April 3, 2008

RICHMOND, Va. - For the fourth straight year, a member of the George Mason men's swimming team has been selected as the best in the Colonial Athletic Association. Junior Eric Knight, who was chosen as the CAA Championship's outstanding men's swimmer, was named the Men's Swimmer of the Year, the conference office announced on Thursday.

Knight earned Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet honors at the 2008 CAA Championship after capturing three individual events. The junior took first place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.0, the 100 breaststroke with a time of 54.93 and the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:00. Knight's performance in the 100 breaststroke was a CAA record and he set new George Mason records this season in five separate events (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 breast, 200 breast). He achieved NCAA "B" Cut standards in the 50 and 100 free and the 100 and 200 breast.

The junior from Centreville, Va., was one of four Patriots to earn All-CAA honors, doing so in the 100 and 200 breast, as well as the 50 free. Senior Matt Kane received accolades in the 500 and 1650 free and the 400 individual medley. Additionally, sophomore Stephen Sullivan earned the honor in the 400 individual medley, while junior Ryan Metzker was recognized in the one-meter dive.

Four Mason relays earned All-CAA honors as well. The 400 free relay team of Knight, freshman Spencer Roe, sophomore Tad Ogren and Kane, and the 800 free relay squad of Knight, Kane, freshman Zachary Hamlin and sophomore Steven Benecki were honored, as were the 200 medley relay (sophomore Ryan David, Knight, Ogren, Roe) and the 400 medley relay (David, Knight, Ogren, Benecki).

A number of performances on the women's side garnered All-CAA recognition as well. Senior Sarah Bizer was the lone Patriot swimmer recognized for individual efforts, as she excelled at the 50 and 100 free. In diving, both senior Amanda Fielding and freshman Lisa Faulkner were rewarded for their scores in the one- and three-meter dives.

All three of the women's free relay teams grabbed All-CAA honors as well. Junior Mary Beth Cheslock, sophomore Caitlin Impink, freshman Katie Planchak and Bizer finished second in the 200 free relay, while the third place squads in the 400 free relay (sophomore Claire Weems, Cheslock, Impink Bizer) and 800 free relay (Weems, Impink, freshman Jenny Kane and senior Mallory Pucci) were honored as well.

Knight is the third Patriot to earn top honors in the program's nine year history. Tom Koucheravy was a three-time award winner from 2005 to 2007, while Lauren Stinnett received the award in 2002.

MEN'S ALL-CAA HONOREES

50-Freestyle: Eric Knight, George Mason; Andrew Zinn, Delaware; Grady Carter, Delaware

100-Freestyle: Andrew Zinn, Delaware; Eric Pinno, Towson; Grady Carter, Delaware

200-Freestyle: Craig Podgurski, Drexel; Andrew Zinn, Delaware; Chad Gangwer, Old Dominion

500-Freestyle: Matt Kane, George Mason; Luke Murphy, UNC Wilmington; Scott Royal, UNC Wilmington

1650-Freestyle: Matt Kane, George Mason; Luke Murphy, UNC Wilmington; Scott Royal, UNC Wilmington

100-Butterfly: Eric Pinno, Towson; Armagan Yavus, Drexel; Mert Karsiyakalilar, Drexel

200-Butterfly: Armagan Yavus, Drexel; Mert Karsiyakalilar, Drexel; Kevin Latimer, Old Dominion

100-Breaststroke: Eric Knight, George Mason; Matt Layne, UNC Wilmington; Robert Anderson, UNC Wilmington

200-Breaststroke: Eric Knight, George Mason; Gordon Amato, Towson; Johan Lundberg, Old Dominion

100-Backstroke: Patrik Balint, Old Dominion, Andrew Rogers, UNC Wilmington; Mikeal Ramkvist, Old Dominion

200-Backstroke: Patrik Balint, Old Dominion; Mikeal Ramkvist, Old Dominion; Shawn Matthews, William & Mary

200-Individual Medley: Johan Lundberg, Old Dominion; Gordon Amato, Towson; Jason Brisson, William & Mary

400-Individual Medley: Matt Kane, George Mason; Stephen Sullivan, George Mason; Gordon Amato, Towson

200-Freestyle Relay: Delaware (Andrew Zinn, Zach Schiavo, John Ohlhaver, Grady Carter)

William & Mary (Nick Duda, Kevin Gallagher, Michael Naccarelli, Nader Amer)

UNC Wilmington (Corey Sturmer, Seth Liston, Charlie Phelps, Robert Anderson)

400-Freestyle Relay: Delaware (John Ohlhaver, Adam Blomberg, Grady Carter, Andrew Zinn)

Old Dominion (Wesley Murai, Mikeal Ramkvist, Chad Gangwer, Patrik Balint)

George Mason (Eric Knight, Spencer Roe, Tad Ogren, Matt Kane)

800-Freestyle Relay: Old Dominion (Patrik Balint, Mikeal Ramkvist, Kris Hagg, Chad Gangwer)

UNC Wilmington (Luke Murphy, Seth Liston, Bennett Rainey, Scott Royal)

George Mason (Eric Knight, Matt Kane, Zachary Hamlin, Steven Benecki)

200-Medley Relay: UNC Wilmington (Andrew Rogers, Matt Layne, Robert Anderson, Corey Sturmer)

Old Dominion (Patrik Balint, Johan Lundberg, Vincent Pastore, Wesley Murai)

George Mason (Ryan David, Eric Knight, Tad Ogren, Spencer Roe)

400-Medley Relay: UNC Wilmington (Andrew Rogers, Matt Layne, Robert Anderson, Corey Sturmer)

Old Dominion (Patrik Balint, Johan Lundberg, Wesley Murai, Chad Gangwer)

George Mason (Ryan David, Eric Knight, Tad Ogren, Steven Benecki)

One-Meter Dive: Kobi Salinas, UNC Wilmington; Jacob Roberson, Drexel; Ryan Metzker, George Mason

Three-Meter Dive: Kobi Salinas, UNC Wilmington; Jacob Roberson, Drexel; Noah Scully, Old Dominion

WOMEN'S ALL-CAA HONOREES

50-Freestyle: Katie Radloff, William & Mary; Sarah Bizer, George Mason; Caitlin Kirsteier, UNC Wilmington

100-Freestyle: Katie Radloff, William & Mary; Sarah Bizer, George Mason; P.J. Naber, James Madison

200-Freestyle: Katie Radloff, William & Mary; P.J. Naber, James Madison; Kathrine Fugge, Northeastern

500-Freestyle: Meredith Budner, Towson; Danielle Mortensen, UNC Wilmington; Brooke Golden, Towson

1650-Freestyle: Meredith Budner, Towson; Danielle Mortensen, UNC Wilmington; Cortney Barry, Delaware

100-Butterfly: Caitlin Kirsteier, UNC Wilmington; Jordan Crosby, Towson; Kara Lane, Northeastern

200-Butterfly: Jordan Crosby, Towson; Kara Lane, Northeastern; Brooke Golden, Towson

100-Breaststroke: Ivelisse Wimberley, Towson; Elena Alvarez, Northeastern; Heather Whiting, Northeastern

200-Breaststroke: Ivelisse Wimberley, Towson; Kellie Pastore, Delaware; Stephanie Guttenplan, Towson

100-Backstroke: Stacie Striplin, UNC Wilmington; April Barrientos, Old Dominion; Amanda Hauck, James Madison

200-Backstroke: Chantal Woodard, UNC Wilmington; Emily Smathers, Delaware; Maryann Walker, Delaware

200-Individual Medley: Jordan Crosby, Towson; Kathrine Fugge, Northeastern; P.J. Naber, James Madison

400-Individual Medley: Meredith Budner, Towson, Jackie Hartman, James Madison; Kayla Zeller, Towson

200-Freestyle Relay: William & Mary (Emily Burns, Lindsay Guers, Marina Falcone, Katie Radloff)

George Mason (Mary Beth Cheslock, Caitlin Impink, Katie Planchak, Sarah Bizer)

Towson (Danielle Kelly, Emilie Hoeper, Robin Glaser, Hillary Rieveley)

400-Freestyle Relay: William & Mary (Marina Falcone, Lindsay Guers, Emily Burns, Katie Radloff)

Towson (Erica Hall, Emilie Hoeper, Robin Glaser, Hillary Rieveley)

George Mason (Claire Weems, Mary Beth Cheslock, Caitlin Impink, Sarah Bizer)

800-Freestyle Relay: Towson (Erica Hall, Hillary Rieveley, Robin Glaser, Meredith Budner)

William & Mary (Lindsay Guers, Christina Monsees, Marina Falcone, Katie Radloff)

George Mason (Claire Weems, Caitlin Impink, Jenny Kane, Mallory Pucci)

200-Medley Relay: UNC Wilmington (Stacie Striplin, Charlee Eades, Caitlin Kirsteier, Caroline Huber)

Towson (Emilie Hoeper, Ivelisse Wimberley, Jordan Crosby, Hillary Rieveley)

Northeastern (Alexandra Doty, Heather Whiting, Kara Lane, Kathrine Fugge)

400-Medley Relay: Northeastern (Alexandra Doty, Heather Whiting, Kara Lane, Kathrine Fugge)

Towson (Emilie Hoeper, Ivelisse Wimberley, Jordan Crosby, Robin Glaser)

William & Mary (Meredith David, Suzanne Figuers, Erin Welshofer, Katie Radloff)

One-Meter Dive: Kate Hynes, Drexel; Amanda Fielding, George Mason; Lisa Faulkner, George Mason

Three-Meter Dive: Kate Hynes, Drexel; Lisa Faulkner, George Mason; Amanda Fielding, George Mason