Courtesy: Iowa Athletics
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa swimming and diving team announced its 2019-20 team awards during their annual awards banquet, hosted online for the first time in program history.
Senior Michael Tenney, junior Daniel Swanepoel, sophomore Anze Fers Erzen, and freshman Mohamed Neuman took home team MVP awards for the men, while seniors Hannah Burvill and Allyssa Fluit, junior Kelsey Drake, and sophomore Sam Tamborski were tabbed as the women’s MVP honorees.
Burvill earned her third-straight team MVP award after garnering CSCAA All-America honors in the 200-yard freestyle. The NCAA appearance was the third of Burvill’s career. The Pryford, England, native swam to school records in the 50 free (22.54), 100 free (48.65), 800-free relay (7:04.70), and 400-medley relay (3:36.18) and scored in seven events at the 2020 Big Ten Championships.
Drake and Fluit boasted identical awards as co-team MVPs and co-recipients of the Alison Pennington Haddon Strength of Character Award.
Fluit earned her first postseason award after posting NCAA ‘B’ qualifying standards in the 200 free (1:45.82) and 500 free (4:43.52). Fluit led the team in the 500 free and moved to second all-time in program history, in addition to becoming a recorder holder as a member of the 800-free relay (7:04.70) with an NCAA provisional qualifying time. The Pleasant Hill, Iowa, native scored in four events at the 2020 Big Ten Championships.
Drake garnered both awards after earning CSCAA All-America recognition in the 200-yard butterfly. She posted NCAA ‘B’ qualifications in the 100 fly (53.14), 200 fly (1:55.89), and 200 IM (1:59.41) and recorded school records in the 200 fly (1:55.89) and 400-medley relay (3:36.18). The Marion, Iowa, native scored in five events at the Big Ten Championships.
Tamborski tabbed her first postseason award as women’s diving MVP after earning CSCAA All-America distinction off the 3-meter springboard. The Castle Rock, Colorado, native posted NCAA Zone Diving standards off the 1-meter (294.30) and 3-meter (341.55) and scored in all three events at the Big Ten Championships.
Tenney garnered his first postseason award as a team MVP after swimming NCAA “B” qualifying times in the 200 free (1:35.83) and 200 fly (1:44.18). Tenney led the team in the 200 fly and scored in two events at the Big Ten Championships, including a fifth-place finish in the 200 fly (1:44.37) and 18th in the 200 free (1:35.83). The Chino Hills, California, native was also a member of the team-leading 800-free relay that set a school record and posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time as fifth at the 2020 Big Ten Championships.
Swanepoel earned his first postseason award as co-team MVP. The Cape Town, South Africa, native earned CSCAA All-America honors in the 200-yard breaststroke and posted NCAA “B” qualifying times in the 100 breast (52.92), 200 breast (1:53.53) and 200 IM (1:46.69). Swanepoel led team in 100 and 200 breast and was second in 200 IM, in addition to scoring in all three events at the 2020 Big Ten Championships.
Fers Erzen collected his first postseason awards as team MVP and was the recipient of the Irving B. Weber Award. This award is presented annually to a men’s team member who displays outstanding leadership. Weber was Iowa’s first swimming All-American in 1922. Fers Erzen was named a CSCAA All-American in the 200-yard backstroke and was a recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The Ljbljana, Slovenia, native posted NCAA “B” qualifying and school record times in the 200 back (1:41.24), 200 IM (1:46.14), and 400 IM (3:45.76), including high placings and record-breaking swims at the 2020 Big Ten Championships.
Neuman made an immediate impact as a freshman in the diving well and was awarded the Wentworth ‘Lobby’ Lobdell Award, which is presented annually to the top men’s diver. Lobdell was a three-time Big Ten champion and All-American off the 1-meter board from 1930-1932. Neuman earned CSCAA All-America honors off the 3-meter springboard and platform. The Alexandria, Egypt, native recorded NCAA Zone Diving standards off 1-meter (334.00), 3-meter (347.05), and platform (355.15) and scored in all three events at 2020 Big Ten Championships.
Sophomore Aleksey Tarasenko collected his first postseason award as the recipient of the Wally Ris Memorial Award, which is presented annually to the fastest men’s 100 freestyler. Ris was a two-time Big Ten champion and 100-meter freestyle Gold Medalist at the 1948 Olympics in London. Tarasenko led the team in the 100 free after posting an NCAA ‘B’ qualifying standard in 42.85, and also collected standards in the 50 free (19.63) and 200 free (1:35.09). Tarasenko swam on the team’s top 200-free relay (1:18.31), 400-free relay (2:53.74), and 800-free relay (6:20.84), and anchored the top 400-medley relay (3:10.08).
Senior Steve Fiolic was presented this year’s Jim Marshall Award, an honor presented annually to the senior swimmer who has contributed the best of his athletic ability. Marshall was a Big Ten Champion in 1980. Fiolic posted NCAA “B” qualifying times in the 50 free (19.69) and 100 free (43.74) and was a member of the team-leading 200-free (1:18:31) and 400-free (2:53.74) relays.
Sophomore Mateusz Arndt and freshman Grace Reeder earned the Strength and Conditioning Award. Arndt, a two-time winner, recorded an NCAA “B” qualifying time in the 500 free (4:18.81) and was a member of the team-leading 800-free relay that set a school record and posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time. Reeder, an Asheville, North Carolina, native, ranked second on the team in the 200 fly (2:05.87), 200 IM (2:03.61), and 400 IM (4:20.35).
2019-20 SWIMMING AND DIVING HONOREES
IRVING B. WEBER AWARD: Anze Fers Erzen
ALISON PENNINGTON HADDON STRENGTH OF CHARACTER AWARD: Kelsey Drake, Allyssa Fluit
WALLY RIS MEMORIAL AWARD: Aleksey Tarasenko
JIM MARSHALL AWARD: Steve Fiolic
MEN’S & WOMEN’S STRENGTH & CONDITIONING AWARDS: Mateusz Arndt, Grace Reeder
WENTWORTH “LOBBY” LOBDELL AWARD: Mohamed Neuman
WOMEN’S DIVING MVP AWARD: Sam Tamborski
MEN’S SWIMMING MVP AWARD: Michael Tenney, Anze Fers Erzen, Daniel Swanepoel
WOMEN’S SWIMMING MVP AWARD: Hannah Burvill, Allyssa Fluit, Kelsey Drake