Posted: May 06, 2024

2023 - 2024 Postseason Awards

Long Beach, Calif. 一 The Pacific Collegiate Swim & Dive Conference wraps up its successful 2023 - 2024 season by announcing its postseason awards in the following categories: Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, Men’s Team Coach of the Year, and Women’s Team Coach of the Year. This year’s candidates all had award-worthy performances and accomplishments this season.

Female Athlete of the Year Candidates:

Maddy Greunder, Senior, UC Santa Cruz

Maddy was the 2024 PCSC Champion in the 200 Backstroke, 800 Free Relay, and 200 Free Relay; Placed 3rd in the 200 Free and 400 Free Relay, and 6th in the 500 Free; she scored a total of 81 points at the PCSC Meet. She was selected for the NCAA DIII Championship in the 200 Free, 200 Back, and 400 Free Relay. She placed 23rd in the 200 Free, 22nd in the 200 Back, and 17th in the 400 Free relay at the meet. She also obtained NCAA B Cuts in 200 Free Relay and 800 Free Relay. Throughout the season, Maddy set School Records in 4 individual and 5 relay events (50 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay).

Tehani Kong, Freshman, CSU East Bay

Tehani has been a standout performer for Cal State East Bay this past season setting new school records in both the 100 Fly and 200 Fly, and as a member of the 200 Freestyle Relay. Her school record in the 100 Fly (54.33) was the longest-standing individual record at Cal State East Bay. She competed in the 2024 NCAA Championships finishing with multiple NCAA All-American Team Performances, including our first individual 1st team selection (Top 8) since Claire Beaty (2018). At the PCSC Championships, Tehani placed 1st in the 50 FR (23.13) and the 200 FL; At the NCAA DII Championships she placed 10th in the 50 FR (23.20), 8th in the 100 FL (54.33), 21st in the 200 FL (2:04.03), 15th in the 200 Free Relay, and 10th in the 400 Free Relay.

Montana White, Junior, Azusa Pacific University

Montana was the strongest swimmer in our conference all year long. She went undefeated in her three main events 200/500/1000 Free the entire season. She scored the most points out of any swimmer at our conference meet and led APU to one of its best-ever finishes in program history at the PCSC Championships. Montana qualified for 4 events at NCAA Nationals where she swam amazingly! She placed 3rd in the 200 Free making her an NCAA DII First Team All-American with a time of 1:47.49. She placed 6th in the 100 Free with a time of 50.16 making her an NCAA DII First Team All-American. She placed 8th in the 1000 Free with a time of 10:03.76 making her an NCAA DII First Team All-American. She placed 6th in 500 free with a time of 4:51.47 making her an NCAA First Team All-American. Montana was the first ever 4x First Team NCAA All-American in APU history. Montana scored 53 points individually at NCAA Nationals! She represented our conference extremely well, with fantastic sportsmanship and athletic ability. What a truly amazing season!

Women’s Team Coach of the Year Candidates:

Bonnie Adair, Loyola Marymount University

Seeing how much her team loves her and seeing how she handled the horrible news about their program was inspiring. Bonnie has fought hard for her team despite very few resources and support. It was always an uphill battle for her program and she was able to build a program and recruit some great athletes this last year.

Matt Crawford, UC Santa Cruz

Most points and highest finish (4th) at PCSC Championships for the program since 2012. USCS Swimmers broke 10 School Records this season: 50 Free (3 women under record), 100 Free (2 women under record), 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay. Maddy Gruender Qualified in the 200 free and 200 back for the NCAA DIII Championships. His team also qualified their 400 Free Relay for the NCAA Championship (the first relay at NCAA for UCSC since 2005) and received NCAA B Cuts in the 200 Free and 800 Free Relays. He had PCSC champions in the 200 free relay, 800 free relay, and 200 Back (first PCSC relay champions in program history). 20 total A Final Swims at the conference championships. Team GPA of 3.60.

Shane Pelton, CSU East Bay

Cal State East Bay Swimming program is coming off a historic season. The Pioneers won the 2024 PCSC Championship for the third time in program history. The team went on and competed at the 2024 NCAA Championship and finished 23rd overall. The team was consistently ranked in the CSCAA Dual Meet Poll and finished ranked 17th in the country, which was their highest in program history. Highlights from the Season included Tehani Kong becoming the first individual All-American since Claire Beaty! Three individuals and two relays qualified for the 2024 NCAA Championship. Three new school records were set, including the longest-standing individual record here at the university. Sweeping the podium in the Women’s 50 Freestyle at the 2024 PCSC Championship, while placing 1st or 2nd in 4 out of 5 the relays. His team won PCSC handily despite a hole with zero divers and a few relay disqualifications. His girls dominated in the pool.

Jill Lin, Westmont College
Tim Kyle, Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific throughout the 2023/2204 has been a team focused on consistent athletic performances in the water and on the boards. APU had one of its best-ever finishes in program history at the PCSC Conference Championships with a 3rd place finish. APU had the highest point-scoring athlete at the PCSC Conference Championships (Montana White) and multiple podium finishes. Azusa was awarded the swimmer of the meet (Montana White). APU qualified 3 individuals for the NCAA DII National Meet (Montana White, Amanda Anderson, and Aleena Herrera). Montana came home a 4x event First Team All-American with personal best times in all four events! Amanda Anderson came home a Second Team NCAA All-American with a personal best time in the 400IM! Azusa scored the most points total in program history by an individual swimmer at NCAA's. APU finished 22nd overall at NCAA Nationals. This placing was also the highest out of any PCSC team that attended the NCAA DII Nationals

Male Athlete of the Year Candidates:

Jan Bialecki, Junior, Fresno Pacific University

Jan earned his 3rd straight Swimmer of the Meet award at PCSC Championships then went on to earn All-American honors for an 11th-place finish in the 100 butterfly, and 6th-place finish in the 100 freestyle at the NCAA Championships. Jan set school records in the 50 (19.73) and 100 free (43.41).

Men’s Team Coach of the Year Candidate:

Matt Crawford, UC Santa Cruz

UCSC’s men’s team was the runner-up at the 2024 PCSC Championships. UCSC swimmers broke School Records in the 100 Back, 200 Medley Relay, and 400 Medley Relay. Highlights include the PCSC Conference Champion in 200 Breast, 25 Total A Final Swims, Team GPA of 3.39.

Bert Bergen, Concordia University Irvine
Nathan Harding, Biola University

1 Diver Qualifying to NCAA Dive Qualification meet. PCSC Men's Team Championship. Undefeated PCSC dual meet record. 19 total podium finishes (most of any program). 11 Men's team school records. His men's team stepped up and swam outstanding in one of the most competitive men’s meets in a while. His swimmers performed across the board in all events to earn their 2nd consecutive PCSC crown.

Visit the 2023-2024 Postseason Award Page to read more about the winners.

Montana White, a junior from Azusa Pacific University, and Jan Bialecki, also a junior from Fresno Pacific University were voted Female and Male Athletes of the Year. For the Women’s and Men’s Teams Coaches of the Year awards, Tim Kyle of Azusa Pacific University and Nathan Harding of Biola University won the respective awards. All postseason award winners won their respective award categories for the second season in a row.

Congratulations to all the winners.