2012-13 NAU Swimming & Diving News

May 17, 2013
Swimmer Palmer Named Capital One Academic All-District
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – NAU junior swimmer Rachel Palmer has been selected as a Capital One Academic All-District 8 Women’s At-Large First Team selection. As a first team selection Palmer will be placed on a ballot for Capital One Academic All-America honors.

May 17, 2013
Swimming & Diving Adds Two Newcomers for 2013-14
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – NAU swimming & diving head coach Andy Johns has announced two additions to his program for the 2013-14 season. Jori Lindquist from Kodiak, Alaska and Urte Kazakeviciute from Kaunas, Lithuania will join three swimmers and two divers that signed in November to make up NAU’s 2013-14 incoming class.

May 10, 2013
Estrada and Ardavanis Named NAU Athletes of the Year
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – After two record-breaking years and collegiate careers senior diver Kristy Ardavanis and senior cross country and track & field runner Diego Estrada have been named the 2013 NAU male and female Athletes of the Year.

May 9, 2013
Shrader, Morrissey Win NAU Newcomer of the Year Honors
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – In a year with several impressive performances from newcomers to the NAU Athletics family, track and cross country runner Brian Shrader and swimmer Ellie Morrissey have been named the NAU male and female Newcomers of the Year.

May 9, 2013
47 Student-Athletes to Participate in Spring Commencement
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Forty-seven NAU student-athletes will receive their degrees from the university this Friday and Saturday as part of the spring 2013 commencement ceremonies. In addition to the 13 student-athletes who earned their degrees at the conclusion of the fall 2012 semester, the Lumberjack athletics department produced 60 total graduates during the 2012-13 academic year.

April 19, 2013
Swimming & Diving Garners 17 Academic All-WAC Awards
DENVER, Colo. – The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) has honored 17 members of the NAU Swimming & Diving team with Academic All-WAC awards. Several Lumberjack freshmen may also be added to list after they complete the requisite full academic year at the institution.

April 11, 2013
Hess, Connell Honored as Top Golden Eagle Scholar-Athletes
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc., honored 169 Northern Arizona University student-athletes on Thursday for their scholastic and athletic accomplishments at the 35th annual Golden Eagle Awards.

April 4, 2013
Swimming & Diving Ranked Sixth in Final Mid-Major Poll
SOMERS, Wis. - The NAU swimming & diving team has tied for a sixth-place national ranking in the final CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major Poll for the 2012-13 season.

March 16, 2013
Smithberg Leads NAU on Platform, Ardavanis NCAA Alternate
USAFA, Colo. – Junior Gwen Smithberg led the Lumberjacks in the platform competition with a 19th place finish and freshman Chelsea Jackson was 24th on the final day of the NCAA Zone E Diving Championship hosted by the Air Force Academy.

March 15, 2013
Ardavanis Sixth on 1-Meter at Zones, Eyes Potential NCAA Bid
USAFA, Colo. – Senior Kristy Ardavanis finished sixth overall on 1-meter with a 12-dive total score of 551.35 to lead NAU on the second day of the NCAA Zone E Championship hosted by the Air Force Academy. Based on platform results on Saturday, Ardavanis’ 1-meter finish could earn her a berth in next week’s NCAA Championships.

March 14, 2013
Ardavanis 16th on 3-Meter to Open Zone Diving Meet
USAFA, Colo. – Senior Kristy Ardavanis advanced to the final and placed 16th overall in the 3-meter competition on the first day of the NCAA Zone E Championship at the Air Force Academy.

March 13, 2013
Three Divers to Compete at NCAA Zone Qualifying Meet
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Senior Kristy Ardavanis, junior Gwen Smithberg, and freshman Chelsea Jackson will be among a field of 53 of the best female divers in the western region competing Thursday through Saturday for a spot at the NCAA Championships at the NCAA Zone E qualifying meet hosted by the Air Force Academy.

March 12, 2013
Swimming & Diving Posts Sixth Best Team GPA in NCAA D-I
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team has been recognized by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as tying for the sixth best team GPA among all NCAA Division-I women’s swimming & diving programs.

March 2, 2013
NAU Wins Three Titles Saturday, Finishes Second at WAC
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Northern Arizona earned WAC titles in the 1650 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and platform diving to make a late charge in the team standings but San Jose State held on to narrowly win the WAC Swimming & Diving Championship by just seven points with NAU taking second.

March 1, 2013
NAU Claims 400 Medley Relay, Moves to Second at WAC
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – NAU’s 400 medley relay team won gold in program-record time and the Lumberjack swimmers earned four individual medals with two school records on the third day of the WAC Swimming & Diving Championships.

February 28, 2013
Ardavanis, Morrissey Star as NAU Maintains WAC Lead
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Freshman Ellie Morrissey won two medals, NAU took three of the top-five spots in the 500 freestyle, and senior Kristy Ardavanis placed second on 3-meter to lead NAU on the second day of the WAC Swimming & Diving Championships.

February 27, 2013
Ardavanis Wins 1-Meter Title, NAU Leads after WAC Day One
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Senior Kristy Ardavanis won the WAC 1-meter title as NAU took three of the top-five spots in the event and the Lumberjack swimmers finished second with program records in both relay events to lead after the first day of the WAC Championships.

February 26, 2013
Swimming & Diving to Compete for WAC Championship
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Led by four returning CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major All-Americans, a superb freshman class, and a deep diving roster, the NAU swimming & diving team has its sights set on a conference championship this week as it competes at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Swimming & Diving Championships Wednesday through Saturday in San Antonio, Texas.

February 25, 2013
Swimming’s International Quartet Looking to Finish Strong
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – For the last three years, four swimmers from the southern hemisphere have rewritten the record books nearly 8,000 miles away in a snowy mountain town.

February 2, 2013
Swimming & Diving Edged by Arizona State in Tempe
TEMPE, Ariz. – NAU recorded team season-best times in seven events and junior Stirling Smith won the 100 breaststroke as the Lumberjacks were defeated by Arizona State, 146-91, on Saturday in Tempe.

January 31, 2013
Swimming & Diving to Close Regular Season at Arizona State
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team will compete for the final time during the regular season in a dual at Arizona State at 11 a.m. Saturday in Tempe’s Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

January 29, 2013
Ardavanis Repeats as WAC Diver of the Week
DENVER, Colo. – For the second consecutive week and the fifth time this season NAU senior Kristy Ardavanis has been named WAC Diver of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.

January 26, 2013
Ardavanis, Smithberg Lead Lumberjacks at Falcon Diving
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Senior Kristy Ardavanis won the 1-meter competition over a field of 46 other divers and junior Gwen Smithberg finished fourth on platform with a program-record 222.50 score to lead a strong NAU showing at the Falcon Diving Invitational.

January 24, 2013
Divers Headed to AFA Diving Invitational
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – NAU’s diving team will compete with divers from 11 other schools on Friday and Saturday at the AFA Diving Invitational hosted by the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo

January 22, 2013
Ardavanis Earns WAC Diver of the Week Honors
DENVER, Colo. – For the fourth time this season and the ninth time over the last two years NAU senior diver Kristy Ardavanis, who broke two pool records in her final home meet on Saturday, has been named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Diver of the Week.

January 19, 2013
Swimming & Diving Tops Colorado State on Senior Day
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – NAU senior Kristy Ardavanis broke the Wall Aquatic Center records with career-best scores on both 1-meter and 3-meter and freshman Ellie Morrissey broke the pool record in the 100 freestyle as NAU dominated Colorado State in a 177-120 victory.

January 17, 2013
Swimming & Diving to Honor Seniors, Host Colorado State
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming and diving team looks to complete an undefeated home season at 11 a.m. Saturday when it hosts Colorado State in Wall Aquatic Center. The Lumberjacks are 3-0 in home duals this year and will honor their four graduating seniors – Kristy Ardavanis, Fi Connell, Kelsey Loy, and Danielle Palbykin – during their final home meet.

January 4, 2013
Swimming & Diving Defeated by No. 6 Arizona, Oregon State
TUCSON, Ariz. – On a windy, 50-degree afternoon in Tucson the NAU swimming & diving team came up just one point short against Oregon State in a 147-146 loss and fell to No. 6 Arizona 221-76 in a challenging double-dual against PAC-12 competition.

January 3, 2013
Swimming & Diving Back in the Pool Friday at No. 6 Arizona
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team (4-2 in duals) returns from its holiday break for a challenging meet against No. 6 Arizona (5-2) and Oregon State (0-4) at noon Friday in Tucson.

December 20, 2012
Swimming Places Second in Meet vs. Northwestern
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Completing its week of training in south Florida, the NAU swimming team placed second in an exhibition meet against Northwestern on Thursday afternoon in Boca Raton.

December 19, 2012
Swimming & Diving to Face Northwestern Thursday in Florida
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The NAU swimming & diving team will complete its week of training in South Florida with an exhibition meet against Northwestern at approximately 1:15 p.m. Arizona time Thursday in Boca Raton, Fla.

December 14, 2012
Swimming & Diving To Train, Compete in Florida
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team departed this morning for a week of training and a multi dual meet at Florida Atlantic. The Lumberjacks will do pool and dry land training for about five hours each day before facing Florida Atlantic and Northwestern in a meet that was originally scheduled for next Friday but may be moved to an earlier date.

December 1, 2012
Records Fall as Swimming & Diving Tops New Mexico State
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - NAU opened the meet with a Wall Aquatic Center record in the 200 medley relay and senior Fi Connell broke her own pool record in the 200 backstroke as the Lumberjacks won 14 of 16 events en route to a 176-116 win over WAC foe New Mexico State.

November 30, 2012
Swimming & Diving Hosts New Mexico State Saturday
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – After a break for Thanksgiving the NAU swimming & diving team (3-2 in duals) will host WAC foe New Mexico State (2-2 in duals) at 11 a.m. Saturday in Wall Aquatic Center in its penultimate home competition during the 2012-13 season. The Lumberjacks are 2-0 at home this season with wins over Arizona State and Northern Colorado.

November 20, 2012
Three Swimmers, Two Divers Sign For 2013-14
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team has received commitments from three swimmers and two divers to join the program for the 2013-14 season.

November 20, 2012
Smithberg Named WAC Diver of the Week
DENVER, Colo. – After placing sixth among 23 divers on platform at the Arizona Diving Invite NAU junior Gwen Smithberg has been named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Diver of the Week.

November 18, 2012
Ardavanis, Smithberg Lead Divers at Arizona Diving Invite
TUCSON, Ariz. – Senior Kristy Ardavanis placed third in the 1-meter diving consolation final and junior Gwen Smithberg placed sixth overall on platform to lead NAU at the Arizona Wildcat Invite this weekend in Tucson. The Lumberjacks had all six of their divers competing in a field of more than 40 of the top collegiate divers in the region.

November 13, 2012
WAC Diver of the Week Award Again Goes to Ardavanis
DENVER, Colo. – For the third time in three meets this season NAU senior Kristy Ardavanis has been named Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Diver of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.

November 10, 2012
Swimming & Diving Defeated by Idaho 177.5-122.5
MOSCOW, Idaho – Competing on the second consecutive day and without several key swimmers, the NAU swimming & diving team got event wins from senior Kristy Ardavanis, junior Emma Lowther, and sophomore Caitlin Wright but Idaho won 13 of 16 events and broke two school records in a 177.5-122.5 victory.

November 9, 2012
Swimming Comes Up Just Short at Washington State
PULLMAN, Wash. – NAU junior Jordan Burnes and freshman Ellie Morrissey each won two events and a short-handed Lumberjacks squad had a chance to win going into the final events of the meet before Washington State held on for a 146-116 win on Friday evening in Pullman, Wash. The dual, which only contained swimming as the Cougars don’t have a diving team, was NAU’s first loss of the season after a 3-0 start in dual competition.

November 8, 2012
Swimming & Diving Heads North to Face Washington State, Idaho
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team (3-0) competes on consecutive days this weekend facing Washington State (2-5) at 6 p.m. Friday and WAC foe Idaho (2-3) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The Lumberjacks have started their season with a 3-0 dual record for the first time since 2007 and could extend to a 5-0 start for the first time in program history.

November 6, 2012
Ardavanis Earns Another WAC Diver of the Week Award
DENVER, Colo. – For the second time in as many meets this season and the seventh time over the last two seasons NAU senior diver Kristy Ardavanis has been named Western Athletic Conference (WAC) diver of the week. The Gilbert, Ariz. native won both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions to lead NAU to a dual win over Northern Colorado on Saturday.

November 5, 2012
Thomas Named Swimming & Diving Assistant; Media Guide Available
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Laura Thomas has joined the NAU swimming & diving program as an assistant coach, head coach Andy Johns announced Monday. A two-time NCAA All-American swimmer at Georgia, Thomas has founded two aquatic clubs and been a head coach for three club teams and a high school team with more than 15 years of experience in the state of Georgia.

November 3, 2012
Swimming & Diving Earns 178-119 Win over Northern Colorado
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team won both relays, both diving events, and nine individual races to cruise to a 178-119 win over new WAC foe Northern Colorado on Saturday in Wall Aquatic Center. The Lumberjacks are now 3-0 in duals this season and 9-0 all-time in duals against Northern Colorado.

November 2, 2012
Swimming & Diving Hosts New WAC Foe Northern Colorado Saturday
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team takes a 2-0 dual record home to host Northern Colorado (1-1), a new member this year of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), in a dual at 11 a.m. Saturday in Wall Aquatic Center. While NAU and UNC have been long time rivals in the Big Sky, this is the first season that the two schools share the same conference for swimming & diving.

October 23, 2012
Ardavanis Earns Sixth Career WAC Diver of the Week Honor
DENVER, Colo. – NAU senior diver Kristy Ardavanis picked up right where she left off last year in opening her season with this week’s WAC Diver of the Week award after receiving the honor five times during the 2011-12 season. Ardavanis posted the top NAU scores on both 1-meter and 3-meter against New Mexico and helped lead the Lumberjacks to a 152-148 win over the Lobos.

October 20, 2012
Swimming & Diving Upends New Mexico 152-148
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Juniors Emma Lowther and Rachel Palmer each won two events as NAU won seven individual races and took the 400 freestyle relay to end the meet and score a 152-148 win over New Mexico on Saturday afternoon. The Lumberjacks have now defeated Arizona State of the Pac-12 and New Mexico of the Mountain West in their two meets thus far in the 2012-13 season.

October 19, 2012
Swimming & Diving Headed to New Mexico for First Road Dual
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Following two intersquad meets and a win over Arizona State in a unique relay meet the NAU swimming & diving team will face New Mexico at 11 a.m. Arizona time Saturday in its first road competition of the season. Saturday will be the 25th all-time meeting between NAU and New Mexico with the all-time dual record between the teams even at 12-12, though they have not faced each other since meeting twice in 2008.

October 13, 2012
Swimming Defeats Arizona State, 57-49, in Unique Meet and Clinic
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team won three of six events vs. Arizona State and defeated the Sun Devils, 57-49, in a mixed relay dual with the Arizona State men’s swimming team on Saturday in Wall Aquatic Center. Hosting Arizona State for the first time since 2003, the Lumberjacks earned their first win over the Sun Devils in program history before both teams volunteered for a clinic with youth swimmers immediately following the meet.

October 12, 2012
Gold Edges Blue in Swimming & Diving Blue-Gold Meet
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A tie in the last event of the day, the 200 freestyle relay, concluded a highly competitive Blue-Gold meet and gave the Gold team a narrow 52.5-51.5 win in the squad’s annual intersquad event. Senior diver Kristy Ardavanis and junior swimmer Rachel Palmer each won two events as the meet came down to the final race.

October 11, 2012
Swimming & Diving Prepares for Blue vs. Gold, ASU Meet and Clinic
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU swimming & diving team kicks off its 2012-13 season with home events on consecutive days this week, holding its annual Blue vs. Gold meet at 2 p.m. Friday and then welcoming Arizona State for a meet and clinic with local youth swimmers beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Wall Aquatic Center. Friday’s event will be the first competition for the NAU divers after the swimmers competed in the pentathlon three weeks ago.

October 8, 2012
Swimming & Diving Helps Plant Trees at Schultz Fire Burn Area
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Twenty-four members of the Northern Arizona women’s swimming & diving team along with head coach Andy Johns planted approximately 650 trees on Saturday at the White Vulcan mine just north of the Schultz Fire burn area. The NAU student-athletes spent three and a half hours digging and planting trees on half-acre plots and helping the Flagstaff Ranger District repopulate a portion of the Coconino National Forest.

October 5, 2012
Swimming Meet, Clinic with Arizona State Moved to Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The NAU women’s swimming & diving team and both the Arizona State men’s and women’s teams will hold a meet and free clinic for youth swimmers next Saturday, Oct. 13, at 10:30 a.m. in Wall Aquatic Center. Originally scheduled to take place in Sedona, the teams will compete in a meet consisting of relay races and then host a free one hour clinic with local boys and girls swimmers while accepting donations for St. Mary’s Food Bank.

October 1, 2012
Swimming Assistant Coach Fuccillo Accepts Position at LSU
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - NAU swimming & diving assistant coach Jeana Fuccillo has accepted an offer to become an assistant coach at LSU. Fuccillo has been an assistant coach for the Lumberjacks for two seasons after serving as a volunteer assistant for one year and as a graduate assistant in academics at NAU for two years, having spent five years within the NAU athletics department.

September 21, 2012
Palmer Repeats as Pentathlon Champion to Open Swimming Season
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Junior Rachel Palmer broke the pool and meet records with a time of 2:21.67 in the 200 individual medley and also won the 100 backstroke and took second in the 100 butterfly to win the NAU Pentathlon for the second consecutive year Friday afternoon in Wall Aquatic Center. Junior Emma Lowther won both the 100 fly and 100 freestyle and was second in the 200 IM to take second among the 24 Lumberjack swimmers competing in the event.

September 20, 2012
Swimming to Open 2012-13 Campaign with Pentathlon Friday
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – NAU’s swimmers will open 2012-13 competition at 2 p.m. Friday in the 17th annual Pentathlon in Wall Aquatic Center, the first of two intersquad meets the team will hold in preparation for its season opener with Arizona State on Oct. 13. The 24 Lumberjack swimmers on the 2012-13 roster will compete in the 200 Individual Medley as well as 100 meter races in the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and free style.

August 13, 2012
Swimming & Diving Releases 2012-13 Schedule
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – A season-opening meet with Arizona State in Sedona and three duals in Wall Aquatic Center highlight the 2012-13 NAU Swimming & Diving schedule announced by head coach Andy Johns on Monday. The squad will also face Pac-12 schools Arizona, Oregon State and Washington State and spend a week training and competing in Florida in preparation for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championships Feb. 27-Mar. 2.

July 12, 2012
Swimming & Diving Posts 10th Best Team GPA in NCAA Division-I
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – After posting the 14th best grade point average among all NCAA Division-I women's swimming & diving teams in the nation in the fall, NAU topped itself in the spring in tying for the 10th best team GPA according to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All America Team.