March 31, 2008

Arnold, Carpin Named MVPs at Swimming & Diving Postseason Banquet

    Youngstown -- Olivia Arnold and Amanda Carpin were honored as Youngstown State's swimming and diving most valuable players as the Penguins held their annual awards banquet on Sunday at the DeBartolo Stadium Club.
    Arnold, a junior distance freestyle specialist from Rutherglen, Australia, was voted by her teammates as the swimming MVP. Carpin, a freshman diver from Erie, Pa., was voted the diving MVP.
    Sophomore Leah Krout was honored as the team's most improved swimmer, freshman Ashley Williamson received the Rookie-of-the-Year award and senior Julia Darling was recognized for being the most inspirational member of the team. Darling and fellow seniors Amanda Ladd and Brittany Senn were also honored for serving as team captains.
    The 2007-08 season was full of individual and team accomplishments, which head coach Matt Anderson paraded at the banquet.

    • The Penguins eclipsed previous school records 14 times in nine different events.
    • YSU enjoyed a fifth-place finish at the Horizon League Championships for the second straight year. The Penguins defeated newcomer Valparaiso, Cleveland State and Butler. YSU was also 129.5 points closer to fourth-place UIC this season.
    • Arnold set the 1,000 free record three different times and the 1,650 free twice during the year. She broke both marks at the Horizon League Championships, which were two of nine records set by the team at the league meet.
    • Williamson broke three individual school records at the conference meet and swam in all four record-breaking relays. During the year she eclipsed the previous school record in the 100 back three times and the previous standard in the 200 back twice. She also broke a school record in the 100 fly at the conference championship meet that had stood for almost 23 years.
    • Williamson teamed up with Darling, Senn and Megan Rupe in both the 200 and 400 medley relays to break school records. Senn, Rupe, Williamson and Alana Kane set the 200 and 400 free relay records at the league meet. The 400 free relay record had stood for almost 24 years.
    • The Penguins defeated Butler and Cleveland State in dual meets for the second straight season.
    • Darling finished her career as the school-record holder in both medley relays and the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes.
    • Senn retires as a school-record holder in four relay events and the second-fastest swimmer in school history in the 50 free.
    • In total, there were 47 new additions to the top-10 top performances list. In addition to the nine new school records, there were six times added that rank second in school history.