Senior Katie Mann of the University of New Hampshire was named the America East Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's swimming & diving, the league announced Wednesday.
Mann becomes just the seventh swimmer in league history to earn the distinction twice in her career, receiving her first honor in 2013. It also marks the fourth consecutive year a UNH swimmer merited the honor as Lauren McCandless '14 collected the award in 2012 and 2014.
A five-time America East Swimmer of the Week and three-time NCAA qualifier, Mann boasts a 3.66 grade point average as an English major. The senior will leave New Hampshire with a slew of accolades including the America East Most Outstanding Swimmer and Rookie Awards (2012), ECAC Swimmer of the Year (2013), Dave Alexander Coaches Award (2015) and America East Elite 18 Award (2015). Furthermore, the senior is the UNH record holder in the 100-yard breaststroke (1 minute 2.17 seconds in 2014), 200-yard breaststroke (2:10.30 in 2014), 200-yard IM (1:58.78 in 2014), 400-yard IM (4:09.40 in 2014) and contributed to record performances in the 400-yard medley (3:41.88 in 2014) and 400-yard freestyle relays (3:22.55 in 2015).
Mann qualified for the NCAA Championships in Greensboro, N.C. with a pair of nationally-ranked finishes at the ECAC Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Feb. 27-March 1), Mann won her 400-yard IM crown with a provisional cut of 4:10.92 to rank 29th in the nation. She also engineered a provisional time in the 200-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 2:10.99 to place second at the meet and 33rd among Division I swimmers.
At the NCAA Championships (March 19-21), the senior kicked off the meet in the 200-yard IM preliminary heat. Seeded 67th out of 84 participants entering the day, she powered through the water to tie for 39th with a time of 1:59.05. In day two action, Mann participated in the 400-yard IM, muscling out a time of 4:12.40, good for 30th. She capped off the championships to place 37th in the 200-yard IM, slamming the panel at 2:12.20.
At the America East Championships (Feb. 12-15) in Worcester, Mass., Mann set three provisional cuts in the meet. She registered the cut in the 200-yard IM, constructing a mark of 1:59.48. Mann also tallied a provisional and winning time of 4:13.51 in the 400-yard IM. The senior became the second UNH swimmer to win the 400-yard IM all four years at the America East Championships. The conference and program record holder joins Kristen Latourelle (1997-2001) as the only Wildcats to accomplish the feat. She also parted the water for the lead time in the 200-yard butterfly for a provisional time of 1:59.96. In the relay events, she swam legs in the winning 400- (3:22.55) and 800-yard freestyle relays (7:20.32) as well as the 400-yard medley relay (3:44.32).
Mann has exercised her academic prowess in the classroom as a four-time America East All-Academic mention and featured on the league's Commissioner's Honor Roll throughout her collegiate career. The conference also recognizes all student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA on its Academic Honor Roll, with those achieving a 3.50 average or better receiving Commissioner's Honor Roll status. In 2014, she was inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma as a student-athlete who has maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, has achieved at least junior standing and is of good moral character.
