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 Billy Colton, 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.
Colton, a senior, was named team Most Valuable Player after finishing among the team's top scorers at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship in February.
At the conference championship, Colton earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors as a member of the 200 freestyle and 400 medley relay teams, and was a part of two school record relay teams this year.
The 400 medley relay earned a second place finish in a school record time of 3:21.68, surpassing the previous mark was 3:22.39, set last season, while the 200 freestyle relay took second in a season-best time of 1:22.53.
Colton was also a part of the 400 freestyle relay that placed third in a time of 3:02.70 and the 200 medley relay team that placed fifth overall in a school record time of 1:31.29. It broke the old mark of 1:31.62, set in 2009.
Individually, Colton earned bronze in the "A" final of the 100 backstroke in a time of 50.22 seconds while in the 50 yard freestyle he placed fourth, posting season-best times of 20.85, and in the freestyle he finished sixth in a time of 45.83 seconds.
Additionally, Robert Gitman 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.
