April 15, 2009

RICHMOND, Va. - A trio of George Mason freshmen were recognized by the Colonial Athletic Association Wednesday for outstanding debut seasons with the Patriots swimming and diving teams, as Ashley Danner, Kristen Meier and Bryan Bahr claimed top rookie honors. Mason diving coach Roland McDonald was also honored as the Men's Diving Coach of the Year.

Danner was named the Women's Rookie Swimmer of the Year, while Meier and Bahr earned the women's and men's Rookie Diver of the Year awards, respectively, in a vote by the conference's head coaches.

Danner was the CAA champion in the 100 breaststroke (59.78), the 200 breaststroke (2:10.21) and the 200 individual medley (1:59.99). The freshman set new George Mason, meet and CAA records in all three events and was selected as the Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet. The Springfield, Va., native advanced to the NCAA Swimming Championship where she earned honorable mention All-America honors after a 15th-place finish in the 100 breast. She also finished 19th in the 200 breast and 31st in the 200 IM at the NCAA's. Danner set a new school record in the 400 IM this season as well.

Meier placed second on the 1-meter board (299.50) and fifth on the 3-meter board (277.40) at the CAA Championship. The Walden, N.Y., native also performed well at the NCAA Zone Championship, finishing fourth on the platform, ninth on the 1-meter board and 11th on the 3-meter board. Meier is the sixth George Mason diver in the past nine years to receive CAA Rookie Diver of the Year accolades.

Bahr was selected as the Outstanding Male Diver at the CAA Championship after placing first on both the 1-meter (337.70) and 3-meter (376.0) boards. Both performances set new school records. The Alexandria, Va., native went on to place third on the platform, sixth on the 3-meter board and 23rd on the 1-meter board at the NCAA Zone Diving Championship.

The awards now mark 14 different times that a Patriot swimmer or diver has been recognized as Rookie of the Year by the CAA. Last season, Lisa Faulkner was honored as the Women's Rookie Diver of the Year, an award that Mason has now won five of the last six years.

McDonald, who completed his tenth season with the Patriots, earns the award for the third time in his career. He helped lead the Patriots to five top-five finishes in the men's diving events and four on the women's side this season at the CAA Championships.

The Patriots also recorded a number of All-CAA performances, both individual and relay. Those accolades, along with a full list of CAA year-end winners, are listed below.

GEORGE MASON'S ALL-CAA PERFORMANCES (MEN)
500-Freestyle: Preston Wolter, Steven Benecki
1650-Freestyle: Preston Wolter
400-Individual Medley: Preston Wolter
800-Freestyle Relay: Preston Wolter, Steven Benecki, Zachary Hamlin, Max Tyburski
One-Meter Dive: Bryan Bahr, Derrick Butts
Three-Meter Dive: Bryan Bahr
GEORGE MASON'S ALL-CAA PERFORMANCES (WOMEN)
50-Freestyle: Mary Beth Cheslock
100-Freestyle: Mary Beth Cheslock
100-Breaststroke: Ashley Danner
200-Breaststroke: Ashley Danner
100-Backstroke: Nicole Harmon
200-Individual Medley: Ashley Danner
200-Freestyle Relay: Nicole Harmon, Ashley Danner, Courtney Cook, Mary Beth Cheslock
800-Freestyle Relay: Claire Weems, Caitlin Impink, Jenny Kane, Ashley Danner
200-Medley Relay: Nicole Harmon, Ashley Danner, Caitlin Impink, Mary Beth Cheslock
400-Medley Relay: Nicole Harmon, Ashley Danner, Caitlin Impink, Mary Beth Cheslock
One-Meter Dive: Kristen Meier, Lisa Faulkner
Three-Meter Dive: Lisa Faulkner,
CAA AWARD WINNERS
Men's Swimmer of the Year: Arni Arnason, Old Dominion
Men's Diver of the Year: Ian Jevnick, Drexel
Men's Rookie Swimmer of the Year: Arni Arnason, Old Dominion
Men's Rookie Diver of the Year: Bryan Bahr, George Mason
Men's Swimming Coach of the Year: Dave Allen, UNC Wilmington
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Roland McDonald, George Mason
Women's Swimmer of the Year: Meredith Budner, Towson
Women's Diver of the Year: Kate Hynes, Drexel
Women's Rookie Swimmer of the Year: Ashley Danner, George Mason
Women's Rookie Diver of the Year: Kristen Meier, George Mason
Women's Swimming Coach of the Year: Pat Mead, Towson
Women's Diving Coach of the Year: Larry May, Drexel