Sept. 1, 1999
Dave Allard, McGill 1998-99 Rookie of the Year, had a very impressive long course season, placing near the top of the national swimming scene. Allard placed 2nd in both breatstrokes at junior nationals (1:07.17 and 2:27.26) and third in the 200m IM (2:10.74). He also won the 200m IM at the Qubec Cup in early July (2:09.08), as well as a 3rd place finish in the 200m breast (2:27.25) and a 5th place finish in the 100m backstroke (1:00.69). At the Eastern Cup, Allard again finaled in the 100m breaststroke (1:06.8), 100m backstroke (1:01.32) and the 200m IM (2:08.84), placing fifth, fith, and thrid, respectively. The most impressive swim for Allard was his 3rd place 200m IM at senior nationals. Ahead with 50m to go, Allard dropped back slightly to finish with a lifetime best of 2:06.36. He also finished 12th in the 400m IM (4:34.01).
April 17, 1999
April 8th
The McGill Swim Team was the standout team recognized at the McGill Intercollegiate
Athletic Gala held at Redpath Hall, Thursday April 8th. Of the 14 teams and 18 clubs, the
swim team came away with 4 out 7 major awards. The evening started on a promising note
with sophomore Eric Shessler of Andover, Massachusetts winning the Uldis Auders Award for
best combined academic and athletic performance by a second year student-athlete. Eric
maintained an impressive 3.98 GPA, while qualifying and competing at the CIAU National
Championships in Guelph, Ont.
Veteran swimmer Holly McComb of Dollard des Ormeaux, Qu�., competing in her final year on the team, came away with the coveted Gladys Bean Trophy for Female Athlete of the Year. McComb had an outstanding season for the Martlets leading the team with six golds at QSSF Championships and a bronze at the CIAU championships. She also set her sixth McGill record with a time of 4:50.64 in the 400IM. Sharing the spotlight was rookie sensation David Allard of Dorval, Qu�. After a phenomenal first season with the Redmen team, Dave took home the D. Stuart Forbes Trophy for Male Athlete of the Year. Allard’s season was highlighted by going undefeated in 24 races prior to the CIAU Championships. He was named QSSF rookie-of-the-year and won four golds and one silver at QSSF championship as well as winning a bronze in the 200IM at the CIAU championship. Allard also set six McGill records in his first season with the team. As the evening came to a close, the nominations for the MArtlet Foundation Award were announced, in which both the men's and women's swim teams were included (out of four nominees). The title was justly awarded to the Redmen Swim Team who had a colossal season, improving from their 12th place finish in the country last year to 5th this year, winning their first conference title since 1972. While the women’s team has won it 4 times, this is the first time in 14 years that the men’s swim team takes home the trophy.
April 17, 1999
March 27
The McGill swim team recognized their season's achievements at the 6th Annual Awards
Banquet, held at La Brasserie Molson on the Saturday March 27th. The daykicked off with
the annual Alumni Meet, which took place at Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Pool. Many
distinguished Alumni members made a strong showing (attempt), ending the meet with a very
close score, the Alumni squad emerging victorious.
The evening’s events began at la Brasserie Molson and with the presentation of the Martlet and Redmen Rookie of the Year. Elaine Duranceau of Ile Bizard, Qu�, and David Allard of Dorval, Qu�., took home the awards for their outstanding performances during the season. Duranceau an 18 year-old marketing freshman earned all-conference status and was names the QSSF rookie of the year. At the QSSF Championships, she won three golds (800 free, 4x100 MR, 4x200 FR) and two silvers (200 free, 400 free) to help the Martlets win the provincial championship. At the CIAU Nationals she finished sixth in the 200 fly and seventh in the 400 free. Allard, a 19-year-old computer science freshman, went undefeated in 24 races over five events prior to the CIAU championships and was named QSSF rookie of the year. At the conference championships he won four gold medals (200m & 400m IM, 200 breast, 4x200 FR) and one silver. At the CIAU Nationals he won bronze in the 200 IM. Over the course of the season, Allard won six McGill-Adidas athlete-of-the-week awards, two QSSF weekly awards and was named CIAU male athlete of the week on Nov. 25th. He set six McGill Swimming records including the 50m breast (29.55), 100m breast (1:02.77), 200m breast (2:16.17), 200m IM (2:02.61), 400 IM (4:24.77) and the 4x100 MR.
The next award presented was the Martlet and Redmen Most Improved Swimmer Award. This year the distinction was given to sophomore swimmer Tara Kuchmak of Oshawa, Ont., and rookie Matthew Walker of Fredericton NB. Kuchmak, a 20-year-old physical education sophomore joined the team late in the season but still managed to finish fourth in four different events at the QSSF championships. She qualified for the CIAU championship and established a personal best in the 100m back with a time of 1:07.44, in the 200m back (2:21.94) and in the 400 IM (5:12.87). Walker, an 18-year-old science freshman earned all conference status after winning four gold medals in different freestyle events at the QSSF championships. He set three personal bests in the 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle. At CI’s he reached the finals in five events, including a fifth-place finish in the 1500m freestyle setting a new McGill record with a time of 15:49.32.
The prestigious Marie-Claude Samure Award is given annually in recognition of the outstanding academic and athletic performance by a team member. The award is presented in memory of Marie-Claude Samure, a former McGill swimmer and physiotherapist (B.Sc. ’90), who died tragically in December, 1993. This year the trophy was presented to senior swimmer Lisa Virgini, a 22-year-old accounting and marketing junior from Dollard des Ormeaux, Qu�. Virgini maintained a perfect GPA out of a possible 4.0. She is a CIAU Royal Bank Academic All-Canadian and is on the principal’s student-athlete honour roll. At the QSSF championships, she won five gold medals (50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 4x100 MR, 4x200FR) and two silvers (50m fly and 50m free). At CIAU championships, Lisa won won a bronze in the 50m backstroke. A three-time all-star and two time All-Canadian, she also won two McGill-Adidas athlete-of-the-week awards this year.
The Martlet swimmer of the year was presented to veteran swimmer Holly McComb of Dollard des Ormeaux, Qu�. McComb was voted the QSSF female swimmer of the year. A four time All-star and two time All-Canadian, she won six gold medals at the provincial championships held at the University of Montreal (Feb. 6 –7) to lead the Martlets in the winning the Qu�bec title for the third straight year, finishing first in the 50m and 100m fly, the 200m IM and finally in the 400m IM, in which she set her sixth McGill record with a time of 4:50.64. Over the season, she won three McGill-Adidas athlete-of-the-week awards and was twice named the CIAU female athlete-of-the-week.
On the men’s side, David Allard of Dorval, Qu�., and Alexandre Pichette of Montreal, Qu�., tied for the Male swimmer of the Year (the award is determined based on world decathlon points). Allard's performances and accomplishments are listed in detail above. Pichette, a 22-year-old engineering sophomore, earned all-conference status for the second consecutive year. At the QSSF championships he won three gold medals (100m and 200m backstroke and 50m free). At CIAU Championships he finaled in four events.
In celebrating the eternal spirit of the McGill swimmer, the Dimock-Meloche Award was presented to the male and female team member who combines spirit and enthusiasm to all facets of swimming. The winners this year were Holly McComb for her energy, leadership and excellent cowbell ringing skills and Chris Farber of Chester, New York for his exuberance and dynamic presence on and off the pool deck.
Finally, the graduating students of the team were honoured with a gift from the coaching staff, presented by head coach Francois Laurin. Completing degrees and leaving the team this year were captains Natalie Hoitz of Pierrefonds, Qu�., graduating with a Masters degree in Urban Planning, and Christopher Topham of Pointe Claire, Qu�., graduating with a Bachelors degree in Microbiology. Also graduating were Benoit Janvier of Westmount, Qu�., and Sebastien Paddington of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago who completed his Bachelor of Science degree.
The celebration ended with a video presentation of the year, gag awards
and coaches gifts. The party the moved to Coasters on Parc Ave. where swimmers, alumni and
guests enjoyed the remainder of the evening.
