With the 2015-2016 Conference USA Swimming and Diving season in the books, the league office has announced the postseason superlative award slate, with FIU and North Texas laying claim to representation all six honors. Yearly honors in the categories of Swimmer, Freshman Swimmer, Diver, Freshman Diver and Newcomer of the Year are all selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
SWIMMER OF THE YEAR/FRESHMAN SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
NAOMI RUELE | FIU | RS-FR. | BOTSWANA, AFRICA
Ruele, a redshirt-freshman, performed at a high level during her first year of competition with FIU. The Botswana, Africa, native finished the year with three Panther program records, a Conference USA Championship record, seven C-USA gold medals and a berth in the NCAA Championships. In addition, the freshman phenom qualified for and will represent her home country in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. On the season, Ruele finished in either first or second in the 50 Free event 12 times, including five times under 23 seconds. Ruele was perfect in the C-USA Championship, winning gold in each of the seven events she competed in (three individual, four relays), including a record-breaking 22.33 performance in the 50 Freestyle. After being named the C-USA Championship Swimmer of the Meet, the redshirt-freshman went on to become the fifth swimmer in FIU program history to compete in the NCAA Championships, recording a 22.68 in the 50 Free, the fourth-fastest finish of her career.
DIVER OF THE YEAR
REBECCA QUESNEL | FIU | SO. | ONTARIO, CANADA
Quesnel, a five-time C-USA Diver of the Week, had a very successful 2015-2016 season. At the C-USA Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, the sophomore claimed gold in the 1M and platform dives, while placing second in the 3M. Her winning platform score of 299.80 was a new FIU program record. Back in March, Quesnel became the first Panther diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships, after laying claim to the C-USA Championship Diver of the Meet honor. On the season, the Ontario, Canada, native posted 16 first place tallies and a total of 23 top-three finishes.
FRESHMAN DIVER OF THE YEAR
AVERIE RUIZ | NORTH TEXAS | FR. | LUBBOCK, TEXAS
Ruiz proved to have a stellar opening to her collegiate career, notching several strong performances during her rookie campaign. The Lubbock, Texas, native helped North Texas finish fourth at the 2016 C-USA Championships, competing in the 1M, 3M and platform diving events. The freshman notched scores of 213.70 (1M - 13th place), 209.35 (3M - 12th place) and 155.0 (platform - 11th place). Her championship platform performance makes her the sixth-best performer in the event in school history. During the regular season, Ruiz recorded top finishes of 3rd place at SMU in the 1M diving event (225.90) and the 3M diving event (220.95) versus Incarnate Word and Liberty.
CO-NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR
CLAUDIA KITCHING | NORTH TEXAS | SO. | ANTIBES, FRANCE
Kitching posted seven NCAA B time standards during the 2015-2016 season, five in the 200 Breaststroke event and two more in the 100 Breaststroke, including four marks in the C-USA Championships. The Antibes, France, native became the second-fastest performer in school history, notching the second and third best times in the 200 Breaststroke. Kitching also posted the-fifth fastest time in program history in the 100 Breaststroke. At the C-USA Championships, the sophomore placed 2nd in the 200 with a time of 2:13.18 and 3rd in the 100 with a time of 1:01.88, just missing the NCAA Championship cuts by 2.29 seconds and 1.22 seconds, respectively.
JESSICA PIPER | FIU | SR. | ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Piper, a senior, made the most of her one year of competition with the Panthers. The Cincinatti-transfer posted 26 top-five finishes on the season, en route to helping FIU claim its second-consecutive C-USA Championship. The St. Petersburg, Florida, native registered three top-eight finishes in Atlanta, including a gold-medal performance in the 800 Freestyle Relay. Piper had three first-place finishes on the year with a 57.72 in the 100 Backstroke (UNF TriMeet - 10/3/15), a 2:06.41 in the 200 Backstroke (UNF TriMeet - 10/3/15), and a 5:02.44 in the 500 Freestyle (Florida Atlantic - 2/6/16).
