University of Tennessee Athletics
Swimming and Diving Bestows 2007-2008 Superlatives
October 08, 2008 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 8, 2008
Every season the men's swimming and diving team awards team superlatives to honor the year's accomplishments. The 2007-08 team gathered recently to announce the winners of these awards, as well as honor those who have earned other accolades such as All-America selections, SEC awards, and Olympic achievement.
Receiving the most outstanding swimmer award was Jonas Persson. Persson led the team at NCAA championships, stood out in dual meets, and represented Sweden in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Roy Tateishi Most Dedicated Swimmer Award is named in honor of a former assistant coach under Ray Bussard. Tateishi demonstrated tremendous perseverance while coaching at UT, and Coach Bussard named the award after him to honor the most dedicated swimmer, said Trembley.
"Jim Dabney has shown tremendous perseverance and dedication in training," said head coach John Trembley. "He comes to work everyday prepared to push himself and always gives 100 percent. He is spirited and loves Tennessee and Jim Dabney is deserving of this award."
The Best All Around Swimmer Award went to Michael Wolfe. Wolfe was a senior co-captain of the 2007-08 team, SEC champion in the 100 backstroke and the 800 free style relay, as well as earning first team All-SEC and five All-America selections. He was also a College Swimming Swimmer of the Week, and the Bud McWhorter post-graduate scholarship winner.
"Michael is a tremendous student athlete, and clearly our best all around swimmer," Trembley said.
With a 3.93 grade point average, Mattias Kahlin distinguished himself among all male freshman student athletes at UT by having the highest GPA.
The Ken Hall Most Valuable Diver Award is named after the first diving coach at UT.
"Michael Muscari distinguished himself last year by upending All-America divers in the Auburn dual meet," said Trembley. "Michael was our go-to diver last year."
The Vols earned 26 All-America selections last season and had seven representatives on All-SEC teams.
Octavio Alesi earned the SEC Good Works Award as well as representing Venezuela in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
| 2008 Team Awards | |
| Most Outstanding Swimmer | Jonas Persson |
| Roy Tateishi Most Dedicated Swimmer Award | Jimmy Dabney |
| Ray Bussard Spizzerinctum Award | Barry Murphy |
| Mr. Clutch Award | Brad Craig |
| Most Improved Swimmer | Scott Wherry |
| Best All Around Swimmer | Michael Wolfe |
| Scholastic Achievement Award | Mattias Kahlin |
| Ken Hall Most Valuable Diver | Michael Muscari |
| All-America | Octavio Alesi- 200 FR, 400 MR, 400 FR |
| Nolan Morrell- 200 FR, 400 FR, 800 FR | |
| Barry Murphy- 200 FR, 400 FR, 400 MR | |
| Jonas Persson- 200 FR, 400 FR, 800 FR, 100 Free, 400 MR | |
| Andrew Thirwell- 800 FR | |
| Michael Wolfe- 400 MR, 800 FR, 200 Fly | |
| Honorable Mention All-America | Octavio Alesi- 200 MR |
| Michael DeRocco- 200 MR | |
| Nolan Morrell- 200 Free | |
| Barry Murphy- 100 Breast, 200 MR | |
| Jonas Persson- 200 Free | |
| Michael Wolfe- 200 MR, 100 Back | |
| First Team All-SEC | Nolan Morrell |
| Jonas Persson | |
| Andrew Thirwell | |
| Michael Wolfe | |
| Second Team All-SEC | Barry Murphy |
| Octavio Alesi | |
| Michael DeRocco | |
| SEC Champion 100 backstroke | Michael Wolfe |
| SEC Champion | 800 free style relay |
| College Swimming Swimmer of the Week | Michael Wolfe |
| Boyd McWhorter SEC post-graduate scholarship winner | Michael Wolfe |
| Olympians | Octavio Alesi - Venezuela |
| Jonas Persson - Sweden - 5th Place 4x100 free style | |
| SEC Good Works Award Winner | Ocatvio Alesi |
Players Mentioned
