This week, the College of Staten Island Department of Athletics is showcasing their 2019-20 Award Winners, unveiled for the first time here on csidolphins.com and on social media. Normally reserved for unveiling at the Annual Athletic Awards Banquet in early-May, each day this week will feature award presentations throughout the day. Individual team awards are bestowed to students by their respective coaching staff, with major, departmental awards awarded by committee, to be announced at the close of the week.
Our awards week celebration continues with
Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving honorees:
The Dolphins enjoyed a host of success on both sides of the pool this past season, building on great individual and team performances that led to one of the most outstanding finishes of the year for any of the CSI athletic teams in 2019-20. On the women's side, CSI finished their campaign with a 7-5 overall record, setting a trio of new records and placing 12th at the Metropolitan Swimming & Diving Championships. On the men's side, the team achieved great heights, finishing the season at 5-4, and taking 7th place at Metros, their highest faring in school history. Graduating just two standouts this past season, the programs are primed to do more damage as they set their sights on increased competition on the NCAA Division II landscape.
Here are the award winners for Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving:
MICHAEL STORA - SOPHOMORE - MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
It was quite a year for Stora, who built on a tremendous rookie season last year with another sensational effort. He set eight personal-best times in 2019-20 including four at the Metro Championships this past February. That helped him to 235 points achieved this season, easily the most on the team. Stora also led the team with 15 first-place finishes in individual events during dual meets, part of 21 total Top Three finishes. The two-time CSI Male Athlete of the Week, he was also a part of six Top Three Relay teams this season. This is his second major CSI award, as he was named Rookie of the Year a year ago as a freshman.
Head Coach Michael Ackalitis on Michael Stora...
Mike was our season point leader and a major part of all relays. His hard work both in the pool and gym really show each meet. He is always challenging his opponents and continues to help the success of the team. I am very excited for his next couple years!
KATHLEEN BRIDGMAN - FRESHMAN - MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
It has not taken long for Bridgman to make an immediate impact as she hit the ground running in 2019-20 and became an immediate torchbearer for the program. She participated in all four strokes this year as well as the Individual Medley and was also a part of CSI's record-breaking 800-yard Freestyle Relay team this season. Her 201 total points earned were a team best, as she placed second in Top Three finishes in individual events (22) and third in relay events (10).
Head Coach Michael Ackalitis on Kathleen Bridgman...
Kathleen is an extremely hard worker both in and out of the pool. Not only is she very valuable in meets but her approach to practice is what makes her so successful. Always challenging herself to finish sets while pushing her teammates to do the same.
CHRIS IVANOV - FRESHMAN - ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
It was a strong debut season for
Chris Ivanov, as he was a main ingredient to the CSI attack from the get-go. Ivanov finished third on the team, garnering 158.75 total points this season in individual and relay events, also showcasing well at the Metropolitan Championships, where he achieved four personal-best times in both Freestyle and Backstroke events. Ivanov finished the season with 16 Top Three finishes in individual events, good for fourth on the team, while sharing the team lead with 10 Top Three finishes in relay events, including a team-best, seven first-place finishes.
Head Coach Michael Ackalitis on Chris Ivanov...
Chris is a sprint freestyler who competed in the backstroke this season to help the team and our medley relays. His commitment to help the team as well as be a major part of all relays is what made him Rookie of the Year.
SABELLA VASERMAN - FRESHMAN - ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
An immediate standout, Vaserman was a critical piece to the success of the team this season in a multitude of ways. Like Bridgman, the freshman helped set the school's new school-record in the 800-yard Freestyle Relay, and she was a leading point-scorer, tallying 186.5 this year, second-highest on the team Vaserman did lead the team in Top Three finishes in individual events, posting 24, including eight first-place finishes. Her 11 Top Three finishes in relay events was second on the team.
Head Coach Michael Ackalits on Sabella Vaserman...
Sabella was one of the hardest workers we had this season and her results showed from the very first meet. Her immediate success in the 100 fly took her somewhat by surprise but she never looked back and continued make an immediate impact for our program.
THOMAS BRIDGMAN - SOPHOMORE - COACHES AWARD
Willing to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed, and pushing himself to reach new heights, Bridgman became a major award winner this season as his coaches honored him with the Coaches Award. Bridgman's major successes in the pool come on the diving board. After a solid freshman campaign he excelled to new heights this past year, setting personal-best marks on both diving boards. He finished the season with 75 points earned, to go with 12 Top Three finishes, including four gold medals on the boards. His willingness to help others, keep the team organized, while rallying around teammates, make him someone the Dolphins are really excited to have back next season.
Head Coach Michael Ackalitis on Thomas Bridgman...
Tom is a natural leader. His attitude as well as work ethic is contagious and often times trickles down to his teammates. He is always the first at the pool to stretch and warm up and has encouraged many others to do the same. Although he is primarily a diver, he challenges himself in the pool and swim some sprint events to help the team.
GABRIELLA BARTLEY - JUNIOR - COACHES AWARD
Dependability and leadership are what has set Bartley apart from her peers this year, the coaches state, and is why she is the team's Coaches Award winner. In the pool, she has been a tremendous asset, posting 168.25 points, good for third on the team, leading the way in relay events with a team-best seven gold medals. It's that same team-first style that leads the way out of the pool as well. Bartley is noted as someone who leads by example and is extremely consistent and reliable, often keeping other members of the team invested and supporting one-another. This is her first major award win as a Dolphin.
Head Coach Michael Ackalitis on Gabriella Bartley...
Gab in her third year has really begun to focus on leadership and helping her teammates. Her ideas and willingness to help others has made our transition a natural one. She also had a great Met Championship, every time she dove in for the 50 free she would shave some time off, she had a great meet.
XAVIER NICHOLSON - SOPHOMORE - DIVER OF THE YEAR
Hard to argue Nicholson as CSI's Diver of the Year considering his performances as one of the team's and the CUNYAC's top divers in 2019-20. Nicholson finished as a three-time CUNYAC Diver of the Week this past season, amassing 125 total points, good for fifth on the team. He set CSI's best marks this season on both diving planks and finished second on the team with 12 first-place finishes, all in diving events. 2019-20 marks the second-straight year that Nicholson is walking away with Diver of the Year honors.
Head Coach Michael Ackalitis on Xavier Nicholson...
X is a major part of the team's success. His diving contributions are crucial to building out a full program and is always looking to improve his list for championships.
JEN BASINI - SOPHOMORE - DIVER OF THE YEAR
CSI's only diver on the women's side, Basini is deserving of the laurel, her first-ever, after a terrific sophomore effort that saw her build nicely after an introductory campaign last year. Basini focuses on the one meter boards, and there, she claimed seven gold and three silver medals this season, helping her finalize with 75 points, good for eighth on the team.
Head Coach Michael Ackalitis on Jen Basini...Even though Jen is our only women's diver she is a major contributor and a valuable part of our team. She had a great Metro championship finishing 9th, the highest finish we've had since 2014.
NEXT UP: WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (2:30 PM)
