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 Brad Byars, Saint Louis |
March 5, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Duquesne's Melissa Johnson and Brad Byars of Saint Louis have been tabbed the Atlantic 10 Student-Athletes of the Year in men's and women's swimming and diving, respectively, in voting conducted among the Conference's sports information directors.
Johnson won seven medals, including three gold, at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Championship (Feb. 20-23) in leading Duquesne to a third-place finish, its highest in program history. Johnson captured the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle events in school-record times of 50.96 and 1:49.86, respectively, and added a silver-medal performance in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:03.90, tops in program annals. Her times in the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley were both NCAA "B" cut times.
In addition, the graduate student swam a leg on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay (1:34.32) and second-place 400-yard freestyle relay (3:26.68). Named to the Academic All-Conference team for the second consecutive year, the Phoenix, Ariz., native boasts a 3.69 grade-point average while majoring in history.
Joining Johnson on the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Swimming & Diving Academic All-Conference team are teammates Laura Stephens and Katrina Streiner; Lauren Beaudreau and Katie Sieben of Richmond; Xavier's Martha Cutter-Wilson; Samantha Demty of Massachusetts; La Salle's Shannon Duval; Anna Larson of Saint Louis; and Fordham's Caitlin Napoli.
Byars won the 100-yard freestyle at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Championship (Feb. 20-23) in a school record-tying time of 45.27. He added a bronze medal in the 50-yard freestyle (20.92) and placed eighth in the 100-yard butterfly (51.61).
The senior from Marion, Ill., also established a program record in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.44) as the opening leg of the Billikens' record-setting 800-yard freestyle relay (6:52.66). In the classroom, Byars maintains a 3.72 grade-point average as a human resources management major and is a five-time Commissioner's Honor Roll selection.
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Byars is joined on the 2008 Atlantic 10 Men's Swimming & Diving Academic All-Conference team are teammates Donato Callara and Ryan Coombs of Fordham; Massachusetts' Michael Berthaume and John Weaver; Scott Jordan and James Wood of St. Bonaventure; Xavier's Matt Krouse; Ryan Sheatsley of Rhode Island; and George Washington's David Zenk.
