Annual Awards Banquet
Swimmers, coaches and volunteers were honored for their outstanding achievements and contributions at the Annual Awards Banquet, held November 4, 2007 at the Aqua Turf. The banquet commenced with opening remarks made by Jeff Gray, General Chair of Connecticut Swimming followed by presentation of the USA Swimming ConocoPhillips Service Award to Steve Carroll, Coach of the Year awards to Bill Ball and Dan Mascolo and the Swimmer of the Year award to Alex Righi. Over 1,000 people were in attendance as 463 athletes were recognized for academic achievement and/or Top 16 swims, including open water swimming. The entire Connecticut Swimming Board of Directors, extends its gratitude to volunteers Peter Boucher, Wendy Jackwin and Sue Husta; for their efforts made this Awards Banquet an outstanding success.
Swimmer of the Year
Alex Righi
Alex Righi was named Swimmer of the Year and was presented his award
by Coach Tim Wise (OMNI and YALE). This award is given annually to the
highest-ranked CSI athlete for the 2006-2007 season. Among Alex's swimming
accomplishments, he was named to the
2007 Pan American Games Team and won 2 medals in Brazil swimming on the 400
medley relay (gold) and 400 freestyle relay (silver). Alex is an USA Olympic Trial
qualifier in the 50M free,
100M free and 100M backstroke. He holds 8
Connecticut Swimming
records in addition to three Yale University records. He ranked as the
11th fastest American in the 100Y backstroke (47.17) and 12th (and 46th in the
world) in the 100M backstroke (55.58) for
the 2006-2007 season. In 2005 he was named Swimming World Male National High
School Swimmer of the Year and was a member of the 2005 Swimming World National
High School Championship team. He is a
2-time NCAA
competitor, 5-time finalist at the meet and an A Finalist at USA Swimming
National Championships. Upon receiving his award, Alex shared his story with
those athletes in attendance at the Award Banquet. Read Alex's
acceptance speech here.
ConocoPhillips Service
Award
Steve Carroll
Steve began his volunteer career with with Connecticut Swimming in 1991 when he registered and trained to become a stroke and turn official. A few years later, he brought 40 Cheshire swimmers to the 1995 Special Olympic World Games in New London, CT and began his term as CSI Senior Committee Chair and Senior Championship meet director. Steve went on to chair the Program Development Committee, Program Operations and ultimately was elected General Chair and served for 4 years from 2000-2004.. During his tenure, Steve put the first regular open water meet on CSI’s schedule (CSI Open Water Championships also known as the Madison Mile) and formed a lasting relationship with with Dave Parcells and Masters Swimming. Off the deck, Steve provided the framework and structure for CSI's emerging website and SQL database (FAST). Under his leadership, website content increased, database development and integration began, and he secured Dale Maine as a software developer. Educational goals were met by Steve's commitment to host CSI's first Swimposium and he organized coach long-range planning sessions. An advocate of athlete rights, Steve, working with a Connecticut state legislator, introduced legislation to the Connecticut General Assembly, regarding high school athletes' right to participate in swimming organizations other than CIAC. Steve continues his desire to advocate for athletes and is currently chairing CSI task force regarding this initiative.
Senior Coach of the Year
Bill Ball
Bill Ball has coached over 13 years and currently coaches age group, senior and collegiate athletes at SNCO and CCSU.
Age Group Coach of the Year
Dan Mascolo
Each year Connecticut Swimming recognizes those athletes demonstrating high ability in the classroom and in the pool. Connecticut Swimming Scholar-Athletes have completed 10th, 11th or 12th grade and have earned a minimum 3.5 grade point average as well as competing in designated CSI-sanctioned meets. This year 119 athletes were named and 14 of these athletes were named Scholar-Athletes for three consecutive years. Congratulations to this fine scholars and athletes!
# 3-year consecutive
% USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team
|
Andrew Altman % |
|
Emily K. Luchansky # |
| Laura Bedson # | Nicholas Lusardi | |
| Jack Blackwood | Katherine Lynch % | |
| Eliza Bollinger | Juliana MacSwan | |
| Lauren Elizabeth Border | Rebecca Maher | |
| Shannon Burr | John Margherio | |
| Kelly Marie Caggainello | Kevin Mariano # | |
| Hollis Capuano | Meg McCarty # | |
| Elizabeth M. Cohan % | Tim McCarty | |
| Rachel Cohen % | Kevin McKeown % | |
| Rachel Cohn | Sean McKeown | |
| Maricate Conlon # % | Julie Mesavage | |
| Pablo Cuevas | Jessica Metcalf | |
| Lauren Curtis | Lauren Meyer | |
| Alexandra Damon | Anna Michaels # | |
| Nathan Dembowski | Colleen E. Moore | |
| Brendan Deveney | Emily Morris | |
| Brooke DeVito | Kasey Morrison | |
| Ryan DiStefano | Felipe Munoz | |
| John Kenneth Driessen % | Diana Neeves | |
| Alyssa Ego | Melanie Norton | |
| Kylen Farrell | Stephanie Novotny | |
| Ben Feezer | Phil Novotny % | |
| Mark Fink % | Jennifer Noyes | |
| Jenny Fitzmaurice | Lauren O'Kelly | |
| Kristen Fitzsimons | Alex Ostapenko | |
| Emma Fox | Kathryn E. Outlaw | |
| Taylor Friedmann | Joseph Papiro | |
| Madeline 'Froehlich | Ashley Petersen | |
| Kyle Frost | Hannah Phillips | |
| Jonathan Fung | Siusi Power | |
| Dana Gnerre % | Ryan Pramer # | |
| Max Greenberg | Megan Rappa | |
| Andrew B. Grindalds | Bryan Thomas Rehor | |
| Mike Halls | James Remingino % | |
| Brad Harder | Eric Ress % | |
| Julia M. Harris | Nyanza Rothman # | |
| Abby Hellauer | Mahmoud Saleh % | |
| Jeff Helt | Chloe Scobee | |
| Chelsea E. Heneghan # % | Lili Shainis | |
| Molly Hennessy | Sean Michael Simoneau | |
| Keith Heyde # | Haley E. Smith # % | |
| Kelly Heyde | Eric Spazzarini | |
| Wesley Hood | Bryan L. Stephan | |
| Christopher Hopkins % | Karina Stridh | |
| Savitri Horrigan | William A. Strittmatter | |
| John Hug | Robert Swain | |
| Emily Hunter | Allison Szabo | |
| Eric Jackwin # % | Joanna Tchobanova | |
| Andrew Jackwin | Kevin Thai # | |
| Jessica Jordan | Bensen Thai | |
| Kim Kancir | Steven L. Theleen | |
| Ann Ragan Kearns % | Emily Thurston # | |
| Dana Kingman # | Allison M. Thurston | |
| Allison Kreho | Phillip R. Treesh | |
| Kelly Kreho | Stefan Tziolis | |
| Katie Lang % | Liz Visconti | |
| Michael Lenkeit | Madison Walsh | |
| Andrew Levine % | Christopher Wiederecht | |
| Katherine K. Loftus % | ||
Additionally, athletes competing in
National Disability Championships, Open Water National Championships, Summer
Speedo Champions Series (summer sectionals), ConocoPhillips Nationals, Junior
Swimming Championships, U.S. Open, Speedo Champions Series (spring sectionals),
or Spring Championships may apply for USA Swimming's Scholastic All-America
Team.
Congratulations to these fine scholars and athletes that have competed on the
regional or national level.
| Andrew Altman % | Andrew Levine % | |
| Samuel Bradley % | Katherine K. Loftus % | |
| Elizabeth M. Cohan % | Katherine Lynch % | |
| Rachel Cohen % | Gregory S. Mackinnon % | |
| Maricate Conlon # % | Kevin McKeown % | |
| John Kenneth Driessen % | Phil Novotny % | |
| Mark Fink % | James Remingino % | |
| Dana Gnerre % | Eric Ress % | |
| Chelsea E. Heneghan # % | Mahmoud Saleh % | |
| Christopher Hopkins % | Haley E. Smith # % | |
| Eric Jackwin # % | Steven T. Vendetta % | |
| Ann Ragan Kearns % | Caroline A. Wilson % | |
| Katie Lang % | ||
Click Here to see All Connecticut Top 16 Athletes for 2006-2007
2007 Age Group High Point Awards
Short Course Age Group Championship
Over-all High Point
|
10/U |
Kristen Moss Patrick Savidge |
|
11/12 |
KC Moss Steven Grune |
|
13/14 |
Katy Luchansky Christian Brindamour |
|
15/18 |
Katie Gardocki Evan Ciecimirski |
Short Course Age Group Championship Distance High Point
|
10/U |
Val Daigneault Patrick Savidge |
|
11/12 |
Olivia Rettstatt Grayson Smith |
|
13/14 |
Sarah Bradner Kyle Savidge |
|
15/18 |
Kasey Morrison Christian Welsh |
Long Course Age Group Championship Over-all High Point
|
10/U |
Kristen Moss Patrick Savidge |
|
11/12 |
Brynne Beneke Kaz Takabayashi |
|
13/14 |
Molly Smyth Andrew Klutey |
|
15/18 |
Tina Hughes Ryan Cutter |
Long Course Age Group Championship Distance High Point
|
10/U |
Kathleen Lynch Patrick Savidge |
|
11/12 |
Madison Whatley Brian Liang |
|
13/14 |
Karen Chu Douglas Barber |
|
15/18 |
Kristi Edleson Andy Ahlberg |
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