Buckeyes Celebrate Championship Season – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State synchronized swimming team concluded a stellar 2011 season with its annual team banquet Thursday evening in the Varsity O Room at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes highlighted a campaign in which they were crowned 2011 Collegiate and U.S. Senior national champions and handed out team awards.
The celebration began with the announcement of the USA Synchro Collegiate Academic team. A trio of Buckeyes in Chelsea Aton, Liana Litsky and Yuliya Maryanko were presented with their certificates by Student-Athlete Support Services assistant director and academic counselor Vicki Melnick.
Strength training and conditioning coach Kim Dally-Badgeley recognized senior Monica Finnigan with the Buckeye Power Club Award. Finnigan was the 2011 recipient of the award because of her tireless effort to assist the team and coach Dally-Badgeley in any capacity despite suffering from injuries.
Up next, head coach Linda Lichter-Witter and associate head coach Holly Vargo-Brown lauded the four Buckeye U.S. Collegiate All-Americans. Seniors Deborah Shim and Michelle Theriault, as well as freshmen Alex Beckett and Maryanko (honorary) earned the prestigious distinctions following exceptional performances at the U.S. Collegiate championships. All four Buckeyes earned gold medals at the event for their respective routines. Maryanko was the solo champion, while Shim, Theriault and Beckett were the trio titlists.
The Ohio State team awards were presented next. Sophomore Colleen Courtmanche was named the Most Improved Swimmer. The recipient is a student-athlete who has shown the most improvement from the 2010 to 2011 season. The Most Improved New Swimmer award, given to a freshman who has shown the most improvement throughout the season, was awarded to Julia Gaylard.
Litsky was the recipient of the Jo Ann Ferguson Kale award. Because of her friendly demeanor and her respect for others, Litsky was an easy choice for the honor according to Vargo-Brown.
A prestigious laurel given to a member of the Buckeye family, the Jessica Beck Award was presented to freshman Katie LaBounty. A student-athlete is chosen for this honor because of their respect, dedication and “sunshine spirit,” which were the qualities of Jessica Beck. Beck was a Buckeye letterwinner from 2003-05 and died suddenly prior to her senior season.
Shim was the Buckeye and Carmen Ohio awards honoree. A student-athlete who exhibits outstanding Buckeye spirit, a strong ability to work well with teammates and coaches, Shim also received the Buckeye Award because of her excellent motivation and clear vision of what it means to be a team player. A team captain, Shim was presented with the Carmen Ohio Award because she exemplifies outstanding leadership and overall team spirit.
Sophomore Raquel Aguado was the Gray Team’s Buckeye Award recipient.
Theriault was named the team’s Most Outstanding Swimmer as she capped her career with the most points at the 2011 U.S. Collegiate National Championships.
2011 Ohio State Team Awards
Most Outstanding Swimmer – Michelle Theriault
Most Improved Swimmer – Colleen Courtmanche
Most Improved New Swimmer – Julia Gaylard
Buckeye Award – Deborah Shim (Scarlet), Raquel Aguado (Gray)
JoAnn Ferguson Kale Award – Liana Litsky
Jessica Beck Award – Katie LaBounty
Carmen Ohio Award – Deborah Shim
