Swimming & Diving Announces Team Awards

The swimming and diving team at the 2024 WESPYs.

Photo by: Gil Talbot

5/16/2024 4:55:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

By: UNH Wildcats

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team has announced its team awards for the 2023-24 season.

2023-2024 Team Award Winners

Most Valuable: Ella Guilfoil
Richard J. Hegerich Golden Goggle Award: Chiara Maria Pradissitto
Coaches Award: Abby McKinney
Most Improved: Hannah Devine
Rookie of the Year: Grace Mahon

MOST VALUABLE

Sophomore Ella Guilfoil (Fairport, N.Y.) won the Most Valuable Award. She was the Swimmer of the Meet at the America East Championships as she won a gold medal in the 200 backstroke, 200 individual medley and 400 IM and was also part of the winning 400 free relay that broke the conference record. Guilfoil was also a three-time America East Women's Swimmer of the Week. She was named to the America East All-Academic Team.

RICHARD J. HEGERICH GOLDEN GOGGLE AWARD

Junior captain Chiara Maria Pradissitto (Milan, Italy) won the Richard J. Hegerich Golden Goggle Award. This award recognizes the upperclassman whose hard work and achievements do not necessarily earn them the spotlight but reflects the individual's dedication and importance to all team members.

Pradissitto won a silver medal in the 100 fly at the America East Championships and was part of four medal-winning UNH relays, including the record-setting 400 free. Pradissitto also swam a leg in the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 medley relay teams, all of which earned silver. She was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Swimming & Diving Team and to the America East All-Academic Team.

COACHES AWARD

Senior captain Abby McKinney (Westfield, N.J.) was selected as the recipient of the Coaches Award, which recognizes an upperclassman that exemplifies the best of UNH swimming and diving. It reflects upon the characteristics of leadership, ability to be a role model, commitment to the team and overall contribution to the team both philosophically as well as athletically.

McKinney received the 2024 Dave Alexander Coaches Award for recording the most career points at the America East Championships the past four years. McKinney was part of UNH's record-setting 400 freestyle relay team that won gold at this year's conference championship. She also won silver with both the 200 free and 800 free relays and earned bronze as an individual in both the 100 free and 200 free. She was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Swimming & Diving Team and to the America East All-Academic Team.

MOST IMPROVED

Senior Hannah Devine (Hamilton, N.J.) won the Most Improved Award. Devine earned two top-five finishes at 2024 America East Championships as she was fourth in the 500 free and fifth in the 1650. For her career she was a three-time All-America East honoree.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Freshman Grace Mahon (Orange, Conn.) was named the team's Rookie of the Year. She had an outstanding rookie season as she won silver in the 200 fly and was fourth in the 100 fly at the America East Championships.