May 7, 2016
San Jose, Calif. --- Freestyle specialist Riley Spitser was named the San José State Swimmer of the Year for consecutive seasons at the swimming and diving team's annual post-season awards banquet.
"It means so much that the team honored me with this award. I honestly couldn't have to it without any of my teammates," Spitser said.
Spitser was named a Mountain West All-Conference swimming in the 200-yard, 500-yard and 1650-yard freestyle events. The San Diego native also set four new San Jose State records at the conference championships. Spitser's record setting times collected her three NCAA Championships B Standard provisional times.
Sophomore Cari Reiswig was honored as the Spartans' Diver of the Year, earning the title for the second straight season. Reiswig was the only San Jose State diver named to the Mountain West All-Conference team, selected in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard.
Being the only Spartan to compete at the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships, Reiswig finishing 14th in the 3-meter and 16th in the 1-meter.
The Performance of the Year went to the 800-yard freestyle relay team of Spitser, sophomore Taylor Lehr, sophomore Colleen Humel and senior Alli Davis for their fourth place finish at the Mountain West Championships in February. The foursome was clocked at 7:16.79 for the second best time the Spartans' record book.
"I think that's what made it so special was that it was a relay," Spitser said. "It was something the four of us did together but behind every relay is the team cheering for the relay. That made is so much more special that it could be shared."
Posting the second best times for the Spartans this season in the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle, Lehr was named the swimming and diving team's Rookie of the Year. The sophomore from Placerville, Calif., is seventh all-time in the 200 freestyle and eight all-time in the 50-yard freestyle in the SJSU record books.
Sharing the honor of being named the student-athlete who possesses the qualities of a true Spartan three ways, junior Lisa Ellis, Davis and Humel were awarded the Spartan Award.
"It means a lot to me, especially coming from my team who voted for me for Spartan Spirit, then also being voted for Performance of the Year. I honestly did not think that that would happen," Davis said.
Recognized for their academic success, Lehr, an applied mathematics major, and Reiswig, a journalism major, each received their second award of the evening and shared the Scholar Athlete Award. As a freshman, Reiswig was awarded the Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award. The Most Improved went to sophomore swimmer Brittany Heng for her continual improvement in all aspects of the sport.
The evening concluded with the naming of the team captains for 2016-17 season. Ellis returns as a team captain for the second time and is joined by juniors Taylor Solorio and Jenner Johnson.
"I'm thrilled to have these three as captains and leaders. They are all three great students, three great swimmers and three great workers." said Spartans' Head Coach Sage Hopkins. "They are people that the team really looks to for support and leadership."