Hetland Named Men's Swimming MVP At Annual Spring Banquet
Apr 30 | Men's Swimming & Diving
April 30, 2007
DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU men's swimming and diving team held their 2007 Annual Spring Banquet this evening at the Umphrey Lee Ballroom on the campus of SMU. Alex Hetland was awarded the team's MVP award while Pontus Renholm won Newcomer of the Year and Josh Cohen was given the A.R. "Red" Barr award. The senior class handed out their traditional Senior Award that was presented to men's swimming assistant coach, Andy Kershaw.
Head coach Eddie Sinnott was the master of ceremonies for the evening. He recapped the season beginning with the first trainings and talked about the community service the Mustang team participated in. He then talked about each meet of the season for the Mustangs and mentioned the SMU tradition of relay strength. Sinnott emphasized the importance of a team effort and applauded the SMU season.
The coaches then honored the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll members.
Ian Clark
Nate Clark
Josh Cohen
Brett Denham
Chris Ginder
Alex Hetland
Mitchell Johnson
Shane Milu
Grega Plevelj
Patrick Raschle
Pontus Renholm
Maverick Smalley
Justin Smith
Daniel Veale
Luka Vrtovec
Sinnott also noted that the Mustangs received the All-Academic Excellent rating as a team from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). He then went on to recap the C-USA Invite Championship and the NCAA meet where the C-USA Champions and All-Americans were recognized.
SMU All-Americans
Ian Clark - 400 medley relay
Alex Hetland - 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, 100 breast, 400 free relay
Thomas Fadnes - 400 free relay
Shane Milu - 200 medley relay, 400 free relay
Pontus Renholm - 200 medley relay
Justin Smith - 400 medley relay
Luka Vrtovec - 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay
SMU then recognized their letterwinners. The freshmen were given the traditional SMU letter jacket, sophomores were given a SMU throw, the juniors were given watches and the seniors received their class rings.
Letterwinners
First-year letterwinners
Thomas Fadnes
Preston Holcombe
Jonathan Lane
Jerr Merritt
Pontus Renholm
Maverick Smalley
Second-year letterwinners
Travis Callaghan
Nate Clark
Michael Dmitriev
Chris Ginder
Alex Hetland
Colton Ingraham
Mitchell Johnson
Grega Plevelj
Daniel Veale
Luka Vrtovec
Third-year letterwinners
Jani Brackett
Brett Denham
Shane Milu
Patrick Raschle
Fourth-year letterwinners
Matt Hock
Ian Clark
Josh Cohen
Justin Smith
Assistant coach, Andy Kershaw gave a brief recap of the season and then announced the Newcomer of the Year Award which was given to Pontus Renholm. After joining the Mustangs from Sweden, Renholm made an immediate impact. At the end of the season, he went on the lead his team out during the opening moments of the NCAA meet. As a freshman, he earned All-American status and left his name in the SMU record book. He competed in all strokes for the Mustangs and most relays.
Renholm swam the team best time in 100 back and second best in the 200 back. He helped the Mustangs claim their second consecutive C-USA Invitational title and finish third at the Dallas Morning News Classic. He was the lead-off leg of the school record-breaking All-American 200 medley relay team that finished fourth at NCAAs. Renholm finished seventh in the 200 back and fourth in the 100 back at the American Short Course and was part of the third-place 400 free relay team there. He was also the lead-off leg of the first-place 200 medley relay and second-place 400 medley relay teams at the American Short Course. Renholm swam a career-best time with a second-place finish in 200 back at C-USA Invite and is the reigning C-USA Invite Champion in the 100 back.
Sinnot handed out the team MVP award as it was given to Alex Hetland. A junior from Norway, has helped guide the Mustangs to repeat C-USA Invitational Champions and a 18th finish at the NCAA. Earning All-American status for his second season, he competed in the free, breast, fly, IM and relay events during the season. He swam the team best time in the 200 IM, 100 and 200 breast and second best in the 100 fly. He helped guide the Mustangs to an 18th-place finish at NCAA, claim their second consecutive C-USA Invitational title and finish third at the Dallas Morning News Classic. He was a member of the All-American 13th-place 400 free relay team at NCAA and a member of the school record-breaking All-American 200 medley relay team that finished fourth at NCAAs. He posted a career-best time in the prelims of the 100 breast at NCAAs and went on to earn All-American status with a seventh-place finish in finals. Hetland waspart of the season-best 200 free-relay team and was a member of the All-American 400 medley relay team at NCAAs.
Hetland was a member of the first-place 400 free and 400 medley relays at the American Short Course Championships and clocked a second-place finish in the 100 breast at the American Short Course. He was part of the first-place 200 medley relay team at American Short Course and second-place and season-best 200 free relay. At the C-USA Invite, Hetland was part of the record-breaking C-USA Invite Champion 400 free relay team and 200 free relay champion team. He is the C-USA Invite Champion in the 100 breast and 200 IM. He claimed another title as a member of the record-breaking 200 medley relay C-USA Invite Champion team and as part of the record-setting C-USA Invite Champion 800 free relay team. He established himself world wide as he competed in the 100 breast at the European Short Course Championships and earned his first European Short Course medal with a second-place finish in 100 IM.
Diving coach Jim Stillson recapped the diving season and results of diver, Preston Holcombe before he gave out an award. Representing dedication, loyalty, humility, leadership and compassion, the A.R. "Red" Barr Award was given to senior Josh Cohen. The native of Tampa, Fla., competed in several meets for the Mustangs this season and throughout his career at SMU. This season he helped the Mustangs claim their second consecutive C-USA Invitational title and claim Kerr McGee Elite Meet title.
In his fourth year as the assistant swim coach for the SMU men's swimming and diving team, Andy Kershaw was given the "Senior" award. This award is annually given by the class of outgoing seniors to someone who has impacted their careers. The senior class and Kershaw have a special connection as this year's senior class was Kershaw's first class when he came to the Hilltop. The seniors noted that his humor and ability to relate to them in practices has made their experience at SMU more enjoyable.
Senior and team captain, Ian Clark handed over the reigns as captain to the 2007-08 captain, Alex Hetland. Before the banquet was adjourned, the team enjoyed a slideshow of the season put together by senior Matt Hock.
