The San Jose State Spartans Athletics Department named freshman swimmer Morgan McCormick the newcomer of the year at its annual awards banquet on Tuesday. The honor came after breaking the school records in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 IM, including a Mountain West Conference record in the 200 back. She was also named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year, and was the first San Jose State athlete in any sport to win a Mountain West Conference title.
“I would like to thank the coaches and my parents, family, and friends for their support and for believing in me,” McCormick said. “I am so thankful for the opportunities that swimming for San Jose State has brought me. I feel blessed and honored to compete with the athletes in our conference and the NCAA.”
That was the second award that McCormick won this month after she was also named a San Jose Spartan athlete of the month. Diver Cari Reiswig and swimmer Riley Spitser also received athlete of the month honors.
McCormick was the only swimmer to compete for San Jose State at the 2015 NCAA Championships in Greensboro, NC. There, she competed in the 200 IM and finished 63rd in prelims.
The backstrokes, however, are her specialities and that’s where she put up her most competitive results. In the 200 she was a 1:55.91 to finish 42nd in prelims. She was a 53.48 in the 100 backstroke to finish 35th overall.
“We are so proud of what Morgan has accomplished this past year and are very excited for what she can accomplish during her career,” San Jose State head coach Sage Hopkins said of the honor.
McCormick also swims a very good 400 IM and has been a crucial point-scorer for the team as well as an important asset on their relays throughout the season.
McCormick along with the other two girls were part of the San Jose State team that finished seventh overall at the 2015 Mountain West Championships which took place this past April in San Antonio.
Cari Reiswig, a diver, finished fourth in the 1 meter as a freshman and 5th in 3 meter.
Riley Spitser, who will be going into her senior year with the Spartans, was fourth in the 500 with a 4:49.03, 6th in the 200 with a 1:48.59, and third in the 1650 with a 16:32.52.
The three girls truly had a great impact on the overall success of the program, especially McCormick who was the sole swimmer at the NCAA Championships
We are so proud of you Morgie.
Marry me, Morgan!!!!!