Courtesy: Colorado State Athletics
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Coach Christopher Woodard and his staff announced the end-of-season award winners at a team function, recognizing five individuals and the team for their work in and out of the pool during the season.
The team presents a most improved award, the performance of the year, the Ram Pride Award, the John Mattos Award and the team MVP Award, which was earned by Kristina Friedrichs throughout the campaign.
Most Improved: Katie Leonard and Anika Johnson – The award is presented to the performer who showed the most growth through the season in terms of their competition times and scores. Leonard posted personal bests in all three diving competitions at the Mountain West Championships, placing in all three events, moving into the program’s top five on the platform with a score of 220.15. Johnson, a freshman, placed in all three of her events at the championships, including an eight-place showing in the 200-yard freestyle, her preliminary time of 1:49.60 ranking fourth in program history.
Performance of the Year: Team – By posting a 3.68 GPA during the fall term, the Rams once again earned the distinction of being a CSCAA Academic All-America Team. They helped lift the athletic program to its best overall GPA ever for a single term.
Ram Pride Award: Katie Manzione – The honor goes to what the program considers the “ideal teammate”, and Manzione reflected those qualities with her upbeat, positive and encouraging attitude through the season. A graduating senior, she will attend Notre Dame for graduate studies next fall.
John Mattos Award: Jennae Frederick – Named for the former head coach, this recognition goes to an athlete who has succeeded amid adversity and embodies the Mattos’ creed: It’s a great day to be alive Rams!” The senior has carried a perfect 4.0 GPA during her time on campus and has been a 10-time Mountain West placer in her career, including three placings in 2021.
MVP Award: Kristina Friedrichs – Is earned by the student-athlete who scores the most points for the team during the season in all competitions. She continued to establish herself as one of the top freestyle sprinters in the conference by placing third in the 50 and fourth in the 100 free at the 2021 championships. Her 50 time of 22.79 this season ranks third all-time. She also ranks in the top five in the 200 freestyle (second, 1:49.42) and 100 free (fourth, 50.07).