May 18, 2001
Evanston, Ill. - The Illinois Swimming Association announced its awards for the 2000-01 season, and Northwestern was well-represented. Men's swimmer Kellan O'Connor was named the ISA's University Division Men's Swimmer of the Year, while men's coach Bob Groseth was the University Division Men's Coach of the Year. On the other side, Jimmy Tierney was named the University Division Women's Coach of the Year. The awards were voted on by the collegiate and university coaches of Illinois.
O'Connor had a stellar year, breaking his own 200 butterfly school record five times. He ended the season with a fifth-place, All-American performance at the NCAA Championships in that event with a time of 1:44.40, taking more than two seconds off his record from last season. He also held the top 100 butterfly time on the team and the second-fastest times in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley. Following the season, he competed at the U.S. National Swim Meet in Austin, Texas, and was 10th in the 200 butterfly.
Groseth led the team to a fifth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, the Wildcats' best finish at the championships in 28 years. In addition, the team established 10 new school records by season's end, and three All-America honors were earned (Tony Swanson 2, O'Connor). As a team, NU went 5-4 on the season and won three invitational meets.
Tierney was honored for the third straight year by the ISA after leading his squad to a 35th-place finish at the NCAA Championships and a fourth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, including two individual champions. Five Wildcats also received honorable mention All-America honors at the NCAA meet. Tierney has coached the Wildcats for the past seven seasons. During his tenure, NU has never finished lower than fourth in the Big Ten, and the Wildcats have been a constant presence in the national polls.