Behrend Men's Swimming and Diving Take Top AMCC Honors
The
Penn State Behrend men's swimming team swept up the All-Conference awards,
earning Swimmer of the Year, Diver of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year
awards.
17 Behrend Lion swimmers earned honors in 18 individual events and four
relays.
Dustin Fairchild (Corry/Corry) took away Swimmer of the Year honors for a
second year in a row. Fairchild also went on to earn first-team
recognition in the 500 and 200 free as well as the 200 breast. He
continues to hold the Behrend team records in the 200, 500, and 1650 free.
Diver Steve Graves (McMurray/Peters Township) took away the Diver of the
Year award. Graves broke the 3-meter board record for six dives this past
season, scoring a 247.70. He also picked up first-team all-conference
honors for the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. Steve holds all five diver
of the week awards for the 2007-08 season.
Ben Strunk (Cogan
Station/Williamsport) was named Co-Newcomer of the Year, with Matt Dietrich
from Penn State Altoona sharing the honors. Strunk received first-team
All-Conference honors in the 100 breast and part of the 400 relay, while
receiving second-team for the 200 breast. Fifth year head coach Jen
Wallace was named Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Other first-team
award winners include senior Jason Hall (Lower Burrell/Burrell) for the 200
and 400 meter relays,
Chris Graves (McMurray/Peter Township) in the 200 and 800 meter relays, as
well as the 50 free ,Tom Weir (Rochester/Freedom) for his role in the 200
meter relay, as well as 200 IM and 100 back stroke events. Senior
Anthony Spoto (Birmingham,MI/Birmingham Seaholm) picked up first team honors
for the 200 meter relay and picked up second team honors in the 50 free.
Others honored with first team awards were
Jacob Guiher (Derry/Derry),
Joe Reese (Boalsburg/State College),
Josh Weaver (Franklin/Franklin), and
Jason Bobsein (Sellersville/Pennridge).
Ten men from the Behrend Lions squad will be participating at the ECAC
Championships at the University of Pittsburgh on Friday, February 29 and
Saturday March 10. Qualifiers include Fairchild, Spoto, Hall, Reese,
Weir, Guiher, Strunk, Weaver, Steve and Chris Graves.