Charlotte, N.C.- The Queens University of Charlotte Department of Athletics named women’s swimmer Caroline Arakelian and men’s swimmer Ben Taylor the 2015-16 Athletes of the Year. The award, announced on Monday, April 11, 2016, is presented to the most outstanding senior student-athlete based off their body of work throughout the course of their career.
Arakelian tabbed the award after a string of national accomplishments that placed her as the most decorated female athlete in the school’s history. As captain of the program, her resume includes being a part of two national title teams. She led by example posting seven individual NCAA championships including the first ever on the women’s side of the program with a top swim in the 400 individual medley and in the 200 backstroke in 2013. Additionally, she claimed the 2014 200-yard backstroke as well as the 800 yard freestyle relay in 2015 and 2016, and the 400 yard freestyle relay in 2015 and 2016. Arakelian is a five time NCAA record holder and a 23 time All-American. Arakelian rounds out her career with a Bluegrass Mountain Conference Swimmer of the Year award, claiming it in 2014.
Taylor would also see two team national titles during his time at Queens. Captain for the men’s side, he was a four time national champion taking the 2014 800-yard freestyle relay, the 2015 400-yard medley relay, the 2015 800-yard freestyle relay, and the 2016 800-yard freestyle relay. He would claim the NCAA record three time during his career and landed as an All-American eight times. Outside of the pool, Taylor served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee helping to impact the athletic experience at Queens and within the NCAA.
Both athletes were instrumental in back-to-back NCAA Division II Swimming and Division titles for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 years.
Swimming news courtesy of Queens Swimming & Diving.