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Wyoming Swimming and Diving Announces Yearly Award Winners
Usher and Beard were selected as the teams most outstanding swimmers.
May 17, 2004 LARAMIE, Wyo. -
University of Wyoming swimming and diving coach Tom Johnson recently announced the recipients of the 2003-2004 team awards as well as next year's captains. Junior Scott Usher and freshman Lauren Beard were selected as the teams most outstanding swimmers. Usher became an All-American for the second and third time in his career with a second place finish in the 200 breaststroke and a third place finish in the 100 breaststroke at the 2004 NCAA Championships. He defended his Mountain West Conference breaststroke titles with championships in both the 100 and 200, breaking his own conference record in the 100 and just missing it in the 200. He closed out the season with the seventh fastest 200 breaststroke time in the world and the 10th fastest 100 breaststroke time in the world. Beard had a break out performance at the 2004 MWC Championships, earning the most team points of any Cowgirl. She was named to the MWC Second-Team in three events by placing fifth in the 200 and 400 IM's and seventh in the 200 backstroke. She moved into the top-ten all-time record book at Wyoming in four events. "This award should be no surprise to anyone," said UW head coach Tom Johnson. "This season, Scott not only established himself as one of the best swimmers in the country but one of the best swimmers in the world. Lauren had a great year and led our team with consistent improvement in all of her events throughout the season." Four athletes were selected as the team's most outstanding student athletes in junior Kristin Lewis, sophomores Samantha Michelena and Will Selde and senior Jon McNeely. Both Cowgirls earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages last fall in the College of Health Sciences. Selde also earned a perfect 4.0 in biology while McNeely has accumulated a 3.792 gpa in his time at Wyoming as a History major. McNeely was also named Second-Team Academic All-District VII last year. Freshman Saara Haapanen was named the team's outstanding diver after being named First Team All-MWC. She dove into the top-five all-time at Wyoming in the 3-meter (11dives) category and dove the best platform score in Wyoming history. Senior Katie Haywood and sophomore Gene Birks were chosen as the teams most inspirational athletes. "Katie has been a terrific young woman to have in our program and she will certainly be missed. Her smile and positive attitude has been an inspiration for all of her teammates and coaches," said Johnson. "In a short time at Wyoming Gene has begun to bleed Brown and Gold. At meets, whenever I saw him behind the blocks he was always trying to motivate and fire up his teammates." Johnson also announced team captains for next season. Scott Usher,
Gene Birks, Adam Miller and Grant Kritzinger will lead the Cowboys
while Kristin Lewis, Toni Elliott, Alex Leziy-Miller and Samantha
Michelena will lead the Cowgirls.
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