MELBOURNE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University swimmer
Thiago Sickert repeats as 2016 All-Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Men's Swimmer of the Year as announced by the league office on Thursday.
"Thiago has worked hard all season to prepare for these championships," said head coach
Hollie Bonewit-Cron. "Thiago's goals and aspirations keep him focused in the pool throughout the season so that he can perform at such a high level at the end of the season."
Sickert (Jr., Vila Velha, Brazil) was named SSC Championship Male Swimmer of the Meet after taking first in the 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard butterfly and 100-yard freestyle as well as second in the 50-yard freestyle. Sickert went undefeated during the regular season in the 200-fly on his way to winning the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship title in that event. His second-place finish in the 100-free (42.98) at the championship also set a new overall SSC and school record.
At the 2016 National Championship, Sickert earned seven All-American honors and broke his NSU records in the 50-free (19.80) and 100-fly (47.14). He was also part of the 200- and 400-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relay teams that took third place, setting new Shark records in the first two events. Sickert saw 14 individual first-place finishes, three second-place and three third-place finishes over the course of the regular season.
"This award is an honor for him to receive as it rewards an individual who is committed to a strong work ethic and being a NSU student-athlete," added Bonewit-Cron. "I am proud of Thiago for his accomplishments and receiving the SSC Swimmer of the Year award to go alongside the SSC Swimmer of the Meet award and his national championship."
In addition to this honor, Sickert earned All-SSC first team accolades for a second consecutive year. He is joined by
Marco Aldabe (Jr., Alicante, Spain), who made the first team for a third consecutive year, and
Blake Woodrow (So., Fort Myers, Fla.) who also repeats from 2015.
Other notable accolades include
Emma Wahlstrom (Jr., Stockholm, Sweden),
Malin Westman (So., Harryda, Sweden) and
Courtney DeVeny (So., Estero, Fla.) receiving All-SSC Women's first team honors and
Georgina Allin (Jr., Somerset, England) making the All-SSC second team.
A full list of conference award winners and honorees can be found below. SSC Swimmer, Freshman and Coach of the Year awards were selected by vote of the league's swimming coaches following the NCAA Division II National Championship.
Men's Swimmer of the Year:
Thiago Sickert, Nova Southeastern
Men's Freshman of the Year: Sean Kim, Florida Southern
Men's Coach of the Year: Mike Blum, Florida Southern
Women's Swimmer of the Year: Rebecca Matthews, Lynn
Women's Freshman of the Year: Catalina Galea Berraud, Lynn
Women's Coach of the Year: Mike Blum, Florida Southern
2016 All-SSC Men's Swimming First Team Thiago Sickert, Nova Southeastern
Marco Aldabe, Nova Southeastern
Jesus Marin, Florida Southern
Matthew Holmes, Florida Southern
Blake Woodrow, Nova Southeastern
Daniel Bis, Saint Leo
Marco Palacios, Florida Southern
Antonio Nunez, Florida Southern
2016 All-SSC Men's Swimming Second Team Evan Jacob, Saint Leo
Pawel Trenda, Saint Leo
Tommy Reminger, Tampa
Raul Garrastazu, Florida Southern
Sean Kim, Florida Southern
Jeremy Parker, Tampa
Ferruccio Rossi, Florida Tech
Matheus Assis, Saint Leo
2016 All-SSC Women's Swimming First Team Rebecca Matthews, Lynn
Alli Crenshaw, Florida Southern
Emma Wahlstrom, Nova Southeastern
Natalia Garriock, Saint Leo
Malin Westman, Nova Southeastern
Courtney DeVeny, Nova Southeastern
Kelsey Gouge, Florida Southern
Thalie Carmigniani, Lynn
2016 All-SSC Women's Swimming Second Team Makayla Ayers, Tampa
Morgan Burns, Florida Southern
Catalina Galea Berraud, Lynn
Georgina Allin, Nova Southeastern
Sophie Long, Tampa
Heather Burns, Florida Southern
Jacinda Whittenburg, Florida Southern
Krystal Karas, Florida Southern
