Cyclones Hand Out Season Awards

04.16.2012 | Swimming and Diving

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State swimming and diving team held its annual awards banquet Sunday afternoon at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center.

Freshman Amanda Paulson was named Iowa State's Most Valuable Swimmer. Paulson led the Cyclones with 21 event victories and took down the school record in the 50 free at the Big 12 Championships. Paulson swam the two fastest 50 free times in school history at the conference championships. The Monticello, Minn. native was the fastest Cyclone in the 50 and 100 free and was a member of the Cyclones' fastest 200 and 400 medley relay and 200 and 400 free relay teams.

Senior Sarah Nelson earned Most Valuable Diver honors. Nelson was Iowa State's top scorer on 1-meter and platform this season and posted eighth-place finishes on 3-meter and platform at the Big 12 Championships. Nelson earned qualification to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, where she posted two top-15 finishes. Back in December, Nelson earned Big 12 Diver of the Week honors for her efforts against Iowa.

Carissa Poeschel was bestowed as the Most Improved Swimmer. Poeschel earned 12th place in the 200 fly and 13th in the 100 fly at the Big 12 Championships. She was Iowa State's fastest 100 flyer, second-quickest in the 200 fly, fifth in the 100 back and continued to improve in the 50 free, posting an Iowa State-best 24.16 swimming exhibition at the conference championships.

Redshirt sophomore Jessica Henderson was named the Most Improved Diver. Henderson came back strong after just missing out on the NCAA Zone Diving Championships last season by leading the Cyclones on 3-meter. She also ranked second on 1-meter and platform and scored points for Iowa State in three events at the Big 12 Championships.

Elizabeth Kleiner took the honors as Newcomer of the Year. The Lakeville, Minn. native was Iowa State's top swimmer in the 200 fly, becoming just the third Cyclone in school history to swim below 2:03 in the event. Kleiner also led the Cyclones in the 500 free and ranked second in the 1000 and 1650 free.

The Melissa Fender award went to Liz Holman. The award goes to the student-athlete that is most proud of her school, proud to wear the school colors and proud to be a member of the swimming and diving team.

The Cyclone Relay Swimmer award went to Sarah Norris. Norris was a member of Iowa State's top 200 and 400 medley relay teams in 2011-12.

The Kerry O'Brien Award, which goes to the Cyclone who demonstrates the commitment to improve to a national championship level, went to Imelda Wistey. Wistey posted an NCAA 'B' cut in the 100 breast at the Big 12 Championships on her way to finishing eighth in the event. The sophomore finished third on the squad in the 200 breast and 200 IM

Marley Suckow and Nelson won the Cyclone Strength and Conditioning Awards. The award goes to the student-athlete who dedicates themselves in dry-land training and the weight room to achieve the strength and endurance to compete at a championship level.

Henderson, Norris and Tiana Wollin were named the captains for the 2012-13 season.