Nineteen student-athletes have been recognized as members of the 2012 All-Sunshine State Conference Women’s Swimming Team. Nova Southeastern’s Erin Black was selected Women’s Swimmer of the Year, while Tampa’s Erin Plachy was named Freshman of the Year. Tampa’s Ed Brennan was chosen as Coach of the Year.
Voting for the Swimmer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year was conducted among coaches and sports information directors at SSC member institutions that sponsor the sport of swimming. The All-SSC Women’s Swimming Team was determined by points accumulated at the SSC Swimming Championship, which was conducted Feb. 15-18 at the Long Center in Clearwater, Fla. The top eight swimmers, based on points, were named All-SSC First Team, while the next eight were named All-SSC Second Team.
Earning All-SSC First-Team honors with Black and Plachy were: Heather Glenday (Tampa), Stephanie Doran (Florida Southern), Lisa Bero (Tampa), Alexandra Hipolito (Tampa), Lisa Menne (Florida Southern), Ewa Jamborska (Nova Southeastern), Taylor Reynolds (Florida Southern), and Ashley Bransford (Nova Southeastern).
Receiving All-SSC Second-Team accolades were: Briana Murphy (Tampa), Lauren Chapple (Nova Southeastern), Lindsay Calimer (Tampa), Rae-Lynn Sheffield (Florida Southern), Kristine Kassl (Tampa), Catherine Parker (Tampa), Ashley Aranda (Nova Southeastern), Emma Lawrenz (Nova Southeastern), and Kelsea Smith (Nova Southeastern).
A junior from Fort Myers, Fla., Black won the Division II national championship in the 500-yard freestyle. She claimed the title with a personal best and school-record time of 4:49.86. Black had also taken the gold in the 500 freestyle at the SSC Championship, posting a meet-record time of 4:51.11. She additionally collected All-America honors by finishing fourth in the 1,000-yard freestyle and third in the 1,650-yard freestyle. She garnered honorable mention All-America accolades with a ninth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle. Black also contributed to an All-American performance by the NSU 800 freestyle relay team that finished sixth at the DII national meet.
Making her way to Tampa from Magnolia, Texas, Plachy won the 50-yard freestyle in her debut SSC Championship meet, clocking a meet-record time of 23.39. She also earned honorable mention All-America honors in the same event at the NCAA DII Championship, finishing 11th. Plachy collected a number of accolades as part of UT’s relay teams. She was part of the 400-yard freestyle relay squad that garnered All-America honors with an eighth-place finish. She additionally received honorable mention All-America honors as part of the 200 medley relay (9th), 200 freestyle relay (9th), and the 400 medley relay (10th).
Brennan wins his second straight women’s swimming Coach of the Year award after leading Tampa to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championship. The finish was the Spartans’ best since 1988 when UT was the runner-up. At the SSC Championship, Tampa placed second, falling just 11 points shy of champion Nova Southeastern. Brennan’s squad came away with 16 All-America and honorable mention All-America honors at the NCAA DII Championship. His protégé, Heather Glenday, was a four-time All-American, finishing second in the 1,000-yard freestyle, fifth in the 200 freestyle, and sixth in both the 500 and 1,650 freestyle races.
2012 ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE WOMEN’S SWIMMING TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Heather Glenday, Tampa, Sophomore
Stephanie Doran, Florida Southern, Junior
Lisa Bero, Tampa, Sophomore
Alexandra Hipolito, Tampa, Sophomore
Erin Black, Nova Southeastern, Junior
Lisa Menne, Florida Southern, Sophomore
Erin Plachy, Tampa, Freshman
Ewa Jamborska, Nova Southeastern, Senior
Taylor Reynolds, Florida Southern, Senior
Ashley Bransford, Nova Southeastern, Sophomore
Swimmer of the Year – Erin Black, Nova Southeastern
Freshman of the Year – Erin Plachy, Tampa
Coach of the Year – Ed Brennan, Tampa
SECOND TEAM
Briana Murphy, Tampa, Freshman
Lauren Chapple, Nova Southeastern, Freshman
Lindsay Calimer, Tampa, Senior
Rae-Lynn Sheffield, Florida Southern, Senior
Kristine Kassl, Tampa, Junior
Catherine Parker, Tampa, Sophomore
Ashley Aranda, Nova Southeastern, Senior
Emma Lawrenz, Nova Southeastern, Freshman
Kelsea Smith, Nova Southeastern, Junior