LA JOLLA, Calif. – The University of California, San Diego swimming and diving program announced their end of the season awards as part of its end of the season banquet.
 
Most Improved Swimmer – Julissa Arzave and Hayden Johnson
Arzave had a strong start to the season and continued to improve as the season went on. She set two short course school records and three long course records in her rookie campaign. Arzave qualified for four events at Nationals and placed fourth in the 1000-freestyle. Hayden Johnson made huge strides in his second season as a Triton. He was able to qualify for Nationals as an individual for the first time and made the podium in the 1000-freestyle with a seventh-place finish. Johnson finished third in the 1650-freestle at MPSF championships and earned first team honors.
 
Rookie of the Year – Sophie Francis and Lance Freiman
Francis put together a strong rookie season, especially down the stretch. She earned her first MPSF Athlete of the Week honor after winning the 100- and 200-freestyle against University of San Diego. Francis qualified for the 200-freestyle finals at nationals with a season best time. Freiman proved to be a key asset of the relay squad and helped set school records in the 200-free and 200-medley relays at MPSF Championships. He also added an eighth-place finish in the 100-butterfly.
 
Most Valuable Diver – Jasmyn Cheng and Kyland Parenti
Cheng was a leader for the divers in her second season with the Tritons. She qualified for the NCAA qualification meet for a second year in a row and placed 20^th on the 3-meter. Parenti had a strong rookie season and earned UCSD Triton Athlete of the Week after his performance against Claremont Mudd Scripts. He performed well enough at the NCAA qualification meet to qualify for the Championships.
 
Most Valuable Swimmer – Tina Reuter and Spencer Daily
Reuter continued to shine in her second season with the Tritons. She helped win the 200-free relay at MPSF Championships, the Triton's first ever champion at the event. Reuter placed second in the 200-IM at National Championships and made finals in the 400-IM. Daily was one of the fastest swimmers for the Tritons, breaking multiple pool records throughout the season. He shining moment came when he became a National Champion in the 50-free with a new school and pool record.
 
Ryan Kloos Spirit Award – Amanda Rios and Derek Fordham
The award is given to the team member who embodies the team spirit, putting team before self, and shows leadership in effort, dedication and attitude. Rios stepped up as a captain this season and helped lead a deep sprinter group. Fordham has been a tremendous leader for the Tritons in and out of the pool. He served as the TAC Social Chair this past year.
 
Hartsock Award – Kaitlyn Ritchey and Jack Spitser
This 24th annual award is given to the senior who most resembles the work ethic and perseverance of Steve Hartsock, who graduated from UCSD in 1996. Ritchey finished her final season strong and qualified for NCAAs for a fourth time. She was able to record a point for the Tritons in the 1000-free with her 16^th place finish in the 1000-free. Spitser qualified for NCAAs as an individual for the first time his senior season. The senior captain earned All-American Accolades the past three seasons.
 
Academic All-Star – Ciara Franke
Franke has earned MPSF All-Academic honors the past two seasons and CSCAA Scholar All-American Honors her freshman and sophomore year. She also qualified for the 200-free final at Nationals this season.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference inNCAA Division I.  The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide more than 1,300 scholar-athletes to All-America honors.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.