2005-06 Swimming And Diving Season Highlights

Matt Torres was named the John Munley Memorial Scholarship recipient.

5/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving

May 3, 2006

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's and women's swimming and diving program recently held its year-end banquet. The team reflected on the 2005-06 season and handed out annual awards. Senior Ian Clutten was named Men's Swimmer of the Year for the third time in his career, while senior Rachael Hagerman was recognized as Women's Swimmer of the Year. On the diving side, sophomore Matt Akerley was named Men's Diver of the Year and sophomore Danielle Williams earned Women's Diver of the Year honors.

Swimming Highlights:

• The Spartan women finished the regular season schedule with a record of 4-5, improving on its 1-8 mark from a year ago, while the men finished at .500 this year, with a record of 4-4.

• Katrina Kniff broke the 19-year old school record in the 50 freestyle in the preliminary round of the Big Ten Championships. Kniff's time of 23.15 broke the previous record of 23.19, set by Mary Rozman in 1987.

• Two records were set at the Charles McCaffree Pool as Michigan State topped St. Bonaventure on Jan. 28. In their final home meet of their career, seniors Rudy Wagenaar, Ian Clutten, Nick Harley and Matt Wisniewski set the pool mark for the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:19.54. Wagenaar and Wisniewski also teamed up with David Habel and Adam Schmitt to set the record in the 400 freestyle relay, finishing in 3:01.63.

• Michigan State grabbed three of the four weekly Big Ten swimming and diving honors as the Spartans swept the men's awards for the week of Dec. 5-11. The trio was recognized after both the men's and women's teams picked up their first road wins of the season, with the men defeating Ball State 128-115 and the women handing the Cardinals a 137-106 loss on Saturday, Dec. 10. Sophomore Adam Schmitt took Swimmer of the Week accolades while junior Matt Akerley was named Diver of the Week. On the women's side, senior Rachael Hagerman was selected as Co-Swimmer of the Week.

Diving Highlights:

• Michigan State's Eric Best was named Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year at the conference award presentations at the Big Ten Championships, hosted by the Ohio State University. Best's divers completed one-two-three sweeps in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions against four different opponents in the 2005-06 season and seven Spartan divers qualified for the NCAA Regional meet.

• Seven Spartan divers qualified for the NCAA Regional meet, March 11-13, the highest number coach Best has had under his watch. Allison Sayers, Amy Schmidt, Danielle Williams, Alycia Mokedanz, Katie Edwards, Matt Akerley and Tylor Fick were among those to qualify.

• Danielle Williams took two top-10 finishes at the Big Ten meet, finishing sixth in the 1-meter board and ninth in the 3-meter competition.

2005-2006 Season Award Winners

Jack Seibold Award for Leadership: Nick Harley

Jennifer Parks Award for Leadership: Katrina Kniff, Erika Templeton

Men's John Narcy Most Improved: John Henry Berg

Women's John Narcy Most Improved: Heather Kiluk

Women's Spartan of the Year Award: Allison Sayers

Men's Spartan of the Year Award: Rudolf Wagenaar

Women's Swimmer of the Year: Rachael Hagerman

Men's Swimmer of the Year: Ian Clutten

Women's Diver of the Year: Danielle Williams

Men's Diver of the Year: Matt Akerley