Empire 8 Announces Swimming and Diving Awards
Three Empire 8 Championship Meet award winners received Swimming and Diving End-of-the-Year honors and three first-time award honorees from Stevens Institute of Technology also received recognition as the conference announced its Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Awards.
Senior diver Lindsey Buzard of Nazareth College was named the women’s Empire 8 Diver of the Year after receiving Empire 8 Diver of the Meet honors at the conference championship. Buzard, who also swept the conference and state titles in both diving events, placed 13th on the three-meter board and 20th in the one-meter event at the national championship.
Junior Sheila Rhoades of Empire 8 champion Ithaca College was selected as Empire 8 Women’s Swimmer of the Year after setting Association and school records in finishing third in the 50-yard freestyle (23.18 seconds) at the NCAA Championships. She also set Association marks in the 100-yard freestyle (4th in 50.78 seconds) and 11th in the 200-yard freestyle (11th in 1:51.79) at the national meet. Rhoades swam on the Bombers’ 400-yard medley relay that placed sixth nationally.
Marissa Douglas of Stevens were tabbed as the Empire 8 Swimming and Diving Rookie of the Year on the women’s side, respectively. Douglas was a member of four Ducks’ relays that finished in the top-15 at the NCAA Championships, while winning one event and placing second in two more at the conference meet.
Empire 8 2010 Swimming and Diving End of the Year Honors:
Women’s Swimmer of the Year: Sheila Rhoades, Ithaca College
Women’s Diver of the Year: Lindsey Buzard, Nazareth College
Women’s Rookie of the Year: Marissa Douglas, Stevens Institute of Technology