Completed Event: Swimming and Diving versus Big 12 Duals on January 16, 2026 , , 5th, 781 points
Final
Swimming and Diving
Big 12 Duals
5th, 781 points
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Iowa State University Athletics
Iowa State Names Season Award Winners
04.13.2015 | Swimming and Diving
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State swimming and diving team honored its student-athletes during the team's annual awards banquet on Sunday afternoon at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center.
Most Valuable Swimmer
Senior Amanda Paulson earned the award for the fourth time in her Iowa State career, becoming just the second four-time ISU Most Valuable swimmer in program history. The first to do so was Petra Plaminkova (2000-2004).
During her time in the Cardinal and Gold, Paulson accumulated over 100 event wins, eight All-Big 12 honors, two school records and 21 times on the Iowa State all-time top-20 performers list. The Monticello, Minnesota native tackled her own school record in the 50 freestyle during the 2014 Big 12 Championships with a time of 22.67 and led off the school record holding 200 freestyle relay squad (1:32.05) during this year's conference championship meet.
Assistant head coach Kelly Nordell described Paulson as the most dominate sprint freestyler in Iowa State swimming history.
Most Valuable Diver
Junior Elyse Brouillette claimed the team's Most Value Diver award for the third time in her three year career at Iowa State. The Omaha, Nebraska native led the Cyclones in the platform and one-meter events with season high scores of 242.85 and 306.97, respectively.
At the 2015 conference championship, Brouillette tallied All-Big 12 honors on all three boards and medaled in her sixth consecutive event at the Big 12 meet, a streak that extends to last season. With a trip to Iowa City, Iowa, Brouillette became the 13th Iowa State diver to reach the NCAA/AIAW Zone Diving Championships in three consecutive seasons and the first since Tien Tran competed in four straight (2007-2010).
Most Improved Swimmer
The Most Improved Swimmer award went to junior Alex Flatness who erupted during the 2014-15 season with four personal best times in the 50 freestyle (23.44), 100 freestyle (51.11), 200 freestyle (1:56.39) and 100 backstroke (57.14). During the 2015 Big 12 Championships, Flatness tallied a pair of All-Big 12 honors in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
Most Improved Diver
After a breakout 2014-15 campaign, sophomore Julie Dickinson was named Most Improved Diver. The Clive, Iowa native posted Iowa State's top score on the three-meter board on the year and ranks 5th and 10th in the three-meter and platform events, respectively, in school history.
The Melissa Fender Award
The Melissa Fender Award, recognizing the student-athlete who is most proud of her school, proud to wear the school colors and proud to be a member of the swimming and diving team, went to senior Kristy Kunkel. The team captain from Omaha, Nebraska earned first-team academic All-Big 12 recognition in each year she was eligible and currently owns seven times on the Iowa State all-time top-20 performers list.
Cyclone Relay Swimmer
Sophomore Savanna Townsend claimed her second consecutive Cyclone Relay Swimmer award. Townsend was part of Iowa State's fastest 400 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay squads this season and holds a school record in the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:32.05.
Kerry O'Brien Award
Team captain Sarah Deis took home the Kerry O'Brien Award, which is recognizes a student-athlete who demonstrates the personal commitment necessary to achieve improvement to a national championship level. Deis earned All-Big 12 honors in the 800 and 200 freestyle relays at the 2015 conference championships and holds an amazing 14 times on Iowa State's all-time top-performers list.
Newcomer of the Year
Kasey Roberts was honored as Iowa State's newcomer of the year after a record-breaking freshman season in the pool. The Saint Michael, Minnesota native earned NCAA 'B' cut qualifying times in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.38), 200 breaststroke (2:11.82) and 200 IM (2:00.29), while setting school records in the 200 breaststroke, 200 IM and 800 freestyle relay (7:17.49).
Cyclone Strength and Conditioning Awards
The Strength and Condition Awards, honoring team members that dedicate themselves in the weight room and to dry-land conditioning to achieve the strength and endurance to compete at a championship level, went to Deis and Dickinson.
2015-16 Team Captains
Brouillette, Flatness and Townsend were named team captains for the 2015-16 season.
Players Mentioned
Diving
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MD/IM
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Diving
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Diving
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Sprint Free/Back
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Fly/Back/IM
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Sprint Free/Fly
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Breast/IM
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Freestyle
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