BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons first year Shylee Stewart (Eastham, Mass.) was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Rookie of the Year announced today by the conference. Head Coach Mindy Williams received GNAC Swimming Coach of the Year honors for the second straight year.
During her first season with the Shark, Stewart took home GNAC Women's Swimming Rookie of the Week honors during the week of February 19 after taking top honors in the 100 Breast with a new school record, and set another school record in the 50 Breast with her split during the NEISDA race. Stewart also finished third in the 100 Free and fourth in the 50 Free and was a member of the record-setting 200 Free Relay and the 800 Free Relay for the Sharks.
Earlier in the season at the GNAC Championship, Stewart excelled to help lead the Sharks to their unprecedented 10th consecutive conference title. The rookie was a member of the winning 200 Free Relay which produced a new GNAC and pool record. She was also on the winning 400 Medley Relay which also registered a new GNAC record. Stewart won the 100 Breast with new GNAC and pool record as well as the 50 Breast with new GNAC and pool record.
Williams was named the 2014 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Swimming Coach of the Year in just her sixth season at the helm for Simmons.
The Sharks have had tremendous success since Williams took hold of the program in 2008, winning six consecutive GNAC Swimming and Diving Championships under her tutelage with a growing number of athletes qualifying for the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championships each year.
At the 2013 GNAC Championship, the Sharks dominated the field, scoring 422 total points for the highest total in the GNAC Swimming & Diving Championship to date.
Williams was also named the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Associations Women's Swim Coach of the Year as announced by the NEISDA last month, while her squad was recognized with the GNAC Team Sportsmanship Award this year.
Williams is a graduate of Colby College, where she was a two-time captain, and twice an NCAA qualifier. She earned All-NESCAC honors three times, in the 1650 free, 500 free, and 200 free relay.
Please click here for the 2014 GNAC Swimming & Diving Sportsmanship Team.