The following is a press release courtesy of UNC:
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams honored their 2014-15 squads at the team’s annual banquet on Saturday, April 18 at Kenan Stadium’s Blue Zone. UNC head coach Rich DeSelm hosted the event and made specific references to the team’s commitment to academics, swimming, hard work, improvement, leadership, team building, community service and social behavior.
Both Tar Heel teams finished in the Top 20 this past season and had outstanding performances at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships in Atlanta with the women taking second and the men fourth.
The banquet was not only an opportunity to honor the 2014-15 team but also the 11-member UNC Senior Class (eight men, three women). It also served as an opportunity to say goodbye to UNC associate head coach Mike Litzinger, who was announced as the new head women’s swimming coach at Notre Dame this past Friday. Litzinger had been on Coach DeSelm’s staff since 2007.
The highlight of the banquet was the introduction of a new team award, the Patrick and Mary Louise Earey Service Award, specifically honoring Tar Heels who contribute in the area of community service. The award honors Pat Earey, UNC head swimming coach from 1957-74. His widow was on hand to present the first award. UNC alumnus Harrison Merrill, ’65, approached the athletic department about starting the award and has now endowed it as well. The winners of the inaugural Earey Awards are senior Tyler Hill of Mooresville, N.C., for the men and junior Emma Nunn of Richmond, Va., for the women.
Here are the other award winners from this year’s banquet. Coach Rich DeSelm presented all the swimming awards while diving coach Abel Sanchez presented the diving awards with the assistance of alumnus David McInnis, Class of 1957.
Richard E. Jamerson Memorial Awards
Most Outstanding Swimmers – Danielle Siverling, Senior, Chester Springs, Pa.; Sam Lewis, Junior, Alpharetta, Ga. (Lewis won the men’s award for the second straight year)
Most Valuable Swimmers – Ally Hardesty, Junior, Knoxville, Tenn.; Ben Colley, Junior, Williamsburg, Va. (Hardesty won the women’s award for the second straight year)
Most Improved Swimmers—Hellen Moffitt, Sophomore, Alexandria, Va.; Henry Campbell, Freshman, Manassas, Va.
Andrea Erben Most Dedicated Women’s Swimmer – Katie Munch, Sophomore, Clifton, Va.
Bruce Webster Most Dedicated Men’s Swimmer – Mitch DeForest, Junior, Cary, N.C. (DeForest also won the award as a freshman in 2013)
Hill Carrow Spirit Awards — Danielle Siverling, Senior, Chester Springs, Pa.; Clifton Gordon, Senior, Greenville, Del.
Class of 1940 Blue Dolphin Awards (Service To Carolina Swimming): Sue Walsh, Educational Foundation; Larry Gallo, Athletic Administrator
Osterneck Family Unsung Hero Awards: Hannah Runyon-Hass, Senior, Franklin, Tenn.; Patrick Myers, Senior, Norfolk, Mass.
McInnis Diving Awards
Most Outstanding Divers – Michole Timm, Redshirt Junior, Sauk Rapids, Minn.; Jack Nyquist, Sophomore, Alpharetta, Ga. (Nyquist also won this award last year)
Most Improved Divers – Kelly Corish, Senior, Vienna, Va.; Ryan Fox, Senior, Vienna, Va. (both were repeat winners from 2013-14)