April 5, 2004

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army's men's and women's swimming and diving programs recognized their top performers from the 2003-04 season at the annual awards banquet last weekend. Team captains Liz Wannstedt and Dennis Zilinski were among those honored at the event.

Wannstedt was this year's winner of the Lt. Gen. John Daley Award, given annually to the captain of the women's swimming and diving team. Wannstedt was one of the most versatile and consistent swimmers in the Army swimming program over the past four seasons. The Millstadt, Ill., product netted 16 points at this year's Patriot League Championships, bringing her four-year total to 60. One of her career highlights came in the 2002 Navy meet, when she won three events opposite the Mids.

Zilinski was honored with a pair of awards. The senior received both the Captain Michael W. Kilroy Award and the Class of 1923 Award. The Kilroy Award is given each year to the captain of the men's swimming and diving team. Captain Michael W. Kilroy was the captain of the 1962-63 Army swimming team and was killed in battle in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. The Class of 1923 Award is given to the graduating senior who has exhibited qualities of leadership and sportsmanship. Zilinski exemplified both of these qualities throughout his four-year career at West Point. The Middletown, N.J., native had a breakout season in 2003-04. The butterfly specialist led an Army sweep of the top three positions in the Black Knights' annual meet versus Navy. He also finished second in the 200-yard butterfly event at the Patriot League Championships this year.

Efri Ruthenberg was bestowed the Dorothy "Skippie" Buncher Award, presented to the plebe on the men's team that contributes most to the varsity program. Ruthenberg had an outstanding season, winning 17 times in swimming events this season. His time of 1 minute, 38.93 seconds in the 200-yard freestyle is the second fastest in Academy history. A two-time Patriot League "Swimmer of the Week" selection as a freshman, Ruthenberg won a pair of events opposite Navy. He was named to the All-Patriot League second team and was Army's first NCAA B qualifier since Lucas Myers in 2002.

Scott Hertling received the Steven Childers Award, which is conferred annually to the sophomore or junior who has shown the most improvement throughout the season. Hertling, a junior, established career-best times in the 200 IM (1:59.86), 400 IM (4:12.09) and 200 backstroke (1:56.64) events at this year's EISL Championships. His improvement over the course of the 2003-04 season is what made him the choice for this year's Childers Award.

Kristen Vahle was the 2004 recipient of the Joe and Anne B. Stetz Award, given each year to a member of the women's swimming and diving team who has shown outstanding leadership and dedication to the program over a four-year period. Vahle, a breaststroke and sprint freestyle specialist, set a career-best time of 1:06.99 in the 100-yard breaststroke event, finishing fourth at the Patriot League Championships. The Quincy, Ill, native racked up 83 points in her career at the Patriot League Championships. The Army coaching staff cited her poise, leadership and quiet confidence as to why she was selected as this year's Stetz Award winner.

Garrett Shannon rounded out Army's list of award winners. The Fort Myers, Fla., product was honored with the Rex Storch Award, handed out annually to the most valuable swimmer or diver on the women's team. It is given by the Storch family in memory of their son, the late Rex Storch, who was in Army's swimming class of 1999. Shannon is one of the most decorated swimmers in Army history. She is the Academy and plebe record holder in the 200-yard freestyle and her time of 1:51.74 is the fastest ever by a woman at a service academy.

The senior leaves West Point ranked in the Academy's all-time top-eight in eight events. In addition to listing first in the 200 free, she is second in the 400 IM, second in the 500 freestyle, third in the 100 freestyle, fifth in the 200 butterfly, fifth in the 1650 freestyle, sixth in the 200 IM, and eighth in the 100 butterfly. Shannon scored a total of 183 points at the Patriot League Championships in her stellar career, fourth overall in the Patriot League's class of 2004.

Army also selected its team captains for the upcoming 2004-05 campaign. Kevin Burke was tabbed on the men's side, while Kristen Beyer will guide the women's team next year.

Burke, a distance freestyle specialist, excelled in the 1000-yard freestyle event, which he won three times this past season. The Haddonfield, N.J., native also competed well in the 1650 free. Burke, who was a first team All-Patriot League selection as a junior, won the 1650 free at the 2003-04 Patriot League Championships, recording a season-best time of 16:08.40.

Beyer, meanwhile, has been a consistent point producer in the freestyle events for the past three seasons. A three-year letterwinner, Beyer notched season-best times in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle events opposite Navy, clocking times of 25.39, 55.26 and 1:58.27, respectively.