The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced the Swimmer, Diver Rookie and Coach of the Year awards for the 2013-14 men’s swimming and diving season. The conference coaches vote on the awards.
Ithaca College sophomore
Adam Zelehowsky and junior
Matt Morrision have been named the Swimmer and Diver of the year, respectively, while
Kevin Markwardt has been tabbed the Coach of the Year. Stevens Institute of Technology freshman
Mark Lippert has been voted the Rookie of the Year.
Zelehowsky swam in three individual events and three relays at the Division III national meet and earned honorable mention All-America distinction in three of them. He ended up 16th in the 200-yard freestyle with a 1:41.03 and was part of the 12th place 800-freestyle relay and 14th place 200-freestyle relay. He also competed in the 100-freestyle, 500-freestylee and 400-freestyle relay. One month earlier, Zelehowsky placed first at the Empire 8 Championships in the 200 free with a B-cut championship record time of 1:40.71 and the 500 free (4:33.36, B-cut). He was also fifth in the 100 free (46.11) and part of the second placed 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays.
Morrison competed in his second national championship and earned a pair of All-America finishes. He recorded a score of 479.65 in the 1-meter dive to finish seventh overall and scored a 433.10 in the 3-meter dive to rank 13th. Morrison earned Male Diver of the Meet at the Upper New York State/Empire 8 Championships for the second straight year as he won both diving events. He set UNYSCSA/E8 and championship meet record in the 1-meter diving finals with a score of 582.30 and totaled a 3-meter diving score of 571.50.
Lippert helped lead Stevens to its second straight UNYSCSA/Empire 8 title. He placed second in the E8 championship in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:09.29) to earn all-conference honors. He was also seventh in the 500 freestyle (41.95) and 16th in the 200 free (1:46.33).
Markwardt guided the Bombers to a team standing of 24th at the NCAAs as Ithaca finished with a total of 11 all-America honors. Ithaca took second at the UNYSCSA/E8 Championships for the second straight year. At the Empire 8 Championships, the Bomber men earned 13 all-conference selections for individual events, including seven first-team honorees and six second team honorees. Ithaca also earned all-conference honors in all five relay events, taking first in the 200 and 400 medley relays.