May 10, 2011
Bronx, N.Y. -
As the 2010-11 season begins to wind down, the Fordham University Athletic Department held its 77th annual Block F Awards Dinner at the Villa Barone Manor on May 4th to honor Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments during the academic year.
Among those honored were assistant swim coach Aimee Bryers, who was the recipient of the Jack Coffey award, and Brienne Ryan, who was named team MVP.
The Jack Coffey Ward is presented to a Fordham administrator, alumnus or coach for outstanding contributions and dedication to the athletic program. It is named for the late Jack Coffey, long-time baseball coach and graduate manager of Athletics.
Bryers has made an indelible mark as a part of Fordham's coaching staff for the past six seasons. In that time, she has assisted in every aspect of coaching, helping bring in talented recruits, while pushing the current Rams to new heights, capped by last year's Atlantic 10 Championships season, the first women's team title at Fordham.
Though originally bleeding maroon & gold, being an Iona graduate, Bryers now is all about the maroon & white of Fordham, helping build a women's program into a champion and a men's program into a contender.
Ryan, a sophomore, was named team Most Valuable Player after leading the squad to a second place finish at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship in February.
In a very short span of time, Ryan has become one of the top swimmers in all of the Atlantic 10. She was earned All-Atlantic 10 honors in six events this winter, capped by a win in the 200 backstroke. She won the preliminaries in a time of 1:56.11, an Atlantic 10, Fordham, and ECC pool record in the event. Ryan held the previous school record mark at 1:58.42, while the previous Atlantic 10 record was 1:57.93 by Richmond's Nicole LePere, set last year. In the finals Ryan won in a time of 1:57.01 to earn First Team All-Conference honors.
At the Atlantic 10 Championship, Ryan also earned Second Team All-Conference accolades with a second place showing in the 100 breaststroke, Her time of 53.94 was a school record and NCAA "B" qualifying time.
Ryan also took third in the 50 yard freestyle with a school record time of 23.36 seconds, breaking her own mark of 23.57 seconds, set last year.
In the relays, Ryan earned four more All-Atlantic 10 honors, topped by the 400 medley relay, which took home second place in a time of 3:45.21. In the race, Ryan's lead-off time in the backstroke at 53.44 seconds broke her 100 backstroke record set earlier in the evening.
Ryan also placed second with the 200 medley relay and the 400 and 800 freestyle relays.
Additionally, Natazia Fistrivic received an Athlete Academic Achievement Award, given to senior student-athletes who have been selected for outstanding athletic and academic achievement with a 3.5 GPA or better.
