Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh reflects on season at year-end banquet
3/30/2010 3:15:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh swimming and diving program held its year end banquet on Sunday, March 28 at University Center. The afternoon’s festivities included lunch, remarks from head coach Rob Herb and student athletes and the presentation of both team and departmental awards as the Mountain Hawks looked back on a season that saw both Lehigh teams finish fourth at the Patriot League Championships while posting winning dual-meet records.
Senior Erin Tormey and junior Andrew DiPietro earned the program’s highest honor as they were the recipients of the Scholar-Athlete award. Given to the student-athlete who in the eyes of his/her teammates exemplifies the ideal of the scholar-athlete, Tormey becomes a two-time winner of this award as she carries a 3.56 grade point average in civil engineering. DiPietro, Lehigh’s Most Improved male swimmer in 2008, took home the men’s Scholar-Athlete award with a 3.45 GPA as a finance major.
The Athlete of the Year award is presented to the team member who makes the most outstanding athletic contribution to the accomplishments of the team. This year’s recipients were senior Allison Rolish and freshman Tyler Lareau. Rolish was a second-team All-Patriot League selection after garnering a team-best 41 points at the Patriot League championships. She competed in four events at the championship meet and set new school records in all four, including fourth place finishes in the 400 individual medley and 1650 freestyle. Lareau was also a second-team All-League selection after posting Lehigh’s top individual finish at the championships, taking second in the 100 back and setting a new school record in the process.
The Coaches Award, presented to the individuals who made significant contributions to the well being of the team in terms of attitude, improvement, or special leadership went to seniors Kevin McGrath and Julie Sicherman. Both individuals are repeat award winners from 2009. McGrath was Lehigh’s top senior male swimmer and reached the finals in three individual events to become a three-time All-League selection. Sicherman was praised for her leadership along with her contributions in butterfly and to Lehigh’s relay teams.
In addition to her Scholar-Athlete Award, Tormey was named the Female Diver of the Year for the fourth straight year after placing in the top five in both diving events at the league championships. Sophomore Connor Styles was named the Male Diver of the Year.
Sprinters Katie Haycraft and Frank Cuzzola were named the program’s Freshmen of the Year. Haycraft made immediate contributions in the sprints and freestyle relay events, including a seventh place finish in the 200 free at the league championships. Cuzzola joined Lareau as freshman All-Patriot League selections for the Mountain Hawks after scoring a Lehigh men-leading 35 points at the championship meet. Cuzzola placed tenth in the 50 free but rebounded to take fifth in both the 100 and 200 free events.
Freshmen Brooke Smalley and Alex Aboud were recognized as the program’s Most Improved swimmers. Smalley came on at the end of the season to reach the consolation final in three events at the Patriot League Championships, while Aboud set a school record in winning the consolation final in the 400 IM while also reaching the finals in the 200 fly.
