Remi Fabiani, Ginger Kiefer Named WAC Swimmers of the Year
Cal Baptist’s Remi Fabiani and Ginger Kiefer of Idaho were named the WAC Swimmers of the Year on Tuesday.
The awards were voted on by the coaches in the conference – nine women’s and six men’s – and sponsored by Jersey Mike’s and University Credit Union.
Northern Arizona’s Victoria Knapp was named WAC Women’s Diver of the Year, and her coach Nikki Kelsey was named Women’s Diving Coach of the Year. New Mexico State’s Rick Pratt is the women’s coach of the year, and Beth Young of Grand Canyon is the WAC Women’s Freshman of the Year.
Cal Baptist claimed four of the five men’s honors, with Diver of the year Mario Del Valle and coaches Jim Bossert and Miranda King, the latter splitting Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honors with Anne Schwemmer of UNLV. Tanner Wilson of Air Force is the WAC Men’s Freshman of the Year.
Kiefer on the 200 individual medley, 400 IM and 200 backstroke at the WAC Championships. The sophomore also helped the Vandals to a bronze medal in 800 freestyle relay, and her 60 points was the most collected at the championships meet.
Knapp, a fifth-year, swept the 1-meter and 3-meter diving championships at the WAC meet. She won the 1-meter event for a fifth straight season. She was part of podium sweeps on both and the ‘Jacks earning four of the eight spots in the platform final, leading Kelsey to her honor.
Young scored 36 points for GCU at the WAC Championships, most among freshman. She won the 100 breaststroke and was third in the 200 breast.
Pratt led New Mexico State to a second-place finish at the WAC Championships, with five gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Fabiani won three individual events and two relays at the WAC Championships. The senior from Luxembourg set the WAC record in the 50 free (18.86 seconds) and the 100 free (41.83) in addition to winning the 100 back in 45.40. Fabiani has A cuts in the 50 free and 100 free that will get him to NCAAs next week. He helped Cal Baptist finish second in the standings, leading to Bossert’s honor.
The sophomore Del Valle is the Diver of the Year for the second straight season, having won the 1-meter event and platform at the conference meet. He also finished third on 3-meter. That accounted for three of seven top-five finishes and 171 total points scored by King’s charges.
Wilson was fifth in both breaststroke events for Air Force, both in NCAA B cut times.
Schwemmer led a pair of UNLV divers to four top-five finishes and 91 points.
