Three Stevens Institute of Technology swimmers and two Ithaca College divers earned Swimming and Diving End-of-the-Year honors as the conference announced its Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Awards.
First-year swimmer Brittany Geyer of Stevens was named Empire 8 Women’s Swimmer of the Year and Empire 8 Rookie of the Year after capturing the national championship by winning the 200 breaststroke in 2:15.55 at the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. She also placed fifth in the 100 breaststroke and eighth in the 200 individual medley at the national meet. Geyer swam on the fifth-place 400 medley relay (with a 1:03.05 split) at the NCAA’s that set UNYSCSA and Empire 8 records, and swam on the seventh-place 200 medley relay with a split in 29.47 seconds.
Sophomore diver Korie Fackler of Ithaca was chosen as Empire 8 Diver of the Year. She placed 14th on the three-meter board and 15th on the one-meter board at the NCAA Championships. She holds the school and conference one-meter (11 dive) records.
Junior All-American Alex Benham of Stevens earned Empire 8 Men’s Swimmer of the Year honors. He finished sixth in the 1,650 freestyle (15:44.53) at the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships. He also placed eighth at the national meet in the 500 freestyle, breaking UNYSCSA and Empire 8 records in 4:33.97. Benham swam on the 800 freestyle relay (1:40.10 split) that also set UNYSCSA and Empire 8 marks.
Junior Martin Brown of Ithaca was selected as Empire 8 Men’s Diver of the Year after finishing 10th on the three-meter board and 11th in the one-meter event at the NCAA Championships. He captured the conference titles in both events.
Freshman Wesley Elford of Stevens was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Year after his third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. His time of 15:26.79 broke UNYSCSA and Empire 8 records. Elford finished 10th in the 500 freestyle (4:32.26) and 30th in the 200 freestyle (1:41.53), while also swimming on the Ducks’ record-setting 10th-place 800 freestyle relay team.
Empire 8 2012 Swimming and Diving End of the Year Honors:
Men’s Swimmer of the Year: Alex Benham, Stevens Institute of Technology
Men’s Diver of the Year: Martin Brown, Ithaca College
Men’s Rookie of the Year: Wesley Elford, Stevens Institute of Technology
Women’s Swimmer of the Year: Brittany Geyer, Stevens Institute of Technology
Women’s Diver of the Year: Korie Fackler, Ithaca College
Women’s Rookie of the Year: Brittany Geyer, Stevens Institute of Technology