Dartmouth Announces 2018-19 Team Awards and Captains

Photo by: Doug Austin

Dartmouth Announces 2018-19 Team Awards and Captains

3/8/2019 8:10:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Charlotte Brackett

HANOVER, N.H. – Dartmouth women's swimming and diving head coach James Holder announced the 2018-19 team awards at the annual end-of-season banquet.

The Tate Ramsden Coaches Award is given annually in honor of Ramsden '17, who passed away on Dec. 26, 2015, while training in Florida. This award is determined by the coaches and presented to the swimmer or diver whose character and commitment to the team best exemplifies the spirt of Dartmouth swimming. In its second year, Sophie Smith received the award. At the Ivy League Championship, she competed in the 50 free, 100 back, 100 free and 200 free relay.

Mia Leko was given both the Outstanding Freshman Award and the Karl B. Michael Award. Michael, after whom the Dartmouth pool is named, retired as head coach at the end of the 1970 season after 28 years on deck. He won 218 dual meets while losing only 91, produced 37 All-American swimmers and was awarded the National Collegiate and Scholastic Trophy for outstanding contribution to the sport in 1967. The award named after him is given to the member of the squad who has given the most to the team. Leko's first trip to Ivies was a successful one, highlighted by her winning the 200 fly and breaking her own record. She also swam well in the 500 free, 200 free, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay and 800 free relay.

The Lutkus Award is given to the student-athlete who has proven to be an outstanding and consistent performer during the season and who has maintained a high academic standing. Grace Herron won the award for the second straight year. She had her best performance against Columbia last month, competing in the 100 and 200 fly.

Sarah Minnigh was named the Paul E. Tsongas Most Improved swimmer. At Ivies, she was ninth in the 500 free, third in the 1000 free and third in the 1650 free, breaking program records in both the 1000 and 1650.

The Ron Keenhold Diver of the Year was Bella Lichen. Keenhold was both a swimming and diving coach at Dartmouth for four decades who has numerous accolades as an All-American diver. Lichen made it to the Ivy League Championship during her first year in Hanover, faring well on both 1-meter and 3-meter.

Mackenzie Stumpf received the Geer Award. The award is presented to the swimmer or diver who has contributed the most to the development of the Dartmouth program, through not only her performance in the pool, but through her day-to-day dedication to her teammates and the team concept. The sophomore had a great showing at Ivies, winning the 200 breast, taking second in the 100 breast and ninth in the 200 IM, breaking Dartmouth records in all three.

To conclude the banquet, the team announced its captains for the 2018-19. Smith, Sarah Finlay and Maggie Pionzio will lead the Big Green next season.