MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's swimming and diving squad presented its team awards for the 2001-02 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at Samuel's Grande Manor.

Head coach Budd Termin made the following presentations: Aviv Oren (Rishon Le-Zion, Israel/Makif A') was selected as the Top Newcomer and as the team's Most Valuable Player; Jon Yarger (Centre Hill, PA/Penns Valley) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Alan Lowe (Brownsville, TX/Hannah) received the Coach's Award.

Aviv Oren

The Top Newcomer Award is presented to the individual student-athlete who distinguishes himself as the most talented new player on the team or the individual who accomplishes the greatest achievements as a first-year player. The Most Valuable Player Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through his skills and leadership. Oren picked up both awards as the top swimmer on the squad, dominating the breaststroke events. The freshman set the school record in the 200 breaststroke at the Mid-American Championships with a 2:06.31 in the championship final. He had broken the previous record, set by Kevin Remaly in 1995, with his preliminary time of 2:06.50 during the qualifying heats.

Jon Yarger

The Most Improved Player Award is presented to the student-athlete who has made the greatest stride or improvement in his performance from the previous season or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Yarger, a freshman freestyle and backstroke specialist, gave the Bulls a strong presence in the distance races as well as the freestyle relay competitions. He placed 18th in the 200 freestyle at the MAC Championships with a season-best time of 1:44.29 and turned in a lifetime-best time of 4:42.66 in the 500 freestyle, finishing 19th.

Alan Lowe

The Coach's Award is selected by the head coach and is given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the team virtues as defined by the head coach. The recipient is one who stands out in dedication, commitment, unselfishness and enthusiasm towards helping the team improve. Lowe, a distance freestyle specialist, finished 17th in the 1,650 freestyle at the MAC Championships, completing the mile distance in 16:39.66. He also established a new lifetime-best in the 500 freestyle with his 4:43.32 performance to finish 22nd.

Over the season, Coach Termin's young team, which included no seniors and eight freshmen, turned in 71 lifetime-best times in 2001-02. Of those, 36 were established in the final two meets of the year, the ECAC and MAC Championships.

The Bulls completed their season with a 3-7 dual meet record and were 1-6 in Mid-American Conference meets. UB placed eighth at the MAC Championships in Athens, OH and ninth in a 30-team field at the ECAC Championships in Pittsburgh.