Tyler, Walker, Waterhouse Honored By GNAC, NEISDA

TYLER, WALKER, WATERHOUSE HONORED BY GNAC, NEISDA

CHICOPEE, MA, Feb. 21, 2007 - Elms College women's swimming freshmen Liz Walker (Holyoke, MA), Marie Waterhouse (East Longmeadow, MA) and head coach Bill Tyler (Amherst, MA) were honored by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) and the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) following this past weekend's NEISDA Championship at the University of New Hampshire.

Walker was awarded GNAC Swimmer Of The Year based upon her performances at the GNAC Championship, the NEISDA Championship, and the dual meet regular season. At the GNAC Championship, she earned two titles in the 50-yard (33.17) and 100-yard (1:13.04) breaststrokes, and her second place finish in the 100-yard fly (1:06.43). At the NEISDA Championship, Walker won the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.75), was second in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:29.50) and third in the 50-yard breaststroke (32.53). During the regular season, Walker also set a total of 23 individual school records.

Waterhouse was awarded GNAC Rookie Of The Year based upon her performance at the GNAC Championship, the NEISDA Championship and her regular season dual meet performance. At the GNAC Championship, Waterhouse set the GNAC record and won the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 29.36. She also placed second in the 400-yard individual medley (5:16.17), and third in the 200-yard backstroke (2:23.40). At the NEISDA Championship, Waterhouse placed fourth in both the 50-yard and 100-yard backstrokes with times of 29.52 and 1:03.69 respectively. During the regular season, Waterhouse also set a total of 21 individual school records.

Walker and Waterhouse joined junior Kaity Jo Bryll (East Hartland, CT) and sophomore Kate Orefice (Southington, CT) to combine for 11 relay records.

"Both swimmers had awesome years," noted Tyler. "They both peaked at the right time at the NEISDA Championships, and they both greatly deserve this recognition. They had a great supporting cast and their teamwork really led them to be successful."

Coach Tyler was awarded GNAC Coach Of The Year honors for the second year in a row and was named NEISDA Coach of the Year for the first time in his three-year coaching career at Elms College.

In 2006-07, Coach Tyler helped guide the men's and women's swimming teams to set and reset a total of 84 school records, including a combined 27 at the NEISDA Championships.