Drexel University Athletics
Drexel Swimming & Diving Celebrates 2009-10 Season at Banquet
6/7/2010 11:20:01 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
The Drexel University swimming & diving squad held its annual banquet Sunday morning at Dave and Busters on the Philadelphia waterfront. The coaching staff gave out 12 awards and honored the seniors for their outstanding effort of their careers as Dragons. Drexel had a solid season with 12 new school records, CAA Champions and finalists, and CAA Diver of the Meet.
Senior T.J. Southmayd earned the Most Valuable Player award after leading the men's team that broke eight school records this season. Southmayd broke three individual school records at the CAA Championship meet. He broke the 100 Back record with a 50.38 during finals, placing in the top 8. He broke the 200 Back record in 1:48.90, placing second at CAA's and shattering the old record by over 2 seconds. T.J.'s biggest accomplishment was in the 200 IM, winning the CAA title in just 1:50.46 and replacing Ron Cook's record that held for 20 years. T.J. was also a member of our record-breaking 400 Medley Relay.
Junior Maria Coman was named the women's Most Valuable Player after setting one individual school record and being a part of the record-breaking 200 Medley Relay. Maria is the school record holder in the 100 backstroke swimming a 57.67 at the CAA Championship. She helped lead a squad that set four new school records this season.
Junior Jesse McGrath named the men's Most Improved Swimmer after immense improvement from his sophomore season. Jesse dropped over a half second in his 50 Free, over 2 seconds in his 100 Free, and nearly 7 seconds in his 200 Free this season.
Sophomore Malin Wiberg earned the Most Improved Swimmer Award setting an individual record in the 200 Breast with a 2:21.68. Malin dropped over 10 seconds in this event over the course of the season. Malin also placed in the Dragons All-Time Top 5 and is now 3rd in the 100 Breast and 3 in the 200 IM.
Junior Ian Jevnick was the recipient of the Coaches Award after showing dedication this past season. The outstanding diver earned CAA Diver of the Meet for the second consecutive season. He won the 1 Meter and placed 2nd in the 3 Meter at CAA Championships. Ian went on to place 10th overall at the NCAA Diving Zones Championships.
Freshman Lauren Faykes took home the Coaches Award for her effort this year. Lauren is one of the most determined and hard-working swimmers on the team. Lauren gives 100% to the pool and to her team at all costs. Through her outstanding training effort, Lauren broke Drexel's 17-year old 200 Back record with a time of 2:06.28 and also qualified for consolation finals in the 200 Fly in 2:05.49. Lauren was also a member of the 200 Medley Relay that broke Drexel's record.
Freshman Doga Celik won Drexel's Freshman of the Year award after setting school records in three of the freestyle events as a first-year swimmer. Doga holds the record in the 50 freestyle (20.73), the 100 freestyle (45.42) and the 200 freestyle (1:38.63).
Freshman Lauren Faykes was the recipient of the women's Freshman of the Year honor after breaking the 200 Back school record, being a 200 Fly finalist and consistently being one of Drexel's top point scorers throughout the season.
Senior Paul Bonnevie was the recipient of the Willaim Logue Award for Highest Cumulative GPA on the men's team.
Sophomore Morgan Cichewicz was given the Deborah Thompson Award for the Highest Cumulative GPA on the women's team.
Freshmen Cole Gindhart received the award for Highest Season GPA on the men's team, Se was the only member on the men's team to receive a 4.0 GPA in at least one term.
Junior Jess Csakai received the award for Highest Season GPA for the women's team. She was the only member on the women's team to receive a 4.0 GPA for at least one term.
This year's banquet also honored the team's seniors:
Maggie Bailey – Maggie returned for her final season and finished as Drexel's only senior on the women's team. Maggie overcame a difficult and debilitating shoulder injury to finish her strong college career. Maggie has been a great asset to our program as just one of a few distance swimmers over the past 4 seasons. Maggie has consistently been one of Drexel's top 500, 1,000, and 1,650 freestylers each season.
Paul Bonnevie (Captain) – Paul has played a major role over the past 4 seasons as one of Drexel's top 50 freestylers. Paul joined our newly formed and experimental sprint program this season, which resulted in big time drops for him. Successfully dropping time in the 50 each season proves to be a difficult task for anyone, especially after the era of the “tech-suits.” Paul not only dropped time, he shattered his best 50 free time by nearly half of a second (21.95), which earned him a spot on our championship 200 free relay.
Mert Karsiyakalilar (Captain) – Mert started his career at Drexel as our premier sprint flyer, and his talent has led the men's team to many successes over the past 4 years. Mert's expertise in the 100 _y proved to be a leading force in Drexel's record-setting accomplishments. Mert owns the Dragon's 100 fly record (49.21). His _y split in the record-breaking 400 medley relay this season was a 48.44, fastest in Drexel's history.
Mert also led off the 200 medley relay which set Drexel's record last season. Mert's other accomplishments include All-CAA honors, competing in the U.S. Open and Short Course Nationals, and being one of Drexel's top 50 freestylers over the past 4 seasons.
Adrian Sabovici – Adrian added tremendous leadership to the program this season as a senior and our only distance veteran to return to the program. His determination and willingness to drive others in practice helped develop and make big improvements to our young distance group, which saw the addition of two new milers to the mix. Adrian showed no mercy when he practiced, pushing himself to limits that helped him create many achievements in the Dragon's record book. Some of Adrian's career highlights include the 1,000 free record (9:27.78), the 1,650 free record (15:46.76) and the 1,650 pool record (15:58.01). That was the first men's pool record achieved by a Dragon since the 1990's.
T.J. Southmayd – T.J., a local stand-out and UVA graduate, joined the Dragons this season for his final year of eligibility. T.J. was a strong presence on our program this past year, in practice and in meets. T.J. went undefeated in every event the first half of the season leading up to the Terrapin Cup. At the CAA Championship meet, T.J. won the 200 IM, was 2nd in the 200 back and was 5th in the 100 back. T.J. also broke all of those Drexel's records along the way. He took down Ron Cook's 1990 200 IM record, Cem Karali's 100 back record set just last season, and Gohkan Hulagu's 200 back record set in 2005. T.J. earned a total of 51 individual points during the meet, placing him 5th overall in the conference.
Senior T.J. Southmayd earned the Most Valuable Player award after leading the men's team that broke eight school records this season. Southmayd broke three individual school records at the CAA Championship meet. He broke the 100 Back record with a 50.38 during finals, placing in the top 8. He broke the 200 Back record in 1:48.90, placing second at CAA's and shattering the old record by over 2 seconds. T.J.'s biggest accomplishment was in the 200 IM, winning the CAA title in just 1:50.46 and replacing Ron Cook's record that held for 20 years. T.J. was also a member of our record-breaking 400 Medley Relay.
Junior Maria Coman was named the women's Most Valuable Player after setting one individual school record and being a part of the record-breaking 200 Medley Relay. Maria is the school record holder in the 100 backstroke swimming a 57.67 at the CAA Championship. She helped lead a squad that set four new school records this season.
Junior Jesse McGrath named the men's Most Improved Swimmer after immense improvement from his sophomore season. Jesse dropped over a half second in his 50 Free, over 2 seconds in his 100 Free, and nearly 7 seconds in his 200 Free this season.
Sophomore Malin Wiberg earned the Most Improved Swimmer Award setting an individual record in the 200 Breast with a 2:21.68. Malin dropped over 10 seconds in this event over the course of the season. Malin also placed in the Dragons All-Time Top 5 and is now 3rd in the 100 Breast and 3 in the 200 IM.
Junior Ian Jevnick was the recipient of the Coaches Award after showing dedication this past season. The outstanding diver earned CAA Diver of the Meet for the second consecutive season. He won the 1 Meter and placed 2nd in the 3 Meter at CAA Championships. Ian went on to place 10th overall at the NCAA Diving Zones Championships.
Freshman Lauren Faykes took home the Coaches Award for her effort this year. Lauren is one of the most determined and hard-working swimmers on the team. Lauren gives 100% to the pool and to her team at all costs. Through her outstanding training effort, Lauren broke Drexel's 17-year old 200 Back record with a time of 2:06.28 and also qualified for consolation finals in the 200 Fly in 2:05.49. Lauren was also a member of the 200 Medley Relay that broke Drexel's record.
Freshman Doga Celik won Drexel's Freshman of the Year award after setting school records in three of the freestyle events as a first-year swimmer. Doga holds the record in the 50 freestyle (20.73), the 100 freestyle (45.42) and the 200 freestyle (1:38.63).
Freshman Lauren Faykes was the recipient of the women's Freshman of the Year honor after breaking the 200 Back school record, being a 200 Fly finalist and consistently being one of Drexel's top point scorers throughout the season.
Senior Paul Bonnevie was the recipient of the Willaim Logue Award for Highest Cumulative GPA on the men's team.
Sophomore Morgan Cichewicz was given the Deborah Thompson Award for the Highest Cumulative GPA on the women's team.
Freshmen Cole Gindhart received the award for Highest Season GPA on the men's team, Se was the only member on the men's team to receive a 4.0 GPA in at least one term.
Junior Jess Csakai received the award for Highest Season GPA for the women's team. She was the only member on the women's team to receive a 4.0 GPA for at least one term.
This year's banquet also honored the team's seniors:
Maggie Bailey – Maggie returned for her final season and finished as Drexel's only senior on the women's team. Maggie overcame a difficult and debilitating shoulder injury to finish her strong college career. Maggie has been a great asset to our program as just one of a few distance swimmers over the past 4 seasons. Maggie has consistently been one of Drexel's top 500, 1,000, and 1,650 freestylers each season.
Paul Bonnevie (Captain) – Paul has played a major role over the past 4 seasons as one of Drexel's top 50 freestylers. Paul joined our newly formed and experimental sprint program this season, which resulted in big time drops for him. Successfully dropping time in the 50 each season proves to be a difficult task for anyone, especially after the era of the “tech-suits.” Paul not only dropped time, he shattered his best 50 free time by nearly half of a second (21.95), which earned him a spot on our championship 200 free relay.
Mert Karsiyakalilar (Captain) – Mert started his career at Drexel as our premier sprint flyer, and his talent has led the men's team to many successes over the past 4 years. Mert's expertise in the 100 _y proved to be a leading force in Drexel's record-setting accomplishments. Mert owns the Dragon's 100 fly record (49.21). His _y split in the record-breaking 400 medley relay this season was a 48.44, fastest in Drexel's history.
Mert also led off the 200 medley relay which set Drexel's record last season. Mert's other accomplishments include All-CAA honors, competing in the U.S. Open and Short Course Nationals, and being one of Drexel's top 50 freestylers over the past 4 seasons.
Adrian Sabovici – Adrian added tremendous leadership to the program this season as a senior and our only distance veteran to return to the program. His determination and willingness to drive others in practice helped develop and make big improvements to our young distance group, which saw the addition of two new milers to the mix. Adrian showed no mercy when he practiced, pushing himself to limits that helped him create many achievements in the Dragon's record book. Some of Adrian's career highlights include the 1,000 free record (9:27.78), the 1,650 free record (15:46.76) and the 1,650 pool record (15:58.01). That was the first men's pool record achieved by a Dragon since the 1990's.
T.J. Southmayd – T.J., a local stand-out and UVA graduate, joined the Dragons this season for his final year of eligibility. T.J. was a strong presence on our program this past year, in practice and in meets. T.J. went undefeated in every event the first half of the season leading up to the Terrapin Cup. At the CAA Championship meet, T.J. won the 200 IM, was 2nd in the 200 back and was 5th in the 100 back. T.J. also broke all of those Drexel's records along the way. He took down Ron Cook's 1990 200 IM record, Cem Karali's 100 back record set just last season, and Gohkan Hulagu's 200 back record set in 2005. T.J. earned a total of 51 individual points during the meet, placing him 5th overall in the conference.
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