2023-2024 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.

PIAA All-State - Pennsylvania All-State is a special honor given out by the Pennsylvania High School Swim Coaches Assiciation.  Swimmers who advance to the final heat of the PIAA State Championship meet, which is currently the top 8 swimmers and relays, or have a finaal time in the consolation heat which is better than the last time to advance in the final heat of prelims, earn First Team PIAA All-State Honors.  Swimmers who advance to the consolation heat, which is currently top 16 swimmers and relays, earn Honorable Mention PIAA All-State Honors.  All-State status is the highest honor given out to swimmers in the PIAA and earning this distinction means that you are truly one of the best in the state of Pennsylvania.  All swimmers who earn PIAA All-State distinction receive a certificate at the end of the year.

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, 2nd or 3rd in a relay earn First Team All-Catholic Honors.  Swimmers who place 4th, 5th or 6th in an individual event 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.

Academic All-American - Academic All-American is a special honor given out by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.  Swimmers must be seniors who earn a letter and have a seven semister grade point average of 3.75 or better. Attaining this award means that a swimmer consistantly maintained a high academic standard while participating on a high level in the pool. Earning this distinction means that you are one of the best High School student athletes in the nation. All swimmers who earn Academic All-American distinction receive a certificate at the end of the year.

Most Valuable Swimmer Award - 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 best swimmer on 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 swimmer who has shown through hard work and dedication that improvement from the beginning of the year, 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.

Certificate Winners - Certificates are given out for outstanding achevement for the the following catagories:

Captains

Girls

Girls

All-Catholic

First Team

Outstanding Swimmer of the Year

Rookie of the Year