
Swimming and Diving Announces Annual Team Awards
4/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
April 26, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's and women's swimming and diving teams held their annual awards banquet on Sunday (April 26). Senior Heather Kiluk took home her second consecutive women's swimmer of the year award while kevin Puskaric was named swimmer of the year on the men's side.
"Kevin is a really great student-athlete and his career is going to only get better," said MSU head coach Matt Gianiodis. "Heather has been such a stalwart for us and her presence and contributions are going to be sorely missed."
Kiluk had the team's top marks this season in the 100 (51.20), 500 (4:59.08) and 1,000 freestyle (10:12.37) as well as the 200 (2:02.44) and 400 IM (4:27.42). Her 200 IM time was a new school record.
Puskaric set a new school mark in the 200 breaststroke (1:57.01) and his 54.78 in the 100 breaststroke was the fastest on the team this season.
Senior Marcus Poteete was the recipient of the Jason Vadney Spartan of the Year honor. Poteete set the team's top times in the 50 (22.36), 100 (47.01) and 200 butterfly (1:49.11) as well as the 200 IM (1:49.68). His 47.01 in the 100 fly broke the school record by over one second and ranked in the top-20 times nationally earlier this season.
Sophomore Stephanie Fisher, one of MSU's best in the backstroke, was named the women's Spartan of the Year.
Kiluk wasn't the only repeat winner as fellow senior Danielle Williams was again named women's diver of the year. Williams, who competed at the Canadian Olympic trials last summer, placed 10th on the one-meter board at the 2009 Big Ten Championships and had a stellar career for the Green and White. David Garry, who has competed at NCAA Zones the last three seasons, received men's diver of the year honors.
"Danielle has had a great career despite some tough injuries," Gianiodis said. "She has shown Spartan toughness and has achieved great things for MSU. David Garry has steadily improved and he has the chance to have a great senior year."
The Jack Seibold Award for Leadership went to Michale VanBeek while the Jennifer Parks Award for Leadership went to senior Marlys Fuqua.
Jon LaRocque, who set a new MSU record in the 100 backstroke (48.55), earned the well-deserved John Narcy Most Improved Award. Becca Ebner, who won nearly half of the butterfly events she competed in this season, shared the women's Narcy Award for Most Improved with Kayla Kalmbach.
Diver Sarah Clay shared women's freshman of the year honors with Kerry Sodonis while Mark Schramm was named men's freshman of the year.
Senior Mark Rogers received the Kevin Zielinski Heart Award and Ricky Forrest was honored with the John Munley Memorial Scholarship.
Jack Seibold Award for Leadership
Michael VanBeek
Jennifer Parks Award for Leadership
Marlys Fuqua
Men's John Narcy Most Improved
Jon LaRocque,
Women's John Narcy Most Improved
Becca Ebner, Kayla Kalmbach
Women's Spartan of the Year Award
Stephanie Fisher
Men's Jason Vadney Spartan of the Year Award
Marcus Poteete
Women's Swimmer of the Year
Heather Kiluk
Men's Swimmer of the Year
kevin Puskaric
Women's Diver of the Year
Danielle Williams
Men's Diver of the Year
David Garry
Women's Freshman-of-the-Year
Sarah Clay, Kerry Sodonis
Men's Freshman-of-the-Year
Mark Schramm
Kevin Zielinski Heart Award
Mark Rogers
John Munley Memorial Scholarship
Ricky Forrest