May 2, 2017
Photos
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State swimming and diving teams celebrated the 2016-17 season with their annual awards banquet at the Nittany Lion Inn in April.
The major awards that were presented this year were the Ellen Perry and Robert Krimmel Academic Achievement Award, the Nittany Lion Award, the 1855 Award, the L.D. MacNeill and Elizabeth McCoy Most Outstanding Swimmer Award, the Robert E. Galbraith Award and the Jerome Weinstein Award.
The Ellen Perry & Robert Krimmel Academic Achievement Awards are presented each year to the student-athlete on each the women's and men's team that has attained the highest level of academic excellence throughout the season. The 2016-17 award winners were McKayla Mawn and Mackenzie Hornibrook for the Perry Award and Nathaniel Bledsoe for the Krimmel Award.
Kaelan Freund (Lethbridge, Alberta) and Ally McHugh (Philadelphia, Pa,) were each presented with the Nittany Lion Award for their perseverance and effort as the most improved swimmer or diver during the year. Freund, a freshman, earned Big Ten Men's Freshman of the Week honors following four-straight competitions starting with the fall finale in late November. He then reached the B-final in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes at the Big Ten Championships and now ranks in the top five all-time at Penn State in both events.
The 1855 Award is presented to the student-athletes whose improvement, transformation and personal growth mirrors that of Penn State since its founding. The recipients of this award were Casey Francis and Mike Kwasnik. The seniors both finished their careers on high notes, as Francis earned a career-best finish of 24th in the mile at the NCAA Championships and Kwasnik enjoyed a career-best effort at the Big Ten Championships, becoming the third fastest performer in school history in the 200 breaststroke.
Shane Ryan and Ally were named the L.D. MacNeill and Elizabeth McCoy Award winners. The awards are one of a kind as they are voted on by the swimming and diving team and are given to the swimmers or divers who contribute the most to the team's success by consistently achieving outstanding performances throughout the year. Ryan was named the MacNeill recipient, capping a year that began in Rio for the Summer Olympics and finished at the NCAA Championships. Along the way, Ryan broke three school records, won a Big Ten medal of each color and became a three-time All-American in the 100 backstroke with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. McHugh set school records in the mile and 400 IM, reaching the consolation finals in both at the NCAA Championships with her record mile swim earning her a 10th-place finish. She also won silver in the 400 IM at the Big Ten Championships.
Hector Garcia Boissier also shined in postseason competition was awarded the Robert E. Galbraith Award for his outstanding contributions through performance, loyalty, spirit and leadership by a as Penn State diver. Garcia set school records in both the 1- and 3-meter dives and earned honorable mention All-America honors in both at the NCAA Championships. He nearly missed earning a Big Ten medal, placing fourth in the 3-meter with his school record performance.
The Jerome Weinstein Award is presented to the team members who are not only the hardest workers, but also those that are sure to give 100 percent to their teammates emotionally and physically through the good and tough times. Hannah Blaser and Matt Stasiunas claimed the honor this season. Blaser, made an impact on the team as a freshman and swam each distance of the freestyle throughout the year. Stasiunas, a senior captain, earned the honor for a second consecutive year. He was Penn State's Sportsmanship Award winner and ranked second on the team in the 100 and 200 freestyles while leading the way in the 500 and serving as a key relay team member.
Captain awards were also presented to Bob Bantley and Stasiunas on the men's side and Hornibrook and Francis on the women's side.
The 2017 seniors include on the women's side Mackenzie Cornell, Casey Francis, Mackenzie Hornibrook, Bridget Moody, Katelyn Sowinski, Katie Saloky and Megan Wujciak, and on the men's side Bob Bantley, Mike Kwasnik, Andy Schuehler, Matt Stasiunas and Shane Ryan.