The University of Vermont Athletic Department hosted the 11th edition of its annual Rally Awards, where several swimmers and divers were honored. The department handed out seven major awards and honored each team’s MVP and senior student-athletes.
The first major award that went to a swimmer was the Meg & Kate Ryley Underclass Achievement Award. The honor, which is named after the two former UVM skiers who each won the award in their careers, recognizes outstanding athletic accomplishments by a male and female student-athlete in the freshmen, sophomore and junior classes. Juniors Maggie Preston and Dom Garand were the winners for 2015.
Preston, a member of the women’s swimming and diving team, became the first Catamount to be named the Most Outstanding Diver at the 2015 America East Championships. She won the 3-meter diving event at the championship meet and earned America East All-Conference honors. She finished the year winning 13 events and was named the America East Diver of the Week three consecutive weeks during the season.
The second major award won by a swimmer was the 2015 Wasson Athletic Prize. The award is presented to the senior male and female student-athletes who have demonstrated a high level of athletic achievement and have maintained the highest standard of academic scholarship. Seniors Ilsa Feierabend and Dylan Souder were the 2015 recipients of the Wasson Athletic Prize.
Feierabend, a member of the women’s swimming and diving team, owns a 3.78 GPA as a communication sciences and disorders major with a minor in gerontology. She was named to the America East All-Academic Team for the second straight season and is a two-time member of the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll. A team captain this season, she was an America East All-Conference selection for the second straight year. She posted the second fastest time in the 200 backstroke at the America East Championships and was a member of the relay squad that set a new varsity record in the 400 medley relay.
Finally, each team’s MVP for the 2014-15 season was also announced at the Rally Awards. Andie Blaser was named MVP of Women’s Swimming and Diving for the 2014-2014 season.
