Army Names Team Awards and 2017-18 Captains

May 18, 2017 | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point swimming and diving program handed out its postseason awards recently and head coach Mickey Wender announced the 2017-18 team captains.

The coaching staff handed out varsity letters, senior accolades and 12 team awards at this year's banquet.

The program also recognized its senior class of Jess Burkett, Joseph Daniels, Edward Emery, Hannah Grosso, Clay Harmon, Kelly Hamilton, Devin McCall, Dan Mo, Danielle Nuszkowski, Sean Regan, Jack Rector and Claire Willis.

The Black Knights also announced its captains for next season as Margaret Ireland and Jorie Mason were selected on the women's side, while Evin Rude and Josh Sembrano will be captains of the men's team.

Most Valuable Female Plebe Award – Josephine Marsh
At Patriot League Championships, Marsh finished with a pair of top 10 times in the 100 and 200 back. She took third place in the 100 with a time of 1:59.33, while following that up with a seventh-place swim in the 200 at 56.16 seconds. She also set a new mark in the 200 earlier this year, clocking in at 1:58.52, breaking the previous record from 2013.

Dorothy "Skippie" Buncher Award – Peter Mikheyev
This award is presented to the plebe on the men's team that contributes the most to the varsity program. Dorothy Bucher was active in the swimming community for many years and was the wife of Al Buncher, a great friend of the Army West Point swim program. Mikheyev was a consistent swimmer for the Black Knights in the relays, while setting good times in the individual medley. He set the new school record in the 200 IM with a time of 1:47.18 and had the second-fastest time in the 400 IM at 3:52.17.

Most Improved Female Award – Bridget Ritter
Ritter had a breakout junior season with five top five all-time swims in the three different events. She posted the second-fastest time in the 200 and 500 free this year, while breaking the school record and winning the Patriot League title in the 400 IM with a time of 4:17.82. Ritter also finished in the top 10 in the 500 free at Patriot League Championships, placing seventh.

Stephen Childers Award – Sean Martin
Each year, the Steven Childers Award is handed out to a sophomore or junior member of the men's team who shows the most improvement in competitive swimming or diving throughout the season. Martin finished his sophomore season with a fourth-place swim in the 200 free at Patriot League Championships. He ended up with two top 10 swims in the Army record book in the 100 and 200 free.

Most Inspirational Female Award – Danielle Nuszkowski
Nuszukowski returned to the lineup this season after missing last year and jumped right back in training and provided a lift for the team. She continued to push those around her to become better and took on a role of being leader for the squad.

Most Inspirational Male Award – Sean Regan
Regan has embodied the spirit of the team as the leader of the squad the last two years and he has earned this honor both times. He leads the team in stretches, the team in cheers on deck and is also a silent leader in that he comes back to win his races to better the team. This year he contributed in the pool as well by taking home the Patriot League title in the 200 fly with a time of 1:46.34, which was just off his personal best. He also took sixth in the 100 fly at Patriot League Championships.

Joe and Anna B. Stetz Award – Kelly Hamilton
This award is presented to a member of the women's team who has shown outstanding leadership and dedication to the team over a four-year period. Both Joe and Anna were lifelong friends and officials of Army West Point swimming and diving. As a team captain, Hamilton was named the Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2016-17 season. She set the Patriot League, Army and Bucknell pool record in the 100 back at Patriot League Championships with a time of 53.23 seconds during a medley relay.

Iron Knight Award – Joe Daniels and Hannah Grosso
The Iron Knight Award is handed out each year to individuals on the team who make the extra effort out of the pool. This year, Daniels and Grosso were chosen for the award, due to their motivation to get better in the weight room to improve their performances in the pool. Grosso also won the award last season.

Rex Storch Award – Kelly Hamilton
The Rex Storch Award is presented annually to the most valuable swimmer or diver on the women's team. The honor is given in memory of the late Rex Storch, Class of 1999. For the second-straight season, Hamilton was presented this award as one of the program's premier swimmers. At the Patriot League Championships, she engraved her name into the record books by being a part of four out of five record-setting relay teams for the Black Knights.

Most Valuable Male Award – Tom Ottman
Ottman had an incredible year for the Black Knights, especially at the Patriot League Championships. He finished in a tie for fifth-place in total individual points with 49 during the event. He broke the academy record in the 1650 and 500 free at the championships and also earned the league title in those events. The 500 free school record had stood for 27 years. Ottman helped Army secure a second-place finish as a team in the championships and was named to the All-Patriot League First Team.

Class of 1923 Award – Devin McCall
The Class of 1923 Award is presented to the graduating senior of the men's team who has exhibited qualities of leadership and sportsmanship, and who has shown outstanding ability as a competitive swimmer or diver. McCall is a four-year swimmer for the Black Knights and was a team captain. He placed in the finals at Patriot League Championships in the 50 and 200 free.

Lieutenant General Phillips Daley Award – Jessica Burkett & Kelly Hamilton
The award is handed out each year to the captains of the women's swimming and diving team.

Captain Michael W. Kilroy Award – Sean Regan & Devin McCall
This award is presented annually to the captains of the men's swimming and diving team. Captain Michael Kilroy, Class of 1963, was captain of the 1962 team. He was killed in action in Quarter Tri Province, S. Vietnam.