annual awards banquet
Highlights
Swimmers, coaches and volunteers were honored for their outstanding achievements and contributions at the Annual Awards Banquet, held November 6, 2011 at the Aqua Turf. The banquet commenced with opening remarks made by Christopher Hug, General Chair of Connecticut Swimming followed by presentation of the USA Swimming ConocoPhillips Service Award to Mike Huffman, Senior Coach of the Year award to George Miles, Age Group Coach of the Year award to Mark Sedlak, and Swimmer of the Year award to KC Moss. Over 1,000 people were in attendance as 469 athletes were recognized for academic achievement and/or CSI Top 16 swims, including open water swimming. Connecticut Swimming and its Board of Directors, extends gratitude and thanks to volunteers Chris Geier and Sue Husta-- their efforts made this Awards Banquet an outstanding success.
Swimmer of the Year
KC Moss
Every year the Swimmer of the Year award is presented to the
CSI athlete with the highest
ranking time achieved during the previous season (September 1-August 31). This year's recipient is Kaylin "KC" Moss of New
Canaan YMCA Caimans (NCY). Presenting KC's award was her coach Jason Paige, Head
Coach of the New Canaan YMCA Caimans. In his remarks Jason stated,
"This
past summer KC earned her place on the USA Swimming Junior National Team
for the third consecutive year. She represented the United States at the Junior
World Championships in Lima, Peru where she placed in the top eight in both the
50m and 200m breaststrokes. Her time from the 200m Breaststroke ranked her 92nd
in the world at the conclusion of the meet. She also swam the Breaststroke leg
on the United States 400m Medley Relay which took home the silver medal. Prior to
the Junior World Championships, she placed 25th at US Nationals in
the 200 Breaststroke and second in the same event at the US Junior Nationals
held in Palo Alto. In June she will travel to Omaha, NE to compete at the 2012
Olympic Trials in the 100m and 200m Breaststrokes, she’s a USA Swimming Scholar
athlete, and on November 9th, she will sign her National Letter of
Intent to Stanford University."
Read all of Jason Paige's acceptance
speech. Read KC
Moss's acceptance speech.
ConocoPhillips Service
Award
Mike Huffman
Each year Connecticut Swimming Board of Directors has the opportunity to select a recipient for USA Swimming's PhillipConoco Outstanding Service Award. Sponsored by USA Swimming and ConocoPhillips, this award is presented annually to a volunteer in recognition of outstanding service to CT Swimming. This year's recipient is Michael Huffman. Mike Huffman served a 9 years on CSI Board of Directors; 5 years as CSI Officials Chair and followed by 4 years as Program Operations Vice-Chair. In addition to officiating numerous swimming meets, Mike frequently hosts officials clinics providing instruction to new and recertifying officials.
Senior Coach of the Year
George Miles
Under George Miles the Branford Stingrays senior program regularly places in the top five at Connecticut Senior Championships (highest is third-place) with multiple individual event winners. This past LC season, BRS athlete Emily Barber finished 16th in both breaststroke events and broke 3 CSI records improving her 2012 Olympic Trial qualifying times. Furthermore, Amy Zhao achieved the 19th fastest time in the nation in the Girl's 13/14 50 meter free and qualified for the US Open and Short Course Junior National Championships. In past seasons, George has 9 Junior National qualifiers and 4 Senior National qualifiers. Read Jeff Gray and Dave Reilly's presentation speech.
Age Group Coach of the Year
Mark Sedlak
Coach Mark Sedlak is finishing his second season as the Head Age Group Coach of the Westport Water Rats. During the past year he has produced swimmers who have performed at top levels in the state and the nation. In the past two seasons Mark's Water Rat swimmers have won multiple gold medals at the CT Age Group Championship breaking 2 state records along the way. The Water Rats have had 43 top 8 finishes at CT Age Group Championships including 12 gold medals. He has sent seven swimmers to the Short Course and Long Course Eastern Zone Championship who earned a total of 12 top-8 finishes. Connecticut Swimming Record Holders are Ed Stolarski (11/12 50m Backstroke) and Daniel Williams (11/12 200m Butterfly). Mia Bullock, age 12 200Y breaststroke, ranked 10th in the USA Swimming's final list of National Top 10. Coach Sedlak is also a newly appointed member of CT Swimming’s Age Group Committee for 2011-12. -Submitted by John Spadafina, Senior Coach Representative. Read Mark Sedlak's acceptance speech.
Each year 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. Athletes achieving USA Swimming Scholastic All-American time standards and USA Swimming National and Zone sectional meet eligibility may apply for USA Swimming's Scholastic All-America Team.
*3-year consecutive Scholar-Athletes
# USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team
| Shannon Ahearn % | Alyssa LaFrenierre # % |
| Jeffrey Anderson | Emily Lajoie |
| James Baker | Megan Lattimer |
| Elizabeth Baumgartner | Timothy Lattimer % |
| Kelley Baylis | Andrew Lee # |
| Jennifer Belanger | Kyle LeMere |
| Jordan Berger % | Christine Lenkeit |
| Allyssa Black | Andrew Lewis |
| Brian Bollerman # % | Brian Liang |
| Joseph Buderwitz | Katerina Lisitsin |
| Jonathan Burr # % | Rebecca Liu |
| Cole Chavez | Michael Lombardo |
| Ray Chen | Kathryn Luchansky % |
| Emily Cheung | Jonathan Ma |
| Derek Chu | Timothy Maloney |
| Karen Chu | Sarah Mantz |
| Olivia Clark % | Elizabeth McDonald % |
| Caitlin Cole | Kelsey McEvoy |
| Matthew Connelly | Christine McGuire |
| Jazzi Cooper % | Caius Mergy |
| Sarah Cooperman | James Michel |
| Kelly Culkin | Dorothy Miller |
| Keara Daly #% | Mason Molina |
| James Damon | Natalie Moreau |
| Amanda Danielson | Lindsay Morton |
| Tara Dawley | David Mullany |
| Erica Dembowski | Christopher Myers % |
| Andrew Dillinger % | Erica Naumann |
| Timothy Dion | Caroline Orem % |
| Derrian Duryea # % | Meredith Outlaw |
| Stephanie Ego | Alaina Papiro |
| Sean P. Finnegan | Diana Pimer # % |
| Courtney Flynn % | Meghan Poole |
| Peter Fulton | David Powers |
| Frederick Garneau | Meredith Pramer |
| Steven Geier | Olivia Rettstatt |
| Hannah Georgiades | Connor Riley |
| Adelyn Graf % | Marissa Rossi |
| Helen Grant | John Santoro % |
| Dana Grindall % | Tim Savidge |
| Robert Harder # % | Morgan Scarth % |
| Maggie Heaton | Arthur Schick |
| Matthew Hellauer | Maggie Senft |
| Molly Hellauer | Brendan Smalec |
| Grace Hendee | Madeline Smart % |
| Claire Hendershot | Grayson Smith % |
| Jessica Hespeler % | Molly Smyth # % |
| Samantha Hill | Victoria Spencer |
| Shoshana Hodes | Gabrielle Spinosa |
| Katherine Holden | Perry Stoddart |
| Rachel Holden | James Szabo # |
| Michael Hopkins | Thomas Szilagyi |
| Daniel Hufziger | Kazumu Takabayashi % |
| Hannah Hummel % | Kaitlyn Thomesen |
| Martin Imber | Kristina Tougas |
| Maddy Irwin # | Adam Tran |
| Christopher Janson | Catherine Treesh # |
| Andrew Janz | Claire Treesh |
| Nora Jefferies # | Lindsay Tyler # % |
| Sabrina Jin-Corcoran | Kelly Ward |
| Courtney Kenyon | Erin Westcott |
| Lynsey Kirby | Frederick Whelan |
| Andrew Klutey % | Gabrielle Wimer |
| Kevin Kosciuk % | Austin Wolff % |
| Kevin Kozikowski # | Felicia Woron |
| Robert Kunkel | Cameron Yick |
| Nick Lafky |
Additional USA Swimming Scholastic All-Americans
Theresa Goehring
Gregory Han
Michaela Kearney
Alex Pascal
Maddie Rusch
2011 Age Group High Point Awards
Short Course Age Group Championship Over-all High Point
|
10/U |
Sophie Jahan Kieran Smith |
|
11/12 |
Eva Crouse
Bryce Murad |
|
13/14 |
Mary Spillane Stephen Holmquist |
|
15/18 |
Juliette Lajoie Conor Maher |
Short Course Age Group Championship Distance High Point
|
10/U |
Gracie Gustinis/Grace Moore
Kieran Smith |
|
11/12 |
Erin Earley
Bryce Murad |
|
13/14 |
Brittany Driscoll Stephen Holmquist |
|
15/18 |
Elizabeth McDonald Kurt Bittel |
Long Course Age Group Championship Over-all High Point
|
10/U |
Alex Walsh Billy Regan |
|
11/12 |
Erin Earley Matthew Molnar |
|
13/14 |
Brittany Driscoll Bryce Murad |
|
15/18 |
Emily Lajoie Alex Pascal |
Long Course Age Group Championship Distance High Point
|
10/U |
Grace Moore Billy Regan |
|
11/12 |
Erin Earley Nick Handali |
|
13/14 |
Brittany Driscoll Kyle Ward |
|
15/18 |
Karen Chu Kareem Saleh |
Volunteer of the Year Acceptance
Good afternoon everyone.
First I would like to thank Connecticut Swimming and its board of directors for this award.
When my daughter Alex was 5 she decided that she wanted to be a dancer like her big sister. This involved practice once, maybe twice a week and 1 recital at the end of the year. At this recital Alex had a little bout of stage fright and wouldn’t come out with the rest of her class. At that point I said that’s it, we need to find something different for her to be involved in. She was also taking swimming lessons at the time and her instructors were impressed with a 5 year old that could do a legal breaststroke, so I thought we’d give that swimming thing a shot. I also remember thinking, somewhat selfishly, that this might be something that would require a little less parental involvement.
So here we stand, some 18 years later, having spent a little bit of time with Connecticut swimming and quite honestly I wouldn’t change a minute of it. I am constantly impressed by the amount of time, hard work, and dedication that the volunteers, coaches, and athletes put into our sport.
It’s been said many times that you are defined by the company you keep. So I would like to thank everyone here but particularly the athletes for allowing me to spend this time in their company. I hope I have had a positive influence on some portion of their lives, as I know they have had on mine.
Thank you.
Swimmer of the Year Presentation
Coach Jason Paige presentation of KC Moss:
The swimmer of the year award recognizes a Connecticut swimmer that has met specific requirements set by Connecticut Swimming and has achieved an extremely high level of success in the previous year. This year’s recipient began her swimming career in Japan and continued her development as a Wilton Wahoo until recently joining the New Canaan program this past May.She is an intelligent young lady with a great passion to excel in the classroom and in the pool. Her maturity has been a positive influence on her New Canaan teammates and her interest in swimming has been refreshing for her coaches.This past summer she earned her place on the USA Swimming Junior National Team for the third consecutive year. She represented the United States at the Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru where she placed in the top eight in both the 50m and 200m breaststrokes. Her time from the 200m Breaststroke ranked her 92nd in the world at the conclusion of the meet. She also swam the Breaststroke leg on the United States 400m Medley Relay which took home the silver medal.Prior to the Junior World Championships, she placed 25th at US Nationals in the 200 Breaststroke and second in the same event at the US Junior Nationals held in Palo Alto.In June she will travel to Omaha, NE to compete at the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 100m and 200m Breaststrokes, she’s a USA Swimming Scholar athlete, and on November 9th, she will sign her National Letter of Intent to Stanford University. It is my pleasure to present to all of you the CT Swimming “Swimmer of the Year”, KC Moss.
Swimmer of the Year Acceptance Speech
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Connecticut Swimming for honoring me with this award. I’ll begin by thanking the outstanding coaches and mentors I’ve had throughout my swimming career in both Wilton and New Canaan—beginning with coach Mark Newcombe as an age group swimmer who I still talk with before every big meet. Todd Stevens for all our success and fun with high school swimming , and my current coach Jason Paige, for his support during the recent championship season and his guidance through the college recruiting process. I have grown immensely in their presence and owe a great deal of my success to them. I also want to thank my parents for their unwavering support. I really appreciate all those early-morning car rides to the pool—especially when there was a foot of snow on the ground. And, I want to thank my sisters and teammates for keeping this sport fun—even during main sets over Christmas Training. I’ll always cherish the memories we’ve made and laughs we’ve shared.
I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel the world through swimming. I’ve been on national junior teams with the best youth swimmers in the United States, and swam against NCAA champions and professional athletes. Yet wherever my swimming has taken me, I’ve always felt prepared for the moment, for the next step,—and for that, I thank Connecticut Swimming and all it has meant in my success.
My first memory after moving from Hong Kong to Connecticut at age eight, was joining the local YMCA swim team. Since then, competitive swimming has been a common thread throughout my life. Whether adjusting to a new country, meeting new friends, or navigating high school, swimming has always made these transitions better for me. As I now prepare to embark on the next chapter of my life, as a student-athlete at Stanford University, I am both excited and nervous about the challenges ahead. But I can rest assured knowing that I’ve felt this way before, and as always, swimming will help guide me to success.
The decade I’ve spent in the Connecticut Swimming family has made me a better person, and prepared me for life in and out of the pool. For all the swimmers in the room, the same applies to you. Take advantage of everything this community offers you. Your family, teammates and Connecticut Swimming can make your dreams come true too. Thank you again for this award, and best of luck to all Connecticut Swimmers this year.
Senior Coach of the Year Presentation by Jeff Gray and Dave Reilly
It’s always a welcomed opportunity when we can step away from the challenges of the day, to honor respected peers, and say something nice about them in a public venue. It’s my honor and privilege today to have this opportunity to offer some remarks about a person I am proud to be associated with, George Miles, the head coach of the Branford Stingrays.
According to the bio information supplied by Al Laprino, George Miles has been coaching swimming in some capacity since 1973. To put this in some context, I was in 10th grade in 1973. He has been with the Branford Stingrays as their head coach since 1982. I had just graduated from graduate school, secured my first full-time job and gotten married in 1982.
For 38 years, therefore, George Miles has committed himself to the development of swimmers, and young adults. 30 of these years have been spent with the Branford Stingrays. I have known George for roughly 15 of those years. In that time, one thing has become very evident to me, among other things, and that is that George Miles is perhaps the smartest, most intellectually gifted person on the deck. While George is “always”....okay, “always” is a rather all encompassing word, so let’s go with usually....while George is usually graceful, diplomatic and very analytic in his approach to all matters, especially when there is a difference of opinion on a technical issue, he is nonetheless dogged, determined and persistent in his pursuit of an outcome that believes is the correct one. I have always enjoyed and valued my discussions on deck with George, which is not to say that I necessarily embrace losing debates with him, which is generally the final result. I have come to a simple conclusion in the time that I have known him: George Miles is smarter than I am, and I don’t really like having disagreements with people who are smarter than I am, because the results are generally predetermined. In this case, he always wins.
Things have gotten to the point where I generally concede the outcome to George in any given discussion, before it begins. One particular situation that gave rise to this way of proceeding for me involved a gentlemen’s disagreement we had on deck a few years back, at a Senior Open Championship meet. The difference of opinion was over a technical issue, something to do with relay entries. The issue itself is not really important. What is important is the process that led to the outcome, one in which George once again prevailed. One of his teams had been disqualified because the card was not properly filled out, or something along those lines, according to some of the officials present. George argued his points, in his characteristic way: analytical and measured but passionate in suggesting in less than subtle terms that we had it wrong. Several officials on the other side of the debate argued with equal zeal the opposite position. Caught in the middle, as the meet ref, hearing valid points on both sides, but suspecting that perhaps George was right once again, I upheld the call, and encouraged that he file a protest. I handed him a rule book, with the pages folded back where he could easily find the information that might support his protest. He smiled at me. I did not actually write the protest for him, but I admit to you publicly today that I thought about it for a fleeting moment. It would have been easier. I convened a meet jury, and delivered the opening remarks, most of which were in support of George’s protest. When I concluded, I asked him if he had anything else to offer. He gave me that wry smile, once again, and said simply, “No Jeff, I think you covered it nicely”. The rest was history. The meet jury overturned my decision, upheld George’s protest, his relay counted the swim, and we all lived happily ever after, doing it George’s way from that day forward. Recognizing and conceding defeat is an acquired trait of mine, developed over 30 years of marriage to an assertive woman, who is also smarter than I am, an association with 3 daughters of varying ages and levels of dominance and a 15 year relationship with George Miles.
Beyond his sheer intellectual capacity, I have come to know George as a man of principle, integrity and character. His swimmers are some of my favorite kids on the pool deck. Quiet, confident, unassuming, humble, focused, and technical and hard working in their approach, they go about their business without a lot of fanfare, always with respect, and in doing so they embody some of George’s finest personal qualities. George works every swim with them, and handles their achievements and disappointments with grace, kindness, and a firm but loving sense of direction and structure. I make it a point to stop by the Branford huddle on the deck as often as I can when we’re at meets together. His swimmers always seem amused when I pick on George in front of them, and when we engage in the usual deck banter. Before I leave them, however, I always make a point of impressing upon them how fortunate they are to be in the company of their coach, and to have the opportunity to be mentored and formed by a man of his stature, an intellectually gifted man of principle, who gives his time and attention to the development and formation of kids and young adults in the sport of swimming. In my own way, I try to convey to them that he is a man with personal depth beyond the ordinary, who brings to the table much more than sheer intellectual capacity and character......he brings to his work the perspective and wisdom that can only be acquired through years of experience, and he shares this acquired knowledge with his swimmers in each conversation he has with them. It is my honor and privilege to call George my friend and to be part of his journey, and more so to have been asked to present him with an award today that he so richly deserves. Ladies and gentlemen, George Miles, the Connecticut Senior Coach of the Year.
Age Group Coach of the Year Acceptance Speech
Iam pleased to be here today and honored to accept this award. I have been a part of CT swimming both as a swimmer and a coach for most of my life. I am fortunate to have accomplished some wonderful achievements as a swimmer, for which I am very proud. Receiving this award for Age group Coach of the Year today is a highlight of my swimming career. I am sincerely flattered with the acknowledgement and reward my fellow coaches across Connecticut have given me. This is a coaches award, and recognition by your peers is the best high-five ever.
I would like to thank The Westport Weston Family Y for being so supportive, especially to Jacquie Tumminia, Director of Competitive Aquatics, who has worked incredibly hard to help us build such a great program. Also, thank you to the Water Rat Swim Team. I have been very lucky to work with such a great group of coaches, swimmers, and parents. Thank you especially to my close friend and right hand girl Betsy Matheney for being crazy enough to follow me to Westport. She is as committed to swimming and the success of the Water Rats as I am. Her assistance with our age group program has been invaluable.
I’m thrilled to be a part of this event and to be here to acknowledge and recognize the top swimmers in CT. You should all be proud of what you have accomplished to be here today. Swimming is a tough sport and demands an incredible amount of time, dedication, and hard work. As a coach, but also as a former swimmer, I appreciate how difficult training can be. It requires a rigorous level of commitment both in and out of the water. I recall when I first began coaching how different my mindset was from what it is now. I had been a swimmer who swam for many very accomplished coaches and with a group of very talented swimmers. I thought, ”Hey, this is going to be easy.” Well, I realized very quickly that my work on deck was even more challenging than the work I had done in the water. I had to take a step back-knock my ego down a notch. I realized I had a lot to learn. While my swimming experience was an asset for sure, I had to work hard to use that asset. I’ve learned a lot, and continue to learn about how to be a good coach. Like my swimmers, my training is ongoing. Yes, my training now is not done in a Speedo. It’s done by asking questions, consulting with other coaches, collaborating with colleagues, listening to swimmers and, of course, watching the latest riveting, blockbuster, high-budget Martin Swim-cese DVD on stroke technique.
People say swimming is an individual sport. It’s you against the clock. And it is. But it’s so much more than that. Yes, we all have individual goals; achieving best times, mastering stroke technique, qualifying for higher level meets…
Age Group Coach of the Year Presentation Speech
Hello. I am Betsy Matheney, assistant age group coach at Westport Water Rat Swim Team. It is my privilege today to introduce you to the Connecticut Age Group Coach of the Year, Mark Sedlak. Mark is a born and raised native of Connecticut. His presence as a swimmer, as well as a coach, is felt throughout the region. As a swimmer, he set a national age group record in the 50 yard freestyle, and 26 years later, he still owns the 13+14 50 and 100 yard freestyle CT State Records (although, I am sure there are a few of you out there may have some thoughts about changing that). As a coach, he has had an influence on many of the state’s top swimmers. Mark has produced YMCA National Champions, multiple CT state record holders, multiple Connecticut Senior Open, Age Group, and YMCA New England champions as well as numerous National Top 16 swimmers. Many of his swimmers have also gone on to swim at top level NCAA Division I schools.
This past year, in only his second year with the Westport Water Rat Swim Team, Mark had 6 WRAT swimmers earn 20 top 8 finishes at Zones. At the short course Connecticut Age Championships, he had 23 top 8 finishes with 3 1st place winners. At the 2010 Long Course Age Groups, he had 20 top 8 finishes, 9 first place winners and 2 state champions. Mark coached Ed Stolarski to a State Record in the 11+12 50 meter backstroke and Daniel Williams to a State Record in the 11+12 200 meter Butterfly. Ed, along with Mia Bullock, ranked in the top 10 in the nation in the 50/100/200 back and breaststroke respectively. Mia’s 100 yard breaststroke time as an 11 year old made qualifying cuts for the YMCA SC Nationals.
As you can tell, Mark is very versatile in coaching all strokes and distances. It is his phenomenal ability to create interesting and exciting workouts along with his infectious smile and crazy sense of humor that makes him a favorite with all his swimmers as well as his staff. If his former coaches were here today, they would be smiling to themselves as they remembered a talented swimmer who made them work hard for their money!!!!
It is now my pleasure to introduce to you, my friend, and 2011 Connecticut Age Group Coach of the Year from the Westport Water Rats, Mark Sedlak.
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