PHOENIX, Ariz. – The ASU swimming and diving team celebrated the success of the 2016-17 season at an annual team banquet at the Arizona Country Club Friday night.
As part of the evening, the Sun Devil coaches and staff honored several student-athletes with awards for their success and work throughout the season.
David Hoffer, making his first trip to the NCAA championships, and Mara Aiacoboae in her third consecutive trip, earned the Ward O'Connell Most Valuable Diver awards.
Aiacoboae won the Pac-12 championship in the women's platform dive while Hoffer earned three wins apiece throughout the season in both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard.
Hoffer also was named Pac-12 Second Team All-Academic while Aiacoboae earned Honorable Mention All-American honors at NCAA's.
Freshmen Cameron Craig and Silja Kansakoki earned the Most Valuable Swimmer awards, named after Ron Johnson and Mona Plummer, respectively.
Craig, named to the USA Swimming National Junior Team earlier in the season, earned two individual Pac-12 championships (100 free, 200 free) as well as a third title with the 400 free relay team. For his performance, he was named Pac-12 Men's Championships Swimmer of the Meet as well as Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.
Going into NCAA's, Craig was the eighth fastest performer of all time and second fastest 200 freestyler in the nation, earning All-American honors in the 400 free relay and 200 free, as well as Honorable Mention All-American status in the 200 free, 800 free, and 400 medley relays.
Kansakoski's spring season is even more impressive as she just recently joined the Sun Devil team in January, partway through the season. With the fourth fastest time in the nation in the 100 breaststroke this season, she became ASU's first women's swim conference champion since 2010-12.
She also earned Honorable Mention All-American status in both the 100 and 200 breast.
Senior Richard Bohus and freshman Bentley Hulshof were named Most Improved this season, an important part of Bob Bowman's first recruiting class as the women's side was comprised of largely freshmen this season.
Bohus recovered from a pair of broken arms last season before representing Hungary in the Rio Olympic Games prior to his senior season. He was part of the Pac-12 champion and All-American 400 free relay team, also earning Honorable Mention All-America status in the 200 free, 200 medley, and 400 medley relays, as well as the 100 and 200 back, individually. He was also named Pac-12 First Team All-Academic.
Juanjo Garcia and Kat Simonovic earned the titles of Hardest Worker from the coaching staff. Garcia earned Pac-12 First Team All-Academic honors and provided depth for the ASU men's team in the 100 and 200 breast.
Simonovic earned an Honorable Mention Pac-12 All-Academic nod while winning the 100 fly vs. NAU, the 500 free at Arizona, and the 200 free six different times. She also represented Serbia in Rio at the 2016 Olympics.
Patrick Park and Chloe Isleta received the Men's and Women's Team Player Award. Park was an Honorable Mention All-American in three different relays (200 free, 800 free, 200 medley) at NCAA's, and won the 200 fly four different times this season. He also earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention honors.
Isleta made a significant splash during her freshman campaign, winning the 100 and 200 back in her collegiate debut at Utah, as well as winning the 200 IM and 200 fly twice, and the 200 back three other times.
The Sun Devil men were named the nation's Most Improved Team while the women were named second Most Improved, as each team looks to continue significant and speedy upward progression in the upcoming years.
Awards
Ward O'Connell Most Valuable Diver – David Hoffer & Mara Aiacoboae
Ron Johnson Most Valuable Swimmer – Cameron Craig
Mona Plummer Most Valuable Swimmer – Silja Kansakoski
Most Improved – Richard Bohus & Bentley Hulshof
Hardest Worker – Juanjo Garcia & Kat Simonovic
Team Player – Patrick Park & Chloe Isleta
As part of the evening, the Sun Devil coaches and staff honored several student-athletes with awards for their success and work throughout the season.
David Hoffer, making his first trip to the NCAA championships, and Mara Aiacoboae in her third consecutive trip, earned the Ward O'Connell Most Valuable Diver awards.
Aiacoboae won the Pac-12 championship in the women's platform dive while Hoffer earned three wins apiece throughout the season in both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard.
Hoffer also was named Pac-12 Second Team All-Academic while Aiacoboae earned Honorable Mention All-American honors at NCAA's.
Freshmen Cameron Craig and Silja Kansakoki earned the Most Valuable Swimmer awards, named after Ron Johnson and Mona Plummer, respectively.
Craig, named to the USA Swimming National Junior Team earlier in the season, earned two individual Pac-12 championships (100 free, 200 free) as well as a third title with the 400 free relay team. For his performance, he was named Pac-12 Men's Championships Swimmer of the Meet as well as Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.
Going into NCAA's, Craig was the eighth fastest performer of all time and second fastest 200 freestyler in the nation, earning All-American honors in the 400 free relay and 200 free, as well as Honorable Mention All-American status in the 200 free, 800 free, and 400 medley relays.
Kansakoski's spring season is even more impressive as she just recently joined the Sun Devil team in January, partway through the season. With the fourth fastest time in the nation in the 100 breaststroke this season, she became ASU's first women's swim conference champion since 2010-12.
She also earned Honorable Mention All-American status in both the 100 and 200 breast.
Senior Richard Bohus and freshman Bentley Hulshof were named Most Improved this season, an important part of Bob Bowman's first recruiting class as the women's side was comprised of largely freshmen this season.
Bohus recovered from a pair of broken arms last season before representing Hungary in the Rio Olympic Games prior to his senior season. He was part of the Pac-12 champion and All-American 400 free relay team, also earning Honorable Mention All-America status in the 200 free, 200 medley, and 400 medley relays, as well as the 100 and 200 back, individually. He was also named Pac-12 First Team All-Academic.
Juanjo Garcia and Kat Simonovic earned the titles of Hardest Worker from the coaching staff. Garcia earned Pac-12 First Team All-Academic honors and provided depth for the ASU men's team in the 100 and 200 breast.
Simonovic earned an Honorable Mention Pac-12 All-Academic nod while winning the 100 fly vs. NAU, the 500 free at Arizona, and the 200 free six different times. She also represented Serbia in Rio at the 2016 Olympics.
Patrick Park and Chloe Isleta received the Men's and Women's Team Player Award. Park was an Honorable Mention All-American in three different relays (200 free, 800 free, 200 medley) at NCAA's, and won the 200 fly four different times this season. He also earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention honors.
Isleta made a significant splash during her freshman campaign, winning the 100 and 200 back in her collegiate debut at Utah, as well as winning the 200 IM and 200 fly twice, and the 200 back three other times.
The Sun Devil men were named the nation's Most Improved Team while the women were named second Most Improved, as each team looks to continue significant and speedy upward progression in the upcoming years.
Awards
Ward O'Connell Most Valuable Diver – David Hoffer & Mara Aiacoboae
Ron Johnson Most Valuable Swimmer – Cameron Craig
Mona Plummer Most Valuable Swimmer – Silja Kansakoski
Most Improved – Richard Bohus & Bentley Hulshof
Hardest Worker – Juanjo Garcia & Kat Simonovic
Team Player – Patrick Park & Chloe Isleta