Swimming and Diving Teams Celebrate Season at Year-End Banquet
4/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
The Alabama men and women's swimming and diving team held their annual year-end banquet this week and in addition to celebrating the Tide's top-15 finishes, handed out its team awards.
The Tide's men had their highest finish since 1994, taking 12th place while the women posted their highest finish since 1996, taking 15th place.
James Willlcox was named team captain for the season. Sophomore Stefan Gherghel earned the "Mike Curington Most Valuable" award after becoming the first Alabama swimmer to repeat as NCAA Champion. Gherghel won his second consecutive NCAA in the 200 butterfly with a school record.
Freshman Vlad Polyakov was a double winner on the night, taking home the "Arne Borgstrom Most Valuable Freshman" award and the "Marshall Shoemaker Most Dedicated" honor. Polyakov finished runnerup in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships.
Rookie Bernardo Romero took home the "Carlos Berrocal Most Improved" while Matt Schmidt earned the Coach's Award. Junior Jeff Smith earned the "Robert Dimick Most Scholastic" award.
Juniors Anne Poleska and Lane Bassham were team captains for the 2002-03 season. Poleska was also given the "Christina Jarvis Most Valuable" award and the "Katie Williams Most Dedicated" honor. Poleska posted her third consecutive top-3 finish at the NCAA Championships in the 200 breaststroke, taking second.
Candace Weiman was honored with the "Angelika Knipping Most Valuable Freshman" award. Weiman set the school record in the 200 IM and holds the second fastest time in school history in the 100 and 200 butterfly.
Freshman Anna Grant was named "Kim Nicholson Most Improved". Senior Meghan Lynch was the Tide's winner of the "Ellen McGrath Most Scholastic" award. Freshmen Sonya Adams and Crystal Rasmussen earned Coach's Awards.
