2011-2012 GNAC Swimmers of the Year Announced

Elms College sophomore Devon DeGrazia is honored as the 2012 GNAC Swimmer of the Year and Simmons College freshman, Chloe Davis has earned GNAC Rookie of the Year. St. Joseph's of Maine Head Coach Rick Horr has been chosen as the GNAC Coach of the Year.

Swimmer of the Year- Devon DeGrazia, So., Westport, Mass./Bishop Stang

At the 2011-12 GNAC Championships, Elms' squad was led by DeGrazia who notched a new GNAC, Simmons pool and Elms school record in the 500-yard freestyle (5:28.63), and came in second in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:03.53 during day one action. On day two, DeGrazia added a GNAC and Elms school record in the 1000-yard freestyle, swimming to a first place time of 11:24.39 and added a second place finish in the 50-yard backstroke (30.15) to help the Blazers seal a second place finish overall at the championship. DeGrazia led the Blazers to the highest finish among GNAC teams at the season-ending NEISDA Championships by leading off the 800-yard freestyle relay with a school record 200-yard freestyle time of 1:58.80 and helped pace the relay squad to a new school mark in the event. During the NEISDA championships, DeGrazia notched fifth place finishes in the 1650-yard and 1000-yard freestyles and earned a sixth place finish in the 500-yard freestyle. This marks DeGrazia second year as earning GNAC accolades as last year, she took home the GNAC Rookie of the Year award. 

Rookie of the Year- Chloe Davis, Simmons, Fr., Merrimack, N.H

During the season, Chloe won 13 individual events, including the 200 Backstroke at the GNAC Championship. She finished the season with 178 individual points and was a member of eight record-breaking relays (3 school records, 3 pool records, 2 GNAC records). Chloe achieved 10 NEISDA A-cuts in all specialties and finished as high as 14th in the 50 Back. Chloe was a member of two top-8 relays at NEISDA (the 400 Free and 200 Free Relay). Throughout the regular season she was twice named GNAC Rookie of the Week.

Coach of the Year- Rick Horr, St. Joseph's College of Maine

 Head Coach Rick Horr led the Monks to their best finish in the past five years. Saint Joseph's placed 16th with 174 total points in the 2012 NEISDA Championship as five different SJC swimmers combined to appear in 11 finals events over the course of the weekend. The team's points, finish and finals trips all count as program-bests. The Monks were also honored with the prestigious Steve Cooke Team Sportsmanship Award after the NEISDA Championship. 

Sportsmanship Team

Elms College- Tricia Ruell
Husson University- TBD
Norwich University- TBD
Saint Joseph (CT) - Sarah Chepeleff
Saint Joseph's (ME) - Anne Roberts
Simmons College- Joleigh Ferro