The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced the Swimmer, Diver, Rookie and Coach of the Year awards for the 2013-14 women’s swimming and diving season as voted on by the conference coaches.
Stevens Institute of Technology junior
Brittany Geyer and Ithaca College freshman
Grace Ayer have been named Co-Swimmers of the Year. Ayer was also tabbed the Rookie of the Year, while Ithaca’s
Nicki Griesemer was voted the Diver of the Year and Ithaca’s
Paula Miller is the Women’s Coach of the Year.
Geyer qualified for Division III National Meet for the third time and earned two All-America honors, bringing her career total to eight. She placed seventh in the 400-yard individual medley (4:28.82), touched 16th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.80) and took 24th in the 200-yardbreaststroke (2:22.68). A month earlier she was named the Female Swimmer of the Meet at the Empire 8 Championships as she led the Ducks to a second-place team finish. Geyer won two individual events in NCAA B cuts during the four-day meet. She won the 100 breaststroke (1:04.99) and 200 breaststroke (2:19.72) and finished second in the 400 individual-medley (4:33.58).
Ayer was one of two freshmen in the conference to qualify for the NCAA meet and competed in three individual events. She earned honorable mention All-America in the 200 individual medley with a 13th place finish in a time of 2:05.50. She also swam a career-best and new school record in the 100-yard backstroke (57.44) as she tied for 22nd. Her 200-yard backstroke time of 2:03.99 placed her 24th on the national stage. At the UNYSCSA/Empire 8 Championships she won her three individual events: 200 IM (2:05.13); 100 Backstroke (57.59) and 200 Backstroke (2:03.49 - a new school record) en route to being named the UNYSCSA Swimmer of the Meet.
Griesemer was named the Female Diver of the Meet at the Upper New York State/Empire 8 Championships. She scored a 474.50 on the 1-meter board to place second in the E8 scoring and third in the UNYSCSA. Griesemer posted a first-place finish on the 3-meter board with new championship record of 541 points. She qualified for the NCAA Zone Meet and placed second on both boards earning a trip to the NCAA National Championships at IUPUI in Indianapolis. She earned All-America honors by placing fifth on the 3-meter (471.20) and was awarded honorable mention All-America on the 1-meter (380.50).
Miller guided the Bombers to its fifth UNYSCSA championship in six seasons, its 14th Empire 8 championship and a team standing of 30th at the NCAAs. At the Empire 8 Championships, the Bomber women earned 13 all-conference selections for individual events, including six first-team honorees and seven second team honorees. Ithaca swept five events, taking first and second team honors in the 100 back, 200 back, 200 individual medley and both diving events. The women finished first in two relays and took second in three team events.