University of New Hampshire Athletics
6/7/2021 1:16:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team has announced its team awards for the 2020-21 season. The Wildcats went 3-0 in the regular season and won their ninth America East championship which are the most in conference history. UNH previously won in 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2020.
2020-2021 Team Award Winners
Rookie of the Year: Abby McKinney
Most Improved: Cate Wardinski
Most Valuable: Anna Metzler
Coaches Award: Paige Hillis
Freshman Abby McKinney (Westfield, N.J.) was the recipient of the Rookie of the Year Award. McKinney had an outstanding season as she was named the America East Rookie of the Year and was a four-time All-Conference honoree. At the America East Championships, she won the gold in the 100 fly, and was a member of the first-place 200 free, 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams.
Junior Cate Wardinski (Burke, Va.) won the Most Improved Award. Wardinski earned gold in the 50 free and bronze in the 100 free at the America East Championships. She also won gold as a member of the 200 free and 400 free relay teams. Wardinski was a four-time All-Conference Team member this season.
Junior Anna Metzler (Regensburg, Germany) won the Most Valuable Award. Metzler qualified for the NCAA Championships with the 26th best time in the nation in the 400 IM. She won six gold medals at the America East Championships, placing first in the 200 free and 200 back, while she was a member of the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free and 400 medley winning relay teams. Metzler also won the Elite 18 Award with the highest GPA (3.93 in Biomedical Science) at the America East Championships.
Senior Paige Hillis (Mississauga, Ontario) was the winner of the Coaches Award. She won the silver medal in the 400 IM for her best career finish in an individual event at the America East Championships. Also for the second straight season, Hillis won a gold with the 800 free relay team. Throughout her career she earned All-Conference accolades five times.
2020-2021 Team Award Winners
Rookie of the Year: Abby McKinney
Most Improved: Cate Wardinski
Most Valuable: Anna Metzler
Coaches Award: Paige Hillis
Freshman Abby McKinney (Westfield, N.J.) was the recipient of the Rookie of the Year Award. McKinney had an outstanding season as she was named the America East Rookie of the Year and was a four-time All-Conference honoree. At the America East Championships, she won the gold in the 100 fly, and was a member of the first-place 200 free, 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams.
Junior Cate Wardinski (Burke, Va.) won the Most Improved Award. Wardinski earned gold in the 50 free and bronze in the 100 free at the America East Championships. She also won gold as a member of the 200 free and 400 free relay teams. Wardinski was a four-time All-Conference Team member this season.
Junior Anna Metzler (Regensburg, Germany) won the Most Valuable Award. Metzler qualified for the NCAA Championships with the 26th best time in the nation in the 400 IM. She won six gold medals at the America East Championships, placing first in the 200 free and 200 back, while she was a member of the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free and 400 medley winning relay teams. Metzler also won the Elite 18 Award with the highest GPA (3.93 in Biomedical Science) at the America East Championships.
Senior Paige Hillis (Mississauga, Ontario) was the winner of the Coaches Award. She won the silver medal in the 400 IM for her best career finish in an individual event at the America East Championships. Also for the second straight season, Hillis won a gold with the 800 free relay team. Throughout her career she earned All-Conference accolades five times.
Players Mentioned
Fly/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
IM/Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
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