In the Pioneers’ inaugural season in the league, University of Denver student-athletes Samantha Corea and Dylan Bunch were named Summit League Swimmers of the Year, conference officials announced today.
“Both honors are well deserved,” head swim coach Brian Schrader said. “They have both been high performers all season long — and on an elite, national level. They both had a mission to finish at NCAAs and finish well, and they did a great job preparing and accomplishing those goals. Sam and Dylan are both great representatives for our program — great students, great people, great athletes.”
Corea, a junior, captured seventh place in the 200 back at the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, becoming the highest-placing female swimmer in Summit League and Pioneer history at the NCAA meet. Corea also won the consolation final in the 100 fly and competed in the 100 back at the NCAA Championships. She finished ninth overall in the 100 fly, earning honorable mention All-America honors and recording the fastest time and highest finish in league history at the NCAA meet. Denver finished 34th overall in the team standings, marking the most points by a women’s team at the NCAA Championships in league history.
Corea also was named the 2014 Women’s Swimming Championship MVP after winning three individual league crowns (100 and 200 back, 100 fly) and four relay titles (200 and 400 free relay, 200 and 400 medley relay). She set league records in all seven events during the championships.
Sophomore Bunch finished 12th in the 1,650 free at the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships to earn honorable mention All-America honors and tally five points as the Pioneers tied for 40th in the team standings. He also competed in the 200 and 500 free at the NCAA Championships, becoming the first swimmer in league history to participate in the trio of events.
Bunch captured three individual league titles (200, 500 and 1,650 free), including setting a league record in the 1,650 free to help the Pioneers win their first Summit League crown. He also was a member of the first-place 800 free relay team at the league championships. Prior to the NCAA Championships, the Boulder City, Nev., native was undefeated in the 500 and 1,000 free events this season.
As a close to its 2013–14 season, the University of Denver swimming and diving team hosts the annual Alumni/Varsity meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at El Pomar Natatorium.