colgate men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams concluded the season with their annual team banquet, Saturday.
Murphy, who became the first women’s swimmer at Colgate to compete at the national championships on the NCAA Division I level, was named the Team MVP for the women’s team, while Gniewek, a first team Patriot League honoree, received the same recognition for the men.
Murphy, a seven-event title winner at the 2009 Patriot League Championships, had a hand in breaking six Colgate school records in her final season. She lowered her own school records in the 100 breast (1:00.86) and 200 breast (2:13.46), while sharing the record with three other teammates in the 200 and 400 medley relays, as well as the 200 and 400 free relays. Murphy won the league titles in the 200 breast, 200 IM and tied for the top spot in the 100 breast. At the time, the senior established school, league, championship and pool records in those events.
Individually, Gniewek tallied three top five finishes at the 2009 Patriot League Championships and established Colgate school records in all three races. The sophomore finished third in the 50 free (20.35), fourth in the 100 free (46.20) and fifth in the 100 back (51.16). Gniewek was also one fourth of Colgate’s second place team in the 400 free relay.
Caitlin Curran (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Devon Healy (New Canaan, Conn.) were named as the Ironman Award recipients. The recognition goes to the men’s and women’s swimmer or diver who not only has been exemplary in his/her attendance, commitment and work ethic, but has also demonstrated the highest degree of physical, psychological and emotional durability in the training.
Curran was one of nine first team honorees for the women’s team after registering three top five performances at the league championships. The junior finished third in the 200 breast, fourth in the 100 breast, and fifth in the 200 IM at Bucknell’s Kinney Natatorium. Healy, a sophomore, had three top 10 efforts at the league meet and broke two Colgate school records in the 400 IM (3:57.80) and 200 IM (1:53.14), events he finished sixth and seventh respectively. Healy placed 10th in the 1650 free.
The recipients of the Excelsior Award were Sarah Button (Mendham, N.J.) and Vince Hostoffer (Highland Heights, Ohio). The award is given out to the swimmer or diver who through dedication and outstanding work ethic, has shown the greatest improvement in their performances over the course of the year. In her inaugural season, Button made impact on the roster, especially at the Patriot League Championships. A second team all-league honoree, the freshman picked up a pair of fourth place finishes in the 100 and 200 backs and a 10th in the 100 fly. Hostoffer, a sophomore, placed 12th in the 500 free with a Colgate record setting time of 4:35.40 at the league championships.
Ashley Bottger (Weston, Conn.) was named the 2009 recipient of the Maroon and White Award. The award winner demonstrated the ability to take an individual sport to its highest team level by consistently placing personal goals below the team needs and goals. This student-athlete performed at their best when others depended upon them the most. Bottger was a first team all-league honoree winning the 100 free title (49.87); placing second in the 50 free (22.73), and third in the 200 free (1:49.07). All times broke Colgate school records and her winning time also served as league and meet records. Bottger, who also was a member of several record-setting league title relay teams, lowered her school and league records in the 100 free (49.49) weeks later at the Last Chance Meet in Athens, Ga.
Freshmen Costas Hadjipateras (New Canaan, Conn.) and Patrick White (Stamford, Conn.) are co-recipients of The Aaron Weddle Award, which is the men’s equivalent to the Maroon & White Award. Hadjipateras tallied two top 10 individual finishes at his first Patriot League Championships – placing fifth in the 200 fly and 10th in the 200 free. He was also a member of Colgate’s 400 free relay that finished second overall. Hadjipateras set school and freshmen records in the 200 fly (1:51.24) and tallied freshman standards in the 100 free (46.20). He was also a member of four record setting relay squads. White established school and freshmen records in the 200 free (1:40.56) and a freshman mark in the 500 free (4:36.82). He was also a member of four school record setting relays, including the 400 free relay.
Lisa Marchi (Scottsdale, Ariz.) captured the Donna Cater Award, which is given to the female swimmer or diver that combines athletic and academic success. The senior, who boasts a 3.26 grade point average, was a first team all-league performer for the Raiders as well. Marchi was a member of two conference title relays that broke school and league records in the 400 free relay (3:20.55) and 800 free relay (7:21.64). Individually, she produced a pair of fourth-place efforts in the 100 free and 200 fly.
Dan Lathrop (Westerly, RI) was named as the first recipient of the Ted Gregory Award, which is presented to the male or female exemplifying a long-standing commitment towards the swimming and diving programs and has also developed an understanding of his/her role on the team and has gone above and beyond in fulfilling that role in an effort to improve the program. As a senior, Lathrop provided outstanding leadership and served as an assistant team captain for the men’s team during the 2008-09 season.