Swimming and Diving Announce 2010-11 Award Winners

ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine swimming and diving program announced its 2010-11 season awards at the team banquet held on Sunday. Also announced were the five Black Bears who will represent the squads as team captains next season. Headlining the awards were seniors Caitlin Shelley (Charlottesville, Va.) and Jeremy Bender (St. Paul, Minn.) who earned 2010-11 Most Valuable Performer honors.

Shelley was a leader in and out of the pool all season for the Black Bears. She had a stellar season for Maine, capping it off with a very successful showing at the America East Championships. The senior captain broke two individual school-record as she placed fifth in the 100 yard breaststroke with a record time of 1:04.48 and was seventh in the 200 yard IM with a new record time of 2:05.75. Shelley also helped the 200 yard medley team to a school-record time of 1:47.16.

Bender was named Maine Most Valuable Performer for the fourth-straight year as the senior captain had another wonderful season in the pool for the Black Bears. Bender had a solid showing at this year's America East Championships as he reset his own record with a blistering 4:05.52 mark in the 400-yard IM event while placing tenth overall in the event. Bender also had a strong showing in the 1650 freestyle were he placed eighth with a time of 16:19.19.

Other honors were as follows:

Switzer Dedication Award: Presented to those who do the most they can to be the best they can be.

Lauren Thornbrough (San Diego, Calif.) and Dan MacDonald (Melrose, Mass.)

Most Improved: Presented to those who make the most progress either from the beginning of the year to the end or from one year to the next.

Laura Duran (Falmouth, Maine) and Cody Lachance (Winslow, Maine)

Chandler Comeback Award: Presented to the person who has overcome significant adversity or disappointment to achieve beyond expectations.

Grace Barnett (Bangor, Maine)

Palmer Plaque for Academic Excellence: Presented to the student-athletes that achieved the highest in the classroom.

Dana Wright (Twin Falls, Idaho) and Jeremy Bender (St. Paul, Minn.) (Second-Straight honor)

Miller Diving Award: Presented to the person who exhibits the most spirit, determination and courage to be the best they can be.

Tim Smith (Bangor, Maine)

Senior Service Award: Given to the seniors who have given loyal and consistent commitment to Maine Swimming and Diving.

Caitlin Shelley (Charlottesville, Va.)

The Black Bears also announced their captains for the upcoming 2011-2012 season. Next year's captains will be Juliet Cobb (Saco, Maine), Linda Gaudreau (Marshfield, Mass.), Lauren Thornbrough (San Diego, Calif.), Michael Capossela (Riverside, Conn.) and Brian Landry (Yorktown, Va.).

-U-M-