Three Miami Men's Swimmers Garner MAC Honors
3/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
March 17, 2003
The Mid-American Conference announced two Miami men's swimmers were named to the Academic All-MAC team, as voted by the faculty athletic representatives at the six member institutions that sponsor swimming and diving. Of the 15 swimmers, seniors Kelly Ball (Granger, Ind./Penn) and Dave Bergan (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) earned the distinction. In addition Ball was named first-team all-MAC and Senior Swimmer of the Year while junior Andrew Keefe (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) earned second-team all-MAC.
Ball, one of eight swimmers to earn all-MAC and academic all-MAC status, went undefeated in every MAC individual event he competed in during the regular season. The 2001-02 all-MAC swimmer had 16 first-place finishes on the season. He held the MAC's fastest time in the 200-yard freestyle and the second fastest times in the 200-yard butterfly and the 100-yard freestyle along with fourth in the 100-yard butterfly heading into the championships. Ball earned the MAC Swimmer of the Week and MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week accolades on Jan. 21 and 22. During the MAC Championships, Ball placed third in the 200-yard freestyle and the 200-yard butterfly along with taking fifth in the 500-yard freestyle. Ball holds a 3.40 GPA in Spanish.
Bergan also earned the MAC Swimmer of the Week and MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honors. He was honored on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, respectively. Bergan helped Miami pull off a thrilling victory over its rival, Ohio University, by winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyle along with the 400-yard medley relay. He had the MAC's fourth fastest time in the 50-yard freestyle and the eighth fastest time in the 100-yard freestyle heading into the MAC Championships. Bergan placed 16th in the 50-yard freestyle and 17th in the 100-yard free at the MAC's. Bergan carries a 3.72 GPA in middle childhood education.
Keefe, who joined Ball as the other RedHawk to earn all-MAC status, placed fourth in the 200-yard butterfly, fourth in the 100-yard butterfly and eighth in the 100-yard backstroke at the MAC Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. last weekend. Keefe took home first-place in the 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard IM in the first meet of the year versus Purdue. He continued his winning ways in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly versus Xavier and Valparaiso. Keefe also won the 50-yard freestyle versus Wright State.
The honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50% of the contests for that particular sport. First year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments from the current season only are considered.
2003 Men's Swimming and Diving Academic All-MAC Team
Chad Rusk, Ball State, Jr., 3.587
Ryan Plantz, Ball State, So., 3.499
Aviv Oren, Buffalo, So., 3.459
John Bartlet, EMU, Jr., 3.87
Justin Breitigam, EMU, Sr., 3.25
Doug Fleming, EMU, So., 3.86
Branislav Hronsky, EMU, Jr., 3.82
Sean Joyce, EMU, Sr., 3.58
Kelly Ball, Miami, Sr., 3.40
Dave Bergan, Miami, Sr., 3.72
Jason Folt, Ohio, Jr., 3.46
Alan Wight, Ohio, Sr., 3.53
Lorant Divald, Toledo, So., 3.876
Mark Glenn, Toledo, Sr., 3.636
Patrik Johansson, Toledo, So., 3.882
MAC Swimmer of the Year
Lorant Divald, Toledo
MAC Diver of the Year
Robert Krichbaum, Ohio
MAC Swimming Coach of the Year
Bob Thomas , Ball State
MAC Diving Coach of the Year
Buck Smith , Eastern Michigan
MAC Senior Swimmer of the Year
Kelly Ball , Miami
All-MAC First Team
Justin Breitigam , Eastern Michigan
Lorant Divald , Toledo
John Bartlet , Eastern Michigan
Jeff Luhn , Eastern Michigan
Ryan Meekins , Eastern Michigan
Doug Fleming , Eastern Michigan
Justin Lawrence , Toledo
Kelly Ball , Miami
Patrik Johansson , Toledo
Sean Joyce , Eastern Michigan
J.P. VanZyl , Toledo
Aviv Oren , Buffalo
Kevin Doak , Eastern Michigan
Andrew Siebenick , Eastern Michigan
Robert Krichbaum , Ohio
All-MAC Second Team
Ondrej Pekarovic , Eastern Michigan
Andrew Keefe , Miami
Branislav Hronsky , Eastern Michigan
Stephan Connor , Toledo
Ryan Bowman , Ball State
Jason Revere , Ball State
Chad Rusk , Ball State
Kurtis Leer , Ball State