FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Five Institutions Represented in All-Conference Swim & Dive Awards.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Northeast 10 Conference announced All-Conference award winners for swimming and diving on Friday morning, as five different institutions are represented – with Bentley leading the way with five selections.
For a complete list of award winners, as voted upon by the league’s head coaches, please see below.
Southern Connecticut’s Leo LaPorte was named Men’s Swimmer of the Year, while Saint Rose’s Colleen Quaglia earned Women’s Swimmer of the Year. Both LaPorte and Quaglia qualified for the NCAA Championships, two of just four NE10 student-athletes to earn a trip to Indianapolis.
In his second-straight appearance in the NCAA Championships, LaPorte took fifth place in the 200 butterfly and earned All-America honors. In the 500-yard freestyle, Quaglia earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades in a time of 4:58.27. Both athletes won multiple events at the NE10 Championship in early February.
Southern Connecticut’s Tahj Mitchell-Westberry and Pace’s Alexis Heiney were chosen as Men’s and Women’s Diver of the Year, respectively, as both swept the diving events (one-meter and three-meter) at the NE10 Championship. Heiney went on to compete at the NCAA Championships.
Bentley’s Mark Zoda and Lucy Slowe swept the Rookie of the Year awards for the Falcons. Slowe helped the 400 yard freestyle relay team win a gold medal at the NE10 Championship, while also taking a bronze in the 100 freestyle. Zoda won a gold medal in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle – twice breaking Bentley’s school record in the 100 during the NE10 Championship.
In her 23rd season, Bentley’s Mary Kay Samko has been named Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year after leading the Falcons to their third all-time NE10 Championship. Assumption’s Stuart Cromarty, in his 11th season, is the Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year after helping the Greyhounds to their fourth league title in six seasons.
Winning both Men’s and Women’s Diving Coach of the Year honors was Bentley’s Rick Danehy, after assisting Caroline Logozzo to a pair of second-place finishes and Jeremy Glick to third-place finishes at the NE10 Championship.
2018-19 NE10 Swimming & Diving Awards
Men’s Swimmer of the Year: Leo LaPorte, So. Connecticut
Women’s Swimmer of the Year: Colleen Quaglia, Saint Rose
Men’s Diver of the Year: Tahj Mitchell-Westberry, So. Connecticut
Women’s Diver of the Year: Alexis Heiney, Pace
Men’s Rookie of the Year: Mark Zoda, Bentley
Women’s Rookie of the Year: Lucy Slowe, Bentley
Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year: Mary Kay Samko, Bentley
Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year: Stuart Cromarty, Assumption
Men’s/Women’s Diving Coach of the Year: Rick Danehy, Bentley
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.