North Carolina State University Athletics
Swimming and Diving Holds Awards Banquet
4/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
April 23, 2003
The men's and women's swimming & diving teams celebrated the conclusion of the season last weekend with the annual awards banquet held at the NC State University Club. All-ACC honorees Steven Cowling and Molly Culberson were awarded the teams' most valuable performer awards, and Kevin Devine and Kendall Smith were honored with the first-time presentation of the Red Legend Pride award for performing under pressure and in clutch situations during the dual and championships meets.
Cowling was a silver medalist in the 100 backstroke at the ACC Championships, and posted the conference's best time of the season (48.64) during the preliminaries to enter the finals as the number one seed. Culberson took bronze on the 3-meter board at the championships, and went on to the zone diving championships to take two top 15 finishes. In October she broke the school record on the three-meter springboard with a score of 326.20, which was also the conference's top score of the year.
Erin Trau and Rick Scott were honored with the Beth Emery and Peter Fogarassy Most Improved Awards, for their strides toward success during the season. Trau wrapped up the season with a top time in the 200 breaststroke to lead the team for the year. Scott added an extra punch in the breaststroke for the men during the ACC Championships and posted two times that rank in the season's top-three.
Jessica Koenig and Justin Smith were recognized for their extra effort and hard work with the Amy Lepping and Pat Gavaghan Awards. Koenig made an immediate impact in the butterfly and medley events and led the team with top times for the season. Smith stepped his game up a notch during the championships and posted a number of times that rank among the season's best.
The Don Easterling Chime Award was awarded to the men's 200 Medley Relay squad of Cowling, Brian Pursley, Devine and Cullen Jones. The quartet put together one of the most exciting races of the ACC Championships on March 28th and finished just one hundredth of a second shy of first place for the championship. Their time of 1:28.45 was an NCAA B cut mark.
The Willis Casey Coaches Award went to Pursley and Anna Maria Gazda, and the Gatorade Will to Win Award was presented to Rob Yeager and Laura Cutler. Amber O'Reilly was the recipient of the John Candler Outstanding Diver Award. O'Reilly was a two-board finalist at the ACC Championships, and went on to compete at zones.
Fifteen student-athletes were recognized for their success in the classroom and being named to the Dean's List.
Complete Awards List
RED LEGEND PRIDE: Kevin Devine & Kendall Smith
BETH EMERY: Most improved female - Erin Trau
PETER FOGARASSY: Most improved male - Rick Scott
AMY LEPPING: Hardest working female - Jessica Koenig
PAT GAVAGHAN: Hardest working male - Justin Smith
DON EASTERLING CHIME AWARD: Most impressive performance- Steven Cowling, Brian Pursley, Kevin Devine, Cullen Jones
WILLIS CASEY: Coaches award- Brian Pursley & Anna Maria Gazda
GATORADE: Will to win - Rob Yeager & Laura Cutler
JOHN CANDLER: Outstanding diver - Amber O'Reilly
BETH HARELL: Most valuable female athlete - Molly Culberson
DAN HARRIGAN: Most valuable male athlete - Steven Cowling
