May 1, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - As the 2008-09 season begins to wind down, the Fordham University Athletic Department held its 75th annual Block F Awards Dinner at the Villa Barone Manor on April 29th to honor Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments during the academic year. Among those honored was junior Ryan Coombs, who was named men's swimming MVP.

Coombs capped his season by earning First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in the 200 butterfly at the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship, helping the Rams to one of their best finishes ever (fourth place). Besides winning the 200 butterfly, he also scored in the 200 free, placing fourth in a season-best time of 1:40.17, and the 500 free, taking eighth in a season-best time of 4:40.77.

Coombs also earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors as a member of both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, taking second in each race. The 200 freestyle relay finished in a school-record time of 1:22.21, surpassing the former record of 1:23.69, while the 400 free relay placed second in a school record time of 3:01.54, smashing the former record of 3:04.10 set in 1979, the oldest Fordham men's relay record on the books.

Coombs was also part of two other record-setting relays, the 200 and 400 medley relays. The 200 medley relay placed third in a time of 1:31.62, breaking the old mark of 1:33.00, set in 1996. The 400 finished sixth in a time of 3:23.95, breaking the old mark of 3:24.93 set in 1996.

Following the championship, Coombs was named to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference team for the second straight year.