University of Massachusets Athletics
Duffield Headlines Five UMass Swimmers & Divers On Academic Team
March 24, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 24, 2011
AMHERST, Mass. - Senior Adam Duffield of the men's swimming and diving team has been named the 2011 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Student-Athlete of the Year. Four other UMass swim and divers join Duffield on this season's Academic All-Conference team; seniors Tavis Potter and Jessica Starosielec on the women's side and Dan Backler and Alexander Merkulov on the men's side. To be eligible, student-athletes (excluding freshman) must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater in their entire academic careers to go along with outstanding performance in the pool.
Duffield had an outstanding senior season for the Minutemen. He was able to capture second in the three-meter dive at the Atlantic 10 Championship, earning a score of 290.95. In every meet this season the Brookfield, Conn. native was able to finish in the top-three in either the one or three-meter dive. To go along with his performance in the pool, the Industrial Engineering major boasts a 3.602 grade point average. This is Duffield's first time being named Student-Athlete of the Year and his third consecutive Academic All-Conference selection.
Duffield is the second Minuteman to ever be named Student-Athlete of the Year. The previous recipient of this honor was Owen Scollan in 2005.
Backler closed out his senior season with the Minutemen on a high note, taking first-place in the 100-yard breaststroke and third in the 200-yard breaststroke, while also taking first as a member of the 400-yard medley relay team at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Championships. Backler owns the second fastest times in UMass history in the 100 breast (55.89) and the 200 breast (2:03.87). The Marketing major has a grade point average of 3.310 helping him to his first Academic All-Conference selection.
Merkulov, a sophomore from Westfield, Mass., is named to the 2011 Academic All-Conference team in his first year of eligibility. A Microbiology major, he owns an outstanding 3.930 grade point average. He finished sixth in the one-meter at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship with a score of 257.95.
Joining the trio of Minutemen are Robert Gitman of Fordham, George Washington's Alex Etz, La Salle's Eric Patenaude and Austin Thomas, St. Bonaventure's Peter Koening and Mike Murphy and Saint Louis' Michael Dahle.
On the women's side Starosielec is named to her second consecutive Academic All-Conference team after her senior season. She took fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Atlantic 10 Championship. In the UMass history books she sits at first in the 100 breast and third in the 200 breast. She owns a 3.464 grade point average as a Mathematics major.
Potter, a senior from Stillwater, Minn., capped off her senior season placing third as a member of the 800-yard free relay team at the Atlantic 10 Championship. She holds UMass records in the 200 IM, 800 free relay and the 200 free relay. Potter, a Spanish major, owns a grade point average of 3.652. This is her first time being named to the Academic All-Conference team.
Joining Starosielec and Potter are the Student-Athlete of the Year Nicole LePere of Richmond, Duquesne's Caitlin Zajko, Megan McGorry of Fordham, Paola Leor of George Washington, La Salle's Holly Biro and Emily Heath, Stacey Stepniak of Rhode Island, Mina Vucic of Richmond and Xavier's Kari Peglar.