Swim & Dive Holds Annual Awards Banquet
4/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
April 26, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri swimming and diving program held their annual post season awards banquet Saturday evening, celebrating what was undoubtedly an historic year of Tiger swimming and diving.
Seniors Gilad Kaufman and Lori Halvorson were presented with the Most Valuable Player awards for their outstanding campaigns. Kaufman racked up seven victories on the season and posted a fourth-place finish in the 200 fly at the Big 12 Championships while breaking the school record in the event. He also broke the school record in the 100 fly and posted the fourth-best 50 free time at Missouri in the same meet.
Halvorson capped off her incredible Missouri career with her first berth to the NCAA Championships. After securing 11 wins during the dual season, the co-captain wound up racing in two finals heats at Big 12's, finishing fourth in the 200 free and eighth in the 100 free, breaking the school record in the same event. The Oklahoma native also received the Joe Goldfarb Award for exceptional leadership over the course of the season.
Sophomore Spenser Lauver was awarded with the Most Improved Player award for his growth over the past year. The Omaha, Neb., native posted four top-10 times during the season, including his school record time in the mile, which he set in a third place showing at the Big 12 Championships. Lauver also recorded top-10 times in the 1000 free, 500 free and 200 fly during the season.
Freshmen Jordan Morcom and Jan Konarzewski were given the Newcomer of the Year award for their accomplishments during their first collegiate campaign. Morcom's career as a Tiger started with a bang, as she swept both springboards in her first-ever dual meet. The Texan would go on to win five more times over the course of the year, and took fifth in the 3-meter and sixth in the 1-meter at Big 12's. She posted the third-highest scores ever at Mizzou in both events this season.
Konarzewski capped off his freshman season with two top-six finishes at the Big 12 Championships, including a record breaking, fifth-place finish in the 200 back. He also posted the 7th-best 100 back time during Big 12 prelims, while also winning six times during the dual season.
Freshman Kayla Durnil was named as the women's top Big 12 Performer. The Columbia, Mo., native became Missouri's third-ever Big 12 swimming champion as she won the 200 breast in front of the hometown crowd. On top of that, Durnil broke three school records and set another top-10 time over the course of the four-day event.
Junior diver Greg DeStephen earned both the men's top Big 12 Performer award and the men's Diver of the Year award. The All-American exploded during the Big 12 Championships, breaking the school record in all three events, along with three top-five finishes. DeStephen finished in fifth on the 1-meter, and fourth on both the 3-meter and platform, posting scores of 363.65, 405.75 and 433.50 respectively.
Senior Kendra Melnychuk was awarded as the women's Diver of the Year after she closed out her collegiate career with her third All-America honor. The Canadian broke the school record on the 3-meter in the finals at NCAA's as she finished eighth in the nation. Melnychuk broke the platform school record earlier this year at the Mizzou Invite, and posted top-three finishes in all three events at the Big 12 Championships, which included the silver medal on the 3-meter.
Senior Aimee Hukill was given the Bell Memorial Award for her commitment and determination throughout the season, while fellow senior Jake Hoffmann received the Michael J. Polkamp Award for enthusiasm and leadership.
