Swimming & Diving Celebrates 2010-11 Season With Banquet
4/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
April 19, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State swimming & diving team celebrated its successful 2010-11 season on Sunday, April 17 with its annual year-end banquet.
"I'm happy for all our winners," said MSU head coach Matt Gianiodis. "It was tough to pick winners in every category because we had so many great performers this season. Everyone that won was certainly worthy, they earned it."
The swimmer and diver of the year are awarded to those individuals who records the best season based on dual meet points, scoring at the Big Ten Championships, achieving NCAA standards, qualifying for the NCAA Championships and scoring at the NCAA Championships.
For the second consecutive year, sophomore Jacob Jarzen was named the Men's Swimmer of the Year following his second straight NCAA Championships appearance. Jarzen currently holds eight school records, including five individual and three relays.
"Jacob had just a fantastic year. He ended up, even when it was all said and done, with the 13th fastest time in the country in the 100 backstroke," Gianiodis said.
For the women, junior Kerry Sodonis was the recipient of the Women's Swimmer of the Year award. This year, Sodonis broke her school record in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Big Ten Championships with a time of 1:02.82. Sodonis currently is listed on three school records.
"Kerry had a great year this season after being a USA Swimming national qualifier last summer," noted Gianiodis.
Senior Ivan Zalessov made history by becoming a four-time Men's Diver of the Year. This season, Zalessov set the school records on both the 1-meter as well as the 3-meter springboards, breaking his own previous marks. Zalessov is also the school record holder on the platform.
"Ivan obviously had a fantastic year. He was two-points away from finishing in second place in the conference," Gianiodis said.
Junior Sarah Clay also repeats as MSU's Women's Diver of the Year. Clay posted career-bests on both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards this season. During MSU's dual against Bowling Green, Clay posted the team's top 3-meter mark of the season with a 353.78.
"Sarah had another great year with her top-eight finish at the Big Ten Championships," said Gianiodis.
A complete list of all the award winners is below:
Michigan State Swimming & Diving
2010-11 Season Award Winners
Jack Seibold Award for Leadership
Ivan Zalessov
Jennifer Parks Award for Leadership
Brooke Sauchak
Men's John Narcy Most Improved
Mark Gammell
Women's John Narcy Most Improved
Jordan Jackson
Women's Spartan of the Year Award
Morgan Piasecki
Men's Jason Vadney Spartan of the Year Award
Kevin Puskaric
Women's Swimmer of the Year
Kerry Sodonis
Men's Swimmer of the Year
Jacob Jarzen
Women's Diver of the Year
Sarah Clay
Men's Diver of the Year
Ivan Zalessov
Women's Freshman-of-the-Year
KJ Burkland
Men's Freshman-of-the-Year
Pat Falconer
Kevin Zielinski Heart Award
Ricky Forrest
John Munley Memorial Scholarship
Mark Schramm
Players Mentioned
