Springfield, Mass. - January 9, 2012 - After impressive showings at a tri-meet with Union and Hartwick over the weekend, three members of the Springfield College swimming and diving teams were honored by the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). Kenny Pancoast was named the Men's Diver of the Week, while Kellie Pennington was named the Women's Swimmer and Jennifer Thompson was selected as the Women's Diver of the Week.This is the third time this year that Pancoast has been honored, while Thompson earned the accolade for the fourth time. Pennington, the reigning NEWMAC Women's Swimmer of the Year, earned the honor for the first time this year.
Pancoast had a solid day on the diving boards for Springfield in the tri-meet. The Monroe, Conn. native scored 273.90 points in finishing second in the 3-meter diving. He also placed second in the 1-meter diving event with 262.30 points.
Individually in the pool, Pennington won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.23 and took first in the 100-yard free with a time of 54.30. The Monson, Mass. product was also a part of two winning relays. She teamed with Kelsey Poole, Nicolle Stracqualursi, and Kaitlin Reilly to win the 400-yard medley relay in 4:13.13. She also teamed with Reilly, Jaclyn Van Waalwijk, and Caroline Kosciusko in the 400-yard free relay in 3:45.35.
Thompson helped lead Springfield to wins over Hartwick and Union on Saturday as she continued to dominate the diving portion of the meet for the Pride. In the 1-meter, the Cheshire, Conn. native posted a winning score of 255.80 points. In the 3-meter, Thompson once again placed first with 275.65 points.
John Taffe enters his 24th season in 2012-2013 as the head coach of the men's and women's swimming teams at Springfield College. Under Taffe’s leadership, the Pride has returned to its status as one of the best collegiate swimming and diving programs in Division III.Read more.
Peter Avdoulos is regarded as one of the top diving coaches in the nation, and is entering his 28th season as the diving coach for both the men's and women's programs in 2012-2013. The current NEWMAC Men's and Women's Diving Coach of the Year, Avdoulos has coached countless All-New England and All-American divers, as well as several National Champions. Read more.