Fresno State Athletics
Six 'Dogs take home awards at end-of-year banquet
5/15/2017 12:45:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State women's swimming and diving team held its annual team banquet Thursday night. The student-athletes were honored with five team awards following their accomplishments during the 2016-17 season.
Senior captain Shelbie Holden was honored as the Most Valuable Diver for the second consecutive year. Holden led the Bulldogs on the boards this season. She was named to the 2016-17 Mountain West All-Conference team, after placing fifth on Platform at the MW Championships with a career-best score of 244.80. The senior qualified for NCAA Diving Zones for the third-consecutive year.
Sophomore Ugne Mazutaityte was named the Most Valuable Swimmer. Mazutaityte was named to the 2016-17 All-MW team. Mazutaityte defended her Mountain West Championship title in the 200 Backstroke with a gold medal finish (1:55.09). She took fourth place at MW Championships in the 100 Backstroke breaking the Fresno State record that she had previously set, with a time of 53.88 The sophomore holds Fresno State records in the 100 Backstroke and 200 Backstroke. Outside of backstroke, Ugne held the team's fastest times in the 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle and 1000 Freestyle during the season.
Senior captain Esme Gullick was honored with the Most Inspirational award. Gullick was named to the 2016-17 All-MW Team. At the MW Championships, Gullick took third place in the 200 Butterfly and breaking the Fresno State record with a time of 2:01.77, earning herself a bronze medal. Gullick took sixth place in the 200 IM at the MW Championships, breaking the program record. She holds Fresno State program records in the 100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly, 200 IM and the 400 IM.Â
Freshman Manuela Mendolicchio has awarded Newcomer of the Year. Mendolicchio recorded a NCAA 'B cut' time in the 200 Breaststroke with a time of 2:15.24, ranking third in the Mountain West. She holds the Fresno State record in the 200 Breaststroke. Mendolicchio finished the season ranked fifth sixth in the Mountain West in the 100 Backstroke (1:02.62).
Freshman Serena Sedillo took home the Most Improved Diver award and fellow freshman Kimberly Harbert took home the Most Improved Swimmer award.
Serena Sedillo qualified NCAA Diving Zones on all three boards. Sedillo qualified for platform finals after taking 10th place in the preliminaries. The freshman took 12th place on Platform with a score of 444.55, marking the highest finish in the championships for the Bulldogs and narrowly missing the cutoff for NCAA National Championships.
Kimberly Harbert was consistent throughout the season in butterfly events for the Bulldogs. Harbert was also a key member of the 200 Medley Relay team. The freshman recorded career-best time at the MW Championships in the 100 Butterfly (56.20), 200 Butterfly (2:01.58) and 50 Freestyle (24.20).
The Bulldogs' seventh place finish at the MW Championship was their highest MW finish in program history. This season, Fresno State defeated rival SJSU 172-128 for the first time in 14 years. Throughout the 2016-17 season five individual records were broken.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" - The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogschoarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.  Â
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Senior captain Shelbie Holden was honored as the Most Valuable Diver for the second consecutive year. Holden led the Bulldogs on the boards this season. She was named to the 2016-17 Mountain West All-Conference team, after placing fifth on Platform at the MW Championships with a career-best score of 244.80. The senior qualified for NCAA Diving Zones for the third-consecutive year.
Sophomore Ugne Mazutaityte was named the Most Valuable Swimmer. Mazutaityte was named to the 2016-17 All-MW team. Mazutaityte defended her Mountain West Championship title in the 200 Backstroke with a gold medal finish (1:55.09). She took fourth place at MW Championships in the 100 Backstroke breaking the Fresno State record that she had previously set, with a time of 53.88 The sophomore holds Fresno State records in the 100 Backstroke and 200 Backstroke. Outside of backstroke, Ugne held the team's fastest times in the 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle and 1000 Freestyle during the season.
Senior captain Esme Gullick was honored with the Most Inspirational award. Gullick was named to the 2016-17 All-MW Team. At the MW Championships, Gullick took third place in the 200 Butterfly and breaking the Fresno State record with a time of 2:01.77, earning herself a bronze medal. Gullick took sixth place in the 200 IM at the MW Championships, breaking the program record. She holds Fresno State program records in the 100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly, 200 IM and the 400 IM.Â
Freshman Manuela Mendolicchio has awarded Newcomer of the Year. Mendolicchio recorded a NCAA 'B cut' time in the 200 Breaststroke with a time of 2:15.24, ranking third in the Mountain West. She holds the Fresno State record in the 200 Breaststroke. Mendolicchio finished the season ranked fifth sixth in the Mountain West in the 100 Backstroke (1:02.62).
Freshman Serena Sedillo took home the Most Improved Diver award and fellow freshman Kimberly Harbert took home the Most Improved Swimmer award.
Serena Sedillo qualified NCAA Diving Zones on all three boards. Sedillo qualified for platform finals after taking 10th place in the preliminaries. The freshman took 12th place on Platform with a score of 444.55, marking the highest finish in the championships for the Bulldogs and narrowly missing the cutoff for NCAA National Championships.
Kimberly Harbert was consistent throughout the season in butterfly events for the Bulldogs. Harbert was also a key member of the 200 Medley Relay team. The freshman recorded career-best time at the MW Championships in the 100 Butterfly (56.20), 200 Butterfly (2:01.58) and 50 Freestyle (24.20).
The Bulldogs' seventh place finish at the MW Championship was their highest MW finish in program history. This season, Fresno State defeated rival SJSU 172-128 for the first time in 14 years. Throughout the 2016-17 season five individual records were broken.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" - The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogschoarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.  Â
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Players Mentioned
Butterfly, Backstroke
/ Swimming & Diving
Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Backstroke
/ Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke, IM
/ Swimming & Diving
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