PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Little East Conference (LEC) Announced its 2023 Men’s Swimming & Diving major award winners, which was determined by a vote of the LEC’s head coaches.
Keene State College sophomore Aidan Urnezis was voted the LEC Swimmer of the Year after going undefeated in the distance freestyle events, taking home the gold medal in the 500 (4:44.84), 1,000 (9:51.36) and mile (16:20.58), breaking his own LEC championship record in all three events. The three-time LEC Swimmer of the Week also swam the leadoff leg of the Owls’ winning 800 freestyle relay and runner-up 400 freestyle relay.
Western Connecticut State University freshman Evan Shopbell was named the LEC Rookie Swimmer of the Year after winning the LEC title in the 200 IM (1:59.11) and 400 IM (4:12.90). The seven-time LEC Rookie of the Week set new conference championship records in both events.
Bridgewater State University head coach Mike Caruso was named the LEC Coach of the Year for the first time after guiding the Bears to their second conference title in as many years. Bridgewater State’s 979 points scored over the weekend surpassed the previous conference record of 945 they set at the inaugural men’s swimming & diving championship last year. He is the first coach in conference history to be named the Men’s Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year and Women’s Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year in the same season.
The LEC’s all-conference honorees, based on finish at the LEC championships, are as follows.
| Event |
First Team All-LEC |
Second Team All-LEC |
| 50 Backstroke |
Brady Callahan |
Ryan McKenzie |
|
Bridgewater State |
Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
| 100 Backstroke |
Brady Callahan |
Braeden Ledder |
|
Bridgewater State |
Keene State |
|
|
|
| 200 Backstroke |
Braeden Ledder |
Brennan Gravanda |
|
Keene State |
Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
| 50 Breaststroke |
Cooper Castellone |
Ryan McKenzie |
|
Bridgewater State |
Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
| 100 Breaststroke |
Cooper Castellone |
Sam Hurlburt |
|
Bridgewater State |
Eastern Connecticut |
|
|
|
| 200 Breaststroke |
Cooper Castellone |
Sam Hurlburt |
|
Bridgewater State |
Eastern Connecticut |
|
|
|
| 50 Butterfly |
Alex Wasyliko |
Logan Phillips |
|
Plymouth State |
Keene State |
|
|
|
| 100 Butterfly |
Connor Rego |
Chris Ananstasiades |
|
Eastern Connecticut |
Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
| 200 Butterfly |
Connor Rego |
Luc Durand |
|
Eastern Connecticut |
Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
| 100 Individual Medley |
Aaron Turgeon |
Chris Ananstasiades |
|
Keene State |
Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
| 200 Individual Medley |
Evan Shopbell |
Chase Simao |
|
Western Connecticut |
Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
| 400 Individual Medley |
Evan Shopbell |
Connor Rego |
|
Western Connecticut |
Eastern Connecticut |
|
|
|
| 50 Freestyle |
Joseph Pervier |
Ben D'Addario |
|
Bridgewater State |
Eastern Connecticut |
|
|
|
| 100 Freestyle |
Joseph Pervier |
Aaron Turgeon |
|
Bridgewater State |
Keene State |
|
|
|
| 200 Freestyle |
Aaron Turgeon |
Ben D'Addario |
|
Keene State |
Eastern Connecticut |
|
|
|
| 500 Freestyle |
Aidan Urnezis |
Luc Durand |
|
Keene State |
Bridgewater State |
|
|
|
| 1,000 Freestyle |
Aidan Urnezis |
David Lawrence |
|
Keene State |
Western Connecticut |
|
|
|
| 1,650 Freestyle |
Aidan Urnezis |
David Lawrence |
|
Keene State |
Western Connecticut |
|
|
|
| 200 Freestyle Relay |
Bridgewater State |
Keene State |
|
Anastasiades, Roch, |
Bartley, Kimmel, |
|
McKenzie, Pervier |
Phillips, Turgeon |
|
|
|
| 400 Freestyle Relay |
Bridgewater State |
Keene State |
|
Pervier, Gravanda, |
Urnezis, Ledder |
|
McKenzie, Castellone |
Kimmel, Turgeon |
|
|
|
| 800 Freestyle Relay |
Keene State |
Bridgewater State |
|
Urnezis, Ledder |
Durand, Young, |
|
Kimmel, Turgeon |
Castellone, Gravanda |
|
|
|
| 200 Medley Relay |
Eastern Connecticut |
Bridgewater State |
|
Melia, Hurlburt, |
Gravanda, Castellone, |
|
Rego, D'Addario |
Ananstasiades, Pervier |
|
|
|
| 400 Medley Relay |
Bridgewater State |
Eastern Connecticut |
|
Gravanda, Castellone, |
Sylvester, Hurlburt, |
|
Ananstasiades, Pervier |
Rego, D'Addario |