example-image
Connect with Us:  

ACC Announces Swimmer, Coach & Rookies of the Year

Apr 6, 2001

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia swept the ACC Swimmer of the Year honors as sophomore Cara Lane and freshman Ian Prichard were recognized as the league's top swimmers in a vote of the head swimming coaches. The coaches also voted North Carolina freshman Jessi Perruquet and Virginia freshman Luke Wagner to receive the league's Rookie of the Year honors. North Carolina head coach Frank Comfort was recognized as the Women's Coach of the Year, while Virginia's Mark Bernardino was voted the Men's Coach of the Year.

In her second season, Lane earned her second ACC Swimmer of the Year honor. Lane was the NCAA Champion in the 1650-yard freestyle, her second NCAA individual title. At the ACC Championship, Lane won the 1650-yard freestyle in an ACC-record time. She set an ACC-meet record as she won the 500-yard freestyle, and she also won the 200-yard butterfly. For her efforts, Lane was named the meet's Most Valuable Swimmer. Lane earned All-America honors in the 1650 freestyle, the 500 freestyle and the 200 butterfly and was named honorable mention in the 800 freestyle relay. In addition, Lane earned ACC Swimmer of the Week honors on three occasions, the most this season.

Prichard made a strong impression in his first season, earning the Most Valuable Swimmer award at the 2001 ACC Championship. Prichard won the 1650-yard freestyle in an ACC-record time at the championship, and he set a new ACC meet record as he also won the 500-yard freestyle. He also finished second in the 200-yard freestyle. Prichard earned honorable mention All-America honors for the 200, 500 and 1650 freestyle races, as well as the 800 freestyle relay. During the regular season, Prichard earned ACC Swimmer of the Week honors three times, more than any other swimmer.

Perruquet was the ACC Champion in the 200-yard freestyle. She also finished second in the 100-yard freestyle and third in the 500-yard freestyle. She was named Swimmer of the Week once and earned All-America honors in the 400 and 800 freestyles and was named honorable mention in the 100 freestyle, the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay.

Wagner was the ACC Champion in the 200-yard backstroke and finished second in the 100-yard backstroke. He was named an All-American in the 200-yard backstroke, and earned honorable mention honors in the 200 and 400 medley relays and the 800 free relay. He also finished sixth in the 200-meter backstroke (2:01.77) at the Phillips 66 National Championships on March 31.

North Carolina head coach Frank Comfort earned his eighth ACC Women's Coach of the Year award. This season, Comfort led the Tar Heel women to their second straight ACC title. It was North Carolina's 14th ACC title, all of which came under Comfort. The Tar Heel women have never finished lower than second in the conference and this year finished ninth at the NCAA Championships, the team's best national finish since the 1987 team placed ninth.

Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino earned ACC Men's Coach of the Year for the eighth time after leading the Cavalier men to their third straight ACC Championship and the school's fifth title overall. All five of Virginia's men's titles came under Bernardino. This year Virginia placed 13th at the NCAA Championships, the second highest finish in school history.