Team Awards Banquet 2009

This afternoon we held our annual team awards get-together. Last year we went downtown for fondue. This year we took a turn for the zany with a trip to Pump It Up for indoor inflatable bouncing.

A few fun facts about our team awards:

**12 women and 6 men received votes for Most Inspirational. I think this gets to the heart of what makes our team successful. Our swimmers look around and see they are surrounded by people who support them and inspire them.

**Over half the team received at least one vote from their teammates for Most Improved. This is a testament to how much attention our kids paid to the experiences of their teammates and the way everyone shared in our success.

Just like our pool training and racing, the team spared no time getting down to business. There was bouncing, sliding, relay racing, boxing, jousting and generally crashing around having fun.

Lindsay Nixon is Senior Career Award Winner!

At the end of another 80-degree day in the Oregon sun, we made our way through a warm evening breeze to the Council Chamber for the annual Student-Athlete Recognition Dessert. Each year we get together to celebrate the accomplishments of all our athletes (before retiring to Stamm Hall for many desserts).

Lindsay Nixon was the night’s big winner, taking home a shiny trophy for the Pioneer Athletic Club Senior Career Award. In a swimming career that includes individual Northwest Conference titles in three of her four years and three individual and four relay school records, Lindsay has truly honored the Pioneer tradition.

Swimmers were nominated in many categories and our finalists included Annie Hay for the Rookie of the Year and Mandy Hamilton, who was the bronze medalist for the Scholar-Athlete Award. Joining Mandy on ther All-Academic Team were Matt Yelin and Zach Yeager.

10:48am and all is well

A glorious morning on our way to 76 degrees today. One simply could not ask for a better Monday on campus!