Courtesy: Marshall Athletics
NEW ORLEANS – Marshall University freshman swimmer Kseniia Luniushina was named the 2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Freshman and Outstanding Swimmer of the Year on Wednesday, announced by the league office. Madeline Hart was also named the Elite Award Winner as top performer in the conference for her performance in the pool and work in the classroom.
In addition to the two individual awards, seven Marshall swimmers and divers were named first-team all-conference with Paige Banton, Grace Kelsheimer, Eszter Laban, Lauren McNamara and Audrey West joining Hart and Luniushina as honorees. Parker Lynch, Mia McBride, Preslava Tosheva and Molly Warner were each named second-team All-Sun Belt Conference.
Luniushina had quite the opening start to a collegiate career. The native of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was the co-scorer at the SBC Championships in Orlando in February where she set the meet record in 100 backstroke while breaking the program and conference record for the fourth time of the season with her time of 52.49 ranking 75th in the country. The five-time SBC Swimmer of the Week also set program record in the 200 backstroke and was a part of the 400 Medley Relay program record breaking squad.
Hart, a 4.0 student-athlete, brought home six medals from the SBC Championships including gold in the 100 Butterfly, 200 Medley Relay and as a part of the program record breaking 400 Medley Relay squad. The graduate student was a two-time SBC Swimmer of the Week and holds the second fastest time in program history in the 200 Butterfly.
Kelsheimer, a seven-time SBC Diver of the Week, won gold on the 1m boards at the Championships with a silver on 3m. The senior qualified for the NCAA Diving Zones reaching the finals on 1m the A Zone with the highest finish of an SBC diver with a 16th place finish.
Laban medaled in three events in Orlando with a championship victory in the 1650 Freestyle on the final day of the competition.
McNamara brought home three medals in her first collegiate season. The freshman won gold in the 200 Butterfly setting the SBC and program record with a time of 1:58.73.
West brought home six medals with a pair of golds in the 200 and 400 Medley Relays as the anchor leg in both races.
Banton won four medals in her final conference championships with golds in both Medley Relays alongside West.
McBride won silver in the 100 Backstroke and took home the bronze in the 200 Backstroke in Orlando.
Tosheva earned her second-team nod as part of the team’s silver medal winning 800 Freestyle Relay team with Lynch earning her honor as a member of the silver winning 400 Freestyle Relay team.
Warner won four medals with silvers in the 800 Freestyle Relay, 200 IM and 400 Freestyle Relay.
2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Postseason Awards
Swimming Performer of the Year: Kseniia Luniushina, Marshall
Diving Performer of the Year: Alexa Holloway, James Madison
Freshman of the Year: Kseniia Luniushina, Marshall
Newcomer of the Year: Sarah Pauley, James Madison
Coach of the Year: Dane Pedersen, James Madison
Elite Award Winner: Madeline Hart, Marshall
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Swimming & Diving All-Conference First Team
Grace Bousum, James Madison
Riley Bridgman, James Madison
Jamie Cornwell, James Madison
Alexa Holloway, James Madison
Jess Pryne, James Madison
Angela Ritchie, James Madison
Alex Volk, James Madison
Madison Wimmer, James Madison
Kseniia Luniushina, Marshall
Paige Banton, Marshall
Madeline Hart, Marshall
Audrey West, Marshall
Grace Kelsheimer, Marshall
Lauren McNamara, Marshall
Eszter Laban, Marshall
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Swimming & Diving All-Conference Second Team
Ann Chappell Ellington, James Madison
Katelyn Fitzgerald, James Madison
Emma LaFountain, James Madison
Sarah Pauley, James Madison
Parker Lynch, Marshall
Mia McBride, Marshall
Preslava Tosheva, Marshall
Molly Warner, Marshall
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Swimming & Diving All-Conference Third Team
Chiara Alberti, Georgia Southern
Logan Belanger, Georgia Southern
Scout Chapin, Georgia Southern
Carsyn Cosman, Georgia Southern
Zuri Clavo, Georgia Southern
Alyssa Ilfill, Georgia Southern
Alex Pope, Georgia Southern
Jamison Tiller, Georgia Southern
Karlee Wells, Georgia Southern
Madlen Wendland, Georgia Southern
Abby Wenham, Georgia Southern
Abigail Maguire, James Madison
Kate Vitolo, James Madison
Kiersten Donnelly, Old Dominion
Mary Dunworth, Old Dominion
Lauren Masters, Old Dominion
Angela Sicaja, Old Dominion
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