Swimming & Diving Announces Annual Awards
6/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine swimming and diving program announced its 2009-10 season awards at the team banquet held earlier this evening. Also announced were the six Black Bears who will represent the squads as team captains next season. Among the awards, freshman Jennifer Trodden (Reading, Mass.) and junior Jeremy Bender (St. Paul, Minn.) earned 2009-10 Most Valuable Performer honors.
Trodden had a spectacular freshman season in the pool for the Black Bears. She ended her solid season by breaking three school-records at the 2010 America East Championships held at Boston University. Trodden now holds school-records in the 100 breast-stroke (1:05.98), the 200 breast-stroke (2:21.86) as well as the 200 I.M. (2:06.69).
Bender had a fantastic second half of the season, after spending the first half studying abroad in Australia, examining the Great Barrier Reef. Bender's highlight of the season also came at the 2010 America East Championships when he broke Don Winant's 32 year old record in the 400 I.M. with a new time of 4:07.56.
Other honors were as follows:
Switzer Dedication Award: Presented to those who do the most they can to be the best they can be.
Katelyn Hunt (Wayzata, Minn.) and Michael Capossela (Riverside, Conn.)
Most Improved: Presented to those who make the most progress either from the beginning of the year to the end or from one year to the next.
Alice McBride (Machiasport, Maine) and Ryan Wonsor (Killington, Vt.)
Chandler Comeback Award: Presented to the person who has overcome significant adversity or disappointment to achieve beyond expectations.
Meaghann Fisher (Carmel, Ind.) and Samantha Graham (Vestal, N.Y.)
Palmer Plaque for Academic Excellence: Presented to the student-athletes that achieved the highest in the classroom.
Samantha Bond (Temple, N.H.) and Jeremy Bender (St. Paul, Minn.)
Miller Diving Award: Presented to the person who exhibits the most spirit, determination and courage to be the best they can be.
Samantha Graham (Vestal, N.Y.)
Senior Service Award: Given to the seniors who have given loyal and consistent commitment to Maine Swimming and Diving.
Nissa Marione (Wiscasset, Maine) and Megan McLean (Walpole, Mass.)
The Black Bears also announced their captains for the 2010-2011 season. Next year's captains are Samantha Bond (Temple, N.H.), Sara Knight (Gardiner, Maine), Caitlin Shelley (Charlottesville, Va.), Jeremy Bender (St. Paul, Minn.), Dan MacDonald (Melrose, Mass.), and Ryan Wonsor (Killington, Vt.)
