Centenary's Olivier; Colorado's Howlett selected as SCAC Swimmer and Diver of the Year

Centenary's Olivier; Colorado's Howlett selected as SCAC Swimmer and Diver of the Year

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Based on exclusive voting by the head coaches of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, Ross Olivier of Centenary College was named the league's male Swimmer-of-the-Year, while Austin Howlett of Colorado College was selected the SCAC male Diver-of-the-Year.

A senior from New Iberia, La., who gave up his athletic scholarship to swim this season, Olivier steadily improved all year after injuring his ankle in October playing intramural football. He earned SCAC Men's Swimmer-of-the-Meet honors with two first-place finishes and a second-place finish at the 2013 conference championship meet. 

Olivier won the program's first-ever SCAC individual championship with his win in the 200 IM on opening night of the conference meet. Two nights later, he clocked an NCAA 'B' cut while setting a new conference record in the 200 back with a time of 1:49.86. He also finished second in the 100 backstroke, which was under the old conference record, and was part of two winning relay teams - the 400 medley and the 400 free relays.

Howlett finished eighth at 2013 NCAA Championships in 1-meter diving, earning All-America honors. The native of Makawao, Hawaii became Colorado College's fourth men's diver to earn All-America honors, joining Kris Hammond, Keith Kenner and Marshall Griffith. 

Earlier, Howlett won both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards at the 2013 SCAC Championships, and was selected SCAC Men’s Diver of the Meet for the second consecutive year. The sophomore has won three of four conference diving crowns during his first two seasons and he set school and CC pool records this year on both boards. Howlett became the first Colorado College diver to eclipse the 500-point barrier with an 11-dive score of 527.75 on the 3-meter board at the conference championship meet.

In exclusive voting of the league’s head coaches that took place at the 2013 SCAC Swimming and Diving Championships, Southwestern University's coaching staff - led by head coach Jon Duncan - was named the 2013 SCAC Men's Staff of the Year.

Happy Holidays from the SCAC!
December 25, 2012 Happy Holidays from the SCAC!