UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State swimming and diving teams celebrated the 2018-19 season with their annual awards banquet at Toftrees Golf Resort.
The major awards that were presented this year were the L.D. MacNeill and Elizabeth McCoy Most Outstanding, Ellen Perry and Robert Krimmel Academic Achievement Award, the Nittany Lion Award, the 1855 Award, Swimmer Award, the Robert E. Galbraith Award and the Jerome Weinstein Award.
Hector Garcia Boissier, Michael Daly, and Ally McHugh 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. All three recipients qualified for the NCAA Championships. Garcia became the first Penn State diver to earn a silver medal in the NCAA Championships with his performance in the 1-meter. Daly set Penn State records in the 1650 free at NCAAs and the 400 IM at the B1G Championships during his freshman year campaign. McHugh became the first NCAA National Champion in women's swimming and diving program history, coming in first place for the 1650 freestyle at the NCAA Championships. She also set a new school record for the 400 IM in the meet.
Garcia Boissier was also awarded the Robert E. Galbraith Award for his outstanding contributions through performance, loyalty, spirit and leadership as a Penn State diver throughout the season.
Daly also was presented the Nittany Lion Award, which was also given to Maddie Hart for their perseverance and effort as the most improved swimmer or diver during the year. Hart made her first-ever NCAA Championships appearance this season competing in both the 100 and 200 butterfly.
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 2018-19 award winners were Siena Salvaggio and Elizabeth Gaspari for the Perry Award and Tomer Zamir for the Krimmel Award.
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 Ally McHugh and Nathaniel Bledsoe. The seniors both finished their careers on high notes. Bledsoe earned career-best times at the B1G Championships in the 200 back and the 400 IM. McHugh made program history by being the first women's swimmer to earn a national title.
Bledsoe also earned the Ernest B. McCoy Award, alongside Aleks Tulacz. The award is presented annually to one senior female and one senior male student-athlete who have combined successful athletic participation with academic excellence. The award is named for Ernest B. McCoy, the longtime dean of Penn State's College of Physical Education, who also served as the University's Athletic Director.
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. Jacob Deckman and Katrina Kuhn claimed the honor this season.
