The Seattle University men’s and women’s swim teams celebrated the numerous successes of the 2013-14 season at their annual end-of-the-year banquet, held Friday, April 26, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Seattle.
Seniors Nicole Doi (Pleasanton, Calif.) and Tomas Mendez-Beck (Hillsboro, Ore.) were named the team MVPs after finishing their collegiate careers with school record-setting performances at the WAC Championships. Doi was part of record-setting swims in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay, while Mendez-Beck lowered his own school record mark in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:48.44.
“Niki and Tomas led the team with their actions and commitment throughout the season and at conference,” Seattle U head coach Craig Nisgor said.
The Coach’s Awards were handed out to two sophomores: Jane Liggett (Portland, Ore.) and Gabe Wheeler (Round Rock, Texas). Liggett continually showed improvement throughout the season, eventually setting school records in both the 100 butterfly (56.38) and 200 butterfly (2:05.05) at the WAC Championships. During the conference meet, Wheeler moved into second place on the 200 breaststroke list (2:01.60), into fifth place on the 100 breaststroke list (56.57), and into sixth place on the 200 individual medley list (1:53.34).
“Jane and Gabe both brought great attitudes and work ethic every day and made everyone around them step up. Even as sophomores they were great team leaders,” said Nisgor.
The team’s most improved honors were given to freshman Kristin Hoffman (Mercer Island, Wash.) and sophomore Nick Connors (Richland, Wash.). Hoffman established herself as one of the team’s leading freestyle swimmers, moving into fifth place on the Redhawk all-time lists in both the 100 freestyle (52.81) and the 200 freestyle (1:54.28). Connors became the team’s leading distance swimmer, breaking an eight-year-old school record in the 1650 freestyle (15:50.14) by six-and-a-half seconds at the WAC Championships.
“Kristin and Nick had tremendous drops in all of their times, and both became school record holders,” Nisgor said. “Like our other award winners, they did an awesome job and were very deserving of their awards.”
As a group, the Seattle U men’s and women’s swim teams combined for 10 school records, 84 lifetime-best swims, and 76 new entries into the individual all-time top 10 times lists, a 27.14 percent turnover during the year. The program also showed it was well-rounded, with 17 swimmers earning Academic All-WAC recognition, and eight seniors on track to receive their degrees in June.
"We really had a strong season. It started with great leadership from our seniors who helped to develop a very positive and encouraging atmosphere which everyone really thrived in. School records were broken from members of every class, which lets us know that we are moving ahead at a great pace, setting us up for a great future. This group really came together during the season, and the results definitely showed it,” added Nisgor.
The Seattle University swim teams are continuing to train as they begin preparations for the 2014-15 campaign.