MSU Swimming And Diving Awards Announced Saturday
4/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
April 15, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State University men's and women's swimming and diving teams handed out its annual awards at Saturday's banquet at the MSU Union.
Senior swimmer John Munley (Kalamazoo, Mich.) and sophomore diver Carly Weiden (Kentwood, Mich.) were named Most Valuable Athletes. Munley captured a fourth-place finish in the 200-freestyle at the 2000 Big Ten Championships. He qualified for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200 freestyle, finishing 10th at the U.S.summer nationals.
Weiden earned All-America honors in the 3-meter dive at the 2000 NCAA Championships with an eighth-place finish. She was also an honorable mention All-American in the 1-meter dive. Weiden led the diving team with a second-place finish in the 3-meter and third in the 1-meter dive at the NCAA Diving Regionals. Weiden was last year's recipient of the Outstanding Freshman award.
Dianne Oliver (Louisville, Ky.), a senior captain, received the Women's Outstanding Leadership award. Oliver competed in the sprint freestyle events. She is a varsity record holder in the200 medley relay.
The Most Improved Athletes were sophomore Ildiko Szekely (Budapest, Hungary) and junior Tim Gendler (Ypsilanti, Mich.). Szekely competed in the 400 individual medley and 200 butterfly at the 1999 and 2000 Big Ten Championship. Gendler competed in the 100 and 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley at the 2000 Big Ten Championships.
The Outstanding Freshman awards went to Katie Duncombe (Erie, Pa.), Summer Mitchell (Troy, Mich.) and Joe Brennan (Poway,Calif.).
Duncombe qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 100 and 200 backstroke. She finished 14th in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke at the 2000 Big Ten Championships. Duncombe set a school record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:00.71 on Dec. 3. She also set two Lambert pool records, one in the 200 backstroke and one in the 200 individual medley on Jan. 16. She is also an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100 backstroke.
Mitchell set an Indiana pool record in the 1-meter dive with a score of 427.10. She finished sixth in the 1-meter dive at the 2000 Big Ten Championships.
Brennan finished 13th in the 1,650 freestyle and the 500 freestyle at the 2000 Big Ten Championships.
The "100% Award" was given to senior diver Casey Guntzviller (Wixom, Mich.) and freshman diver Stephanie Anisko (Mississauga, Ontario). Guntzviller was a tri-captain for the Spartans' men's team. He competed in the 1- and 3-meter dives. Anisko finished 13th in the 1-meter dive and 15th in the 3-meter dive at the 2000 Big Ten Championships.
Chris Koerner (Deerfield, Ill.) received the Jack Seibold"Sparty" Award.
A Record Breaker award was given to Katie Duncombe (Erie, Pa.) for setting a new record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:00.71 on Dec. 3. Ashby Baldock previously held the record with a time of 2:01.88.
Szekely was also given a Record Breaker award for setting the new record in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:26.96. The previous record holder was Shannon Elliott with a time of4:32.76.
Also being honored at the banquet were this year's Academic All-Big Ten selections: senior Trevor Asti (West Bloomfield, Mich.), junior Laura Atkinson (Ann Arbor, Mich.), sophomore Lisa Clouse (Newago, Mich.), junior Tim Gendler (Ypsilanti, Mich.), senior Tom Goniea (Trenton, Mich.), sophomore Shaun Krick (Auburn, Mich.), senior Catrin Lenfers (Hildesheim, Germany), sophomore Michael McKee (Sterling Heights, Mich.), junior Kim Moorhead (Rochester Hills, Mich.), junior Andrea Stewart (Trenton, Mich.), senior Joni Sturgeon (Okemos, Mich.), sophomore Ildiko Szekely (Budapest, Hungary) and sophomore Carly Weiden (Kentwood, Mich.).
Seniors receiving recognition were: Trevor Asti, Tom Goniea, Casey Guntzviller, Catrin Lenfers, Dianne Oliver, Joni Sturgeon and Mary Ellen Wydan. Wydan, who has been working with the MSU swimming and diving program for five years, will be retiring this year.
The men's team finished 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the Big Ten. The Spartan women's teams were 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten.
Head coach of the Spartans is Richard Bader. He is assisted by Matt Gianiodis and Mary Ellen Wydan. The diving coach is John Narcy.