Swimming and Diving Celebrates Season with End of Year Banquet
5/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Alabama's men, behind third year head coach Don Wagner, finished 20th at the NCAA Championships behind a pair of freshmen, swimmer Stefan Gherghel and diver Stewart Smith, both of whom earned All-American honors on the season. It marked the Crimson Tide's first top-20 finish since 1994.
The women's team posted their second consecutive top-20 finish, taking 18th behind the All-American efforts of sophomores Anne Poleska and Lane Bassham, senior Marcy Warriner
Freshman Stefan Gherghel and sophomore Anne Poleska were named Most Valuable for the men and women respectively.
Gherghel won the NCAA 200 butterfly title in addition to shattering the school record in both the 100 and 200 butterfly. The rookie also won the 200 butterfly at the SEC Championships. His winning time in the 200 butterfly at the NCAA Championships was the third fastest time in the history of swimming behind Olympic Champions Pablo Morales and Mel Stewart.
Poleska won the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the SEC Championships and took third at the NCAA Championships in the 200 breaststroke in the fastest finals in the history of the sport. Her time ranked fourth fastest all-time and set a new school record in the process.
Senior Grant Jollands won the "Robert Dimick Most Scholastic" award for the men while senior Belinda Green took home the "Ellen McGrath Most Scholastic" for the women.
Sophomore James Willcox took home the "Marshall Shoemaker Most Dedicated" award while Catalina Casaru earned the "Katie Williams Most Dedicated".
Coach's Awards went to freshman Spiros Bitsakis and sophomore Lane Bassham. Freshman diver Stewart Smith was named "Carlos Berrocal Most Improved" while Marcy Warriner earned the "Kim Nicholson Most Improved" award.
Jollands, sophomore Scott Weaver and Willcox were named captains for the men while Green, senior Katy Davidson, Warriner and Bassham were named the captains for the women.
