2007-2008 Wood Swimming Awards

Captains - Captains are chosen at the beginning of the swim season by the members of the swim team.  The number of captains for each team is determined by the size of each team.  The captains have many responsibilities throughout the year.  Captains must provide leadership among the team.  Each captain has special skills that they bring to the team, whether it is showing the younger swimmers what to do in a big meet, providing spirit and enthusiasm throughout the year, organizing social activities to keep the team close, showing dedication during the year by hard work in practice or providing some humor to keep everyone loose, being a captain can often make the difference between the team having a good year and a great year. Captains receive a captains bar pin from the team at the beginning of the year to wear on their sweat suit and a captain pin at the end of the year.

Varsity Letters - Varsity letters are given to swimmers who place in the top 18 at the Philadelphia Catholic League Championships.  Each person who places in the top 18 scores points towards the League Championship and swims in one of the final heats on Sunday. First time letter winners receive an Archbishop Wood letter and a swimming pin.  Previous letter winners receive a bar that can be pinned to their letter signifying they have achieved letter status again.

JV Letters - JV letters are given to swimmers who have shown hard work with a willingness to learn and be part of the team whether it is through spirit, enthusiasm or dedication. JV letter winners receive a certificate signifying their achievement.

All-Catholic - All-Catholic is a special honor given out by the Philadelphia Catholic League.  Swimmers who place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in an individual event or 1st or 2nd in a relay earn First Team All-Catholic Honors.  Swimmers who place 4th, 5th or 6th in an individual event or 3rd in a relay earn Second Team All-Catholic Honors.  All-Catholic status is the highest honor given out to swimmers in the Catholic League and earning this distinction means that you are truly one of the best in the League.  All swimmers who receive All-Catholic honors are listed in the Catholic Standard and Times plus given an All-Catholic certificate at the end of the year.  All swimmers who earn First Team All-Catholic distinction receive a star at the end of the year which may be pinned to their letter.

Most Valuable Swimmer Award - This is a new award this year. This award is given to the swimmer who has provided leadership, excellence in swimming and a winning attitude that shows everyone else on the team what winning is all about. 

Outstanding Swimmer of the Year Award - This award is given to the swimmer who has consistently been the most valuable to the team throughout the year. 

Rookie of the Year Award - This award is given to the Freshman who has consistently been the most productive throughout the year.

Most Improved Swimmer Award - This award is given to the swimmer who has shown great improvement in time from one season to the next or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season.

Dedication Award - This award is given to the swimmer who has shown extraordinary hard work and effort throughout the year, both in practice and meets.

Spirit Award - This award is given to the swimmer who has shown unparalleled enthusiasm and spirit throughout the year in all facets of swimming. 

Viking Award - This award is given for a combination of attributes.  This award goes to the swimmer who has shown a combination of dedication, hard work, enthusiasm, improvement, humor plus an intangible that makes everyone take notice.

Black & Gold Award - This award is given to a beginner swimmer who has shown through hard work and dedication that improvement from the beginning stages of swimming to real team contribution is possible.

Ironman Award - This award is given to the swimmer who has attended every practice.

Golden Pez Award - This award is given to the person who has shown that while swimming can be an intense sport, that sometimes certain actions can bring laughter to the team.

Captains

Boys

Dave Keller

Girls

Amy Finn
Bridget Gannon
Rachael Gnias
Christina Rios

Varsity Letters

Boys

Dave Keller (Senior)
Greg Oprendek (Sophomore)
Robert Cohen (Freshman)

Girls

Amy Finn (Senior)
Bridget Gannon (Senior)
Rachael Gnias (Senior)
Amanda Horlacher (Senior)
Kellina Keown (Senior)
Laura Nelling (Senior)
Christina Rios (Senior)
Megan Basgil (Junior)
MariKate Cook (Junior)
Alyse Davis (Junior)
Emily Ruzicka (Junior)
Colleen Gannon (Sophomore)
Bridget Kerins (Sophomore)
Emily Smith (Sophomore)
Grace Cochrane (Freshman)
Taylor Kane (Freshman)
Jennifer Whelan (Freshman)

Junior Varsity Letters

Boys

Andre DelValle (Sophomore)
Gary Bone (Freshman)
Andrew Gnias (Freshman)

Girls

Julia Hennessey (Junior)
Victoria Martino (Junior)
Caitlin Harney (Sophomore)
Colleen Jacob(Sophomore)
Ashleen Kelly (Sophomore)
Angela Yeung (Sophomore)
Barbara Deegan (Freshman)
Emily MacLeod (Freshman)
Olivia Martino (Freshman)
JulieAnne Santospago (Freshman)
Danielle Walsh (Freshman)

All-Catholic

First Team

Alyse Davis
Grace Cochrane
Amy Finn
Bridget Gannon
Bridget Kerins
Christina Rios
Taylor Kane
Emily Smith

Second Team

Rachael Gnias
Amanda Horlacher
Megan Basgil
MariKate Cook

Most Valuable Swimmer

Girls

Amy Finn
Bridget Gannon
Rachael Gnias
Christina Rios

Outstanding Swimmer of the Year

Boys

Gregory Oprendek

Girls

Emily Smith
Alyse Davis
Bridget Kerins

Rookie of the Year

Boys

Robert Cohen

Girls

Taylor Kane
Grace Cochrane

Most Improved Swimmer

Laura Nelling
Andre DelValle

Dedication Award

Kellina Keown
Emily Ruzicka

Spirit Award

Amanda Horlacher

Viking Award

Dave Keller
Megan Basgil
MariKate Cook

Black & Gold Award

Andrew Gnias
Barbara Deegan

Ironman Award

Andrew Gnias
Rachael Gnias
Bridget Gannon
Colleen Gannon

Golden Pez Award

Andrew Gnias
Andre DelValle
Rachael Gnias
Emily Smith