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2002 Awards Banquet

With an audience of over a thousand, Connecticut Swimming's outstanding athletes, coaches and volunteers were honored at the 2002 Awards Banquet held November 3rd at the Aqua Turf in Southington.  Supreme thanks to Peter Boucher and Wendy Jackwin, for this banquet would not have been possible without them and to Dale Maine for developing the software application that automated the invitation list of nearly 800 athletes and over 5,200 swims. Pictures

Awards Banquet
Swimmer of the Year
Ben Michaelson

For the third consecutive year, the CSI Senior Committee has named Ben Michaelson Swimmer of the Year.  Ben is currently the 4th-ranked American in the 100M Butterfly and ranked 20th in the world.  He was the NCAA Div. II Swimmer of the Year for 2001 and 2002 and holds two NCAA records. USA Swimming has named Ben to the 2003 Pan American Games Team and he will be competing in FINA World Cup meets in November and December.   Ben is a senior at  Southern Connecticut State University and is coached by Tim Quill, Head Coach, SCSU.  

Awards Banquet
Adapted Swimmer of the Year
Deborah Gruen and Michael Prout

Deborah Gruen and Michael Prout have both been named to the U.S. Paralympic Team (division of US Olympic Committee) and will be traveling to Argentina in December to represent the U.S. at the International Paralympic Committee's Swimming World Championships. This year, Deborah broke the 1500M Freestyle World Record and American Record and set the American Record in the 800M Freestyle.  Michael, broke the 1500M and 800M World Records and the 200M, 400M, 800M and 1500M Freestyle and 200M Butterfly American Records.  Michael was awarded the Phillips 66 Performance of the Meet Award at the 2002 USA Swimming Disability Championships.  Deborah is a freshman in high school and swims with HNHS.  Michael is a high school junior and swims unattached.  

Awards Banquet
Phillips 66 Service Award
Larry Frost

Connecticut Swimming would not exist without volunteers.  We rely on parent volunteers to manage and officiate swim meets,  coordinate zone teams, write software applications, etc.  The list is diverse and endless! These volunteers freely give of their time, energy and skills so that over 4,000 youth athletes are given the opportunity to swim competitively.  One volunteer that stands out from the rest is Larry Frost.  Larry, for many years, has maintained the CSI records and has served as National Top 16 Tabulator working closely with USA Swimming.  He is our National Times Verification Officer and was recently elected as secretary to the CSI Board of Directors.  For many years, Larry has run the computer at Senior and State Championships, working  14+ hour days and then finishing the championship meet season by doing the zone team entries for the Eastern Zone All-Star meets.  

Awards Banquet
Senior Coach of the Year
Tim Quill

Tim Quill has been coaching in Connecticut for nearly 15 years.  He was the Head Coach of the Cheshire Water Devils for nine years and then started the Southern CT Swim Club out of Southern Connecticut State University, where he is currently head coach of the college and age group teams.  Tim has produced over 100 National Top 16 performers as well as many athletes that hold CT records.  In addition to his coaching talents, Tim has been on CSI's Board of Directors and was the Senior Committee Chair for the past three years.   

Awards Banquet
Age Group Coach of the Year
Tom Behn

Elected by his peers as Age Group Coach of the Year was Tom Behn of SHEL. Tom began coaching in 1990 with Stratford Y and then was hired as head coach of the Shelton Seals  in 1996 when Shelton started a year-round program.  Tom consistently grew the USA Swimming program over the years from approximately 20 swimmers to the current 50 swimmers with numerous State, Senior and Zone qualifiers.

Awards Banquet
Individual High Point Awards

2002 SC State Championships
Overall Individual Highpoint
 

2002 SC State Championships
Distance Highpoint

  2002 LC State Championships
Overall Individual Highpoint

2002 LC State Championships
Distance Highpoint

Awards Banquet
Scholar Athletes

Annually, Connecticut Swimming recognizes those athletes demonstrating high ability in the classroom and in the pool. Connecticut Swimming Scholar-Athletes have completed 10th, 11th or 12th grade and have earned a minimum 3.5 grade point average as well as competing in designated CSI- sanctioned meets.  This year a record fifty athletes were named and in addition, four of these athletes were named Scholar-Athletes for three consecutive years.  They are:  Zachary Dunn, Kelly Harrigan, Andrew Lloyd and Ashley Plosky.  

USA Swimming has named three Connecticut athletes to its 2002 Scholastic All America Team.  USA Swimming recipients must have swum in Sectionals, National Disability Championships, US Open, Open Water National Championships or National Championships and maintained a 3.5 or higher GPA.  Congratulations to Megan Crapster, Dan Garaffa and Kelly Harrigan (3 years).  (USA Swimming criteria.)   

Congratulations to all the 2002 Connecticut and USA Swimming Scholar-Athletes!  

* indicates a three year recipient.

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