MELBOURNE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University swimmer Anton Lobanov has been named the 2016-17 Sunshine State Conference Male Athlete of the Year as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. Lobanov becomes the third Shark to be honored as SSC Athlete of the Year in the award's 30-year history.
 
Voting for the award was conducted among SSC Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Athletic Communications Directors, and Faculty Athletic Representatives from each of the nine member institutions.
 
The Novosibirisk, Russia native was selected as the SSC Male Swimmer of the Year by conference coaches following an exceptional season. At the 2017 NCAA Division II Championship, the junior won his third consecutive individual titles in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events to set a program record with six individual national championships. He also helped NSU to a second-place finish in the 400 medley relay, third-place in the 200 medley relay and eighth-place in the 200 free relay, moving his All-American award total to five in 2016-17.
 
With the efforts of Lobanov, Nova Southeastern was undefeated in dual meet competition this season, posting a 7-0 record. The Sharks then went on to capture the SSC Championship for the third time in school history. NSU then capped off the season with a third-place finish at the NCAA national championship in Birmingham. It was the program's highest ever finish in school history.
 
Overall, Lobanov still holds the NCAA DII records in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, both of which were set in 2015. He is also a member of three SSC Championship record holding relay teams, including the 2017 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay teams.
 
Lobanov joins Abbey Gittings (Golf 2011-12) and Sandra Changkija (2009-10 & 2010-11) as SSC Athlete of the Year winners from NSU. Florida Southern's Jeb Halfacre (2010-11, 2011-12) is the only other swimmer to be named SSC Athlete of the Year.
 
Click here for complete listing: SSC Athletes of the Year