Lehigh University Athletics
Swimming and Diving Reflects on Season, Hands out Awards at Banquet
4/8/2016 10:39:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh swimming and diving teams celebrated their 2015-16 campaigns with their annual end of the season banquet on Sunday, April 3. The event recognizes the team as a whole for their commitment and dedication throughout the season as well as several student-athletes who excelled both in the pool and in the classroom.
Both teams shared in great success this season, with the women finishing 7-2 (3-2 Patriot) in the regular season and fifth at the Patriot League Championships. The men concluded their season with a record of 5-5 (3-2 Patriot) and finished sixth at the league championship meet.
Each team honored five athletes at the banquet in front of their family and peers at the Wood Dining Room in Iacocca Hall. Juniors Jacob Moyar and Kaitlyn Ruffing were named Most Valuable Swimmers for their respective teams. Moyar, a three-time All-Patriot League team selection, owns six school records in the 500 free, 200 fly, 200 IM and 400 IMs, and 400 and 800 free relays. Ruffing finished second in both the 200 free relay and 50 freestyle at the 2016 Patriot League Championships. In addition to earning her third straight All-Patriot League team selection, Ruffing qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 50 meter freestyle.
Ruffing (3.89 GPA) also took home the Scholar Athlete Award, given to the student-athlete who has shown the most prowess in the pool and in the classroom. Sophomore Zach Tieke, was honored as the men's Scholar athlete recipient. A chemical engineering major with a 3.60 cumulative GPA, Tieke owns two school records in both the 400 and 800 free relays. His part in the record setting 400 free relay time of 2:58.48 earned his team third place in the 2016 Patriot League Championships.
The Coaches Award, given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies admirable character and improvement in both swimming and the classroom, went to junior Justin White and senior Carolyn Koch. This is White's second year in a row winning the award, as he is coming off a 2015-16 campaign that earned him All-Patriot League honors for the second straight year. White has also qualified for this summer's U.S. Olympic Trials in the 50m freestyle. Koch, a four-time All-Patriot League selection, capped off a stellar career with three second place finishes at the 2016 Patriot League championships in the 200, 400 and 800 free relays. She scored 35 points at this year's PLC meet to lead the team for the third time in four years at the league championships.
Freshman of the Year honors were brought home by James Mauk and Courtney Ferreira. Mauk, a native of Wilmington, Del. was a four-time all-state selection in swimming prior to coming to Lehigh. In his first year as a Mountain Hawk, Mauk swam three top-20 finishes at the Patriot League Championships in the 400 IM, 1650 free and 200 back. Ferreira, a Darien, Conn. product, finished second in the 800 free relay, as well as ninth in the 200 IM and 200 freestyle at the Patriot League Championships in 2016.
The Most Improved Swimmer Award was given to junior Cora Summerfield and sophomore Jimmy Davey. Summerfield, an earth and environmental science major, was also named to her second straight All-Patriot League team. She finished second and set a new school record in the 1650 free (16:39.03) at the 2016 Patriot League Championships. Davey, a Southbury, Conn. native and mechanical engineering major, had three top-15 finishes at the Patriot League Championships in the 100 back, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay.
The night was rounded out with the Bruce Gardiner Leadership Award, named after Lehigh's former swimming coach who worked at the university for 39 years. The award recognizes a member of the program who is also a member of the department's Leadership Academy. The award this year was presented to assistant coach Erin Matyus for her valuable contributions to the Lehigh swim programs and the athletic department as a whole. Over the past five years, Matyus has been involved in the department's leadership branding and development initiatives including coaching curriculums, the Athletics Awards Committee and the Raise Your Game Women's Leadership Conference.
Both teams shared in great success this season, with the women finishing 7-2 (3-2 Patriot) in the regular season and fifth at the Patriot League Championships. The men concluded their season with a record of 5-5 (3-2 Patriot) and finished sixth at the league championship meet.
Each team honored five athletes at the banquet in front of their family and peers at the Wood Dining Room in Iacocca Hall. Juniors Jacob Moyar and Kaitlyn Ruffing were named Most Valuable Swimmers for their respective teams. Moyar, a three-time All-Patriot League team selection, owns six school records in the 500 free, 200 fly, 200 IM and 400 IMs, and 400 and 800 free relays. Ruffing finished second in both the 200 free relay and 50 freestyle at the 2016 Patriot League Championships. In addition to earning her third straight All-Patriot League team selection, Ruffing qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 50 meter freestyle.
Ruffing (3.89 GPA) also took home the Scholar Athlete Award, given to the student-athlete who has shown the most prowess in the pool and in the classroom. Sophomore Zach Tieke, was honored as the men's Scholar athlete recipient. A chemical engineering major with a 3.60 cumulative GPA, Tieke owns two school records in both the 400 and 800 free relays. His part in the record setting 400 free relay time of 2:58.48 earned his team third place in the 2016 Patriot League Championships.
The Coaches Award, given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies admirable character and improvement in both swimming and the classroom, went to junior Justin White and senior Carolyn Koch. This is White's second year in a row winning the award, as he is coming off a 2015-16 campaign that earned him All-Patriot League honors for the second straight year. White has also qualified for this summer's U.S. Olympic Trials in the 50m freestyle. Koch, a four-time All-Patriot League selection, capped off a stellar career with three second place finishes at the 2016 Patriot League championships in the 200, 400 and 800 free relays. She scored 35 points at this year's PLC meet to lead the team for the third time in four years at the league championships.
Freshman of the Year honors were brought home by James Mauk and Courtney Ferreira. Mauk, a native of Wilmington, Del. was a four-time all-state selection in swimming prior to coming to Lehigh. In his first year as a Mountain Hawk, Mauk swam three top-20 finishes at the Patriot League Championships in the 400 IM, 1650 free and 200 back. Ferreira, a Darien, Conn. product, finished second in the 800 free relay, as well as ninth in the 200 IM and 200 freestyle at the Patriot League Championships in 2016.
The Most Improved Swimmer Award was given to junior Cora Summerfield and sophomore Jimmy Davey. Summerfield, an earth and environmental science major, was also named to her second straight All-Patriot League team. She finished second and set a new school record in the 1650 free (16:39.03) at the 2016 Patriot League Championships. Davey, a Southbury, Conn. native and mechanical engineering major, had three top-15 finishes at the Patriot League Championships in the 100 back, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay.
The night was rounded out with the Bruce Gardiner Leadership Award, named after Lehigh's former swimming coach who worked at the university for 39 years. The award recognizes a member of the program who is also a member of the department's Leadership Academy. The award this year was presented to assistant coach Erin Matyus for her valuable contributions to the Lehigh swim programs and the athletic department as a whole. Over the past five years, Matyus has been involved in the department's leadership branding and development initiatives including coaching curriculums, the Athletics Awards Committee and the Raise Your Game Women's Leadership Conference.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Swimming and Diving
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/ Women's Swimming and Diving
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/ Men's Swimming and Diving No videos available.
